Prompt: John realized, with a jolt of surprise and of sadness, that Sherlock hadn't thought that John would be worried - that he was used to nobody being worried about him - that he didn't understand why John should be worried about him. (Adler edition)
Sherlock Holmes was alone in the flat at 221B for the day. He was playing the violin when someone knocked on the door downstairs. He went to open the door, thinking John Watson had probably forgotten his key again.
A gasp.
"You're alive."
"I am..."
Irene Adler's eyes were shining with tears. He had never seen her cry before. Not even when she was about to be killed. She was a strong woman. She was The Woman.
He led her inside, still slightly taken aback.
She took a seat on the couch, half-smiling when she saw his violin. Then she looked up at him, and seemed to realize what she was doing.
"I'm sorry about this. I know I'm not even supposed to be in this country, let alone in your flat."
He nodded. "Dangerous."
"But I don't care. I read on John's blog that you weren't dead and I had to see for myself. I couldn't believe it."
"I don't understand why you would risk your life. You could have called, you know."
The tears were falling more freely now as Irene realized that he didn't understand why she was here.
"Because I care about you. You're my first."
He snorted. "Hardly."
"You're my first love."
Irene was as surprised at herself as he was. She watched him struggle to comprehend what she had said. Sherlock didn't understand why she would care about him. It had never crossed his mind.
For once Sherlock Holmes had nothing to say. He walked over to his desk and pulled open a drawer, pulling out a small object. Then he sat down next to her. He tried for the millionth time to read her, like he read everyone else, but once again he failed. She was different. The Woman. The only Woman.
He reached out to touch her face with one hand, wiping a tear away, and with the other he placed the small object in her hand.
He smiled. She started laughing.
"My phone!"
