Chapter Two

Sherlock was upstairs when he heard the desperate knocking on the door downstairs. He continued to lay flat on the couch as he heard Mrs. Hudson open the door to the mess of a person who was John. Sherlock pulled his hands up until his fingertips brushed his chin.

He heard John stumble in and politely refuse the tea Mrs. Hudson offered to make. He closed his eyes as he heard John walking slowly up the stairs, hesitating at the door, and drawing a deep breath to gather himself before coming in. Sherlock didn't move as he heard the door creak open.

John pushed the door open to find the familiar and comforting sight of 221b. As he looked around the room he noticed Sherlock lying flat on the sofa with his eyes closed, as he did when in deep concentration. John turned and quietly shut the door behind him and walked over to his armchair, to which he sunk into. John realized this is what he needed.

He needed to sit in a familiar place, just to sit and think in silence. And silence is what he got, for nobody moved for nearly two hours. All was quiet until Mrs. Hudson popped their perfect bubble when she came upstairs to drop off tea for Sherlock.

As soon as the door clicked open everything had unfrozen and the perfect silence was gone. John stiffened and realized,

I'm going to have to tell Sherlock what I'm doing here… I'm going to have to tell him what happened to Mary...