He hadn't even gone all the way into the ICU door when an agitated Molly confronted him.
"Sherlock" she shouted. "She's awake! They managed to get Katie back and she's finally awake!" she exclaimed joyfully.
He could not believe it. She's alive and she's awake! He felt a sense of relief rising within him. So she made it after all. She is awake and the most important thing is that she is alive.
"We can go to her for a moment. David is already there. Will you come?"
Sherlock was just about to head for the room when he heard her boyfriend was already there. He felt a stab in his heart and was disappointed. Of course, her boyfriend. She was now involved with this Detective Reid.
How could he believe that everything would change now.
"Go ahead. I'll let John and Mary know!"
Molly noticed the disappointment in his voice, but just nodded and then turned around.
Sherlock was still standing there like rooted to the spot. Then he pulled his phone out of his pocket and wrote John a short message.
She is awake. SH
He briefly considered whether he should tell him about her sudden cardiac arrest, but then decided against it. He would know anyway, as soon as he was here.
He put his phone back and saw that this Detective Reid had just left her room and was slowly moving towards him.
He said nothing as he walked past him. He just nodded at him briefly and then disappeared out the door.
When Sherlock noticed that he had left the station, he walked slowly towards her door. He was just about to knock when he saw the door open a crack and voices were coming from inside.
It was Molly and Katie talking.
He paused when he heard what they were talking about.
"It was strange, Molly. I felt myself getting weaker and weaker and being pulled into a darkness. But suddenly I felt a pleasant warmth in my body. And then I heard someone pleading. I should finally wake up. Someone was crying. But I did not recognize the voice. Yes, and then everything was black." She held her head.
"What happened, Molly?"
She sighed.
"You were dead. You were in cardiac arrest. The doctors spent forty minutes trying to revive you. They were about to pronounce you dead when suddenly they heard another heartbeat. They think it is a miracle that you are still alive. You were put into an artificial coma after the operation and should wake up on your own after a day or two. But you did not. You were in a coma for a week - until today"
Tears rose in her eyes again. Katie squeezed her forearm comfortingly. Molly looked up and smiled at her. They were interrupted when they suddenly heard excited voices outside the door.
Sherlock was still standing outside the door when he suddenly saw two excited characters coming towards him.
"Sherlock, what happened? Is she awake? Have you been with her yet?" asked John excitedly.
Sherlock shook his head. He was about to say something back when the door swung open and Molly stepped out.
"She is still very weak but you can go to her. She'll be happy to see you," she said, but kept her eyes on Sherlock.
John and Mary nodded and pushed past her at the same time.
Katie looked up and smiled when she saw them.
"Hello John. Hello, Mary."
"Oh, my God, Katie. How are you?" John was still very excited.
He took another chair and put it next to the one Molly had just sat on.
Then they both sat down. Sherlock was still at the door, not knowing what to do.
"Well, I feel as well as can be expected. After all, I'd just been dead for twenty minutes."
John and Mary looked at her in horror.
"Like you were dead for twenty minutes?" both asked at the same time.
"What happened?" now asked Mary.
Katie gave a deep sigh and then told them what Molly had just told her.
They looked at her with eyes wide open before slowly moving towards her and gently hugging her.
"We are so glad you are alive. You know, after hearing from the doctors this morning that they want to turn off the machines..." His voice failed and he straightened up again.
Katie smiled compassionately at him and gently touched his forearm, as she had done to Molly a few minutes earlier. With her other hand she lightly squeezed Mary's hand.
"I am so grateful to both of you, in fact to all of you. I thank you for your help and for being there for me"
"Where's Sherlock?" she asked afterwards.
She knew that it was he who had saved her. She wanted to see him.
Mary and John looked at each other knowingly.
"He's outside. Shall I bring him in?" asked John and stood up slowly.
She nodded. But before John could go to the door and get the said detective, the doctor rushed in and asked her to leave politely. She needed to rest for now. But you can visit her again tomorrow. Katie insisted on seeing another visitor. She looked at John and Mary, begging them to stop him, and then turned to the doctor. After a brief discussion, the doctor finally agreed. She could see him after the examinations were over.
John and Mary were just leaving their room when they saw Sherlock standing a few metres away.
"She wants to talk to you. But she has to go to some tests first. She asks you to wait. Will you do it?" John asked him.
Sherlock didn't know what to say until suddenly his phone vibrated in his pocket. He took it out and then looked apologetically at John.
"Lestrade. He is expecting me. I have to go!" he replied and walked past them.
He didn't know what to say at the moment and was visibly relieved at the news from Lestrade.
John let his head hang and looked after his friend. There was confusion on his face and a slight hint of anger in his eyes. He sighed. Mary put one hand on his shoulder and looked at him cheerfully.
"We should tell her he had to go. Not that she would wait for him forever" she said afterwards. She didn't say anything about Katie actually having waited for him for ages.
John nodded. They both didn't have to wait long for Katie to be led out of their room.
"What are you still doing here?" she asked and looked around.
"Ah, he's not here anymore, is he?" She looked into two compassionate faces and understood.
"He's sorry but Lestrade had called him in," John said apologetically.
"Oh, don't be silly, John! We all know that Sherlock Holmes never apologises. But it's OK. Thanks for trying," she replied slightly disappointed and was then taken away by the nurse.
After countless examinations later she was back in her bed. She was exhausted and a hint of sadness came over her. She was disappointed that Sherlock did not want to see her. She actually thought she meant something to him. After all, he had once said that they were friends.
Then she thought again about what Molly had told her before.
She woke up in a place that seemed all too familiar to her. In front of her was a clearing with meadows of lush green and covered with flowers. Not far away, a forest. She remembered that she had been here very often as a child. A pleasant warmth enveloped her body. It was quiet and peaceful.
She moved slowly and with careful steps over the meadows. No one but she was here. She was alone.
Suddenly a complete darkness took over the place. She could no longer move. Her body felt numb. She wanted to scream. She wanted to run away but nothing worked. Again and again she heard voices from a distance. She wanted to answer but no sound could escape her lips.
She was getting weaker. Her strength was waning. Before her eyes she suddenly recognised Holden and Peter standing before her, grinning at her. Then everything was black.
Well, did you think I was really gonna let Katie die? Now that Sherlock finally seems to know how he feels?
Well, I'm not that mean after all ;)