Today had started like any other day in 221B Baker Street for Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson. Cases, interesting ones at least, had been lacking for about a week so Sherlock was sulking about because he was bored.

He'd spent the beginning of the week wandering around in his pajamas, muttering about experiments, stupid criminals, and attempting to steal John's gun to abuse the wall some more. John didn't really pay him any mind, but he had taken to keeping his gun on his person at all times during waking hours. He made sure Sherlock ate and didn't try to conduct ridiculously dangerous experiments, which was about all he could do really. There was never any reasoning with the detective sometimes.

At the moment the good doctor was clearing the fridge out; the flat was remarkably clean thanks to a certain someone. As he threw out a bag of severed thumbs he thought about that certain someone, who cleaned and did the laundry just to be nice and not out of obligation. Her name was Alice.

Xxx

About 4 months ago the Baker Street boys had worked a case involving a group of Moriarty fans. Their idol was gone but that didn't stop them from trying to attract Sherlock's' attention. They had sent teasing notes about the locations of several bombs, and about the people they were intended for. They all seemed to be completely random; like people's names pulled from a hat. The last one was intended for a high school teacher named Alice Mitchell. She was a normal, 29 year old woman living alone. The note even described some of her personal details; such as her moving to London from America when she graduated college, her only family being an older brother and a father, she had had a successful career as an artist before becoming a teacher and a strange obsession she had with comic books.

It had been, frankly, alarming.

Sherlock and John with Lestrade in tow had gone to her loft telling her she was in danger. She was skeptical at first (and perhaps she wasn't entirely unjustified in that seeing as three grown men had knocked on her door in the middle of the night and had said she needed to come with them right away) but then Sherlock pushed past her and uncovered the bomb embedded in her floorboards. Upon deducing that he couldn't disarm it quickly enough he had rushed them all out in just enough time, actually throwing Alice over his shoulder when she became too stunned to move.

Seeing as she had no family in London and that most of her friends had children to take care of, the Art teacher had said she'd be fine at a motel after she could gather what was left of her things from the smoldering loft. Hers was the only flat affected as the bomb was enough to kill her but do little damage to any other areas of the building. The fans had no intention of leaving collateral damage it seemed, and for that all involved with the investigation were very grateful.

John had offered 221B to Ms. Mitchell; his soldier/protector instincts kicking in (not to mention that Alice wasn't exactly awful to look at with long, dark hair that had natural red it, an athletic but slender frame with a lovely bottom half, topped off with strikingly blue eyes) and oddly...Sherlock had agreed immediately.

"Wait really? You aren't going to fight me on this?" John had asked a bit bewildered.

"Of course not John, it's the most logical thing to do." Sherlock said looking at John like he was speaking to a child. "We've stopped every other bombing by disarming them, so who's to say since this one actually went off and the target lived that they won't try again? The safest place I know is Baker Street with us." Sherlock had walked away then, leaving his two companions to look at each other slightly astounded and the woman whose life he just saved watching after him quizzically.

Ever since then she had become as constant in their lives as Mrs. Hudson was, who incidentally, adored Alice. It had been awkward at first, certainly. They'd had to get a cot for her in the living room and John had cleaned like mad trying to make the place fit for a lady. Alice however had just laughed and said she wasn't much of a lady so there wasn't a need.

"My brother and I shared back home in Memphis, the place looked like a total bachelor pad", she had smiled while looking around, eyes lingering on the many books. "I don't mind trust me. It's kinda comforting."

"Yes it's obvious you aren't much of a lady. Don't you think John?" Sherlock had been lying on the couch with a nicotine patch on his arm, eyes closed to his surroundings. "It'll be like having another bachelor here, though I would assume at that time of the month we should most likely stock up on chocolates."

One of the things John liked about their new flat mate was how she dealt with Sherlock. She handled him much like he did, but much more harshly. To be blunt, she didn't take his shit.

At his comment she had merely replied "It's obvious you've never lived with a woman before so I'll try not to offend your delicate sensibilities Mr. Holmes", with a raised eyebrow and a slight smirk. "Perhaps you'd do best to avoid me at that time of the month. I might hurt your feelings" John had failed at chortling at that.

Oh yes, she'd fit it in just fine.

Xxx

Things had progressed into real friendship now four months later, at least for John and Alice. They had no qualms about discussing things like family, films, work, guns (her father was in the military and she had learned how to shoot as a kid), and even sex. And yes, that was sex. That part of their friendship had become open when John had come home slightly drunk complaining about women giving mixed signals (his date had worn an extremely form fitting dress but hadn't even let him kiss her goodnight, what in the hell did that mean?). Alice had proceeded to explain some of the reasons women do that as she let him lean against her on the couch, ("Some like to make you work for it even when they're more than happy to give and some just do it to be cruel. Those are the ones you wanna stay away from, you're too good for them John" she smiled and kissed his cheek.), and they'd just opened up to each other. It was nice to have a friend who really listened to you instead of grunting and telling you to hand them a pen from their own pocket; and who could explain why women do and say certain things during sex. It was very informative.

Over the last two months John had subtlety started flirting with the art teacher. He'd tell her when she looked particularly lovely before she left for work in the mornings (those earned him an almost cat like smile) and he'd even say it when she was in the sweats and t shirts she wore round the house, (those got him eye rolls and playful "shut ups" but really she looked adorable with her glasses on, sprawled out on the couch examining her student's art, so could she really blame him?) He would give little lingering touches when he handed her things and as an experiment he had started making sure he let his scruff grow out slightly every now and again to see if she'd notice (which she did, she'd mentioned she liked a bit of scruff and he was always proud when she would comment on it).

John was happy she returned the friendly flirting (she'd kiss his cheek often and cuddle against him on the couch a bit; that however may just be her affectionate nature; she had explained "I grew up in a very affectionate family we said 'I love you' every day and hugged and snuggled. What's the point of caring if you never show or say it in some way?") and by now would have asked her on a proper date if he hadn't noticed Sherlock's reactions to their flirting...

It was the strangest thing.

To anyone else Sherlock seemed to treat their playful flirting normally; slightly disgusted and bored by the emotions being displayed, but John had noticed a certain...look in Sherlock's eye at times. When Alice would throw her legs over John's on the couch or John would help her cook Sherlock seemed to silently seethe. He'd sit in his chair and stare straight ahead, as if in his mind palace but John could feel Sherlock's eyes on him; he would track Alice's movements about the flat, noting coldly when she'd disturbed his experiments or left her clothes about…as if he was scolding her like a servant… He sometimes looked like a predator, watching another hunter stalk his prey; as if John was a threat to him when it came to the woman.

But that's just crazy wasn't it? Sherlock must just be concerned for their flatmate. After all, John's relationships never did last terribly long, and if things were to end badly not only would it be awkward but the friendship Alice and John had created might be over. But Sherlock only cared about a small group of people...why would he be concerned for a woman he yells at almost constantly and insults. He even insults the food she makes, (though John can't imagine why, she's an excellent cook) yet Sherlock always finishes what she gives him to eat.

Why indeed…

John had chalked up Sherlock's reactions to Sherlock just acting strange. The detective was still himself after all, and even John didn't understand him completely. Sherlock cared about her safety, which was evident as he hasn't kicked her out yet, (they had heard nothing from Moriarty's fans but they could just be hiding) but it was still slightly confusing to John. He had noticed a drop off in Sherlock's slightly predatory mannerisms as of the last two weeks or so; perhaps things were normal again. Alice and he continued their flirting and Sherlock remained...well Sherlock.

Xxx

During John's internal flashbacks and musings Alice came home wearing knee high flat boots, warm gray tights with little hearts on them, a black ruffle skirt that comes to her knees, a black pea coat and a green scarf she lovingly called her "Loki scarf".

"I'm home John! And Sherlock if he cares," came her voice from the front room.

She walked into the kitchen and examined the contents of the rubbish bin.

"Are those thumbs?" she asked making a face, her nose and cheeks a bit flushed from the cold.

"Yes, it appears they are. I've got to go shopping this afternoon; we are dangerously low on even lazy foods"

"I'll make you a quick list before you go"

Alice stripped her scarf off and hung it over a kitchen chair and followed suit with her coat. She was wearing a long sleeved, soft looking purple shirt with a tank top underneath it and John took a moment to appreciate how good her bum looked bent over the table slightly as she wrote out a grocery list. It was a lovely behind, perfect size for his hands to squeeze…no wait. Mustn't think those thoughts with her so close. Best save those for later.

John threw the remaining spoiled food into the bin and closed the refrigerator door. He tied up the rubbish bag and pulled it from the bin. After washing his hands Alice hugged him and kissed his cheek as a hello. John booped her somewhat pink nose and smiled as she scrunched it up.

"How was your day shaping young minds then?" John asked as he hefted the rubbish bag out of the kitchen to the door.

"Pretty boring today, I let pretty much all of my classes use the time as a free period so I could finish making up the winter exam." As John pulled his coat on over his red button up he noticed how Alice sat slowly into his chair to take her boots off instead of plopping herself down as she normally did. Hm.

"Well I'm sure they were grateful and quite at least" He wrapped a scarf around his neck and pulled his gloves on. Alice shot him a "Ha-ha very funny" look and he just chuckled.

"Teenagers grateful? Ha. They did behave mostly though." She shifted slightly and a strange expression crossed her face, a mix between pleasure and discomfort.

"Are you all right? Did you fall on your bum today?" he teased. Alice stuck her tongue out at him and pulled her hair from a clip and let it tumble down her slender shoulders.

"I've just been sitting all day, I'm a bit sore. I think I'll take a bath to relax before ordering food. Do you want anything specific?"

"Nah pizza or Chinese will do." John lifted the bag over his shoulder like Santa. Though no one in their right minds would want what was in this sack as a present. "Won't be gone long, but I would avoid Sherlock. He's been in a particularly foul mood today. He actually growled at me"

Alice giggled, "Well that sounds fun. I'll leave the bear in his cave then" She stood and stretched and again a strange mix of emotions played across her face "Be safe John"

"Always am," he said with a wink and walked down the stairs. It was sweet how she always told him and Sherlock that whenever they left. Sherlock of course just rolled his eyes and walked away.

Maybe one day they'd get along.