Two Sleuths and Some Bloggers - Ch. 3

Sherlock flipped through the file rapidly as he strolled through the police department towards the front doors. Behind him followed the three other members of his newly formed crime fighting team. Tori stuck her tongue out as they passed by the vending machines before continuing her childish sulking. John and Riley walked side by side, with John casting her looks of amazement every now and then. Sherlock grinned and halted at the front door abruptly before shoving the file roughly into John's chest without turning around. He then pulled his collar up and turned to face the three of them. "Read over that," Sherlock pointed to the file in John's hands to which him and Riley looked at before returning their attention to Sherlock. "And meet me at Baker Street in two hours sharp." Before anyone could say anything, Sherlock spun on his heels and sped out the doors.

Tori, who had been in her own little world staring off at a distant wall, snapped out of her trance and began looking around confused. "Where's Sherlock?"

Riley shook her head before grabbing her and pushing her through the doorway. "He left, now we should do the same!" Tori groaned as she stepped out onto the dark streets of London.

"It's cold out here though!" She grumbled. "Where are we going anyway?" Riley casted a look of inquiry to John, as if he knew where to go. The doctor opened his mouth and shrugged his shoulders trying to think and failing miserably. Before a decision could be reached Tori screeched out and shook her head violently. "Ugh! It's raining!" She screamed just before she was ambushed by more raindrops. Riley and John fell victim to the onslaught of rain as well and quickly exchanged nods as they threw up their hands to hail a taxi. The three of them hurriedly climbed into the cab, their clothes almost soaked from the sudden flood.

"Where to?" The cabby asked as he smacked on a piece of gum that was too big for his mouth to chew properly. John looked down at his watch and knew Sherlock wouldn't want them at Baker street before the time he had set, so after a few moments of thought, he told the driver to take them to a nearby diner.

The diner was packed with people trying to get out of the rain and, out of sheer luck, John managed to find a table in the corner that wasn't already taken. He waved to the girls that he had found a table and sat down in the chair against the wall facing the rest of the diner. Riley and Tori, after many a "excuse me" and "sorry, just trying to get through", they managed to make it to the table. Riley took the seat next to John against the adjacent wall, with Tori seated directly across from the doctor.

"What on Earth happened to your hair?" Riley giggled as she reached over and smoothed down the huge cowlick in John's hair. The warm diner air had already started to dry his hair which was now partially sticking up with the other half still wet and matted against his face. He grinned as Riley attempted to fix his unruly mane and licked his upper lip (as was his unconscious habit he did from time to time). After several failed attempts at managing the rebellious cowlicks, Riley gave up and left John's hair to look like a hedgehogs back. She withdrew her hand and he casted her a pouty look, like a child who just had their toys taken away.  John then wriggled his nose like a rabbit before widening his eyes and sitting up straight again. Tori just rolled her eyes and continued to snack on her second helping of chips that day. After a few awkward moments of silence John looked over at Riley and got up the courage to ask her about the incident at the station.

"What is S.H.I.E.L.D.?" He asked as he reached over and stole a chip from Tori's basket to which she shot him a "how dare you" look in response.

"Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division." Riley replied as she nudged her Tori in the side, distracting her from the food, before slyly taking a chip for herself out of the basket.

"Will you two leave my chips alone?!" Tori cried as she clutched the basket against her chest and turned it away from the two thieves.

"Oh." John was still just as confused as before.

"Why did she leave?" Riley's question pulled John out of his previous confusion just to throw him back into more confusion. He cringed his brow and tilted his head, clearly not understanding what she was asking. "Your wife, why'd she leave?" John quickly snapped back to reality and became very bitter.

"She didn't much care for Sherlock." John bit the edge of his lip and sighed crossly. He then turned back to look at her. "How'd you know I was married before?" She smiled and he shook his head at the stupidity of his question. "You researched me."

"Actually no, Doctor." Riley gave a half smile as John's look of confusion returned. "I knew you were previously married because you constantly grab your left ring finger and try to twirl a ring that is no longer there. He looked down and realized that he was, in fact, clutching his left ring finger in search of a wedding band.

"That was..." He looked back up at her with amazement, "Brilliant." John smiled and licked his lip again out of habit. "So you really are a consulting detective, like Sherlock?"

"Well, I am better funded, but, yes, you could say I am like Sherlock." Riley twirled her damp hair through her fingers as she continued to chat with the doctor. Tori would look over at them every now and then and roll her eyes before returning to devouring her basket of chips.

After a while of conversation and smiles, and two more baskets of chips for the tiny but bottomless Tori, the group headed towards Baker street to meet Sherlock.