The Most Dangerous Game | Sherlock Holmes

06

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"No man burdens his mind with small matters unless he has some very good reason for doing so."

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

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THE NEXT FEW WEEKS FOLLOWING THE EVENTFUL GALA were slightly tense for Sherlock Holmes and completely normal for Galina Ivanov.

The marker of Galina's personality was that she let things go very easily. She was so intuned with everyone's emotions and that led to her not wanting to dwell on anything negative or emotionally draining.

All she wanted was to be happy because happiness was the greatest emotion she had ever felt.

Sherlock, on the other hand, was always on his guard. Somehow- even after all the time he had spent with her- he still expected her to act like an average woman with passive-aggressive remarks and subtle hints of dissatisfaction, but he found none. 

Sherlock was absent from the flat that morning, so Galina was left alone to bring up all the groceries she had picked up on that hot morning.

As she walked in the kitchen, trying to balance five bags on her thin arms, she had to stop herself short when she saw a tall lanky blonde man leaning against the kitchen counter and tinkering with different colored vials.

"Um, hello?" Galina began, clumsily putting down the bags on the crowded table. "Who are you?"

The man turned around quickly, nearly knocking a beaker filled with pink liquid over as he slapped his hand over his heart. "Oh, you gave me a fright, Jesus. You can't scare a man like that!"

Galina chuckled as she planted both of her hands on her hips. "Seeing as though this is my kitchen, I can do what I please. So, who are you?"

"Bill Wiggins, my lady," the man said, extending his sweaty hand out to her as his beady blue eyes scanned the kitchen for any other unexpected visitors. "People call me Wiggins."

"Oh, okay," Galina said with a smile, shaking his hand earnestly and then beginning to unpack her groceries. "I was just about to make some salted herring, would you like some?"

"Um, sure," Wiggins said, messing with the bottom of his shirt as he sat down awkwardly as she finished unpacking the bags. "If I can say, you seem very calm for someone who just found a strange man in their kitchen."

"Would you call yourself a strange man? Should I be worried?" Galina teased, laughing to ease the tension is his thin shoulders. "I suppose most people would be, but Sherlock has always had the most unusual choice of friends. Of course, before we eat, we are going to have to clean...whatever this is," she said, gesturing to the several spilled liquids on the counter with a wrinkled nose.

Wiggins nodded his head quickly as laughed awkwardly, letting out a few snorts that reminded her of Molly Hooper. "Right on it."

After cleaning up the mess, it only took a short amount of time before the food was done.

Galina had allowed Wiggin to assist her and he was beaming with pride as she smiled after trying his herring.

"Delicious, Wiggins," Galina complimented, reaching up to pat the back of his shoulder. "You should try cooking more often. I am sure it would be a hit!"

Wiggins blushed as Galina began serving herself a portion and led them over to the kitchen table.

Before they could take their first bite, John Watson wandered into the kitchen fresh from work with his suitcase and tie.