She told the police everything, about how she was kidnapped and about the really cute guy with the British accent who rescued her.
"Is he one of you guys?"
"No, we don't have anyone from England working in this station," the Chief was scowling at her.
"Shame... He was... good..."
"Ms Mallard if you would please stop fantasising and start filling out the witness statement."
"Oh, right, sorry."
John quietly knocked on the door. He knew that teenage girls sometimes needed... to be alone. He carefully opened the door.
"Ellie?" he called softly as he entered.
He saw her lying on the bed. He hurried over to her and checked her pulse.
Barely there.
Her wrist was still slightly bloody. He quickly checked if she was breathing.
She was.
John shook her shoulder.
"Ellie? Ellie, wake up. I have to talk to you."
John watched as her eyes fluttered and she mumbled something about being a good friend after all.
He shook her shoulder again.
"Ellie, wake up."
Eleanor rolled over and smacked her head into John's hand. She snapped awake and jumped back.
"GAH! What the hell Doctor Watson! You scared me!"
He gave her a soft smile and sat down on the edge of the bed.
"Ellie, there's something I have to tell you."
"What? It's not bad news is it?"
"No, no, it's not bad news, it's good news. Your friend, Avery, has been found."
She started at John Watson, her jaw dropped open. She was good at feigning shock. Slowly, she spread a smile across her face and leaned back.
She threw her head back and began to laugh and cry at the same time. John Watson leaned over and hugged her.
Then he stood up and walked out of the room.
The moment he shut the door she stopped smiling and crying but kept making the sounds.
I promised...
"Detective Inspector Lestrade speaking."
"Lestrade, we want to talk to you about the witness statement of one Jessica Mallard."
"What's the problem?"
"She keeps talking about this man with the pale skin and British accent that 'rescued' her. Would you happen to know anything about that?"
"British?"
"Yes, she said that the man spoke with a British accent."
"How did she describe him?"
"Tall, dark hair, cheekbones, 'nice butt', 'hot', annoying typical teenage girl coos as men they find attractive."
"I can't think of anyone who works here like that in Australia at the moment."
"She also said that the man told her that a friend of hers asked him to 'rescue' her."
"What friend?"
"Don't know. He didn't tell her."
"Did she say what the man was like, his personality?"
"She said he was a crack shot with a gun, and he stated every little detail about what happened to just by taking a quick look at her."
"What! Say that last part again."
"He stated every little detail about what happened to her just by taking a quick look at her."
...
"Lestrade are you still there?"
"Are you sure about her statement?"
"Positive. Lestrade, what is it? Who was that man?"
"...Someone who jumped off a building and died six months ago."
"What?"
"I need to talk to someone, call back us back when you have any new information."
She heard someone knocking on the door downstairs, someone knocking frantically. The door opened and she heard someone thundering up the stairs, bursting through the door into the landing.
"Where's Eleanor?" it sounded like Lestrade.
"She's in his room."
Eleanor walked over to the door and opened it as the inspector marched over to the room.
The two looked at each other.
"I need to talk to you."
"About what?"
"About your friends, one in particular."
She looked at him, analysed his expression.
Then she understood.
"Not here."
Lestrade looked at John, casually watching the TV. A bit too casually, really. He noticed them looking and turned the TV up.
"You're coming with me. Now."
They were sitting in Speedy's cafe. Lestrade had a coffee while Eleanor had a hot chocolate. They weren't drinking any.
"How long have you known?"
"About what?" she looked at Lestrade innocently at this question.
He looked up from his cup at her. Something in his face, behind his tired eyes looked pained.
"How long have you known he was alive?"
She turned her head to look out the window to see the cars whizzing by.
"A week. I met him just before I left Australia."
Lestrade gazed out the window as well.
"How did you manage to contact him?"
"Mycroft gave me his new number."
He sighed and took a sip from his cup.
"He was a prick, a complete and utter prick, but there have been so many times where I wish he was here. "
Eleanor took a long, slow drink from her cup.
"He made me promise something that I now want you to promise."
"What?"
She looked straight at him, staring straight into his eyes.
"Don't tell him."
He was lying down in the little rented out room again. He was so bored he had started drawing pictures on the ceiling with his mind, connecting together the mould spots. His phone began buzzing.
Turns out Avery told the cops about you who, in turn, told Lestrade, who then made the connection that you're alive. I made him promise – EW
I guess Lestrade has had to work without me – SH
He called you a prick and says he misses you. There are cases in which he wished you were still there – EW
How sentimental – SH
I didn't give him your number. If he needs you he'll have to go through me – EW
Fair enough – SH
He misses you – EW
I know John does – SH
He let me stay in your room. He actually called it "Sherlock's Room" – EW
That would be John. He grows so attached to things – SH
Are you sure he shouldn't know? – EW
It's better this way – SH
If you're sure – EW
He didn't reply. He wasn't sure.
John heard Eleanor wheeling her luggage from Sherlock's room.
"Going so soon?" John asked her. He didn't really want her to go; there was something about her that reminded him of Sherlock.
"Yeah, I should be getting back, I've got family and a distressed friend to deal with," she said with a little smile. She didn't really want to leave, but she had to.
"It was good to meet you," John came up to her and shook her hand.
"It was good to meet you too Doctor Watson."
She smiled and started walking towards the door. She paused.
John noticed.
"Is there something wrong?"
Eleanor sighed. She promised, but...
What do I do?