Disclaimer: Don't own, never did, but if ever I do...bwahahahaha!

Maybe he had imagined it, but Sherlock knew he really didn't have that kind of imagination.

Maybe it had been part of a bad dream, but John knew somehow this was too tame.

It seemed the flatmates both had the same idea, as each exited their bedroom, creeping towards the noise that had disturbed them both.

It was fortunate that the two men knew each other so very well, that each was familiar with the other's actions and reactions, that they could recognise the sound of their friend's footsteps, so that when they met at the foot of the stairs neither was mistaken for an intruder.

They stood side by side in the darkened hallway, and in silence looked at each other. Sherlock noted that John had his gun, carried unobtrusively in his right hand, while he carried a police ASP telescopic baton, filched from Sergeant Sally Donovan a few months ago.

Blue eyes met grey, and in silent agreement they moved together, Sherlock leading, John as ever watching his back.

First to the kitchen, where nothing it seemed was out of place, then through the open door to the living room. Sherlock took a couple of steps and then stilled; tension in every line of his body. John stepped around him, ready to shoot to defend his friend.

"Hello boys!"