I've rather fallen for the lovely DrW, which is odd as I don't find Martin Freeman at all attractive - plus I'm not into actors who are spoken for.

I do think the character is wonderful however and wanted a little love interest for him, sometime in the future when Sherlock is back and on form again - insulting and making people uncomfortable - somehow it wouldn't be the same without that. I didn't want it to be just a romance, so there's some action in there and a loud bang.

I haven't yet decided whether to kill her off nastily or let them get married as yet, nor whether she's exactly what she seems and how exactly she knows Moriarty!? ...

I'd like to dedicate the first chapter to AlessNox who talked me out of using Xs for her name. She's still anonymous, but not censored ...

Chapter 1: They Meet

"Dr Watson?"

John was virtually on the doorstep of no 221B after an early morning stroll, when he heard the voice and felt a hand on his arm. He turned to see a girl, barely a young woman, looking up at him. She was pretty in an elfin way and dressed quirkily though not so much so that her femininity was in question.

"Yes, how can I help?" he asked, though he was sure that it was Sherlock's help that was needed and not his - he wasn't to be disappointed. Something in her eyes showed that she was though, a slight flinch when he spoke but it was gone in a flicker and he wondered whether he'd been mistaken.

"I've been reading your blogs and know that he," she jerked her head up to the window above them, "doesn't like to take on cases that don't intrigue him ... I wondered if I could run it by you first?" she looked at him expectantly, her hand still resting on his arm, and John was aware that his heart rate was rather high for a fit man who'd taken nothing more than a stroll and had been standing still for some moments now.

"I've some time to spare this morning - would you like to come up?" he asked brightly. And that slight flinch again, something about his voice or tone jarred maybe.

"Kinda defeats the object doncha think? With Mr Holmes in his lair?" she was smiling broadly now, obviously the thought of Sherlock was more pleasant than time with him, though necessary to prepare the ground apparently.

"Right, of course, then would you allow an old man to buy you a cuppa in the caff over there then?" She muttered something under her breath that sounded like 'sexy old man', but he wasn't sure - more likely to be 'sexist' and just wishful thinking on his part. He wondered exactly what it was about him that was making her so uncomfortable as she followed him over.

Over two steaming mugs of tea he listened as she told of mysterious packages that had been delivered to her over the past few months each containing large sums of paper money, hand delivered at times when she had been present but noticed nothing, no message enclosed, no idea who they were from nor how they had arrived. The amounts varied from several hundred to several thousand pounds and seemed to be on the increase, though dipped slightly after a month where she'd been travelling for a couple of weeks. The police told her there was no crime involved in giving money for nothing, even if anonymously, and advised her to keep it and spend it as she wished.

He'd asked about whether she might have a secret beneficiary or admirer who could be making these donations and she said she seriously doubted it and that her parents had died several years ago, so could not be from them. She had no rich relations as far as she knew.

"Not unless I have my own personal Magwitch - though I've never knowingly saved anyone's life, so find that one hard to believe too."

It was warm in the cafe, good to get out of the summer shower that had driven him in a little earlier than intended, and she'd slipped off her jacket at some point when telling the tale. It was impossible to tell whether she was expensively dressed or was an expert at charity shopping - he wondered the extent of her inheritance but didn't ask as he was too busy studying her. Every article of clothing that he could see was individual in style and they all worked together in a very pleasing way. A small curl of dark hair had escaped the band she wore and he found his mind wandering a little and whether the age gap really was as prohibitive as he first thought. She obviously found him unattractive though and it was more of a personal tease to be fantasising about her - it had been a long while since he'd gone out with anyone and a fantasy seemed all he'd get at the moment. And then he was aware of her smiling at him and he wondered again.

"Away with the fairies, Doc?" she was grinning impishly and his fantasy of kissing her almost became a reality until the headline of 'Famous Sleuth's Sidekick Arrested for Child Abuse' came into his head.

"Yeah, sorry, you were telling me about the packaging" he coaxed.

She seemed quite flustered and, unlike earlier, unsure what she was saying. "Different every time, as I say - I've had anything, or do I mean everything - well I guess not quite, I have the feeling they can still be inventive yet - from something that looked like several barristers' bundles - ribbons the lot, money rolled inside - to a birthday present, with girly paper, though girly pink doesn't really do it for me and it was nowhere near my birthday ... December 11th", she said grinning. "In case you want to start planning now"... neither spoke for a moment, John looking quizzically at her, and then she shook her hair slightly and started talking again.

"There's something about them that I find menacing, regardless of the party paper and I really just want it to stop. One arrived sometime between when I rushed home to shower and change and when I left to go out - I was home, then out again, in less than twenty minutes - so they must have been watching my movements. Gives me the creeps that I was in the shower when it arrived too." She looked genuinely anxious at that point but the impulse to put his arm around her to comfort was only partially paternal. "I get the impression I'm being paid off for something or bribed and that someone will want to call a favour at any moment, if I spend any of it or seem to be accepting them. I've got the lot, with the wrappings all in my bag here - not spent a penny of the money." She handed the small backpack over the table to him, touching his hand while she spoke earnestly, "Whatever Mr Holmes says, I don't want it back - spend it, give it charity, I don't care."

"Anyway, as I'd started reading your blogs not long before they started being delivered, the two things are rather associated in my mind and I've thought about contacting Mr Holmes to see if he could help. Seems too trivial for him though, but it's one of those thoughts that festered and now became irresistible, though I still think it would go beneath Mr Holmes RADA - what do you think?"

John found that he minded her thinking an interview with Sherlock irresistible. He tried to keep a cool head though and attempted to employ Sherlock's own criteria for deciding on a case, but found that he simply couldn't. It seemed to him be a mundane case of someone taking a liking to the young woman, indeed she was very likeable ... and attractive, and wanting to do something nice for her. Yet that would mean they wouldn't likely meet again ...

"Why don't I just run it by him and if he's interested then I'll let you know and you can come talk to him. How does that sound?" and that wince again, just when he thought she was warming to him a little.