As per usual:

Prof is in bold.

Lucy is in italics.


"Blimey, there's such a thing as leaving a message! Isn't that what voicemail is for? Fifty four calls, while I'm at work? Who the 'eck is this?"

"...Lucy."

"Prof? Oh, is that you? Why do you sound so faint? Are you alright? What's wrong? I didn't know it was you—this number isn't in my mobile. Who's phone are you calling from?"

"It's Dr. Watson's personal phone line. Something...has happened."

"Summat has happened? What? What do you mean? What is it? Are you okay?"

"..."

"Prof, you're scarin' me—"

"...I am not sure how to say this without disappointing you immensely."

"Ee, disappointin' me? What do you mean? Oh, no, wait, don't answer that. Take your time Prof, I'm sorry I snapped at you...I didn't expect you to call from a different phone, so er..."

"I was given it again."

"Given...what, Prof?"

"Lucy, please. Don't be obtuse. There's only one thing that I could be given here that would warrant fifty four frantic phone calls rather than one message to your voicemail, as you put it."

"Oh, no...did they...is it...?"

"..."

"By 'eck, it is, isn't it? Who gave it to you?"

"That's what some of Scotland Yard's supposed finest are currently trying to figure out. They've been here since the center called them, but they're at a dead-end at the moment. The security cameras at the center from the last three hours have been corrupted and none of the staff are aware of the individual I described. It's a complete shift of last time; rather than someone leaving it for me to find on my pillow, she gave it to me directly."

"She? Your suspect is a lass?"

"Indeed. The memory is a tad bit fuzzy—I was given some sort of anesthetic for the woman to escape, but I can vaguely recall it when I think. She knocked out Sam; they just found him inside the fresh linen room an hour ago."

"Christ, is 'e alright?"

"He's only come round to recently. Mild concussion, but he'll live."

"Was she registered in the system? Maybe that's 'ow she got in."

"If I knew her name, I would have tried it. All we have is initials—DM."

"Prof—"

"If you're worried that I partook in the substance, I didn't."

"That's good to hear but—"

"I...I contemplated, then barged into my doctor's office and told him the situation, which is why we're here today. But Lucy, it was there. The itch, the feeling of just being able to just at my fingertips. The powder in that bag, Lucy, was the most potent I've ever seen it to be."

"Prof—"

"I almost destroyed the amount of progress I have made just by staring at it—almost pressed that self destruct button in my mind and let it take me. I rationalized it all in my head, Lucy, before I could help myself. It would have been so easy. I wouldn't have made the same mistake as last time and checked the dosage properly. The simpletons here wouldn't be able to tell if I did it during lights out, along with the amount—"

"Prof, slow down, stop. Just...stop. Please."

"I...have I upset you?"

"No, no, you 'aven't...I just...I'm trying to wrap my 'ead around the whole thing. Someone targeted you, Prof, this isn't...You didn't do anything wrong. Blimey, 'ow could this 'ave 'appened?"

"There's no conclusive understanding yet, but I woke up to her sitting on my desk chair and started being playful, making threats and speaking to me with familiarity of my role at the Yard. It's most likely that she snuck in, perhaps Sam got in her way during his rounds, which lead to his incapacitation.

"The conclusion I've come across is that I did something to her in the past, but I don't know what it could be. No matter how much I try to will the memory back, it's no use. However, had she wanted me to just be seen high and kept here longer, she would have just inserted the needle while I was asleep—I wouldn't be able to get myself out of that. She gave me a choice and expected me to fall into it like last time, subsequently demeaning my progress."

"And you didn't."

"No, it...I didn't."

"Blimey, Prof, I'm so proud of you."

"What?"

"You 'eard me, Prof. I'm proud of you. Absolutely floored."

"Proud of me? Baker, I considered—"

"You considered it, Prof. That's the key word there. You didn't put it in your system, did you? Would I see a track mark if I marched over there, right now and pulled up your ratty long sleeve up?"

"No, but—"

"Stop making reasons up as to why you've failed in your recovery. What you did? That's a victory in my book. Really, Prof, it is. Don't give me that sigh, I hear it. Aye, you 'ad that itch, the feeling of wanting. But you didn't. You said it yourself, yeah? You rationalized it, making up plans and excuses in your 'ead. But you didn't. That's where that woman failed to see how strong you've become in the past few months. You...well, you did the right thing. I'm proud of you for overcoming it through your willpower."

"Hm."

"Prof, you know it's true."

"Willpower had nothing to do with it. It's because I remembered you, Baker. Simplicity itself."

"What? Me?"

"Your face was what came to mind. I thought of every possible way your face would fall, perhaps be disappointed in me for choosing to shoot up once again. Even if you found out through a letter or through a phone call, I could...I could see it in my mind when I contemplated. It wiped everything I made up, everything I considered. Gone, replaced with that disappointment that would haunt me if I chose to."

"Oh, Prof—"

"It is a testament to how much you've grown to be a priority within my life, Baker. I cannot...It has changed everything; I've been aware of it for awhile, but this properly puts it in action."

"By 'eck, Prof...I—"

"You don't have to comment a response, Lucy. I corrected you on your assumption. That is all."

"Aye...okay. Okay, if you don't wanna talk about it, that's fine... D o you...do you suppose this is because of one of your old cases?"

"It's definitely plausible, perhaps a 87.32% of a chance. She spoke of me 'ruining her family' and how she had plans to 'ruin me in return' but didn't need to put in the work because 'I already do that for myself on a normal basis' but I apparently need a little 'push.' I've ruined a lot of families in my long line of cases, so it could take a long period of time to determine who may have a bone to pick with me."

"Who would keep such a big grudge on you? Most criminals don't have a large empire to expand their network and since she was able to corrupt the cameras, summat must have been up, aye? It's not like she posed as a new inpatient either to get under your skin; she posed as a nurse, yeah?"

"Hmm, yes that's correct. Most of my cases were hardly large enough to be consequential to the criminal underground; at most they were passionate affairs that turned rough. It must be something else entirely, but I don't know what it could be."

"Blimey, maybe you shouldn't leave in March just yet if these are the people that are after you, Prof. It'll be dangerous to be out 'ere."

"Nonsense, Lucy. If she can get in here, nowhere is particularly safe for me. It would be better that I leave the confines of this rehab as soon as possible to configure what's going on exactly."

"Ee, well, if you're sure. I just...I'm worried."

"They'll give me some form of security and put me in a different area, so there's nothing to particularly worry about. I suppose you'll get your wish of giving me a bigger room."

"A-Aye. Yeah, heh, I suppose so. I...I er, almost convinced your father. Saves me the work now."

"Lucy, this isn't like last time where they found me with the drugs and they could make the feeble connection that I 'snuck it in' somehow. Sam was attacked and the footage corrupted—it's not just about getting a fix anymore. It seems to be personal revenge."

"Aye..."

"I must take my leave, Lucy, they still need another statement from me. I'll write to you soon again, I promise. Perhaps you may be able to get information from the Inspector in charge of this case later that you can relay to me—I will notify him. I believe his name is DI Dimmock. Dermont."

"Alright. I know of 'im. Just be careful, for me? Please?"

"Yes, yes, I shall. In return, you mustn't worry yourself further. March will come around as soon as time shall will it."

"Okay, I can...I can do that. I promise. I'll speak to you soon, Prof."

"Goodbye, my dear."