Susan ran up the stairs, grinning. When she reached the doorway to the parlor she threw up her arms and cheered, "They agreed to hire me!" John poked his head out from the kitchen and said, "Congratulations! Would you like any tea?" "Oh I'd love some, thank you john," she said, taking off her coat and folding it gently into her bag. Sherlock looked up from the chair and asked blankly, "Who hired you?" "The café downstairs," She said, turning around. "You know you'll never be able to make enough money to afford your own food and rent working there," Sherlock said. Susan sighed, the smile drained from her face. She shrugged, "There isn't a lot of work available right now. I've already been lying and saying I am 17, but it's harder to fake training." John brought in the tea and set it on the coffee table, he poured five cups. Susan smiled politely, and said, "Thank you." There was a tense silence in the room as John handed Sherlock his cup and then sat on the other end of the couch. Susan didn't drink her tea, she just stared at it. John noticed and after a few sips he cleared his throat. "Perhaps we're going about this the wrong way? Perhaps we should think about things in the long term?" "Or perhaps we should let her plan out her own future while we get back to our case," Sherlock said, standing up. Susan nodded weakly, John looked at her sympathetically. "Come on John, I finished my tea, let's go," Sherlock said, grabbing his coat. Susan looked at him and nodded again as if it to say, don't worry, just go. John sighed and followed Sherlock, glancing back at Susan one last time before heading down the stairs.
"John? Is Sherlock out?" Susan asked timidly from the kitchen. John looked up from his typing and said, "Oh yeah, why? Do you need something?" "Um I just… I thought about what you said, and I would like your advice if that'd be alright…" She said, taking a few tentative steps towards him. "Oh about your plans for the future, right, sure," John said nodding, glancing at his computer and then shutting it. "Thank you," Susan said, she moved slowly across the room and sat at the other end of the couch. She took a deep breath and shook her head. "I have no idea John, I have no idea what I am doing." She covered her face with her hands. "Oh, dear," John said, moving closer to her and gently setting a hand on her shoulder. "I know your schooling hasn't been the most consistent thing in the world, but that doesn't mean there aren't other options..." Susan uncovered her face, and stared at him, her eyes filled with doubt. John moved his hand from her shoulder and asked, "Well what sort of things do you want to do?" "Well, guess I want to help people who need me." John nodded slowly, and said, "You know what, I am going to talk to Lestrade." Susan looked at him with surprise. "After the way you were able to talk to that suspect before, there has to be something you can do there." He reopened the computer and began typing out an email to Lestrade. Susan started grinning, she leaned across the couch and hugged John from the side around his shoulders. He looked surprised and awkwardly patted her arm. Susan leaned back and said, "Thank you, thank you so much John. You don't know how much I appreciate this." "Hey, everyone needs someone to look out for them, don't they?" John said, smiling slightly. "Make sure to use the name Susan Baker, I am still technically a fugitive after all," she said with a slight chuckle.