Welcome and thank you for clicking upon this even though it had the World's worst summary ever! I have to say that this is one of the worst things and longest things that I've ever written, so enjoy it... I hope you do.

A Poisoned Woman

Irene Adler had always been Sherlock Holmes' love interest. She excited him and made him very curious, because in many ways, she was a female version of himself. And that entertained him in his own way. He never admitted that fact to anyone, including his dear friend John Watson, but it was plain to everyone and they subtly knew it. He had never swoon around a woman in such a way, as he had done with Irene. Even Molly Hooper, who he saw a lot of the time in his life, had been hit by the insults that women would receive if they tried to get close to his heart. However with 'The Woman' he was a completely different man. Trying to impress her with his massive intellect, was his only moral when she was placing her hands all over his shoulders. His speech muddled sometime sin her presence, as her pupils dilated when he was near. But, when one day a rather interesting woman came into his life, he forgot all about Irene Adler and her games. His new interest went by the name of Scarlett Hines. To John, she was known as 'The New Woman'. But Scarlett's time is running out, can Sherlock help her before her time runs does truly end? Or will everything end in disaster for John and Sherlock's friendship?

Chapter 1

Scarlett Hines

Scarlett Hines sat quiet, dark and alone on a train that would hopefully take her to a new and better life than the one she had throughout her childhood. She was heading towards London, a place where she had never visited let alone lived in before, and was looking forward to exploring when she arrived. Well, that was her positive attitude before she boarded the train. As soon as the train sped away from a station somewhere in Devon she hated the thought of London. Her journey was boring and made her want to shout at everyone around her; leading her to the conclusion that she wouldn't very much like London which was full of people. The countryside was dull and plain, filled with animals that were raised to either give birth, or go to the slaughter house in the last few moments of their life. "Dull. Boring." She sighed at everything the voice on the train said, even though she rarely paid attention to it any way. She watched the World go by as if it were a movie that she was being forced to watch; her head fixed on the trees as they zoomed past her eyes. This experience wasn't new to her though. Throughout her life, Scarlett had been carted onto a train back and forth between her parents. Her mother living in Devon and her father in Portsmouth. It wasn't that hard to reach the other, but neither parent really wanted to waste a few hours by driving to their daughter's second home. A place where they had to see the other half of the parenting. They had split when she was 2 years-old hoping to prevent her from hearing arguments and crying in the night when she grew up. She didn't miss that in her life; it was still there in the worst of moments. At the end of every month she would be shipped off to the other parent, each time wanting them to actually spend some time with her for once. Neither of her parents really cared about their daughter's well-being. They didn't care about her at all, considering the year she was being bullied they both allowed it to continue. She was transport to them. Something that would remind them of the other, and they didn't want that. Now Scarlett Hines was making her own way through life, trying to find a better place for herself. Her first attempt was in London. Her aunt lived there for many years and now it was where her grandmother lived. She was a landlady on Baker Street and had offered for Scarlett to come and live with her. Naturally Scarlett accepted. She didn't want to put up with her parents any more and she was sure that they were happy she was gone. Her parents didn't care about her, so why should she have to put up with them.

At 12:00 Scarlett made her way off of the train. Her body was tired, but she was determined not to show it. The open air was fresh on her face; for once she enjoyed it. London was modern and full of life to her as she strolled through the ever-growing crowds. Although Scarlett didn't like people very much, she would allow everyone to brush against her for the moment. Eventually, her anger started to build up though, she had never had to walk in the middle of so many people before. For her, Devon had always been quiet. Mrs Hudson, her grandmother, had sent her a text a couple of hours previously telling her that an average height blonde man by the name of John Watson was waiting for her at the station entrance under the clock. Scarlett didn't know how she'd recognise him, but she knew that when the time came she would find the right man. Walking through the station she looked every person that past her up and down, picking out the pieces of their character that she could deduce from what they were doing. After walking for several minutes towards the exit of the station she spotted a man with a tight holding frame. His hair was a deep blonde, the ends a slight grey. He held himself very well, Scarlett guessed that it was due to previous war experience. His clothing was dull to her. Jumpers and trousers were not her thing. As she walked towards him she started to hear his breathing, it was heavy. It was obvious that he didn't like places like this because he would prefer to be at home. Either that or he was worried about someone at home. It could have been either. He turned to her and smiled as she approached. With a slight wave he moved towards her and took her bag. "Scarlett Hines, I presume?" He held out his hand to her, hoping that she would take it. "John Watson." She smiled and nodded taking his hand slowly. "I thought you'd be smaller, just look at Mrs Hudson." Scarlett let out a small chuckle, she didn't know whether she'd like John, but he was nice for the moment.

"I presumed that you'd be taller." Scarlett joked back at him. She could see that John would be easy to get along with. "My nan told me that she had two men living with her. Are you two together?" John knew that this conversation would come up. Mrs Hudson had always thought that he and Sherlock were together so it was no surprise that she had told Scarlett about it.

"No. Sherlock and I just live together and work together. Solving crimes that the police can't handle." John was vague in his response due to the same question being asked so many times to him. "How old are you? Mrs Hudson never mentioned."

Scarlett had to think before she gave her response. She was older at heart than she was truly. Most people said that her mind and heart were older than her body, as if she was alive far before she was born. "Oh. I'm 20. I'm going to study Forensic Pathology at Bart's Hospital. Do you know it?" John smiled.

"Of course I know it. It's where I studied before leaving to join the army. I was an army doctor you see..." John started.

"Afghanistan or Iraq?" Scarlett interrupted John's train of thought and of speech. She had known from his stance when she had first seen him that he had some army background, so now all she had to do was ask if he'd been to Afghanistan or Iraq.

"Well. Afghanistan." John stopped in the middle of the road and paused his words. "Here we go again." He mumbled to himself. "How did you know that, exactly? My friend asked exactly the same question when he and I met, but I let that one pass" Scarlett smiled at him and then pulled him out of the road, a bus zoomed past them beeping its horn at John. He had been standing right in the way of the traffic.

"You know, John. It's not good to stand in the way of traffic." She started walking again. "My father used to always hold himself in that way. He went to Afghanistan for a few years as a soldier. When he came back I always remember him standing like you do. Walking like you do. Holding himself like you do; in terms of your hair and nails." She was happy with what she remembered from when she was two years old. John wasn't shocked by the things that he was being told. He was shocked because it was from a completely different person from what he was used to.

John could only reply to Scarlett with, "Oh Sherlock is going to love you." and then for the remainder of the walk they were both silent. Not even looking at each other. When they arrived at 221B Baker Street John stood at the door and looked up, he was happy with it. Scarlett liked the look of it from the outside, but would it be suitable for her on the inside?

John knocked 3 times and then stood back off of the step. From inside Scarlett could hear the movements of furniture, the clunk of shoes and the brushing down of what her grandmother wore. Then the door opened. A small woman wearing a flower patterned dress smiled at John pulling him in for a hug. "Hello Doctor Watson. Thank you for picking her up." Mrs Hudson then stepped out of the door and walked forward to her granddaughter. She held out her arms signifying a hug, but Scarlett didn't accept. Instead she shook her hand and walked inside.

"Hello nan." Scarlett said when she made it into 221B. She didn't like personal contact, even from those that she was family with. Mrs Hudson took her coat and led her into the living room. It was very beige. In fact, everything she had was beige. Scarlett didn't like it much, but she thought mentally that she'd have to put up with it whether it was to her taste or not.

"You've met John Watson then. Do you like him?" Mrs Hudson was weary with what she asked the girl because she knew how bad her mother was at this age.

"He's okay I suppose. Bit too boring though. I hope there's more interesting people around London." Scarlett was blunt with her words. She did like John really, but it was in her nature to act like she was blocking everyone else out. That is what she had to do throughout her life. It's not like it was going to change straight away, especially not for someone who lived above her.

"Your father explained to me why you're hear, briefly. What's your side of the story?" Mrs Hudson was confused as to why her granddaughter would want to come and suddenly live with her.

Scarlett didn't answer for a few moments, debating on whether she should tell her grandmother the truth. "Well. I'd had enough of being crated from one to the other. It wasn't good for me in terms of education when I was younger, let alone now." She paused and placed her hand inside her pocket clutching onto a piece of folded paper that was inside. "Also, I've heard that Bart's is a great place to study. You told me that John and, what's the other man's name?" Scarlett had forgotten. She never normally forgot names, but she hadn't met Sherlock yet so she couldn't place the name to his face.

"Sherlock, dear." Mrs Hudson replied quickly.

"Oh. Of course it is. Well. You've told me before that they know a pathologist who works there, so that could benefit me." Scarlett then lowered her head slightly taking the paper out from her pocket and handing it to her grandmother. "I-I got my results, as well. And I figured that it would be good to do something with my life. To keep myself busy. Or to just find a new friend at least," She paused and tried to hold back the tears that had formed in her eyes moments before. "...before it's all over." Her head drooped as Mrs Hudson opened the paper. Her eyes scrolled over the writing and printed words that were inside and then her eyes too filled up with water. They both then reached in and cuddled, gripping each other tighter as the news started to sink in.

Mrs Hudson tried to look at the positives. "John Watson could be that new friend that you want?" She was joking slightly, but inside she wanted her granddaughter to fulfil the things that she had set out to achieve. If it was her goal to gain a new friend then Mrs Hudson would help her in any way she could.

After a few more minutes of the two women crying into each others necks, Mrs Hudson wiped the tears from her cheeks and stood up. "Right. You've met John. Now it's time to meet the other half." Mrs Hudson smiled down at Scarlett before walking to the door.

Scarlett stood up before replying, "Isn't he the man that insured your husband's death?" She was interested in what he could do, but at first she didn't show it. She wanted to make herself look like she was scared of him slightly.

"Yes dear. That's why I let him have the flat upstairs so cheap. Well, they share it out, but it's cheaper than I would charge for someone else." Mrs Hudson smiled again. She was happy that her husband had gone, Scarlett could see it in her face. "Come along, I'm going to take you to meet the man himself." She opened the door and turned back just to say, "Sherlock Holmes."

Thank you for reading. I'll post the next chapter either tomorrow or the day after. R&R please! :)