Chapter 11 for you all!

This one's sad... :(

Disclaimer: Sherlock (Le BBC version) does not belong to me. Eden is mine! A few others as well! But mostly, thank Mark Gatiss, Steven Moffat, and their wonderful creative team that has brought Sherlock to life. Thank you, Gatiss, for introducing me to Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch. For that, I owe you my undying gratitude.

From the very first conversation, held in the back booth of a seedy diner, Mycroft and Eden had been on the same page. Because of where Eden had come from, she'd been gifted with the rare opportunity to view Mycroft, and Sherlock and John as well; first as abstract characters, and then complex ones before she was ever introduced to them as living, breathing, unscripted individuals. Because of that, Mycroft felt (and knew) that she understood him in a way that no one else could, or ever would, again.

The silence between them; in the six months they'd been acquainted, had never been awkward, their conversation never stilted.

But on that day, a Tuesday for once, Eden sat noticeably still, face carefully blank, hands clenched tightly together in her lap. "What are you saying?" She asked stiffly.

In the safety of his pockets, Mycrofts hands fisted, and Mycroft had to force them to relax. He watched Eden's pale face in the reflection of his office window, too cowardly was he to turn and face her directly, to make eye contact for this difficult conversation.

This was why one should never care.

"I believe this season is coming to its…finale, if you will."

Eden's gaze snapped from her lap to stare at Mycrofts back. She took a deep breathe.

"If-" She had to pause to clear her throat, and Mycroft chocked down the pain in his chest to the beginnings of a heart attack…obviously. "If this has anything to do with my run-in with Moriarty," She began, but he interrupted her.

"I'm so glad you brought up The Incident," He began. "You see…the event's that transpired do, in fact, worry me, that were you to…continue on your current path, that you would disrupt the carefully planned timeline that has already been put into motion."

Eden's lower lip trembled and Mycroft had to consciously stop his body from recoiling at that obvious sign of distress, the way it so wanted to.

"So…I'm a distraction?" Her voice was quiet.

Mycroft closed his eyes. Then he spoke.

"London is no longer in need of your services."

Eden nodded woodenly, unsurprised. This was not a new emotion…she'd felt this way before. She stood robotically, and found herself in front of Mycroft's office door without having made a conscious decision to leave. She paused before she left though, and turned, a split second decision relaxing her face into a smile.

Mycroft, were he a lesser man, would've cried at the open look of genuine like on Eden's face. The last time he'd cried, he was six months old.

But oh, how he wanted to weep in that moment.

"I am so thankful, Myc, for everything." She winked. "Don't forget to run: everyday."

And she was gone.

Mycroft allowed himself 60 seconds. He plopped rather inelegantly down in his office chair, thumped his forehead down onto his desk, closed his burning eyelids, and breathed deeply. When those 60 seconds were over, Mycroft straightened, pulled a new file in front of him, and firmly told himself he didn't feel guilty.

He didn't.

John was only slightly surprised when Eden walked into the clinic. She'd seemed out of sorts since…well. She probably just didn't want to be alone, and John understood that. So with an easy smile and no questions, he put her to work.

An hour later, after two head colds, a rash that was "almost" interesting but mostly gross, and four crying kids, John had Eden perched in a chair across from him, a cup of tea in hand, and an empty break room that was perfect for checking in with, were he being honest, one of his top two favorite persons.

John was NOT diagnosing her.

John knew, with the wry smile she shot him, that he hadn't fooled her either.

"How are you holding up?" He asked.

Eden frowned at her cup of tea, then forced a smile onto her face when she looked back up.

"Me? How are YOU doing?" John's brow furrowed, and he shrugged.

"Oh, I'm just fine." He forced a smile as well.

Eden waited him out, and he chuckled. "Not falling for that, then?"

"Try again." Her voice was rueful, and John sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

"I know Sherlock." He began. "I know how he is, and for the most part, I enjoy how he is. But this? The way he is with Moriarty? The silence, the brooding, the violin playing at all hours of the day that's only ever ominous sounding, the constant texting to who knows anymore, the pitying looks from Mycroft, from you-" Eden winced, and John broke off mid rant. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be." Eden answered automatically. "It's how you feel, which means it's important, and it's important to me."

John smiled, his shoulders relaxing. "Thank you." With less than a few sentences, and Eden had soothed him.

She shrugged. "For what? Sherlock's still acting weird, and Mycroft probably knows something you don't and-" Eden stopped.

John sipped his tea. "Thank you for…being here. For empathizing, I suppose." HE shrugged. "For caring."

Eden leaned forward, suddenly serious. She reached out a hand and John moved to clasp it. "John." She began. "I do care. Always will. Whether I'm around or not. Don't forget that, ok?"

John smiled nervously. "It sounds like you're going somewhere."

Eden took a deep breath and leaned back in her chair. John let her hand go reluctantly. It was John's turn to wait her out.

After a few moments, she caught on, and a grudging smile pulled her lips upward. "My internship with Mycroft is over." She spoke bluntly.

John pursed his lips. "So it really was just an internship?" He asked, and Eden smiled, more genuinely this time.

"YES john, it was. But it's over now." Her eyes darted to the right, and she sighed. "I've business to attend to in America now, important business."

John frowned. "So you're leaving?"

Eden grimaced. "I know it's not the best timing, and if I could I'd probably never stop bugging you, but there are things, people in America that need my attention, and I've neglected them for far too long, and"

John stopped Eden's explanations with a raised hand. It was his turn to grimace. "No. I can't keep you trapped here forever, and I of all people understand duty. Will you be able to pop in?" He grinned at the underlying meaning at that statement, and Eden made a face.

"I would want to; but too often, and I would distract-" Eden trailed off, but John was nodding.

"I understand." He smiled a little sadly. "The second you have free time though, you stop in, alright?"

Eden nodded immediately. "I absolutely promise!" She spoke quickly. "The very moment." She pulled her mobile out of her pocket and pushed it towards John. "You can also ring me; any time, hours of the day."

John typed his number into her phone with a smile. "There for me even if you can't physically be there?"

Eden smiled warmly. "Exactly."

The two stood at the same time, and it was John who stepped around the table to embrace her. She hugged him tightly, sniffing audibly a few times before stepping back with a watery laugh.

"You're going now?" John assumed, and Eden nodded slowly.

"You be good now, you here?" She joked, and John smiled.

"Not on your life."

Eden laughed, and John grinned, and the two shared one last look before Eden glitched away.

John sighed, heart heavy.

6 months.

It had only taken six months for him to open his heart up to another person.

And America had stolen her away, even if only for a short time.

If America weren't so far away from Sherlock, John might even have considered a move.

But it was too far from Sherlock….and it had kidnapped Eden away from him.

Damn America.

Eden was sitting in Sherlocks armchair when Sherlock himself had swept in from whatever pressing matter had kept him.

It only took a glimpse of her, curled up and pensieve, to have Sherlock freezing in his tracks. He watched her for a few moments.

"You're leaving."

Eden didn't look up.

"I am."

Sherlock frowned. No further information?

"Why?"

Eden shrugged.

"I am no longer needed here."

"Bull."

Eden looked up at Sherlock, slightly shocked.

"Try again." He demanded.

Eden's lips tightened. "I have things to do in America that will-"

"You're lying."

Eden's nostrils flared and Sherlock crossed his arms.

"The truth this time, if you please."

Eden huffed, then gave up. "I'm a distraction, and at the very worst time. It's best that I remove myself."

Sherlock tilted his head. "This is because of The Incident?"

Eden said nothing, and for Sherlock, that was answer enough.

He would not try to dissuade her….in a way, she was right. But Sherlock; though it would be more fruitful for her to leave…she'd no longer be a distraction, and she'd be SAFE, Sherlock didn't want her to go.

"You are valuable to my needs." Sherlock spoke stiffly, and Eden shot him a disbelieving look.

Phrased awkwardly as it was…it was true. She was bright, asked riveting questions, soaked up his teaching, dealt wonderfully with his moods, apologized/explained for his odd behavior better than John at times, she was a wonder in having to deal with Mycroft, was a silent encouraging presence when no one else understood him, and she comforted John…which was a beautiful reason for her not to leave.

"John will need you."

Eden flinched…visibly flinched, as if Sherlock had hit her, and Sherlock paused.

Sherlock had used John as a tool to manipulate Eden into doing countless things she didn't want to, and she'd never before responded so negatively. A dawning notion had Sherlock's eyes narrowing.

"I will be here for John when he needs it." Eden's harsh reply, her use of the future tense, her cold gaze directed his way; all were confirmation of the hypothesis that had occurred to him just moments ago.

Sherlock's eyes widened, and Eden stood slowly.

"You know."

"Yes."

Sherlock appraised Eden more closely. Before this conversation, only 13 people had been aware. His parents, Molly, Mycroft, the homeless network he required assistance from, and now…her.

The only person who could've told her…was Mycroft.

"When I am needed," Eden spoke gruffly. "I will return. Until then, it is better that all distractions are removed." Eden nodded once. "It means we won't see each other for a while…it's best this way."

Sherlock frowned. "It is the second time that you have mentioned the word distraction. The very idea that you would somehow be a hindrance to this mission is laughable…indeed, you could only be helpful. Where did you get this horrid idea that you would be a distract-" Sherlock's eyes narrowed, and his lip curled.

Eden shook her head. "Don't Sherlock. I agree with him." She shrugged. "So do you."

Sherlock opened his mouth to argue…but knew that he couldn't. So instead… he simply nodded.

"You will be missed."

Eden rolled her eyes. "John has my number. I'll be here as soon as it's all over."

Sherlock had not been speaking of John. But admitting that would be admitting weakness…so he stayed silent.

Eden smiled. "Thank you Sherlock." And she glitched away.

Sherlock growled.

After all Eden had been through with them, the last six months, and she was chocked down only as a distraction?

Mycroft would be hearing from him.

But first….John would be upset. And Sherlock had been a bit…short with him lately.

He'd be home soon…Perhaps he could make him tea?

Eden glitched to a park a few blocks from where she lived. She needed the walk….she needed to clear her head.

London had been….interesting.

She'd learned so much more than she ever thought she would. Myc had been harsh, their last conversation, but she'd needed to hear it. He'd been right, and she'd been sentimental; she cared too much. It was a good thing that Mycroft didn't care at all; otherwise she might've stuck around, messed it all up.

It was hard to leave John, knowing that soon Sherlock would be leaving him too, and she had decisions to make regarding the older man she'd come to think off as a surrogate father, but he'd taken it well. And she would see him soon.

Sherlock….He had a death to make look real, an organization to take down, travel to do. He would be too busy to miss her, if he ever even thought of her at all. When he was done with all that, well, she'd see him THEN.

Till all of that went down…she really DID have things she wanted to do….open a medical center, go on more regular dates with her boyfriend, finish taking down Hydra, check in with Shield, Jane Foster, and all the rest….she definitely wouldn't be bored!

Besides….

It would be good to be just Charlie again….even if it was only for a little while.

Epilogue on its way!

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Love all of you very much!

~CLC~