Look out for the <>!

"So what did you find?" I asked harshly to Sherlock as soon at I walked up to his table at the coffee shop that same day.

"Can't I just ask you here for coffee?" he asked as he took a sip of what I thought was tea.

I frowned at him. He never did that, ever. He wanted me here because there was something he wanted me to do. "No, now what do you want?" I said flatly looking at my watch that said it was  in the eight evening. I really wanted to be home by now, not go for coffee.

"There's going to be a man that walks into this coffee shop in the next five minutes, I want you to follow him out and take his wallet."

I should have known it was something like this. "Well as much as I like doing that kind of stuff, I would like to know why I'm doing it," I said as I looked round the almost empty coffee shop. There had to be more to the story then what he was telling me. Why couldn't he do it himself, he knew how to pick a pocket, I showed him.

"If I'm right this man will have some papers in his wallet that will pull me to where the real killer is. I thought it was this man but, I was mistaken. I now know this man is part of the same group."

"So a hit man?" He was asking me to pick pocket a hit man. That sounded stupid on so many levels. He would know what I was doing before I even started. Normally I stayed away from these kinds of people. They were dangerously smart and cunningly curl at the same time.  

"I'm pretty sure he's a harmless one," he added as if that gave me comfort.

I had met enough hit men to know that they were all dangerous. "And that makes it so much better," I retorted as a tall man with dark curly hair and a pair of bright red shoes came walking in with an air of confidence. The fit man looked about a couple years older than me. 

"That's him," Sherlock whispered to me.

I imminently took my eyes off him and looked down at the cheap plastic table that was in front of me. I wasn't going to fight him anymore on the subject, if he needed me to do this, I was going to do it. I heard the bell to the door ding again and I rose from my seat and said to Sherlock, "I'll see you back at the flat." With that I walked out of the coffee shop and followed this mystery hit man.

Outside the coffee shop, I saw a pair of bright red sneakers to my left and followed them. I had to speed up my pace, he was a fast walker. I got right behind him and made sure to just barely bump into him, in the process I reached into his pocket. As soon as I took his wallet out of his back pocket, he looked at me and grabbed my hand knowing that I just did.

"Now that wasn't smart kid," he said to me with a deep voice. "Give me back my wallet and I won't stab you right here and now." He put his hand on his hip, hinting that he had a knife.

I remained cool as I looked at him. If I didn't give it to him, he could stab me, but I couldn't drop this. Sherlock needed it for some reason, and I needed to help him. That's why we were partners. If I could move out of the way I could avoid getting stabbed. The way his body is positioned I could easily get out of his grasp.

I smiled at him sweetly. "I think I want to keep it." I twisted his arm around me and pushed up until I heard a pop. He let out a little groan as he pulled out his knife and tried to plunge it into my side. I dropped to the ground to avoid it then pulled his legs out from under him, causing him to hit the ground. 

"You need to work on your street fighting skills," I said and without waiting another second, I shot off running for home. I ran up the street but had this strange feeling like someone was following me. My feelings were normally right so I turned a small alley way then another to make sure no one was behind me.

Just when I thought I lost them I heard a rock skip the pavement behind me. I stopped and looked around to see nothing. I took a step forward but stopped as I felt wetness running down my arm. Thinking that it was from one of the windows above me, I looked up but didn't see anything dripping. I looked at my arm and saw red running down it. Through my torn short was a deep cut was on my upper arm. I swore, knowing that I couldn't take the long way home anymore. The more time I wasted the more blood I was going to lose. I turned to walk back where I came from and there behind me was someone I wasn't excepting to see. With his freckles in all I saw Kale.

<>

"Hey Aurora," he said awkwardly towards me.

I smiled, happy to see him. "Kale, what are you doing here?" I hadn't seen him in months. I thought that once Alice was gone, he would pop back into my life but that was not the case. I hadn't seen him since that time in the flat.

"I just saw you pick that man's pocket then beat him up? A clean slate can't stop you can it?" he chuckled at me, amusement playing in his eyes.

"I have a good reason for that," I retorted at him as I defended my actions.

"And I would love to hear it. Do you have time?"

This wasn't a good moment. Why did we always have a habit at running into each other at such bad times. "I need to get back," I said to him and looked at my arm.

He looked at my arm and frowned so deep that I thought he got wrinkles from it. "Got you good didn't he?" He ripped some of his shirt and walked to me.

"Yeah," I said and winced as he tightly tied part of his shirt around my arm.

"Lets get you back."

We got out to the main road and Kale flagged a taxi and gave me 20 pounds. "For the ride."

"Don't you want to come with me?" I begged as I took the money. I frowned at him, knowing the answer already to that question. I hadn't seen him in months, and we were already splitting again. 

"I can't. But can I take you out for lunch? Tomorrow?"

"Sure, where at?" I said as I got into the cab.

"It's on the cash," he said and walked off.

I unfolded the 20 and saw a post it note that had some words on it.

"Where too miss?" the driver asked. 

"221 Baker Street please," I said as I read the note that kale wrote.

Water Loo station at noon.

Kale

By time I got home, my shirt sleeve was colored deep red. I had a pounding head ache and a strong feeling like I was going to pass out. I fumbled with my keys until I got into the front door, I then walked slowly up the stairs, making sure I didn't trip. I heard them creak with each step I took, warning Sherlock I was here.

I turned the door handle to the flat to see Sherlock sitting on the couch, waiting for me no doubt.

"I got it."  I tossed him the wallet.

He caught it as his eyes slowly fell to my arm. He frowned deeply then said with concern, "I'm calling Watson." He got up from his chair and walked into the kitchen to get his phone.

I nodded at him. I knew that I needed his help. I think I lost a little too much blood already. "Sounds good." I walked over a chair but tripped on the rug instead. I regained myself before I hit the ground, I then continue to the chair then flopped into it.

"He's on his way." Sherlock said to me as he walked back into the family room.

"Ok." I rubbed my head. It was killing me.

There was a paused and then Sherlock said, "I'm sorry."

It took me off guard. I don't think I had ever heard Sherlock say that phrase to me. "For what?"

"I didn't think something like this would happen," he said as he took a seat close to me to look at my arm.

"It's not your fault."

"But I shouldn't throw you into danger like this, I am to oversee you."

I sighed as I pinched the bridge of my nose. "We have been over this before. We are partners. You don't over see me anymore." It wasn't normal for him to show regret or any other emotion besides boredom. "Sherlock, you throw me into danger on a daily basis. I just never get hurt." 

It was quiet for the rest of the time as we waited for John. I closed my eyes and felt myself drift in and out of consciousness. Within what felt like minutes, John with his medical handbag came barging through the door to our flat.

I opened my eyes to look at him. I felt the world spin and decided it was better to close them again. "Hey John, what's going on?"

He frowned, not liking my humor. "Rori, you look like rubbish. How are you feeling?"

I didn't think I looked that bad. "I'm dizzy and my head hurts a lot."

"Let see if we can change this. Can you lay down on the couch for me?" he asked as he dug around his bag to find what he was looking for.

"Sure." I got up slowly and moved towards the couch. I laid down on it and closed my eyes again. I opened them again when John gave a cough. I looked at John who was sitting on the floor beside me.

"You will feel a slight sting," John said as he got out a needle.

"Ok." I looked away, not wanting to see the needle. I felt a sting then the pain from my arm started fade.

"I have to wait a couple minutes before I can start," John said, I think to me.

"Mind if I fall asleep." I closed my eyes as I heard some mumbling, but I didn't bother paying much attention to what was being said.

Before I knew it I heard Sherlock's voice and Johns voice, arguing with one another rather loudly. "Sherlock, you should have taken her to the hospital at the state she's in!" John shouted at him.

"She doesn't like hospitals John! What was I going to do?"

"Since when does her opinion matter to you?"

"Her being there would bring too many questions. It could jeopardize the case."

"So now you're more worried about the case? Make up your mind dammit! Do you care about Rori as a person or not?" There was another minute of silence and then John continued, "why did you make her get the wallet when you knew it could be dangerous?" 

"Because I knew she would be ok."

"Clearly you were wrong. That cut was deep. I don't know how she made it all the way here without passing out to be completely honest with you. What you had her do was reckless. Do you realize that you make people do reckless things all the time? It was only time until Rori got hurt."

"I didn't mean for her to get hurt, I just needed her to get the wallet."

"So putting yourself out of harm's way now, are you now?"

"No. I knew this is what Rori does best."

I was sick of hearing them argue I finally decided to speak up. "Stop it, you sound like a married couple. I made this choice, it's my fault," I said with my eye still closed.

"But Sherlock knew what he was getting you into," Johns voice rang out.

"And so did I." I opened my eyes to look at them. "This wasn't supposed to happen but it did. I'm ok and it's all right. Isn't that the most important part?" I looked at my arm to see it wrapped. 

John frowned. "But you're not ok, look at yourself." 

I felt the world spin. I was going to be sick. "I'm not dead am I?"

"No."

"Then I'm ok." I said and yawned, wanting to go back to sleep.

There was a minute of silence and then I heard Sherlock say softly, "go back to sleep Rori."

<><><><><><><>

I'm posting so early because tomorrow my parents and my brother and sister are picking me up from school and I will be with them for the next week and a half driving all the way cross country back to Ohio again. I'm not sure when I'll get the chance to write or even post. I hope this is a good chapter! have a good week!!! :D

Darla H