Hello, all! I am back from holiday and therefore decided to get back to this, so here is Chapter 3! :)

-Chapter 3

As Big Ben struck 9 in the distance, Raina excused herself to go downstairs and fetch her bags from Mrs Hudson's flat. As soon as the door shut, Sherlock leant forwards towards John.

"Well? Isn't she brilliant?"

"Yeah, she's great." John looked at the door to check Raina hadn't returned, and then whispered, "Did she tell you about her mum?"

"Well, she didn't, but Mrs Hudson told me that she died quite recently. A drug overdose, apparently. I'm guessing she wasn't much of a parent, judging by the bruises Raina's got."

"What? I didn't notice any bruises!"

"I did," replied Sherlock, and John knew that if Sherlock had spotted them then they must be there. "Anyway, how did you find out?"

"Mrs Hudson told me her mum had died, and Raina explained about the beating. Her mum sounds like she was a bit of a – well, a bit of a slapper."

Sherlock looked startled. "God, really? But Raina's so…"

"So not like that, I know! But apparently she was the result of a one night stand. Imagine having to live with that. You can't help feeling sorry for her, can you? Can you? Sherlock?"

Sherlock appeared to have lost track of the conversation, gazing into space, using the face that he normally reserved for only the most trying cases.

"Sherlock?" No reply.

"Sherlock? Sherlock!"

Suddenly, Sherlock started, and blinked rapidly. "What?"

"What was that? You were just staring into space!"

"W-was I? I mean, I was just thinking about something. Nothing, nothing. You…er… you couldn't get me a cup of coffee, could you?"

Under normal circumstances, John would have said something along the lines of No-I-bloody-well-can't-get-it-yourself-you-idle-bugger, but he could tell something had really shocked Sherlock and arguing probably wouldn't help.

When he returned from the kitchen, holding a steaming mug, he found Sherlock frozen again, his eyes glazed over. But there was something different about him this time, something John had never seen in him before.

Sherlock's eyes were full of tears.

Without a word, Sherlock stretched out a hand for the coffee, taking a sip and clutching it tightly between his hands. John stood there for a moment, not saying anything, and then the door banged open.

Raina staggered in, dragging a large suitcase behind her. John hurried over to help her, but at the sound of her entrance Sherlock's head had whipped round in shock and, as his eyes met her, the tears spilled out of them. He wiped them away quickly, smiling and telling her to sit down and worry about her stuff later, but John knew that something wasn't right. Something had just clicked together in Sherlock's head, and he knew that whatever it was, it was not a good thing.

Sorry it was so short! I'll update soon, I promise :)

Review! I will love you forever!

Iliketotastetherainbow x