The taxi stopped in front of a rather shabby looking building which sent Sherlock into a frenzy.

"What are we doing here?"

Lestrade sighed and opened the door. "This is where John lives. In a second floor flat with his wife Mary."

Sherlock shook his head vigorously. "No…no I don't believe you. John would never live in such a place."

"Sherlock!" It was obviously Lestrade was becoming annoyed with how his old friend was behaving. "After you…left…John was never the same. He lost his job, he's spent all his money on therapy just to feel normal again and he's still not there. This is all he can afford considering his limp seems to have mysteriously returned and he's currently disabled and unable to work. I even offered him a desk job working beside me and he wouldn't take it." Sherlock leaned his head down shocked by the news of his friend's slow and unhealthy decline since his departure. "What did you expect? Did you think John would just suck it up and move on? It affected him more than you care to think. You were his best friend."

"I know that!" Sherlock snapped. "I had to do it Lestrade. Don't you understand? I had to do it to protect him! THEY WERE GOING TO KILL HIM! DO YOU GET IT?"

Lestrade sighed and nodded knowingly. "I get it, but the question is…" He lifted his eyes up towards the second story window where John's movements were somewhat visible through the white curtains. "…will he?" He then stepped out and we followed. We climbed the steps slowly and quietly not wanting to cause too much of a commotion. As we approached the top of the stairs Lestrade stopped and turned his head towards us. "You two stay put. I'll come back for you when he's ready." He smiled and patted Sherlock on the back as sort of a reassurance before making the rest of the ascent without us.

I backed up against the wall and rested my head against it closing my eyes for only a moment. I could hear Lestrade knocking on John's door and my heart started to beat harder. I was nervous for the both of them and I knew how important this was for Sherlock. I hoped everything would turn out just the way he planned, but I could feel it in my gut that this reunion wouldn't be a completely happy one. I inhaled deeply trying to keep my composure and then I felt it. I threw my eyes opened and looked down just in time to see Sherlock's hand fall into mine and he squeezed it tightly just as he always did when his nerves were getting the better of him. I smiled and ran my free hand against his shoulder.

"Sherlock you're…"

"I know I am." He slowly turned his head and stared at me with his piercing blue eyes. "Just…know that whatever happens I'm glad you're here with me."

I could feel the butterflies beginning to form in my stomach as we stood there gazing into each other's eyes. I could see the glimmer of hope in his eyes that there may still be something there between us. I wanted nothing more in that moment than to feel his warm lips against mine, but the moment was short lived. The moment Sherlock heard the door open he released my hand and turned away anxious to hear the conversation which sounded more like an argument.

John stood there glaring at Lestrade holding himself up with his black metal cane. "What do you want?" Lestrade wasted no time barging into John's flat completely uninvited which only pissed John off more. "Get out! You can't just walk into my flat unannounced!" John turned and began to hobble after him. "LESTRADE! I SAID GET OUT!"

"John. We need to talk."

"No no I'm done talking! I've told you everything that happened and I'm done talking about it!" His voice began to crack as he seemed to relive Sherlock's suicide all over again. "Just please leave me be." Just then his wife Mary came from around the corner wanting to know what all the commotion was about. "GO SIT IN THE KITCHEN! I'M HANDLING THIS! ALRIGHT? GOD!" She did as she was told and John continued his rampage. "You just don't know when to stop do you? I've answered all your questions I've submitted to your lie detector tests, which by the way I didn't appreciate, I've done everything you've asked me to! Do you know I've been to my therapist 3 times this week? 3 times! You've caused me so much stress I can't even function properly anymore!"

"John just sit down please."

"NO I'M NOT GOING TO SIT DOWN! THIS IS MY HOUSE I'LL DO WHATEVER THE HELL…"

"Sherlock is alive."

The moment those words left Lestrade's mouth John dropped his cane and it was apparent that the very breath had escaped from him. "Wh…what?" He managed to say before backing up and running into the couch flopping down on it in shock. "This…this isn't funny Lestrade. What kind of a sick twisted person are you?"

Lestrade then appeared in the doorway and signaled for us to make our appearance. Sherlock wasted no time almost falling flat on his face from running up the stairs so quickly. He burst through the open door and upon seeing his friend felt a calm warmth fall over him. He smiled at John who just sat there with an expressionless face. "Hello John."

John stood up his limp miraculous cured as he walked over to Sherlock and stood mere inches away from his face. I waited for them to hug something along those lines, but instead John cocked his arm back and punched Sherlock right in the eye. I watched as Sherlock plummeted to the ground and John quickly jumped on top of him eager to deliver more blows. If it wasn't for Lestrade stepping in and breaking them up I'm sure John would have beat him to a bloody pulp.

John began to cry uncontrollably as Lestrade restrained him. "HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME? YOU WERE MY BEST FRIEND! I TRUSTED YOU!"

I helped Sherlock to his feet as he stared at John with one eye open while his other one swelled up. "I had to do it! They were going to kill you."

"THAT'S YOUR EXCUSE FOR EVERYTHING ISN'T IT? YOU DO THESE THINGS TO PROTECT ME? WELL A LOT OF GOOD THAT DID!" Just as he began to flail again I caught his eye. "AND WHO IS THIS?"

I jumped slightly startled by the sudden attention that was brought my way. "Um…I'm Cassandra an acquaintance of his."

My being there for some reason seemed to calm John down. "Of Sherlock's? Sherlock you have a girlfriend?"

"She's not my girlfriend." He retorted. "She's just…an old friend I grew up with. Are you bipolar? Just a minute ago you were bashing my face in now you want to know if I have a girlfriend?"

"Well forgive me, but it just made you seem more human." John continued to struggle to free himself. "Let me go Lestrade I won't hurt him." Greg slowly released him and John approached me. "Do you think he's really sorry for what he did?"

I wondered at first why John was looking at me for answers, but I think he knew that I knew Sherlock better than even he did and he wanted to know for a fact that Sherlock was capable of human emotion. "He is. He told me everything and I know he would never do anything to purposely hurt you he's not like that. You're his best friend and believe me you're as rare as they come. He would never do anything to jeopardize that unless he absolutely had to. You know that as well as I do."

I watched as a smile crossed John's face and I knew my answer had been enough. He turned to Sherlock and unexpectedly threw his arms around him enveloping him in a strong hug. "I forgive you Sherlock! I ALWAYS BELIEVED IN YOU!"

Sherlock smiled softly and returned the hug which was enough for Greg and I to know it was time for us to leave. We headed back downstairs and stood on the sidewalk waiting for the two friends to emerge from the old building.

"So um…Cassandra." Greg said trying to make small talk. "How long are you going to be in town for?"

"I'm leaving tomorrow. That was the agreement Sherlock and I had."

"Do you want to go?"

I shrugged. "He doesn't really need me and quite honestly I don't think he really wants me around."

Greg chuckled. "He doesn't think anyone notices, but I see the way he looks at you."

"He looks at me like some sort of a distraction."

"Because you are. A good distraction mind you…" Before the conversation went any further Sherlock and John emerged talking as if they had never even been apart. "Sherlock. I heard you're sending this pretty little lady home tomorrow."

"That's the plan. Oh by the way John's going to drop you off at the train station tomorrow morning."

I furrowed my eyebrows completely annoyed by what he had just said. "But…I thought you were taking me."

He groaned. "I'm injured and I'm anxious to get back to work I don't have time to be dropping people off."

"Well…you will come see me off won't you?"

"Cassandra. Look I'm a very busy person and you're grown woman you can get yourself on the train. You don't need me to hold your hand." He shuffled past me and entered the taxi leaving me standing there trying not to cry.

I looked at John who could see how hurt I was by Sherlock's sudden change in demeanor. "Um…I'll meet you at Baker Street later. I'm going to take Cassandra out to get some coffee."

Sherlock stared at his friend a little confused. "What? You're married John. No need to go gallivanting through London with her."

"SHERLOCK!" He said in a rather harsh tone knowing that everytime his friend opened his mouth he was only hurting me more. "I'm taking her out for coffee. I will meet you there later." He then slammed the door shut and stepped back onto the curb beside me. We watched as the cab drove away disappearing around a corner. "Right then."

I looked over at John still trying to keep myself from completely breaking down. "You don't have to do this."

He just smiled and extended his arm out to me. "I want to do this. Any friend of Sherlock's is a friend of mine. Besides…I'm rather curious as to why you of all people would hang around a man like Sherlock Holmes. There's obviously something I'm not seeing."