the suitcase

They were following Madam Picquery and her aurors to the Investigation Department to discuss what had happened with the obscurial, his creatures and Grindelwald.  The department was buzzing when they arrived, filled with aurors communicating with their international counterparts as to the arrest of Grindelwald and furiously scheduling another meeting of their international delegates.

“Mr Scamander, I’d like to offer you an apology once again, we are indebted to you. I might add though, please do ensure that your magical creatures do not escape again else wise you will be found in contravention of our statute.” Madam Picquery stated.

“Whilst I appreciate your thanks, I really don’t think I’m the only one you should be apologising to. Tina, I mean, Ms Goldstein here equally as much helped me in containing my magical creatures as well as fighting and capturing Grindelwald. She had the courage to stand up to him and the compassion to help Credence before you killed him,” Newt offered in clipped tones.

Tina looked on aghast, and thankful. She’d never seen someone speak in such a way to Madam Piquery. 

“Yes well, Ms Goldstein will be fully reinstated to auror status owing to her efforts. We thank her for continued efforts in maintaining order in our world.” Piquery answered diplomatically. 

Tina dipped her head.

“Thank you Madam, it was only ever my wish to make sure I did my job. It is a shame you took so long to see that. To see that I only wanted to stand up for what was right.” 

Newt looked on, surprised at Tina’s newfound confidence in herself. He smiled. He wasn’t the only one who’d changed it seemed. 

“Yes well all is well whilst we have Grindelwald now. Despite your eagerness to work I’d say you need some time to get your things ready to rejoin the investigative team Ms Goldstein, you may return whenever you feel comfortable to do so,” she said with an inline of her head towards Tina, “Mr Scamander, will you be heading back to the Ministry in London soon?” She added. 

“I intend to do so in a weeks time.” He replied.

“Well in that week make sure that you have indeed collected all your creatures and be sure to take them back with you.” She ordered.

“Yes Ma’am.” He said, bringing his hand to his head in mock solute. 

“Farewell Mr Scamander, Ms Goldstein,” she said, returning her attention back to the aurors in front of her. 

Once out of earshot, Tina turned to Newt, smiling at him. 

“Thank you, for what you said back there. You didn’t have to, even after all the trouble I’ve caused you” she said, eager to show her appreciation.

“It’s no trouble, you deserve to be in that team, Tina. They need you more than they think,” he smiled, gazing at her before looking once more at where they were going.

They both stepped out onto the street, turning once more to face each other. The street lamps were lit as the night was darkening, the clouds still ashen grey from the storm. No-maj’s walked past completely unknowing of what terror had transpired earlier that day. 

“Well, I-I better be getting on home. Queenie’s probably preparing dinner and I wouldn’t want her to be alone,” Tina said. Her unsureness returning to her voice, not knowing whether they would now part ways. 

“Yes, I’m sure she needs her sister,” Newt said somewhat sadly. “I think I might take Madam Piquery’s advice actually, I’m sure I spotted a Billywig earlier near Jacob’s apartment. Though they generally are better found in the early mornings once they’ve just woken up and their energy is at it’s lowest, so that will have to wait until morning.” He said, thinking out aloud.

“Well, that sounds like a plan. In the mean time, might you want to join Queenie and I for dinner. You’re welcome to stay overnight of course as well, even in your case if you wish.” She offered. 

“I would like that very much.” He said simply, looking down bashfully. 

“Shall we?” he said, offering her his arm.

“Newt,” she whispered, clinging to the lapels of his coat. Her eyes were wide and searching for his.  Her vision zoomed in and out again. Suddenly everything was silent.

Then all at once she could hear him. “Tina, listen to me, I’m here. Everything is going to be perfectly fine, we just need to get out of here,” he said calmly. He was holding her up, one arm around her waist and the other bracing her forearm. He shook her gently.

“Are you okay?” He asked imploringly. 

“Newt, what are we going to do? How do we get out of this?” she breathed heavily, swaying into him.  “We’ve done what we can, this isn’t our fight anymore,” he said, trying to soothe her.  “But what do we do?” She asked exasperatedly.  “Tina, do you trust me? This will all be alright, I know it may not seem like it now, but I promise it will. And I promise you’ve got me,” he said.  With this she fell into his arms, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. 

“Do you promise?” She whispered.

She’d been keeping up to date with all the recent publications, anxiously awaiting the day she’d see the words Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander sprawled across the papers. Alas, that day had not yet come, and she was no closer to seeing him again. She was preparing herself breakfast and getting ready for work when Queenie dropped the envelope on the table.  “For you,” she smirked.  “Don’t get too excited”, she added as an afterthought. Evidently having read her mind. Tina frowned, having not seen where the post had been sent from. She smoothed over the paper of the envelope, flicking it over to see who it was addressed to and sent from.  To Miss Porpentina Goldstein... London, The United Kingdom. 

As quick as she could she was tearing open the envelope to reveal the hand-written letter inside:

‘Tina,

I’m writing to you about my book. It’s going to be published very soon, and in that vein I hope to be seeing you again soon for my personal delivery. As promised. I cannot wait to come back to America, I will be visiting Frank to see how he is going. And of course, to see you. I’m awfully sorry this letter isn’t longer, I don’t often send any. 

Don’t bother replying, as by the time you will be reading this I will already be on my way. 

Yours,

Newt Scamander.’

She held the letter to her chest, biting her lip to contain her joy. 

“As promised indeed, Mr Scamander.”

Holmes had been in the morgue more often than not lately, ever since the development of the Ricolleti case. As well as this, his dear friend Doctor Watson was to be away with his wife to the countryside in order to mend their relationship. Though, If he were to be honest with himself, he was more than intrigued and curious as to how Miss Hooper managed to maintain herself day and night, in the presence of Anderson, being so perfectly disguised as a man.

Of course, working as a mortician was not something that she had to disguise at all. Her expertise was second to none in London, something she knew and prided herself on. Despite such pride, he still recognised the small grimace that graced her lips whenever Detective Inspector Lestrade congratulated her on what an excellent man she was whenever she produced the answer to his cases.

This was no puzzle to himself, of late he found himself becoming more aware of the simple things that his manhood allowed for him to do and be recognised for. Such simple privileges was what he was so desperate to query her about, to coax her into revealing herself to stun the patriarchy of Great Britain. How marvellous. He also wanted to know how he himself had missed the small detail of her gender for all these years. Curiosity it seemed.

Pushing his stool back, Holmes left his experiments to wander over to where Miss Hooper was working away. She was huffing, evidently from the irritation caused by her shoe brush moustache that was plastered above her lip. He wanted nothing more than to take it off her and see her as she really was, but alas, not in this time and place. He walked around the slab several times, eyeing her work and dexterous fingers perfectly making the necessary incisions to the corpse. It was after the seventh time that she finally chirped up.

“Do you have any input to share Mr Holmes? Or are you simply ‘observing’, ” she bristled, not looking up from her work.

Her tone made him hesitate for a mere moment. Hadn’t they been getting along lately ever since his little discovery? Had he said anything of late that would make her be so clipped? Humans he thought. He decided to take a calmer approach.

“I was simply admiring, Hooper. You do have such excellent hands when it comes to your work. Alas, I also was thinking about how to make my proposition to you, you might think it to be inappropriate,” he said evenly.

“I am sure you have already surpassed saying anything inappropriate that others might not tolerate in the past, Holmes. Do continue with your ‘proposition’,” she smirked slightly.

At that he straightened up a bit. She was clearly enjoying herself and the ease that their new dynamic allowed for.

“Well, I was considering asking you to come by my quarters at Two Hundred and Twenty One B this time on the morrow, but if you are as displeased with my presence now tomorrow, then what may be the point?”, he stated with fond sarcasm.

She turned to him then, eyeing him carefully.

“What be the point indeed?” , smirking again.

He chuckled inwardly, she did enjoy the liberties that playing the man allowed for.

“I was merely curious as to your opinion on disguises, I was wondering if you could assist me in some manner.” He said pointedly.

She returned to her work for a minute, evidently mulling over his request. Though he knew her answer almost immediately.

“Tomorrow evening then. Goodnight, Holmes.” She smiled.

“Goodnight indeed, Hooper.”

____________________________________________

The bell below his quarters gave a shrill ring and was soon to be opened by the huffing Mrs Hudson, his housekeeper. Miss Hooper had arrived and just on time. As expected.

He was pleasantly surprised when Mrs Hudson opened the door to let her in that he noticed she was not in her excellent disguise and indeed dressed as a woman. Any man would have wished to court her on sight.

“Mr Holmes, this is Miss Hooper, a client she tells me. Would you like me to bring anything up for the two of you?”

It was her who answered before he could gather himself.

“No thank you, Mrs Hudson. Thank you so much for the offer though, it is only a small business visit this evening.” She stated graciously.

With that Mrs Hudson left his quarters to head back to the kitchens. He stood indicating for her to sit opposite him, to which she obliged. He sat back in his chair, steepling his fingers under his chin as he eyed her carefully. She was grinning at him, evidently understanding that he had questions and waited for him to query her.

“How are you, Molly?”, he asked simply?

She gasped slightly, evidently pleased that he used such intimate terms with her, despite this being their first official meeting with her out of her disguise.

“Well, Mr Holmes. Whilst playing Man does give me freedom in both a fashion and social sense, I do prefer to be myself despite the restrictions.” She smiled.

“Yes, those restrictions. I have come to know them of late, thanks to you and the case.” He dipped his head slightly. “You have my admiration.”

She smiled wistfully before replying.

“Thank you, Holmes, but you do know what it is that I really want do you not? More than one man, or two, if we are to include Doctor Watson, to recognise my work, my sex, for the people that we are.” She admonished.

“Do call me Sherlock, we are in my chambers after all.” He sighed, “ I do though, Molly, understand now and yes, it is why I called you here tonight. I want to help. Whilst I know that to seek a mans help in this situation is to go against your cause, I offer a more strategic lending of help that will give you the recognition that you deserve that will seem to occur from your own volition. And it will indeed be of your own volition. I just wish to assist.” He stated quickly.

“Why, Sherlock?” she asked.

“Because you’re brilliant. For too long you have stood in the shadows.” He replied simply.

“We shall see, Holmes.” She said.

He stood suddenly, offering indicating for her to join him.

“In the mean time though, Molly, would you care to join me in working on my latest experiment?” He smiled fondly at her.

“I would indeed. Alas, I had been hoping that was what you had really called me here for. You always speak of them at St Bartholomew's and I am ever so curious.” She replied happily.

“Well, Molly. My latest experiment is testing the coagulation of blood in the severed arteries of the hand. I do believe your expertise will be in order.” He chimed.

She walked over to his makeshift experiments laboratory, humming slightly at the sight of all his equipment and several, it would seem, experiments that he had running at a time. Making her way over to the severed hand, she placed on the leather gloves sitting on the table until she spun round to find Holmes staring at her.

“Oh sorry, I didn’t ask. May I?” she said hurriedly.

“Of course, Molly. You’d need never ask. Do not forget what we spoke of before.” He replied, with a slight nod of his head.

“Yes,” she said, looking back to the experiment.

She lifted the hand that had been perched on a stand on the table, analysing the blackening of the fingertips and the thickness of the blood that sat idly within it.

He watched her as she mentally took notes of everything. Perhaps he would have to have her stop by his quarters more often. She could prove useful, and with John’s companionship seeming to become less frequent, she would indeed offer him the company that he desired. He decided to voice his thoughts.

“Molly, how would you feel as to the proposition of you joining me often here, to work on experiments and for general company?” He queried.

“It would be most enjoyable, Sherlock. But what is the public to think if a young maid be coming by a gentleman’s quarters so often without them seen to be courting?” She broached in innocent mocking tones. Eyes sparkling with mirth.

“Let them think what they will, they will eventually change. Do you not think so?” He said pointedly.

“I do,” she said hopefully.

“I do not mind though, either way. If you were wondering.” He stated.

She smiled at that, looking down with a small smile playing on her lips. He walked over to her and took the leather gloves off of each of her small hands. He held them in his own, turning them to look at the small calluses that had formed evidently from playing the man. Before he knew what he was doing, he was holding one such hand out from him and bent down to place a soft kiss over her knuckles.

They both seemed to brighten then, a faint blush dusting each of their cheeks.

“Perhaps we should have Mrs Hudson prepare us some tea after all?” he smiled.