Author's note: Thank you for taking the time to read my story. It is my first fanfic. I have role played several characters over many fandoms, but never attempted a full story on my own. Sherlock won't be making an appearance for a chapter or two, but I promise it will be worth the wait. I plan on developing the character of Rachel a lot. She is abrasive at first, but my hope is that she will become mor. Like able. Please, review so I know how I am doing. I plan on publishing at least a chapter a week. :)

The Accident:

After three days in London, Rachel was ready to go home. Her family had brought her here after her college graduation for a gift, expecting that she would enjoy a month in Great Britain. She would have much rather have spent August back home at the beach in Florida. Her mom and dad had woken her up early this morning to go on a double decker bus tour of the sights. Her boredom was second only to her unwillingness to wake early. She begrudgingly chose an outfit appropriate to the weather, which was crisp. A light pink jumper, paired with skinny jeans tucked into black knee high boots would do well. She styled her hair down, with loose curls parted to one side.

The door clicked shut behind her. Her parents, Martha and James, were already downstairs in the restaurant for breakfast. She made her way to the elevator, but not before stopping at a mirror in the corridor, checking to make sure her hair was in place. Everything seemed to move slower here to her. Back home the elevator would have been here by now. Finally, the doors opened to the lift, and she stepped in, quickly pressing the button for the ground floor. When the doors did not shut, she impatiently jammed her finger on the "close" button, and the doors creaked shut. With a is mysmall shudder, the lift lowered and she leaned impatiently against the wall. The lift stopped to allow more passengers on, and each time Rachel would sigh and rest her head against the wall.

Finally arriving on the ground floor, Rachel took no time in making sure she was the first off the lift. The heels of her boots made a satisfying click on the tile floors with each steps which motivated her to quicken her pace. She found her mom and dad sitting at a table set for three by a window overlooking the beautiful hotel garden. No sooner than she was able to sit, the waiter brough her a large plate with her breakfast. She said nothing to the man, but simply nodded her head in acknowledgement of his presence.

"Beans again?" Rachel lifted her spoon from the beans, allowing the sauce to dribble down back into the bowl. She turned her lip up in an unsatisfied look.

"It's traditional, Rachel." James replied, trying not to be too condescending for fear of setting her off into one of her foul moods.

"It's disgusting." She said, slumping back into her chair. She ate what she wanted, leaving the rest to be discarded.

"Well, it's time, ladies" James rose from his chair and helped his wife stand while offering his arm to Rachel. James was smiling from ear to ear, the pride he felt radiated from his face.

At 9 a.m. she found herself looking down the side of a red double decker, her mother and father linked arm in arm in front of her quietly talking. Her mother would occasionally giggle in response to something her father said. Rachel rolled her eyes, and went back to her phone. Thankfully, her parents had the foresight to get her a phone sim card to use while in the U.K. so she could keep in contact with her friends. She was currently messaging her boyfriend, Jason, on Facebook and sipping the latte she had picked up from Starbucks before being dragged to the bus stop that morning.

The bus opened its doors, and her parents, being the first in line, boarded the bus and continued up to the second deck. She sat down on the second seat in the upper deck, straightening her sweater. Her Starbucks coffee in hand, she settled in for what was sure to be another boring tourist activity with her family. Her parents sat in the seat in front of her and the bus cranked to a start.

Twenty minutes into the ride and she was nearly asleep. Her chestnut brown hair was blowing into her face, and she lifted her hand to brush the strands out of her eyes when a jolt sent her hand slapping into her face, and her body suddenly airborne. Before she had time to react she was tumbling out the side window to the ground below, her head smashing against the side of the bus. Her world went black before she hit the ground.

She woke up, the amount of time that has passed was unknown to her. Noises were swirling around her. The sound of ambulance sirens, people screaming, and the police shouting instructions. She attempted to move her head, but the pain that surged through her neck stopped any further movement. Nausea welled inside her stomach. Closing her eyes, she willed sleep to come but it never did. A medic kneeled beside her to check her vitals. His voice was reassuring, letting her know that her wounds appeared to be superficial. A gurney wheeled up beside her and the two medics slid a board under her back, strapped her to it and lifted her onto the gurney. Panic welled in her throat.

"My parents!" She squeaked out.

"We will do everything we can for everyone involved" The Paramedic was to the point, and not wanting to get her hopes up. The accident was very serious.

And with that, she was lifted into the ambulance, and the doors shut, sending her on her way to the hospital.

Three medics were in the ambulance with her, each one performing a task in tandem with the other. A needle tore through the skin of her left forearm as the medic set up a line for an I.V. while another wrapped a blood pressure cuff around her arm. The third was busy placing the stickers for the leads of the heart monitor. Rachel seemed oblivious to all that was going on around her, the only thing she could bring herself to do was stare out the window of the rig watching the cars behind them.

"Miss? What is your name, miss?" The sound of the medic's voice brought her back to reality.

"Rachel Westmoore." Her voice was unsteady as she replied. The throbbing in her head was relentless and now a dull ache was beginning to creep into her left arm.

"Any allergies?" The man asked, while taping down the catheter in her arm to steady it.

"None." She croaked as the pain became overwhelming and tears overflowed.

"Alright, Rachel, we're going to give you something for the pain, you will feel a rush of dizziness and a bit of a warm feeling as the drug goes through your system, but that will soon subside."

Just as he said, a wave of dizziness came over. It was like being in the ocean and a large wave had overtaken her. Instead of fighting it, she allowed her body to succumb to the relief and she drifted into a deep sleep for the rest of the ride.