A/N: We are gradually getting into 'A Scandal in Belgravia' territory now!

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Elizabeth's leg bounced up and down as she sat on the sofa. She couldn't cope with this indoor life anymore. Standing up suddenly, she walked over to Sherlock who was sat in his chair, eyes closed, most likely in his mind palace. She poked him once. He didn't move. Her brow knotted in the middle as she pushed him with a bit more force. This time his eyes fluttered open and he looked up at her.

"What?"

"Please, please, let me go with you on a case."

"No."

"I have nothing to do here at the flat other than watch crap telly. Even Mrs H has a better social life than me!"

"You're still technically under house arrest. You shouldn't be going anywhere."

"And I can't go anywhere unless you or John accompany me somewhere. So please, let me go with you next time."

"You already go shopping with John."

"Nobody likes shopping though."

"You also already get to listen to the cases."

"Yeah, but I want to solve one. Or at least go on a case because I know you would solve it. I'm being driven insane by being unable to do anything else. I'm an active person. I need to be active. I need something more stimulating before I wither and rot in this flat."

"No."

"Please. Please, Sherlock. Little dog walks to the shop aren't enough. I need a thrill, something exciting. I'm already helping you track down Moriarty. It's not my fault nothing's progressed. He's good at hiding and he's good at waiting."

The itch was becoming more. She needed a job. Not to just sit around. But she couldn't steal. Or leave. They would throw her in prison if she did that. And if she was losing it now then she would hate to see herself in prison. Having suppressed the urge for so long had truly unsettled Elizabeth. She almost seemed as manic as Sherlock when there weren't any cases for him to do.

"I am bored. I know you get bored too. Please."

There was a sympathetic look in Sherlock's eyes after she mentioned her boredom, "Fine."

"Yes! Thank you!"

She hugged him and he stiffened up initially at the surprise embrace however it was fleeting and over in a flash, as she knew he wasn't keen on the hugs. However, Sherlock missed it when she left for the couch in the living room.

* * * * * *

Sherlock and John had taken a case at a local theatre of which Elizabeth joined them on. As always, the case was solved within minutes of Sherlock having analysed the scene. Elizabeth didn't find it as exciting as she thought she would though and hoped there would be better cases in the future.

As they walked across the stage, past police officers and tape, Elizabeth noticed she gained a few odd looks from some officers. They notably murmured to each other when the trio walked past.

"It was safe for me to come, right?" She was worried she had made a mistake.

"Well, depends on how good of a thief you were?" Sherlock asked back.

"You were the only ones who caught me."

"Then I don't think you'll have much to worry about as long as you don't say what your previous job was." He glanced at her reassuringly.

"I think people are just surprised that Sherlock Holmes has a female in his midst. He often scares them off." John teased quietly with a smile.

Elizabeth shook her head at him.

Changing the subject quickly, Sherlock asked, "So, what's this one? 'Belly Button Murders'?"

"'The Navel Treatment'?"

"Eurgh!" Sherlock frowned.

"John, that is vile and yet works way too well." The thief chuckled.

As they headed backstage, Lestrade saw them and approached with news, "There's a lot of press outside, guys."

"Well, they won't be interested in us." Sherlock spoke confidently.

"Oh, who's this?" Lestrade questioned when he saw Elizabeth.

"New lodger also interested in solving crimes." John answered him quickly.

Nodding, Lestrade said to Sherlock, "And yeah, that was before you were an internet phenomenon. A couple of them specifically wanted photographs of you two."

Glaring round at John, Sherlock exasperated, "For God's sake!"

"DI Greg Lestrade." The official detective held his hand out to her.

The thief smiled, "Elizabeth Parrish. Nice to meet you."

"You really interested in solving crimes too?"

"Thought I'd give it a go." She replied knowing full well she would have tended to commit them instead.

John quirked a smile as they walked on. But Sherlock stopped when he spotted some costumes some of the actors used on a rack in a dressing room. In a split second he grabbed two hats.

"John. Elizabeth." He tossed the hats the two of them before grabbing a deerstalker as his own, "Cover your faces and walk fast."

As Lestrade escorted them to the back door he said, "Still, it's good for the public image, a big case like this."

"I'm a private detective. The last thing I need is a public image."

"I thought you preferred consulting detective?" Elizabeth teased him.

"Oh shush." He said throwing a look back to her as he put on his deerstalker, preparing himself to go out of the exit door.

"Why did I get the worst hat?" Elizabeth pulled a face as she looked at her big, extravagant pink hat.

"Stop complaining and put it on." He grumbled as he opened the exit door.

Elizabeth followed after the two men who tried to pull their coats up and hats down as far as they would go to hide themselves from the photographers. Flashes and flashes blinded the three as the persistent photo-takers continue to hassle them all the way to the cab.

* * * * * *

The trio were sat in 221B the next day. Sherlock in his chair reading one newspaper, John on his laptop and Elizabeth reading another newspaper on the sofa. Each had a cup of tea near them.

"Hatman and Robin. That's a cute headline." Elizabeth smiled when she read this out loud to the two men, "The media love you two."

"Yes, and they're also loving you too." Sherlock flashed an article up to John and Elizabeth.

"'Hatwoman - who's the new girl at Baker Street?' Same paper, must be a follow-up story." John noted.

"I should probably keep out of the headlines. In case Jim sees..."

"I have to agree but that won't happen now. The papers are like predators; once they've caught smell of you, they're not going to give up."

"Well, we'll just have to be more careful then, won't we?" John tried to bring a lighter note to the conversation.

"Yeah. I mean, Jim hasn't done anything for a while has he?" But there was a notable look of worry woven into Elizabeth's expression.

* * * * * *

"When is your plan going to happen, Jim?" Seb questioned his friend and boss.

Jim looked out of the window of the car absent-minedly before looking at the sniper, "Soon. Why? Are you worried, Sebby?"

Sebastian wasn't fond of the nickname but didn't react to it, "Just wondering. Things have been slow."

"Well, Ms Adler plans to pass on my message to Lizzie when she meets with them. Shouldn't be too long until that happens now. And if she refuses, then you know the back-up plan..."

"Yeah." Seb nodded in acknowledgement, gaze firmly on the road ahead of them.

Jim looked out of the window again, "We will *ruin* her."

Without looking, the consulting criminal turned the radio on and he quietly sang along to the song he loved so much as he breathed on the window and drew a smiley face on the condensation.

"Stayin' alive, stayin' alive, ah-ah-ah..."

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A/N: I hope you all don't mind my stories being very dialogue-centered 😅