It was 12 December when Katie met Sherlock for the first time again.
Several weeks have passed since the dinner with John and Mary. And a lot had also happened in Katie's life. She finally moved out of the hotel and now lives in a chic flat with private roof access in Covent Garden. For her it was love at first sight. After countless unsuccessful visits to flats, she finally found what she had always been looking for. It was a rather plain flat in a building with 2 more floors. There was a long hallway that ended in the spacious living room. At the corridor were two more rooms and next to the living room was the kitchen. After that, along another shorter corridor, the bedroom followed. A big plus was certainly the own roof terrace, which she would arrange at her own discretion as soon as the weather would get better again.
Yes, she felt very comfortable from the first moment and the rent was affordable. She simply could not help but say YES. Since then she has spent her free minutes getting settled in at home.
She was also lucky when it came to work. Molly had kept her word and a week later she received an invitation for an interview. The supervisors were immediately impressed by her and her work and welcomed her the following week as a new member of their team. Molly was beside herself with joy and John and Mary were also happy for her.
She remained in close contact with Mary. She helped her with the wedding preparations or they met weekly for dinner. It wasn't long before she had really taken her to her heart. Every now and then she would ask her about her decision to marry Sherlock but after a few meetings she finally gave up.
Katie had somehow managed to avoid him in the last few weeks, i.e. she was so busy looking for a flat that she had no chance to meet him. Of course he knew long ago that she was back here. John would certainly have told him after her dinner.
Katie was just about to examine some fabric fibres that had been found on the victim during a murder investigation.
It had been just under ten days since she had started here and was getting safer by the minute with the technical equipment there or the composition of the laboratory. She got on well with her other colleagues and was immediately integrated. This was almost certainly also due to Molly. In just under half an hour she would meet her and the others for lunch.
After about two hours, the lunch lasted a little longer than expected, she returned to the laboratory.
She was about to sit back at her microscope when she was suddenly interrupted by a voice from the back corner.
"You are avoiding me"
Katie turned around in horror and looked at the person who was now coming towards her from the corner.
"Jesus Christ, Sherlock. You scared me!"
Sherlock was now standing inches away from her, looking down at her.
"You've been back here for nearly a month. You've already met Molly, John and Mary too but for some reason you don't want to see me. And I wonder why?"
Katie took a deep breath in and then breathed out again. She knew that this day would come eventually. She wondered a little, but why only now. After all, he had known for a month that she was back and that she was pregnant.
"No way Sherlock. I just haven't had time the last few weeks. Busy looking for a flat and finding work. You know what I mean? And anyway, why didn't you come to me until after a month," she said, looking at the slide in front of her.
Sherlock rolled his eyes. She could not see it. Apparently, she had no intention of telling him.
"Why didn't you tell me you were pregnant?"
Katie stopped what she was doing and looked up. While she was talking, she stood up and packed up some of the files.
"I wouldn't know what business this is of yours! Now, if you'll excuse me," she said briskly and walked towards the door.
Sherlock followed her and before she could reach the door, he was already in front of her, blocking her path. She looked at him in astonishment. Anger sparkled in his eyes.
"Because it was my child, damn it!" he shouted.
"What makes you think it was your child. I had an amusing relationship after our night. It could have been his. And now please let me get on with my work," she said in an almost calm tone and pushed herself past him.
But Sherlock let her go before she could open the door, he said quietly:
"I wanted to come back to you, you know? Back when I had finished my mission and my brother wanted to bring me back, I wanted to come to you first".
Katie stood with her back to him and held the door handle in her hand. She heard what he said.
"Goodbye, Sherlock" she said afterwards and walked out of the room.
After that, she only saw him on occasion when he needed information from her or was doing his own research. During this time, she spent most of her time in her office doing paperwork.
He had not tried to talk to her about it again. Instead, he decided to resign himself. When they talked to each other, it was usually only about evaluating different data and experiments. They felt the tension between them, but neither of them wanted to talk about it first. It didn't take long for Sherlock to return to his usual self without the humiliation he always inflicted on Molly.
Her friends, of course, sensed that there was something between them and soon they couldn't stand the tension. It was now just before Christmas and John and Mary wanted to have a little Christmas party for their friends.
Katie was busy in the lab as usual. It was very late now and she was alone. These were the moments when she could work best. And with music. She turned up the radio and sang along quietly. The radio was playing the song With or without you. She loved that song and at some point she became stronger and louder in her singing. After all, there was nobody there.
She just leaned over her rehearsals again and kept singing to herself. She didn't even notice that John came in the door. Only when the song ended did he speak.
"That sounded wonderful. You have a stunning voice, Katie"
Katie turned around in horror. Her cheeks turned colour.
"Oh, hello, John. I didn't hear you come in."
"Sorry, I didn't mean to bother you. But seriously. Your singing is great. You should sing at our wedding!"
"Thanks but no thanks, I'd rather not." she replied slightly embarrassed.
"What else can I do for you?"
John was a little disappointed. After all, he was serious about his proposal. He cleared his throat just before he came to his real reason for the visit.
"Mary and I are planning a small Christmas party for our friends at our house and we would like to invite you to join us. Will you come?"
A Christmas party for all her friends. Then Sherlock will certainly be there.
"Thanks for the invitation but I'm not sure if I can make it. I've got to work."
"Oh, OK, but maybe afterwards? We'd really love to have you there," he asked, a little disappointed.
"I will think about it."
Afterwards he said goodbye to her and left the lab with a slight hint of disappointment. He beckoned a taxi and quickly wrote a note.
She will not come. Work.