Katia slammed her fists on the door, noticing the buzzer out of the corner of her eye but deciding it was too late to be polite as she slammed her fist on the door again before resting her head on the door. Her breaths coming out laboured as she waited.

Katia didn't know if all she did have to wait was for five seconds or if she got distracted when she was trying to claw air into her lungs. But what she did know was that the door opened without warning and she flew into someones chest.

"What do you want?" The stranger asked coldly, his clear blue eyes looking down at her but she noticed his expression soften when she pulled herself backwards. Fear coursing through her veins as she tugged nervously on her jumper.

"Does Katherine Hudson live here?" Katia asked, keeping her eyes glued on the strangers black shoes before whipping her head side to side – just to check.

"Yes. Why?" The man replied shortly and before Katia could answer another man was walking down the stairs, a slightly limp in his step before he stopped behind the stranger. His eyes kinder than the taller mans and it made her feel a bit better. Not enough to stop the adrenaline pumping around her body though.

"Sherlock what are you doing? Let her in, your Mrs Hudsons nice aren't you. She's shown us a picture. Katie right?" he asked as the man – who Katia new now was Sherlock – brushed past the other man and returned up the stairs.

"Katia," she replied softly, ignoring his outstretched hand as she stepped inside.

"Ah yes, sorry," he smiled at her, retuning his hand. "My names John and that was Sherlock. Mrs Hudson has just popped out but she'll be back soon. Would you want some tea? It is freezing outside." He asked and after a small nod from Katias part she followed him up the stairs.

"Please take a seat," John smiled at her before moving into the kitchen. Katia froze for a moment before climbing into an arm chair, pulling her knees up to her chest as an attempt to warm herself up.

"How would you like your tea?" she could hear John call from the kitchen and she hated that she'd have to raise her voice to reply.

"Just milky please," she called back, attempting to smile at Sherlock who promptly left the room when she did so.

Katia bit into the corner of her cheeks hoping she hadn't already offended him, not wanting to put herself in anyones bad books already. Not at the moment anyway. Especially because she didn't know how her Aunt would take her turning up on her doorstep. She hadn't seen her for about eight years, and Aunt Kat and her Mother hadn't exactly left on good terms.

"Don't worry about him," John said kindly as he walked back into the door, handing her the mug of tea and smiling when he heard her timid thanks. "I'll assume that's why you were frowning at the doorway."

"I think I offended him," she said quietly. Her voice not much higher than a whisper. It'd been so long since she was in relatively safe company that she didn't know what to say or how to act so she just settled on sipping her tea and was thankful that John didn't try to press any conversation.

"It's just the way he is, honestly it's okay," John comforted her. He opened his mouth to say something else when Sherlock strode back into the room with a blanket in his hand. Passing it to Katia almost silently bar her small thanks.

"You were shivering," he said before he sat down. An expressionless look plastered all over his face before he lent forwards so he was closer to her.

"Who were you running from?" he asked.

"I wasn't," she stuttered, her voice still soft. Fear evident in her eyes.

"Don't lie," Sherlock spoke up, silencing her half-hearted protests and ignoring the look he was receiving from John.

"How would you know I'm lying," she spoke up, louder than anything she'd said since she entered the flat and a defiant glint entered her eye, however as soon as the words escaped her lips she pulled herself back. Fear returning as she sunk back into the seat.

"You were out of breath when I opened the door, couldn't possibly be that you were jogging through London because of the urgent banging implying you were running from someone. Judging by the tan line on your finger I would say from an ex-husband. Although that ring has been off for quite a while, I'd say four months. London is far away from where you were living because of your Irish accent with a slightly Russian accent underneath although it isn't very prominent so you haven't always lived there although you are a descendant. On your Father's side it seems. We know that you'd be running from your husband because of your hesitance around me and John. You've been taught to be silent around men which is a habit you're finding it hard to break and when you spoke louder just then you flinched in fear. Your clothes are cheap and baggy which implies you'd rather just blend in and that you got dressed in a hurry. Judging from the lack of bags I'd say he's been stalking you and is threatening you so you'd come back. You have bruises on your hands so I'd say he'd found you recently and you haven't stopped running. That," he concluded, leaning back in his seat. "Is how I know you're lying."

Silence ensued for a few moments once Sherlock finished, and Katia was still working through everything he'd said. Methodically still sipping at her tea to stop the panic boiling inside of her. If he knew that maybe he knew who her ex-husband was, and then maybe he'd send her back, she'd heard he'd put a pretty prize on her return.

"I'm so sorry," John said to Katia as he watched her expression fall before turning to face Sherlock. "How dare you – " John began but Katia's quiet voice cut him off.

"You're right. I had nowhere else to go. I haven't spoken to Aunt Kat in years since my Mother ahd her fell out but I'm out of options. The police don't help and there's a price on my return. Willing or not," she said shortly. "By all means I'll leave if I want you too."

"No," Sherlock quipped as soon as she finished talking. "Stay," he more or less demanded before he left the room.

This is my first Sherlock fic because I've always viewed it as difficult to write but fuck it I'll give it a go & I hope I did well (obviously reviews and/or your constrictive criticism is welcome.)

So yes, I hope you enjoyed my wonderful readers you!