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After that, there are two conversations Bella wants to have very possibly more than she has ever wanted a conversation in her life.

One of them is going to have to wait until Charlie gets home, and that will be hours yet. (It's also the one she wants to have the most, but there is very little she can or would do about that, so she is putting it very firmly aside for now. Just because she knows about vampires now doesn't mean Charlie is in any more danger than he has been every other night he's worked. There is no logical reason to try to drag him home now. She can and will wait.)

(She's always known his job was dangerous.)

Prior to Milliways showing up, Bella had just arrived home after dropping Sherlock off; giving him a ride from school when he wants one has become routine.

She jumps right back into her truck and very carefully does not speed on her way to the Stark residence.

The other conversation she wants, she can have right now.

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"Even distracted, your observations were useful," he says.

Bella relaxes, smiling a little.

"Thanks," she says, then,

"You are going to be very good for my observational skills."

She can only hone her skills by herself so much. Having someone to keep up with is going to be a whole different story.

He grins.

Bella grins back, and allows herself to enjoy the moment.

"So how did you get that scar?" Someone else would tack if you don't mind my asking onto that question; Bella doesn't bother. If he minds her asking, he won't be offended, he'll just tell her.

Bella understands the role and importance of niceties in society, but she's finding that she really enjoys having a friend she can just skip them all with.

"Ah."

He half-smiles.

"The short answer is, I fought some vampires and came closer than I'd like to losing. The longer answer - which I trust you to be discreet with - is that Reed Chandler did not die of a mysterious illness. He was abducted from Cal's birthday party and turned into a vampire. I tracked the vampires who did it. I found them. They objected to my interference. The vampire Reed attacked several members of his family, tried to turn Cal, failed, and died."

Failed, and died.

Bella's hand slips into the pocket where she put the UV laser that Sherlock just gave her.

Her estimation of this reality's Cal Chandler rises several notches.

(She does not think of Charlie.)

"I'll be discreet," she says.

". . . do you fight vampires often? Or was that a special occasion?" She didn't dislike Cal, just hadn't liked him as much as his double, and it was obvious how close he and Sherlock were. (Even if he hadn't reacted very - nicely - to the idea that they might be dating.

She wonders a little just how much the two Cals would like each other.)

It's very easy to imagine Sherlock grabbing a laser and taking off to fix things for his friend.

"I... have a bad habit of going out for long walks at night when I'm in a mood," he admits. "Or sometimes just for personal amusement."

". . . I hope you've been a little more careful since," Bella says.

She is not especially impressed with this revelation, but he obviously knows how to protect himself, so she's not quite as unimpressed as she could be.

"Oh, that's why he sent an entire gang."

She's still not impressed. But it will probably be Charlie she worries about more tonight.

"The average Sunnydale vampire is genuinely not a threat to me," he says. "Tony and I found out about vampires in the first place because one of them attacked me and I fought him off unarmed. But yes, I should take more care for my safety."

"Yes, you should."

She emphasizes the word just slightly to let him know that his word choice did not go unnoticed, but her tone is mild.

"The number of people who care about your safety keeps growing."

("She is my friend. I have two now.")

"Thank you," he says.

"I will take that into account."

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