'How totally and utterly embarrassing' thought Mary as she waded to the bank. Sherlock and John had run to her aid, but she smiled and tried to remedy the situation.
"Oh there you are," she said "my headache's gone."
"Jesus Mary, are you ok?" said John, he was secretly relieved that she had interrupted the awkward conversation he had just been involved in.
'Bless him,' thought Mary, 'he looks so worried.'
"Yes I'm fine, I'm Australian remember, we're perfectly apt at swimming in waist deep water."
"But you're soaked, we should get you home."
"You two go ahead, I have something to do." said Sherlock, who promptly left them as John put his jacket around Mary.
As soon as he was out of earshot Mary started to skip about in excitement.
"Did you hear him John? He said he loved you! I was so excited I fell in the lake!"
"Are you sure you're ok? I think you might be concussed."
"Now don't be ridiculous, we both heard him, he loves you!"
"I still don't think he meant it in more that a, you're an invaluable companion, kind of way."
"I saw the way he was looking at you!"
"God, can you stop spying on us? It's more than a little bit creepy."
"Sorry, I'll be more careful from now on, try not to fall into anymore lakes."
John laughed, wondering how it was that this girl could be more interested in the relationship between him and Sherlock than either of them would ever be.
A while later they were sitting in the living room together, with tea of course, and a new set of dry clothes.
"Do you think he's gone to buy you flowers?" asked Mary.
John almost choked on his tea, "I don't think that's very likely."
"You never know"
"Trust me, I know."
Mary's phone buzzed, it was a text from Sherlock.
Tell John to meet me at Scotland Yard SH
"Could be a date"
"I doubt it," said John putting on his coat, "see you tonight."
"I'll be here, I'm always here."
"Cheer up; we might come back holding hands."
"That would be nice of you."
He left, and Mary went back to her lesson plans thinking about how boring her life was as soon as John and Sherlock weren't in it. At least she did think that until someone put a hand over her mouth and she was bundled into the back of a van.
She hit her face against something hard and she heard someone say her name as she tried to sit up.
"Mary is that you?"
"John?"
"Are you ok?"
"Fine, you?"
"Never better."
"What's going on?"
"Well it's probably not Mycroft, though I wouldn't put it past him."
"What are we going to do?"
"Don't worry, Sherlock is expecting me to come to Scotland Yard, he'll come looking for us."
"How will he find us?"
"He's Sherlock."
"Right, stupid question."
The van stopped and they were ushered into a warehouse of some description. Once they had both been tied to chairs and un-blindfolded their captor greeted them.
It was Irene Adler.
"Hello John, Mary."
"I'm sorry, do I know you?" said Mary.
"I'm Sherlock's girlfriend."