I Can't Stand You, Sherlock

Chapter 14: 'Friends'

"Yeah, right, like hell I'm going to say here for another day." I said to Sherlock as I sat on the couch four days after Zane took me.

Sherlock frowned at me. He didn't want to argue any more. "You are going to stay here because I told you to." He said firmly as he got his coat on as he got ready to leave for case.

Who did he think he was? He could force me to stay here, could he? "You're not my father!" I shouted as I stood up, careful not to put much weight on my ankle.

Ever since Sherlock and John had rescued me from Zane they had gone above and beyond making sure I was under constant watch. I think they were afraid that I would be taken again or I would just die from a sprained ankle and broken ribs. I was sure that they were using my health as an excuse to keep me in, out of trouble. I understood where they were coming from but by the fourth day, I had enough.

"No but I am in charge of you and I say stay here, I'll be back in a couple of hours. Watson said..."

"I know what John said!" I said stubbornly as I crossed my arms over my chest. without another word he walked out of the flat. I couldn't help but swear under my breath. All I did was sprain my ankle and broke two ribs, I have had worse. But yet, they were both treating me like such a cripple. I had to get out of here, it was driving me insane.

I listened closely to the sound of his heavy steps going down the stairs and then out the door. I waited for a good 15 minutes and decided that it was safe to start getting ready. I wasn't going to follow what he said, I had other things to do today starting with talking to some of my old 'friends' if you want to call them that. Everyone knew I was out, I figured it was time to make an official appearance.

I walked to the bathroom with a slight limp and changed out of my PJ's into some black running pants and an oversized sweater. I put my red hair into a bun, took some Tylenol then grabbed my phone, keys and walked out the door.

Since when did I listen to what any told me to do? Forget this, I wasn't about to start listening to Sherlock now. I was going to do my own thing. Just as I stepped out of the front door, Miss Hudson spoke up saying, "where are you off to?"

"Just getting some milk and eggs." I lied as I turned to face her. Dang it, I thought she was gone as well. She was going to make me stay and I couldn't bring myself to go against her wishes for what ever reason.

She frowned at me, knowing what I was planning on doing. "You couldn't have just said, I could have given you some."

Dang, that wasn't a good enough lie. she caught me. I recovered quickly without her seeing that I was lying and said, "that's sweet, but I'll get it myself. I don't want to use your things."

"Sherlock thought you would do this...." she sighed.

My eyes grew wide. He told her that I would leave. "Please Miss Hudson! Don't tell him! he has me locked up there! I have to take a step out or I'll go crazy. Please!" I begged her as if my life depended on it.

She sighed, "Ok just be back in an hour." And with that she turned around and walked back to where she came from.

I smiled as I walked out of the door, mentally singing 'dancing with myself'. For some reason I felt different ever since I got back four days ago. Was it happiness I felt? Or was it that I was getting use to living here and putting up with him? He still got on my nerves, all the time, but I think I was getting use to blocking him out. Regardless of what it was, I felt like a new person.

I felt like I was changing into a normal person. I shuddered at the idea. I didn't want to be a normal person, I was Rori Anderson. I had been around Scotland Yard too much, this wasn't good for me. I had to get out of here and do some white collar crimes.

First I had to find my kind of friend. I had a good idea where she was.

After taking the Tube, I soon found myself on the same street she use to live on. Now it has been a least a year since I had been here and I didn't think she stayed but to my surprise when I knocked on the door of her flat, a young women with dark hair opened the door. A smile slowly came to her face as she realized it was me.

"Hi Diana."

"My gosh Rori, I didn't think this would ever happen." she said and hugged me.

As soon as she did this I pushed her back out of reflex.

She laughed and said, "Same old Rori. Oh and I reinvented myself. I'm Inez now."

"I like that. It suits you better." I said and gave her a small smile, I paused and then continued saying, "I didn't think you would be here still."

"You know me, Rori, I'm stubborn. I'll stay even when things get tough. Plus, I love London, I love this street, I wouldn't leave unless I absolutely had to."

"Yeah..." I said, my voice trailing off. I was the complete opposite as her and she knew it. I don't think she liked it. This was why I didn't have any real friends. I never matched anyone's personality and eventually I pushed everyone away.

"Hey, do you want to get out? Get a coffee? It'll be on me." she said and before I had time to say anything, she quickly walked back inside and got her coat and keys.

I took a sip of the hot coffee, careful not to burn my mouth on it as I thought about what to say to her. "I'm sorry I ran off and left you with the blame." I said after a minute thinking of the last heist we pulled, about a year ago. We were going to steal this painting and as soon as we walked into the gallery alarms sounded and police started to come instantly. It was like they were waiting for us. At that point I didn't care who I was with, all I knew was that I needed to get out of the room. I left her in the room alone with the guards. It was my fault she got caught and that was the last time I talked to her.

"I was so mad at you for that, you know? I was in prison for a good few days for that. But I have had a year to think that over and I have come to realize that you did that because it's in your nature. That's what you'll always do best, run."

I wanted to fight back, I wanted to say that I was more than just a running, but I knew me. I was always go to be a runner. "I'm sorry." I mumbled as I looked down at the fake wooden table that was slightly sticky from an unknown substance.

"I have made peace with it Rori. I'm over it, but are you?"

"I don't know." I sighed. For every wrong thing I did I seemed to keep it with me. I collected all these terrible memories that I wish I never did. Those memories just pulled me down but I couldn't shake them.

"You should." she said and paused as she pushed her hair back. "So I know you're not here to say sorry for that. What's up?"

I didn't say anything, thinking about how to start this conversation. "Zane, he found me."

Her eyes widened. She was one of the few people that knew Zane just as well as I did. "What?! He did? How did you get out of it?! What did he do?"

"John and Sherlock saved me. But that's old news. I'm here and I'm fine, that's what matters. But while I was with him, he said something that got me thinking. He said that Kale joined some type of group. Do you know what that is?"

She paused as if thinking deeply with what she was going to say. "I don't know much about this Rori but Kale didn't want you to get into this."

"Oh but he told you, didn't he?" I retorted, getting mad for something she didn't do. I felt hurt that kale told her about this but refused to tell me. We were together after all, I felt like I had a right to know.

She frowned at me, as if I didn't understand the whole story. "Yes, after you got locked up. Rori, this group is no good. Kale didn't have a choice in joining. He didn't want too they made him."

"What do they do?"

"I don't really know. I think it's like a gang that take white collar criminals and use them for their own gain."

I sat in silence as I thought about what she said. I had to save Kale. I could draw them out. I could make myself look desirable and then I could find Kale and... "Rori, don't do it. Kale said to stop you at all costs from finding this gang. The last thing he told me was that he loved you and he didn't want you to get caught up in this." My partner said as she got up from her seat and put on her coat. "Keep your eyes open Rori. It's been nice talking to you but if I'm not mistaken I see a tall black haired man with his collar flipped up like an i***t walking down the road. Looks like your flat mate, Sherlock, if I'm not mistaken. I wish not to be seen by him so I must go."

"What?" I said as I looked over my shoulder to see Sherlock about a block away from the small coffee shop that we where at.

"I hope to talk to you again sometime Rori, I do like your company." Was the last thing she said as she walked out of the coffee shop in one fluid motion. I looked down the road at him again, hopefully if I could get out of here fast enough he wouldn't see me. But all hope was lost as I got up from my seat and he made a motion to me like, 'sit back down' with his hands. I couldn't help but swear as I watched him come ever closer. I couldn't sneak out of this one. I disobeyed him and I could get locked up for this.

I sat back down and waited until he walked up to the table I was sitting at. He sat down a cross from me in silence with a face I couldn't read but I was sure he was pissed.

"Hi." I said shyly as I looked at the ring of wetness that my drink made.

"Rori, what am I going to do with you?" his deep voice said softly with a sigh.

"What am I going to do with you?" I mumbled back to him.

"It's called 'under supervision' for a reason."

"Please don't send me back." I said as I looked up at his cold blue eyes.

"I'm not going to send you back. But I do want you to listen to me. There was a reason why I fought to not put a tracker back on you, I understand that you need freedom. But when I ask you to do something, I want you to follow. Rori, I do want this to work but if you're going to do your own things constantly, I might not have a choice but to report it."

"I'm sorry." I said as I dropped my head to look at the table again, letting my hair hang over my face. I have never heard Sherlock say anything so sensible in all the time I have spent with him. For the first time, he made me feel guilty.