THE STORY SO FAR:

When John Watson threatens to move out of 221B, Sherlock confesses his love. John leaves and marries Mary anyway. Five months after the wedding, Sherlock is injured saving John. John nurses him back to health and begins a sexual relationship with him. He tells his wife who lets him bring Sherlock into their home until he is better, on the following conditions: 1)That Sherlock leave as soon as he is well, 2) That she never witnesses anything going on between the two, and 3) That John remember his promise that he would stay with her till the end of her days.

Still injured and unable to fully reason, Sherlock carries on having a relationship with John. Later it is revealed that much of Sherlock's amorousness and inability to reason was due to a drug incompatibility. Removing the drugs gives Sherlock back his mind, and he is no longer interested in a sexual relationship with John. John is devastated. At a Christmas/ Sherlock going home party, Sherlock proposes that John leave his wife and return to their old life before Mary. The pressure becomes too much, and John Watson walks out of the flat. He doesn't come home to either of them.

Sherlock glanced out of the window at 221B Baker street and then rolled his eyes. He listened as the outer door opened, and a light, rapid step charged up the stairs. There was a sharp rap on the door.

"Come in Mrs. Watson," Sherlock said waltzing over to the mantle to observe his skull before turning to face her. "Please Mrs. Watson have a seat. I see that you were in a bit of a rush this morning."

Mary Watson walked across the room and sat in John's chair. Sherlock moved to his own, feeling a bit uncomfortable as he always did whenever someone sat in John's place.

"So how was your first day back home?" Mary asked, "Did you sleep well?"

"Yes," Sherlock said, " Much better than you did. You are quite agitated this morning. Something caused you to rush over here before you even had time for your morning coffee."

"You are quite correct, Mr. Holmes," Mary said clutching her purse as she sat up in her chair, "although I don't know how you know it."

"Then let me explain," he began, " I know that you rushed here in some haste because although you are wearing black pumps on both of your feet, they are obviously not from the same pair. You must have been in quite a rush to make such a mistake. I can tell that you had no coffee from your collar. When I had the good fortune to stay over at your house, I noticed your routine. Every evening, John would program the coffee maker for you and fill it with water so that it would be ready when you awoke. You would dress somewhat haphazardly, sit down at the table and he would pour you a cup of coffee. After you had put on your makeup and jewelry, you would stand before the hall mirror and adjust your cuffs and collar. Today your cuffs and collar are not turned down, therefore you did not have your coffee, therefore John did not come home last night."

"Yes," Mary said, "Have you seen him? Has he been here?"

"No," Sherlock said frowning, "The fact that you haven't either is a bit worrying, but please tell me, what do you have in your purse?"

Mary was clutching the purse tightly in both hands. She opened the clasp and pulled out an envelope, passing it to Sherlock. "I found this this morning. Someone slid it under my door."

Sherlock took the envelope. He examined it from one end to another and sniffed it. "The paper is domestic. The handwriting is John's and the pen is one that he owns, I recognize the ink. There is a scent...strange. It's not John's scent. It's a woman's scent, but there is something odd about it. Hmm. This is interesting. Quite interesting."

"Do you think that he could have been kidnapped?" Mary asked, "I don't believe so. I think that John has just gone walkabout but he still hasn't turned on his phone, and it's been two nights now. It's the note that bothers me. If John wanted to leave me a note. Why not come into the flat? Why put it under the door? It's not like him. None of this is like him."

Sherlock opened the letter and read it. It was in John's hand. It said...

Mary,

Please forgive me for leaving the party and not coming home. I'm sorry, but I need some time alone.

If I had stayed, I might have said or done something that I would regret. Now, my only regret is that I am not with you. I'm writing this note because I don' t want you to worry.

I'm hoping that soon, I will be able to explain to you what I'm feeling, but now I haven't figured it out myself. Please don't come after me. Keep the home fires burning.

Love you,

John

Sherlock folded the letter and put it back into the envelope.

"This is definitely his hand," Sherlock said. "The message seems clear enough. Also it does not include the signals we have agreed upon for forced abduction." Sherlock laid the envelope on the mantle and began to pace.

"Yes, the message seemed genuine to me also, and it doesn't contain our codewords for trouble," Mary said.

Sherlock was standing now with his hands palm to palm. He turned to her. "You have codewords?"

"Of course. John was a military man. He liked to be prepared for emergencies. 'Keep the home fires burning' means stay at home, don't come after me. Plus he doesn't call me 'his little pigeon'," Mary said.

Does he normally call you that?" Sherlock asked furrowing his brow.

"No, he knows I hate pigeons, that's why he would only call me that if he wrote the note under duress. If the letter is longer than twenty five words, it must end with either love you or my little pigeon."

"Interesting," Sherlock said.

"What's your code?" Mary asked.

"A code is most effective when it is private," Sherlock said, "needless to say this note fits my authenticity checks at well. So tell me. What do you think we should do?"

"Go after him," Mary said.

"But he said not to."

"I know. But you are planning to go after him anyway, aren't you?"

"Of course, but I don't understand. Why tell me when you know that I will try to find him before you do?"

"That is exactly why I have come. I've come as a client. Sherlock Holmes, I would like to employ you to find my husband, and bring him back home."