Despite net best efforts, I could not find the Stranger. My studies were fine. I had taken several tests, at mummy's insistence, and had been deemed university worthy. I would begin my first year of uni next fall. In the meantime I had my experiments to distract me.

They worked for a while but my thoughts always returned to the Stranger. No matter what I did, I could not forget him. I made what I call my Mind Palace and filled a room with all the information I had gathered from observing him but it wasn't enough. And as if that wasn't bad enough, Mycroft started acting like an overbearing pompous fool because he had gotten a government job and was quickly working his way up their slimy ranks. I was getting tired. Locking up emotions was quite an effort. Even though I played my violin every night. (I never let anyone hear me, I went out to the shed to play).

Then, when I was at college. I discovered cocaine. It was a miracle worker. I didn't care. I was finally free. I was what I figured was the equivalent of happy. And then it was all shot to hell.

I paid my usual dealer and went off to find a private place. I had gotten more than usual because I was feeling off. I knew it was a bad idea to use it all at once, but I had an inordinately grueling day. For about ten minutes I was the happiest I could ever remember being. And then my heart started hurting and my vision started darkening. I felt like I was being held under water and I couldn't find a way out. I felt my legs crumble and I fell against a tree. I felt my heart stutter.

I heard shouting. "Somebody call an ambulance! Looks like an overdose. Kid, hey kid, no. Don't shut your eyes." A sharp pain spiked through my lungs, burning like vomit in my throat, as my muscles started to seize. "You're gunna be okay, you're gunna be fine, just try and breathe. Short, shallow breaths. That's it." A warm hand against my chest. It was him! The Stranger! I tried to make a grab for his arm but darkness overcame me.

I gradually became aware of a steady beeping and a very painful headache. I wished desperately for some water. As if reading my thoughts, a warm hand tilted my head up an held a glass to my lips. "We have to stop meeting like this."

My eyes shot open, and immediately narrowed to slits. It was bright.Painfully so. "If you would just tell me your name so I could find you this wouldn't keep happening."

"Are you saying you purposefully overdosed, just on the off-chance that I might save your sorry hide?"

"No. I'm saying that I find you an interesting person and I would like to know you're name."

"John. John Watson."

Finally. A name to the face. "Sherlock Holmes. I'd say it's a pleasure but seeing as I'm in a hospital, I think I'll forgo that."