Chapter One: I Get Along Without You Very Well
It had been three years. Three years since that fateful day when Sherlock took his own life. John had moved out of the flat on Baker Street and moved into a new one over in Battersea. Ms. Hudson had offered to let him stay in 221 B, despite him not being able to make the rent, but he had decided against it. Not only was it unfair to put sweet old Ms. Hudson out like that, it was just too much to be surrounded by so much, well, so much Sherlock. Even after three years it still hurt John. It wasn't that sharp stabbing sensation that it used to be. No, it had faded into somewhat of a dull ache in his chest. Sometimes John forgot about it completely, only for it to sneak up on him out of the blue; maybe he was getting Chinese late at night, or he had spotted someone in a scarf and coat… Either way, John was actually getting along quite well. He was still a little short on cash, but he had found some consistent work at St. Bart's, with some help from Sarah. He had started dating a very nice young woman by the name of Catherine and it was going quite well, at least John thought it was. John had settled quite nicely in his post Sherlock life. His leg had started acting up again and there was a slight tremor in his left hand, but John just assumed that it was just a result of his more sedentary lifestyle. Really, everything had been going quite well. Sure, it had been a little dull, but maybe that was just what John needed.
Today, John was smiling as he waved down a taxi and set off for work. He had a twenty minute commute; not ideal, but he could deal with it. He pulled out the day's paper from his bag and began to read it while enjoying his breakfast. Dog Saves Owner From Burning Building! Our Country's Building Debt: What Will Our Future Hold? Deadly Chemicals In Your Cat's Food: Are Our Children At Risk? "More of the same," mumbled John, turning to the next page, "Good, God… How does this garbage qualify as news?"
"Bored," said a painfully familiar voice in John's head. John sighed. Three years, three whole years and that voice still hadn't left him. He had resigned to the fact that it never would. He didn't mind it too much really. It was almost nice that a little bit of Sherlock was still with him; even if it did lead to a horrible sinking sensation when John remembered he would never really hear that voice again.
John spent the rest of the ride to work silently staring out the window. London seemed so peaceful from inside a car. How ironic, as peaceful was certainly not a word most would use to describe London. Busy, noisy, chaotic… Those were the type of words most people would use to describe the city. Not John. These days London was just peaceful. No adventures, no crazy crime scenes, just good old London in all of its glory. John couldn't honestly say he didn't like this new, old London. However, he couldn't honestly say he didn't miss the old chaotic, Sherlock Holmes London either. Oh, for God's sake! Three years! Stop dwelling on it. You are getting by perfectly fine! thought John. He really was thinking about Sherlock much more than normal this morning.
The taxi came to a stop just outside St. Bart's. John paid the driver and hopped out of the car with a quick, "Thanks." The driver gave him a nod and drove off. John hurried up the steps to the front door, careful to give a wide berth to a certain stretch of sidewalk.
"Good morning, John!" chirped the new receptionist. She'd only been working at Bart's for a few weeks but she already knew everyone by name.
"Good morning Amelia," smiled John.