His reaction to the voice behind him was to turn and almost take a swing at the Doctor, thinking he'd been found out. He stopped himself only just in time. Sherlock was not an easy man to startle, but the idea that someone would be watching his back was almost instinctual now, something that had actually gotten him into a trouble a few times when he'd been dismantling Moriarty's network by himself.
John hadn't been there then and he wasn't here now, though, mainly because there were some things (see aforementioned network of Moriarty's) that he felt were too dangerous. Just because his friend would barrel headfirst into danger with him didn't mean he should always take advantage of that fact.
After calming himself, he stared at the man curiously, taking in as many details as he could (a bowtie, really?) and then opted to do what what would probably make the least amount of fuss and noise, holding out his hand cautiously to shake the Doctor's. There were very few reasons that were enough to prompt him to politeness, but expediency was one of them.
There were several possibilities at play here. This was someone possibly in league with the Daligig, but if he was, he'd have likely informed them that someone was snooping rather than confronting him directly. Option two: could have coincidentally spotted Sherlock, despite his efforts to be unseen, and followed out of curiosity. More likely than any other option, though, was option three: that he was someone investigating like Sherlock was.
"Sherlock Holmes," he said, opting to ignore the Doctor's strange mononym for now. A bit more business-like than callous, but only by a very small degree, he said quietly, "If you're here for any other reason than the one I am--to investigate what the Ghyll are doing this far out into the city--you need to leave immediately."
For as much Sherlock's good as the Doctor's own. He didn't need any distractions at the moment, what with that strange membrane blocking the tunnel and him having no idea how to get past it.
no subject
John hadn't been there then and he wasn't here now, though, mainly because there were some things (see aforementioned network of Moriarty's) that he felt were too dangerous. Just because his friend would barrel headfirst into danger with him didn't mean he should always take advantage of that fact.
After calming himself, he stared at the man curiously, taking in as many details as he could (a bowtie, really?) and then opted to do what what would probably make the least amount of fuss and noise, holding out his hand cautiously to shake the Doctor's. There were very few reasons that were enough to prompt him to politeness, but expediency was one of them.
There were several possibilities at play here. This was someone possibly in league with the Daligig, but if he was, he'd have likely informed them that someone was snooping rather than confronting him directly. Option two: could have coincidentally spotted Sherlock, despite his efforts to be unseen, and followed out of curiosity. More likely than any other option, though, was option three: that he was someone investigating like Sherlock was.
"Sherlock Holmes," he said, opting to ignore the Doctor's strange mononym for now. A bit more business-like than callous, but only by a very small degree, he said quietly, "If you're here for any other reason than the one I am--to investigate what the Ghyll are doing this far out into the city--you need to leave immediately."
For as much Sherlock's good as the Doctor's own. He didn't need any distractions at the moment, what with that strange membrane blocking the tunnel and him having no idea how to get past it.