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A Study in Duets	By : LadyLaran Category: S through Z > Sherlock (BBC) > Sherlock (BBC) Views: 2302 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Sherlock or make money from this story.

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
Author’s Note – It’s been a while since I was able to focus on this story again; I hope the quality will be as good as it has been in the past. For an explanation as to why this was on a bit of a hiatus, there were reviewers on a certain website that were never pleased with the chapter length or frequency of updates even when I know they had to have seen comments about my health issues in the author’s notes. I was very close to removing this story and others from that site but was talked out of it by my mother. Writing was put on a halt for a while after I lost her. I’m hoping I can regain momentum here.

Disclaimer – I do not own “Sherlock” nor do I make money from this story.

Chapter Six – A Planning Meeting

The next few weeks were the most tiring and frustrating since Johanna had been in medical school. She spent practically every waking moment at the piano, memorizing the pieces of music that Sherlock had arranged for them to use. He’d been true to his word, ensuring that her left hand would not feel too much strain without compromising the works, and the doctor had been pleased to find she could perform each piece without any sign of problem from the nerve damaged left arm.

When learning the music, if she wasn’t practicing, then she was reviewing the rules of the competition while Sherlock learned his portion of the pieces chosen. Like her, he was determined to master everything before working together to make each song perfect when the two instruments sang in unison.

Johanna had been dreading the moment they would start practicing together, knowing that both of them could be perfectionists, but there had been no problems at all once they had reached that point. In fact, both of them would sit and talk about issues they had heard while playing, then go back to work out the rough points.

Sherlock had even started recording each session so they could review it together to find weak points that needed ironing out for the competition. It worked rather well, and they were both pleased with how the songs were coming along. She had downloaded a few more pieces on her computer by the composers they had chosen, enjoying the styles of each, and she would listen to them when relaxing.

The only time Johanna left the house was for fittings for the outfits that had been chosen. She’d been pleasantly surprised at how well the garments fit, shocked to find they were flattering, and the doctor had to admit that her roommate had taste. True to her word, the seamstress had ensured that her weapon could not be seen and Sherlock had double checked it. She’d later found out that he’d sent a video stream to Mycroft, who had also been unable to spy any sign of her firearm. The fact both of them had been unable to do so reassured her since she wanted to keep her flatmate safe.

Three days before the contest was due to start, Johanna and Sherlock were escorted to Mycroft’s office for a briefing on the case. The detective was startled when his flatmate stood at military attention, saluting the highest ranking officer among the three soldiers standing in the spacious room.

“Colonel Macmillan,” she greeted, lowering the salute when the officer returned her greeting.

“Hello, captain,” the senior officer replied, giving her a warm smile. “It’s been a while; how are you feeling?”

“I’m still under medical restrictions, sir, but doing much better. Thank you for asking,” Johanna replied. “Colonel, this is my flatmate and the detective hired to investigate this case – Sherlock Holmes. Sherlock, this is Colonel Alistair Macmillan.”

“Mr. Holmes, I have heard very good things about your abilities,” the colonel stated, shaking hands with the consulting detective.

Sherlock didn’t reply, simply nodded and took a seat when the senior military man gestured to the table where everyone was to sit. Johanna sat beside him, alert and absorbing everything she could in order to answer any questions given to her.

“Right, we’ve had a chance to look over your ideas regarding who is behind the espionage and you were right to alert us,” Macmillan began. “There is a distinct chance they are behind all of this. My question is are you two willing to allow us to be your backup in this operation?”

“Despite Johanna’s assurances, I have my reservations,” Sherlock began. “I have no doubt that these people will run at the first sign of any military or governmental agencies observing this competition. You will need to be as far as possible from this investigation or we could lose the ones behind the espionage and murder of the agent who had been assigned to this case.”

The soldier nodded, having expected this since he’d done his research about the genius. When the plans had been drawn up, he’d tried to account for the man as well as the former captain and hoped that the pair would be open to his ideas.

“I do understand your reservations, Mr. Holmes,” Macmillan began. “We have no wish to compromise this investigation; our concerns are that we keep the pair of you safe as well as ensure the villains behind the espionage and murder are dealt with.”

“And if these individuals are not involved?”

“We still need to capture them,” he replied. “They are incredibly dangerous and are wanted by our government for crimes they have committed against our country and others. This is a chance we dare not pass up.”

“With all due respect, sir, that could alert the ones behind the murder and espionage before we have enough evidence for an arrest,” Johanna said, breaking her silence. “We can’t let that happen.”

“Agreed,” Mycroft stated. “If you decide to move in on them, I believe it should be done at the same time Sherlock and Dr. Watson give us the signal to arrest the ones who murdered the agent and is smuggling sensitive documents out of the country. Even if the ones behind the crimes are not the ones that alerted the good doctor, we can ensure all of them are taken in and brought to justice.”

“That is my plan,” Macmillan shared. “I have the details here and was hoping that Mr. Holmes and Dr. Watson would be willing to look them over with me so we can fine tune everything before the competition begins.”

Both sat up a bit straighter in their seats as files were passed to both of them; they read through them, and the pair frowned a bit as they contemplated what the colonel had provided them.

“The plan is sufficient,” Sherlock began. “I see you plan to use us for the investigation.”

“You both are in the right place,” the soldier answered. “There’s no reason to change things up when you two are ready for this competition; it would take too long to find someone with enough clearance that has musical ability to join this event.”

“You will not be able to have us wear any kind of transmitting devices,” he warned. “They will be observant enough to detect them, and it is best to not run the risk.”

“We have other means of surveillance,” Macmillan told him. “Mr. Mycroft Holmes volunteered a few of his own devices to supplement our own should we require it. Our presence will not be detected, and I have faith that you and Dr. Watson will be able to conduct the investigation without alerting the criminals as to what your true purpose is.”

The group discussed the plan for a while before Johanna and Sherlock returned home. Once they were comfortable inside their flat, the doctor turned to her friend.

“You may have to tone down the deductions while we’re at the competition,” she said. “As much as I enjoy listening to you observe others, we need to keep a low profile and let our performances catch attention. We need to stay under the radar outside of what happens when we are on the stage.”

“Agreed,” he replied, sipping the cup of tea she had made. “These are people who detected a trained agent in their midst so we need to ensure they do not realize why we are there.”

Johanna sighed, sipping from her own cup. This case was important, and there was a great deal hinging on how well this went. That was a lot of pressure on both of them, and she just hoped that she wouldn’t mess up.

“You are doubting yourself,” Sherlock commented, watching his friend.

“More like my ability to do well while we’re performing,” she admitted. “I’m not as polished as you are when it comes to the pieces we’ve chosen. I’m incredibly worried.”

“You should not be,” he told her. “You’re doing well with the accompaniment, and we read each other as if we have been performing together for years. I believe we shall do well at the competition, and I know you will not let anyone down.”

“I hope you’re right,” Johanna sighed, putting her tea cup down. “In the meantime, care to relieve a cranky doctor’s worry by practicing with her?”

Sherlock gave her a small smile, setting his cup down as well and reaching for his violin case. He pulled the instrument out, checking the tuning while Johanna sat down at the piano and waited for him to finish so she could warm up.

Johanna stared at the music in front of her, determined to do well. She would not be the one to make any mistakes that would jeopardize this investigation!

Author’s End Note – It’s short but hopefully, this will help get me going again. We’ll see. I just ask that people be respectful of my health issues as well as IRL problems that prevent me from updating frequently or creating the massive chapters they are in search for. As I’ve said, I go for quality, not quantity, and I hope that I have delivered. Thank you for reading, for being patient, and I hope you have enjoyed this update. Please let me know what you thought! ~ Laran
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A Study in Duets