Posted by Bowen Cates on 3/8/2008, 1:32 am, in reply to "Chapter ten part two"
24.207.121.197
Chapter 11: In Which Lestrade Makes a Bad Impression
All three, Holmes, Holmes and Theodore turned their heads in the direction of the sitting room door - from which the exclamation had originated - which had just been flung open with a loud bang. Elizabeth Lestrade lobbed herself across the room in massive strides until she came face to face with 1800 Holmes, who seemed slightly taken aback.
“It was a time machine! Of all the- you guys saw the news right?” She ranted, as she gestured madly at Theodore and 2103 Holmes.
“Lestrade” warned the latter.
“Ya?” she accused turning toward him
“I am afraid that you are rather invading the personal space of my counterpart of the eighteen hundreds”
“Oh!” she turned back to her former target a bit subdued.
“Oh, sorry,” she then slumped down into 2103 Holmes’ Armchair “this is so confusing, and I thought one of them was bad, just imagine what two will be like!”
“It would seem that I have been keeping my old reputation fresh in the minds of my co-workers,” 1800 Holmes observed approvingly.
“I aim to please,” answered his counterpart as they both doubled over in silent laughter.
“Oh sure, we’re all so amused!” Lestrade laughed, trying her best to sound annoyed.
Theodore couldn’t help himself, and he too burst out laughing. This was what he never got to do in his own time, laugh with someone other then his family.
“Okay!” Lestrade continued “so…Holmes of today is wearing his usual Victorian garb and Holmes of…a long time ago is wearing the black suit and stuff…”
“Excellent Lestrade, really, you astound me”
“Oh shut up Holmes”
“Which one?”
“ARGH!”
You could tell both Holmes’ were enjoying this immensely. Meanwhile Lestrade, in her uncertainty, was reaching hair pulling-out point.
“Zed! Come ON guys!”
“So sorry” 2103 Holmes apologized with a snicker.
Theodore felt obliged to save the inspector from imminent insanity
“Uh…the Holmes you know tends to speak first when it comes to talking to you, 1800 Holmes will wait because he’s unfamiliar with the customs and habits of 2103…so just wait to see which one talks first.”
Silence. Watson, startled by the sudden silence, came out of the kitchen wearing a frilly pink apron and looking questioningly from one to the other of his friend.
“Well Theodore, I must congratulate you on your skills of observation and deduction, that was a commendable piece of reasoning” said 2103 Holmes finally.
“Really?”
“Indeed.”
Theodore had never felt so prideful in his entire life.
“Follow the lad’s advice Lestrade, it will only help you.”
“Uh…okay…my Holmes speaks first,” Lestrade repeated distractedly, but then her face turned bright red.
“Uh I mean…Holmes of today…not my Holmes; uh well…you know what I mean!”
1800 Holmes was looking at his other self awkwardly.
“Uh…she just meant hers as in the one she knows personally.” Theodore offered helpfully. That seemed to ease the tension.
Watson breathed a sigh of relief and went back into the kitchen.
“Soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo” Theodore continued, attempting to bring the subject back to that of Moriarty. “What was that about a time machine?”
“Oh ya, well, I went down to the lab and asked Dr. Powell to tell me what-”
2103 Holmes coughed into his hand.
“Okay, I persuaded Dr. Powell to tell me what was in the plans.”
This seemed to suffice.
“I convinced him that it was in his own best interest, it turns out he was making a prototype time machine without the permission of the government and it’s only because of the extenuating circumstances that he isn’t in jail…”
“Meaning he is rich.”
“What makes you think that?” Lestrade’s face was even redder then before.
“I know something about him as well Lestrade.”
“You would, wouldn’t you? Can’t I tell him something he doesn’t know for once?” she asked aloud lifting her eyes to the ceiling as though questioning some omnipotent evil spirit. “Any way” she continued, redirecting her gaze “…so he’s still at the lab, if you wanted to ques-”.
1800 Holmes was already heading for his counterpart’s room, in which their disguise collection was kept, while the aforementioned double was donning his coat with record speed.
“Hey, HEY! You can’t BOTH go! What is Grayson going to do when he sees you guys!”
“Not to worry Lestrade, what the chief inspector doesn’t know won’t hurt him, Watson! Come on old boy, we’ve a job to do!”
“HOLMES!” Lestrade pleaded, it was obviously a losing battle.
“Are you coming Theodore?”
“Can I, really?”
“Get your shoes”
“Okay, I can live with Holmes the sequel, but I draw the line at the kid!”
“Your shoes are by the sofa Theodore.”
“Look Holmes I mea-”.
“Ah Wiggins, Deidre Tennyson.” Holmes greeted his fleet, opening the door to reveal the oldest Irregular, his fist raised as if he had been just about to knock.
“How do you DO that?” he asked incredulously.
“Footsteps, if you wouldn’t mind retaining your coat the three of you can accompany us to a crime scene investigation.”
“YAY!” (Beep beep!) The three exclaimed at once.
“Forget it Holmes I said NO!”
1800 Holmes walked briskly back out into the living room at that moment wearing a brown hat with a brim which completely covered his hair, dark glasses, a modern grey suit and black shoes. His face was dominated by a short black beard and mustache.
He looked almost like one of those music directors of Theodore’s age, tall, chipper and to the point, with a hint of swing about him.
“Beep, whir” Tennyson enquired.
“Ya, who’s that?” Deidre translated.
“Well if you can fool them, you can most certainly fool the Chief Inspector”. 2103 Holmes smiled at himself.
“You mean that’s-”.
“NO” Lestrade yelled “NONE OF YOU ARE COMING! OKAY!”
Just then, Watson came charging out of the kitchen apron-less “my apologies, it took me a moment to shut of all electric devises, do you still wish me to accompany you? Lestrade is something the matter?”
“Yes I-” She began, glad to finally have a say in the matter.
“Indeed Watson, your coat is by the door”
“STOP INTERUPTING ME!”
But it was too late; Watson, Theodore, the irregulars and 1800 Holmes were all starting down the stairs.
2103 Holmes turned to the exasperated inspector “now Lestrade…”
Aware that all hope was lost, and that she might as well make the best of the situation as she had so many times before, Lestrade allowed herself to be guided down the stairs and out the door to her parked police cruiser.
Theodore and Both Holmes’ would ride with her, as it would be best for the two time misfits to stick together. Watson would drive the three irregulars in his and 2103 Holmes’ coach craft, a long hover car with a purple and gold colored outside.
Theodore climbed into the seat beside1800 Holmes just as 2103 Holmes was seating himself in the front beside Lestrade.
The inspector turned her head, looking over her shoulder at Theodore “well, welcome to the club”
She did not sound like she meant it.
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