"Loud, that about covers it," Abby agreed, grinning. "Granted, we're all American born and bred, but go back far enough and we connect right to the Maclaines."

"The experiment is ongoing," Sherlock replied.

John grinned. "Ever thought of going to visit Scotland?"

Elena snickered a bit at him and shifted out of the way when their food arrived. "Well, I wish you luck with that."

"I've thought about it a lot," Abby admitted. "I've just never been in a position where I could. The economy and all."

Sherlock made a vague sound and glanced at John. At least John seemed to be hitting it off well with his date.

John nodded sympathetically. "Well, it's nice out there," he agreed. "That sounds like it would be a fun trip."

Elena leaned back a bit, since she could tell Sherlock was bored already, and just watched and waited to see what he'd do.

"I've heard Scotland is really nice," Abby said. She grinned a bit. "I like traveling. I've only ever left the US a few times, but I loved it."

Sherlock was indeed very bored. So he did what anyone in his position would do: he pulled out his phone and texted a friend.

John, I find this date to be very dull indeed, when can we leave?

John nodded, ignoring his phone as it buzzed at him. "Traveling can be fun," he agreed. "Especially if you're traveling with the right person."

Abby nodded in agreement, smiling.

Sherlock knew he was being ignored, so he kept texting.

John.

John.

John.

John.

John.

John finally gave in and pulled out his phone with a murmured excuse to Abby.

After dinner, you have no patience and no social skills. Try talking to her.

We have nothing to talk about.

Abby blinked when she realized that the texting on one phone matched up with the received texts on the other phone. She couldn't help but grin a bit.

"Texting people sitting next to you," she teased. "Smooth."

"Sherlock has no social skills," John said with a roll of his eyes. "I'm afraid your friend may be rather bored."

"Ironically," Abby said, grinning, "if she were bored she would be doing the same thing to me." She glanced at Elena, although she was mostly just teasing.

Elena just grinned and waggled her eyebrows playfully. She honestly wasn't that bored, since she was busy studying Sherlock.

John snorted. "Sounds like they have the same tendency for that, anyway," he muttered.

Sherlock had slipped his phone back into his pocket and was absently glancing around the area. He had already picked out at least two cheating spouses amongst the other restaurant patrons, alongside a few other more innocent dates and a business meeting. And he was getting bored again.

"It could be worse," Abby said. "It could be much more obnoxious than just texting."

"It gets more obnoxious, eventually," John said with a roll of his eyes. "When Sherlock gets really bored."

Elena had noticed his attention wandering and decided to challenge him a little, since she knew both of the business meetings.

"Take a look at that group," she said, nodding to the appropriate group. "What do you think they're discussing?"

Sherlock raised an eyebrow and glanced at the group.

"Marketing," he said after a moment. "The use of technology thereof."

Abby couldn't help but grin a bit.

"You have my sympathies, then," she said.

"What else?" Because that group had been coming in to her work and complaining to her boss about the laws concerning marketing and technology.

John grinned. "Thanks," he said. "She doesn't seem too bad, though, I mean she hasn't tried to kill him yet."

"Students," Sherlock said. "Interns, most likely." He looked at the group again. "Likely not in their positions long, judging from their rather loud complaints. Anyone more seasoned would have made peace already."

"Is that something that happens often?" Abby asked, raising an eyebrow. "Women trying to kill him?"

"So which one of them is the head of their little intern group?" Elena grinned as she looked over at the group.

"Most people, actually. He has this habit of getting on everyone's nerves." John smiled a bit.

"Have I not sufficiently moved past the point of you needing to test me?" Sherlock asked her, raising an eyebrow.

"Must make your life interesting," Abby said, grinning.

"Yes, but that's not the point because this isn't a test," Elena said. "Not for me. Just a simple game to try to keep you amused."

"That's one way of putting it," John agreed with a grin, absently rubbing his knee under the table. Life was definitely more interesting, as well as more dangerous. And infuriating.

"I see," Sherlock said. "Instead of the interns, then, because they present a woeful lack of challenge, why don't you look around and tell me how many couples in the immediate area are actually having affairs?"

Abby just grinned and sipped her drink. The date was going better than she expected.

"At least three," Elena said. "One of them isn't even on a date with his wife, he's with his mistress."

"Two of them," Sherlock corrected absently. "One is with a mistress who is also married." He glanced at her. "Not bad, however."

"You said couples but I included a waiter," Elena said, nodding to the appropriate waiter, who was flirting with a few ladies. "Not married yet, but cheating on his girlfriend."

"Oh no, you were right about the three cheaters," Sherlock said. "But there are two men here with mistresses, one of whom is also a married woman."

Abby just watched the two.

"It's like watching a train wreck," she said quietly to John. "It's impossible to look away."