A Study in Text Chapter 1, a sherlock fanfic

TEXT FROM: JOHN WATSON

SENT: 9:41 AM

Mrs hudson says you left early this morning for a case

You'd better have a good excuse for not taking me with you

Where are you?

TEXT FROM: SHERLOCK HOLMES

SENT: 9:42 AM

Client in Oxford.

Inconvenient distance from your work.

TEXT FROM: JOHN WATSON

SENT: 9:50 AM

I don't work sundays, you know that

TEXT FROM: SHERLOCK HOLMES

SENT: 9:51 AM

You do, however, work Mondays, and this case will likely keep me from the flat for several days.

TEXT FROM: SHERLOCK HOLMES

SENT: 9:51 AM

Also, pick up milk before I get back.

TEXT FROM: JOHN WATSON

SENT: 1:19 PM

Sherlock what is that smell coming from your bedroom

Mrs hudson can smell it from downstairs

TEXT FROM: SHERLOCK HOLMES

SENT: 1:21 PM

Experiment.
SH

TEXT FROM: JOHN WATSON

SENT: 1:27 PM

How did you manage to lock your door from the outside

Its not even that kind of lock

TEXT FROM: JOHN WATSON

SENT: 1:28 PM

Found a trick to open doors with a credit card online

Trying it out now

How's the case going?

TEXT FROM: SHERLOCK HOLMES

SENT: 1:29 PM

How innovative.

Dull. The husband is obviously the culprit.

I can place him at the scene of the crime in every aspect but availability, and he seems to have alibis for that.

He claims he has asthma and was in the hospital at the time of the murder.

I'll do more research this evening.

TEXT FROM: JOHN WATSON

SENT: 1:31 PM

Got the door open

Why is there a dead turtle on your bed

TEXT FROM: SHERLOCK HOLMES

SENT: 1:32 PM

Turtle?

TEXT FROM: JOHN WATSON

SENT: 1:32 PM

I expect youre going to tell me it's a tortoise

TEXT FROM: SHERLOCK HOLMES

SENT: 1:33 PM

No, I meant turtle, singular?

TEXT FROM: JOHN WATSON

SENT: 1:35 PM

Oh god theres a live one under your pillow too

Dialing animal control right now

TEXT FROM: SHERLOCK HOLMES

SENT: 1:36 PM

And compromise my latest experiment?

You wouldn't dare.

TEXT FROM: JOHN WATSON

SENT: 2:14 PM

Turtles are now gone

Sorry if i've ruined your experiment

TEXT FROM: SHERLOCK HOLMES

SENT: 2:15 PM

Well, that's one Oxford snow globe I won't be purchasing.

Do you know how difficult it was to obtain those turtles?

TEXT FROM: JOHN WATSON

SENT: 2:17 PM

I didn't want your snow globe anyway

TEXT FROM: JOHN WATSON

SENT: 2:39 PM

By the way, where are you staying in Oxford?

TEXT FROM: JOHN WATSON

SENT: 2:57 PM

You're not still angry about the turtles right?

TEXT FROM: JOHN WATSON

SENT: 3:31 PM

Sherlock? Are you okay?

TEXT FROM: JOHN WATSON

SENT: 3:59 PM

I'll buy you some more bloody turtles if that's what this is about.

TEXT FROM: JOHN WATSON

SENT: 4:14 PM

Sherlock?

TEXT FROM: UNKNOWN NUMBER

SENT: 8:24 PM

Dropped phone in Thames during a chase.

Apparently the husband has allies in the hospital to protect the records and they aren't too keen on letting me get my hands on them.

I'll be using this number until Mycroft comes through and gets me another phone.

TEXT FROM: JOHN WATSON

SENT: 8:25 PM

Sheqrlckaryou

TEXT FROM: JOHN WATSON

SENT: 8:26 PM

Sorry, fell asleep

Still waking up

Are you injured?

TEXT FROM: UNKNOWN NUMBER

SENT: 8:27 PM

Not injured, just cold and wet.

Would be terribly ironic, though, injured by hospital staff.

Found a quaint if not slightly under-furnished hotel to spend the night in.

TEXT FROM: JOHN WATSON

SENT: 8:29 PM

Thats good

Be sure and dry off so you don't catch cold

TEXT FROM: JOHN WATSON

SENT: 8:30 PM

Just occurred to me to ask

Whose phone are you using anyway?

TEXT FROM: UNKNOWN NUMBER

SENT: 8:31 PM

Nicked it off the bellhop.

TEXT FROM: UNKNOWN NUMBER

SENT: 8:31 PM

And before you say anything, I'll have you know he comes from a wealthy family, based on his shoes and cologne.

He's only working as a bellhop because his father wants him to gain work experience.

He can easily afford a new phone.

TEXT FROM: JOHN WATSON

SENT: 8:33 PM

Sherlock that's still stealing!

And besides how could you know that

TEXT FROM: UNKNOWN NUMBER

SENT: 8:35 PM

You do remember who you're talking to?

His father's business card is in his wallet. He's a lawyer, and for a very successful firm at that.

His family doesn't need money. So he's either working because he wants to or because someone made him.

Earbuds from ipod hidden in hat while he's working says he doesn't take his work seriously.

Therefore, he was forced to work, clearly not for money but for experience.

TEXT FROM: JOHN WATSON

SENT: 8:38 PM

Oh my god you took his wallet too

You had better be planning to give those back

TEXT FROM: UNKNOWN NUMBER

SENT: 8:39 PM

Don't play good Samaritan with me, John.

I had to. His phone was in his wallet.

I'll give them back when Mycroft gives me a new phone.

TEXT FROM: JOHN WATSON

SENT: 8:40 PM

That's good, although you still shouldn't have done it

TEXT FROM: UNKNOWN NUMBER

SENT: 8:41 PM

Ah, but then I wouldn't have been able to text you.

Don't pretend you wouldn't have been worried.

TEXT FROM: JOHN WATSON

SENT: 8:42 PM

Of course i would have worried

I was already worried

And you shouldn't even be talking to me now

Youve just been thrown into the thames

Go and get some rest for gods sake

TEXT FROM: UNKNOWN NUMBER

SENT: 8:43 PM

But I don't want to. Sleeping is boring.

It's much more interesting talking to you.

TEXT FROM: JOHN WATSON

SENT: 8:45 PM

Then i'll have to remove myself as a temptation

How about this

I'm not going to talk to you until tomorrow

Now go to sleep

TEXT FROM: UNKNOWN NUMBER

SENT: 8:46 PM

No.

TEXT FROM: JOHN WATSON

SENT: 8:46 PM

Sherlock I mean it.

I won't reply anymore until you get some sleep.

TEXT FROM: UNKNOWN NUMBER

SENT: 8:47 PM

Yes you will.

TEXT FROM: JOHN WATSON

SENT: 8:48 PM

No I bloody well won't

TEXT FROM: JOHN WATSON

SENT: 8:48 PM

Damn.

TEXT FROM: UNKNOWN NUMBER

SENT: 8:49 PM

Goodnight, John.