Lissa put the lights on in the bedroom and took a book from her suitcase. She had hoped that she could slip out and find the fastest way to release but not so surprisingly her tactic hadn't worked. But what she hadn't seen coming was that the exchange with Sherlock had actually helped her lose some of her tension. She didn't feel as anxious anymore so she decided to try to read since it had been one of her favourite pastimes.

After a while she noticed that she didn't pay any mind to anything she was reading and couldn't remember a word from the text. She sighed and just lay on the bed. She wasn't on the edge because of the dream anymore but she felt uncomfortable. She was still sweaty and she felt uneasier by every minute. All she wanted right now was a shower but she didn't want to just march to other people's shower. No, she had been taught to be polite. But she really didn't want to bother Sherlock anymore so there she was laying on the bed.

The uncomfortableness just made the already existing feeling of discomfort in her body more difficult. Her skin felt tight and her breathing became harder. She couldn't take it anymore so she paced to the living room with her book still in her hand. She came to a halt in the doorway and she didn't know what to say. Sherlock was ignoring her presence again.

'Umm, I could take a shower.'

'Your bandages have to be changed first. John can do that when he comes.'

'But he won't come for hours.'

'I know.'

Lissa looked very anxious and conflicted, she wanted to say something but she was having some internal battle. After a while, she finally hesitantly opened her mouth.

'Couldn't you change them?'

'No.' Sherlock said very sternly.

Lissa looked a bit defeated. 'Okay.'

She sat in the nearest armchair and opened her book. She wasn't getting any reading done though. Sherlock did his best to ignore her but the girl kept shifting in obvious discomfort. She tried to sigh but her breath hitched and he couldn't take it anymore.

'Okay then!' He stood up dramatically and stomped to the desk drawers.

'Get on that stool.' He ordered as he took out some bandages.

Lissa went to sit on the pointed stool and buttoned down her shirt. When Sherlock turned to her he stopped for a second and Lissa gave her a questioning look.

'You're so short you should be standing on that stool.' He muttered as he moved behind her.

Lissa gave him a strained but amused smile but lowered her gaze to the floor once she let her shirt fall from her shoulders.

Lissa's shoulders were tense. She clearly wasn't comfortable with the thought of being touched. Sherlock crouched down slowly and started with the first bandage.

Lissa let out a breath she hadn't noticed she was holding. The tension from her shoulders was easing too. Sherlock kept his movements calm and steady and slowly changed bandage after another. He was soon done with the back and he circled in front of the girl who kept her gaze firmly away from him.

Something moved uncomfortably inside Sherlock once he saw the wound on the girl's stomach. He brought his hands carefully to the bandage and peeled it off.

'I'm sorry.' Sherlock broke the rather comfortable silence between them.

'About what?'

'This one.' He said as he set a new bandage on the wound.

'That was hardly your fault.' Lissa kept her gaze still away but her eyes softened.

Sherlock didn't say anything at that and soon he straightened up. 'There, done.'

Lissa put the shirt on again and wrapped it around herself. 'Thank you... I… I know I shouldn't have asked.' Her voice was very genuine and she looked very apologetic.

Sherlock furrowed. 'Why does everyone think they suddenly have to tiptoe around me?' He asked rhetorically.

'Because no one knows when it comes to you. They have no idea how you're handling everything. They're worried.' Lissa answered for him.

Sherlock lifted his eyebrows. 'Are you saying that you're worried about me then?'

'Nah, I'm too busy with self-pity.' Lissa smiled to herself.

'Good, since I'm fine.' Sherlock said emphatically.

'It's not me you have to convince.'

Sherlock didn't say anything at that and silence fell between them.

'I will take clients in today.'

'Okay, thank you for the notice.' Lissa got up from the stool.

'I'll be in the shower.' She walked off to the bedroom again.

When Lissa got out of the shower Sherlock was nowhere to be seen but he had left the lights on. Sun was starting to rise so Lissa changed to new clothes and took her book and made herself comfortable on the sofa. This time she could actually focus and found herself lost in the book. She could let go and forget about her aching pain for a while and replaced it with fictional characters' adventures, struggles, accomplishments and feelings. She simply forgot about her own pain and realised how relieved she had been only when Sherlock emerged from his bedroom.

He walked through the living room in his pyjamas and a robe to the desk and opened his laptop.

'So you tell me that you'll forcefully keep me here and then leave me unguarded for hours?' Lissa asked amused.

'I know you're not going anywhere and you know I'd find you in no time if you decided to leave and you wouldn't get down those stairs without me noticing it.'

Lissa didn't look surprised at all. She was about to say something but Sherlock raised his finger 'No, don't.'

Lissa gave an amused smile. 'I could make breakfast.'

'Whatever.'

Lissa got up and went to the kitchen to make tea and some sandwiches. She was almost done when John walked in.

"Good morning!" John chimed. He was really surprised to see Lissa up and so lively.

'Good morning, John!' She answered from the kitchen. 'Here's breakfast!'

'Oh, thank you!' John went to sit on the dining table.

'John, I'm really sorry about last night. I must have been really out of it. I don't… remember much of anything.' Lissa looked very embarrassed and she lowered her gaze to the floor at the end of her apology.

'I think that was beyond your control and you were just sleeping, nothing to apologise for.' John smiled at the girl warmly and reassuringly. Lissa smiled sweetly in return.

'Will you eat, Sherlock?' John turned to watch Sherlock who was concentrating deeply in whatever he did with the laptop.

'I'll pass.' Sherlock said flatly not sparing any more attention to the subject.

'Your loss!' Lissa shouted mouth full of bread. John smiled at Lissa's cheerfulness. He hadn't seen her like this before. He wondered what could have made this turn on the girl's mood; was it the sleeping?

'I could change your bandages after breakfast.'

'Actually, Sherlock already did that.'

'Sherlock? Changed your bandages?' John furrowed in disbelief.

'Yes, I really wanted to take a shower so he was kind enough to do that.' John turned to Sherlock and gave him the what-the-fuck-look, but Sherlock was still ignoring them.

Suddenly a phone started ringing and Lissa furrowed in confusion. She recognised the ringtone as hers but didn't know who would call her but she soon remembered it had to be the bank. Her stomach twisted at the realization. She had no excuse or explanation for the broken mirror. She had nothing and she wasn't ready for the conversation. She slowly stomped across the room where her purse was lying. She fished out the phone and sighed. Panic started to rise into her throat.

'It's the bank.' She looked at John in panic and answered.

'Hello?'

'Yes, this is she.'

'Yes. I was there yesterday.'

'Yes, I'm terribly sorry there was an accident.'

'I don't… I don't know. I'm really sorry. I don't…' She looked like she was going to cry. John stood up and walked to her. Even Sherlock stopped what he was doing and observed the conversation.

'Yes. I understand. I…' John held out his hand and nodded at the phone. Lissa was feeling conflicted but happy to hand the phone to him.

'Hello, this is Dr Watson.'

'Yes, I speak for Miss Coleman.'

'Sir, I need you to calm down. You can not speak in that tone to my patient she is in a very delicate situation I can't talk more about.'

'I understand. I am taking this very seriously. I assure you we will handle that, but we have more pressing matters at the moment but this issue will not be forgotten or ignored.'

'Yes, we will be in touch. Good day, sir.' John ended the call and handed the phone back to Lissa who took it with shaky hands.

'Thank you, John.' Her blue eyes were filled with unshed tears. Her voice was deep with relief and desperation. She looked like she was going to break down right there so John took her into a firm embrace.

'It's alright, Lissa.' John held the girl as silent sobs wracked through her. 'You will be just fine. We will figure it all out, you're not alone.'

He guided the girl to sit on the sofa and kept holding her. Sherlock was sitting beside the desk feeling rather uncomfortable. The whole scene in front of him made him very awkward and he didn't know if he should just leave. Not knowing what else to do he got up and brought the box of tissues and handed them to Lissa. The girl took one and turned her gaze to him. Her eyes shone with genuine gratitude for the small gesture.

'Thank you, Sherlock.'