Disclaimer: I do not own Sherlock.

All I remember was fire.

It surrounded me, the smoke filling my lungs as I heard the screams of the other children. I walked over to the corner as if the fire was not there, as if the flames were not creeping higher, the curtains were not black and slowly burning away, the beds were not scattered about the room and the air was not dark and hard to breathe in.

I heard the staff running around, trying to save themselves, their belongings, and the frantic children. They burst through the door and looked around, the flames immediately engulfing them, causing them to turn and run without a second glance; they neither saw nor heard me, huddle in the corner trying to block everything out.

I tried to escape it, go into my mind until it was all over. But no matter how hard I concentrated I could still feel the flames creeping closer, singing my dress. It hurt.

I felt myself shaking in fear, this was it, and this was the end. I saw my life flash before my eyes and one thing made itself painfully clear, it was short…too short.

I remember thinking I'll die before I had the chance to fully live, I wanted to have adventures like the ones Jane had told, of pirates and Indians, flying and falling in love, I wanted to have a family that loved and cared for me unconditionally, I wanted to fight crimes and solve murders, like the detectives in books I had read.

My life would end before it started, and that was the last thought I had before everything went black.

I woke up in the hospital, my throat burned and my limbs ached. My eyes looked around, only to see colorful walls with teddy bears, but no person. I tried to sit up but my body protested and I slumped back down.

"Ah, you're awake." A man opened the door and smiled warmly. "How are you feeling?"

I opened my mouth to speak, but it came out croaky.

"Oh yes, I'm afraid it may be a bit difficult to speak, would you like some water?" he lifted up the glass he had in his hand.

I nodded weakly and he lifted my head slightly and allowed me to drink, but soon I was coughing and sputtering.

"Oh dear." He smiled sympathetically. "Now, try to speak now."

I opened my mouth again but still, nothing came out.

He frowned and told me to open my mouth; he stuck a Popsicle stick against my tongue and lifted a flashlight to look at my throat.

"There doesn't appear to be any damage." His frown deepened as he pocketed the flashlight and threw the Popsicle stick in the trash. "Keep at it, maybe you'll regain speech soon." He smiled reassuringly.

I nodded slowly and leaned back into the pillow.

"In the meantime…" he looked around for a paper. "Can you write?" he raised an eyebrow.

I frowned and nodded.

"Good, good." He nodded and handed me a pad full of paper and a pencil. "If you need anything, just tell me."

I quickly wrote something down, which made him blink in confusion. I brought up the paper and showed it to him.

"'May I ask where I am?'" He read aloud, and then looked back at me. "Of course dear, you're in St. Bart's Hospital." He smiled slightly.

I glanced down and quickly wrote out: Where is that?

"In London, my dear." He chuckled.

I nodded and set the pad down. I saw him glance down at his clipboard and write a few things down.

"So then, Artemis," he read out the name. "Lovely name," he smiled at me. "Do you know why you're here?"

I shook my head.

"You've got burns on you," he answered sadly. "The orphanage you lived in burned down, do you remember that?"

I looked down, avoiding his eyes but quickly nodded.

"How old are you, Artemis?" he leaned in.

I knew full well that he knew, if he knew my name on his clipboard then he knew my age too, but nevertheless, I put up four fingers.

"You're very mature for your age." He chuckled again.

I nodded in thanks, but that wasn't the first time I've heard that, people said I looked three but acted sixteen.

"You're very smart, do you know that too?" he tilted his head slightly, I looked up at him, I wasn't very smart, average at best. He saw the doubt in my eyes. "For instance, what's four plus four?"

I frowned but held up eight fingers.

"Fifteen plus five?"

I blinked and flashed ten fingers twice.

"See!" he smiled widely. "You're very smart, I have a six year old and she counts aloud, on her fingers, and it takes her all day!"

I looked down, I just knew all that, it wasn't that special, there just wasn't anything else to do in the orphanage besides learn and talk to others, and she obviously chose the former.

His face suddenly became solemn again. "You know, you're going to have to go to another orphanage once you're all better…?"

I nodded.

He frowned again and checked the machines. "Can't you feel any pain?" he asked concerned.

I nodded again; in fact it quite hurt in my legs.

"Where?" he said before remembering I couldn't speak at the moment. "Your legs?" he asked.

I nodded.

He slowly moved over and uncovered my legs, but he held the blanket up so I couldn't see. "I know you're mature, but even an adult wouldn't want to see this." He said, only causing me to worry even more. "Wiggle your toes." He said.

I tried but I didn't feel much movement, but by his relieved face, any movement was good, which only made me even more worried.

"Can you feel this?"

…Nothing. I shook my head.

"This?"

…Again, nothing. I shook my head again.

"You might regain feeling soon enough." He said, not too worried about it. "What about your arm?" he said.

I looked down at my left arm and saw it bandaged, I frowned slightly and lifted it up a bit. I looked back at him as if asking what happened.

"You were burned there too, not as bad, but still…" he shrugged and took my arm gently. "It's healing up nicely."

I looked down and saw he had taken the bandage off of part of it; I saw the scar tissue and started freaking out.

He swiftly calmed me down. "It's okay, it's not as bad as it looks, and the scars will go away soon."

I shook my head and took the pad, jotting down the words I wished to say: How long was I asleep?

He opened his mouth but closed it and backed away sheepishly, which made my heart wrench in worry. "A few weeks…" he said.

I gaped and felt tears sting my eyes. Is everyone okay? I quickly wrote out.

A pause. "There…were some…" he struggled to say it. "Casualties." He hoped I didn't know what that meant but the shock on my face proved him wrong.

Who? How many? I wrote.

He took a sharp intake of breath and looked away. "Three." He said slowly and looked at his clipboard again. "Emily Wordsworth, the staff member," he said. "She died in the building. And Thomas Hendrickson, he died shortly after we found him." Then he looked away in shame. "And…Jane Kimberly, she died yesterday."

Jane…my roommate… I felt the tears fall and broken sobs fell from my lips. I tried to speak again but it came out raspy and it felt as if the words got caught in my throat.

"Shh…" he rubbed my back comfortingly as I leaned forward and breathed heavily. "I want you to take deep breathes." He said soothingly. "I am sorry, Artemis-"

I held up a hand to stop him and straightened my back, so I was sitting perfectly straight, my tears stopped and I looked forward.

Shocked by my sudden change, the doctor awkwardly asked if I was okay, to which I nodded, I shouldn't cry over this, it wasn't the first time someone close to me died…

I saw him lick his lips and stand up from his chair. "I'm all done here," he said. "And I've got other patients to see to, will you be alright?"

I nodded shortly.

"You sure?" he asked worriedly.

I glanced up at him and nodded more firmly.

"Alright." He nodded back and started to the door. "Feel better for me, alright?"

I didn't nod this time, I wasn't sure if I was ever going to feel better.

I swallowed and slowly got out of bed, I touched the ground only to fall and bring down the chair next to me. I looked at my legs and gasped at the extent of the damage, burns all up and down my calves, ending slightly above my knee, they didn't seem like they'd be noticeable in a few years, but right now they were glaringly obvious, and painful.

I tried to walk but wobbled onto the window, supporting myself on the surface of the window seat.

I looked out and saw the bustle of the London streets, people going about their way, not noticing the small girl staring out the window.

How lucky they must be, they didn't wobble on their legs, nor did they have red, raw skin on them or bandaging on their arms, they didn't just survive a fire and learn their best friend died just the previous day. I felt myself frown at the envy I felt, that was new…

I slipped onto the seat and noticed the tug at my arm, I looked over and for the first time, I noticed the rather large needle sticking out of my arm. I gasped and swallowed hard, I hated needles, always have.

My eyes followed the needle, connected to a tube which was connected to what looked like a rack, but it had a bag hanging on it.

I pulled the tube slightly and the rack wheeled over to me so that I could sit comfortably on the seat, I brought my legs up to my chest and pulled my childish hospital gown over them.

I watched everything until I noticed the sun going down, a few nurses had been in, surprised to see me out of bed, but said nothing, simply checked a few things on the machines and pressed some buttons.

Everything was so peaceful outside now, barely anyone walked around as the moon rose higher in the sky, illuminating the streets, so much so that I was sure they didn't need those street lamps.

I watched the stars come out and named each one in my head, Orion, Taurus, Gemini, Canis Major and Canis Minor. I smiled softly and placed me head against the wall, I wished I could see Leo, which was always my favorite one, but alas he was too far north.

I felt a bit better after looking at the constellations; it always made me feel better. I sighed and let my eyes drift shut, soon all consciousness left me.

And I remember the dream I had, the first dream I had had in awhile.

I remember I felt like I was floating, my legs didn't hurt and there was no needle in my arm. Then suddenly I was dunked underwater and I struggled to breathe, a hand was keeping me under but I couldn't make out the face of the person holding me down. My mind started to panic and I knew it was the last thing I needed.

I started calming myself down, think, Artemis, think! Judging by the hand's size, it was probably a male and adult male too. I opened my eyes under the water to see me feet didn't quite hit the pool floor…pool, I was in a pool going by the concrete and designed tiles on the edges. I looked over and saw the man's body was submerged, but only his waist down, he was wearing an expensive looking suit and shoes that were now ruined by the water.

I closed my eyes again as the chlorine stung me.

I counted each second as I struggled, knowing I couldn't hold my breath for more than ten seconds.

I couldn't kick the attacker since I was under water, it wouldn't do much good. So I brought my hand up and gripped the hand, kicking my feet as I tried to swim, knowing full well this guy didn't have to hold me down, I couldn't swim at all.

My vision got blurry as my lungs ached for oxygen. I knew I wasn't going to last much longer so as a last resort, I swung my legs up, albeit slowly since the water hindered me. I made to so my legs were pointed upwards and my feet bobbed above the surface, the man's hands came and pushed the feet back underwater.

I took my chance and wrapped my small feet around his arm and felt him lift his arm out of the water, I used his own strength against him as my head moved from underneath his other hand.

I gasped for breath as I went above the surface, but I knew I had to get to the edge of the pool before he dunked me under again. I kicked off his arm and began thrashing wildly as I inhaled large gulps of water, I choked and coughed and was fully aware of the man moving swiftly in the water towards me. I finally reached for the edge and pulled myself out, I noticed my new dress was soaked…wait, new dress? I looked down at the bright yellow monstrosity I was wearing, it weighed heavily because of the water. My pretty, shiny shoes were all ruined too.

I saw the man lift himself out too and made a run for it, but as soon as I opened the door into the large, modern house, the floor seemed to give out beneath me and I was floating once more.

Only, it didn't feel like floating, it felt more like…falling.

My hair whipped around me and the wind stung my eyes, my dress puffed up but it didn't make me fall slowly and gently like the picture books, it just lifted up and covered my face annoyingly, I knew those stories were no good. I batted it down and held my hand there as I continued to fall.

It was pitch black but for some reason I wasn't, it was like it was just a black background going on and on forever.

As I started to fear I would never land, I saw a sidewalk hurtling towards me at an alarming rate. Now I wished I really never did land.

I squeezed my eyes shut right before I hit the ground.

I bolted upright; I was back in the hospital bed. My breathing was heavy and I heard the EKG going fast, indicating that my heart was going too fast, I tried to calm myself.

I took deep breaths and lay back down. It was a weird dream…one I never wished to have again.

I turned my head to the side and saw no one there. Why did I do that? Who was going to be there, waiting for the little orphan girl to wake up? But still, I couldn't shake that empty feeling in my chest, I felt alone.

At the orphanage I always had Jane lying on the other bed, right beside me, now she was gone, and I'd have to be separated from everyone, I'd go to a new orphanage that would simply take care of me until I was of age, because who'd adopt me? Or maybe I'd be put into foster care and be bounced from house to house, maybe someone abusive would end up with me, or maybe someone kind but I'd be torn away from that person…because that's how the world works.

I knew I was too young to other people, too young to be thinking things like that. I should be playing with dolls and having princess books read to me, not playing with weapons and reading detective novels to myself.

I shouldn't know how the world works yet…

But I do.

And it hurts.