Sherlock solves cases from his flat the week after that. Sally brings him case files and he sits on the couch with a blanket. Sometimes, she brings him takeout and they talk. (Well, Sally talks. She goes on and on about her day and he listens politely because he owes her.)

Sally doesn't apologize for how she treated him before. Frankly, he doesn't want an apology. To Sherlock Holmes, apologizes mean pity, and Sherlock does not want to be pitied.

The elder Holmes kidnaps her again, but with a better purpose this time. He needs ideas on what to do for his one-year anniversary with Lestrade.

Sally understands.

Sally still has to fix the whole situation with John Watson.

Sally drops by the clinic one morning, faking a cough. John is her GP. The second he walks into the consultation room, he knows he's really, properly fucked.

"Sally," John's calm exterior hides the anger Sally is sure is surging underneath. "Everything okay."

She smirks. "Fine."

She explains the whole situation with Sherlock. She chooses to leave out the bits about Isaac and the suspect list. If Sherlock ever wants to tell John that, he can. It's not Sally's place.

It is Sally's place, however, to correct John on a few minor points.

"It's not Sherlock's fault. About what happened to Mary, I mean."

John suddenly looks very uncomfortable. He's about to speak when Sally stops him.

"No. You listen. Sherlock couldn't do anything to stop it. He tried and tried and tried, but he couldn't do anything. It's not his fault, John. It's no one's fault."

John is silent, but his eyes well up with tears. He chokes back a sob. "I know."

"He needs you, and frankly… You need him to." Sally walks out the door, leaving John to sit in the chair and think.

John goes back to Baker Street, taking his two-year old daughter Liz with him.

Liz's first words are 'corpse'. Sally's not sure if that's a good thing or not.

Sherlock goes back to solving cases. The solve rate skyrockets to 94%. John blogs about it. Sherlock forgets his pants. Little Liz tries not to eat the evidence.

Sally is pretty damn proud of herself.