This chapter is dedicated to Annabeth Black – thanks for always reviewing! Enjoy the chapter everyone!

As they arrived at Baker Street, Sherlock did his coat up to cover half of his face and began looking out of the back of the taxi anxiously. Feeling the tension rise in the car, John peered out of the window - but saw nothing suspicious. When they stepped out of the vehicle, Sherlock walked slowly - trying not to achieve any unwanted attention - but the people rushing by took no notice of the strange man stalking the streets of London.

John rang the doorbell and spoke to Mrs Hudson whilst Sherlock rushed in, with Adler close behind.

"Oh, John!" Mrs Hudson beamed. "You've found some new residents! Bless you!"

John said nothing, but closed the front door and turned to stare at the half-masked figure that was now waiting in the hallway. Slowly, Mrs Hudson followed.

Sherlock abruptly pulled his coat down from his face and grinned.

"Sherlock!" She immediately rushed over and hugged him. Sherlock embraced his mother-figure, feeling relieved to be safe back at home.

"Thank you, Mrs Hudson", he said as they both pulled away. "You certainly know how to make one feel welcomed home."

After acknowledging Sherlock again with a smile, Mrs Hudson peered around him to Adler - who was staring silently from a small distance.

"Mrs Hudson, this is the mysterious Irene Adler", Sherlock introduced. "We'll get you better acquainted once my place is restored."

.

Upstairs, the place was spotless - with not a speck of dust on the gleaming floor. The one thing that had remained was the painted yellow smiley on the wall - one unstripped piece of character.

"Where are my things?" Sherlock exclaimed, running up and down the apartment and noticing that all the shelves were empty and the desks bare.

"I donated them to Uni students", Mrs Hudson replied simply. At Sherlock's astounded reaction, she added, "I figured you weren't to use it anymore."

Hiding his inner angst, Sherlock walked over to the window and searched the street below with his keen gaze.

"I'll need it back. Imminently."

"Can't you just buy new stuff?" John asked, trying to be reasonable.

"Yes, but that would require time to master the equipment, and I'd have to re-catalogue and buy all my research again - which would waste valuable time."

"You said a catalogue?" Mrs Hudson probed, holding up a scruffy book bound together by various ties made of string and rubber bands that kept the pages from falling out. "I found this in your drawer, cleverly hidden under that scarf I got you last Christmas."

"Oh Mrs Hudson, what would I do without you?" Sherlock cried, his tone immediately turning from sour to sweet. He rushed over to her and scooped the book out of her grasp, immediately beginning to scan-read the pages.

"What are you looking for?" John asked. He knew that look - it meant that Sherlock was hot on the trail of something.

Sherlock ignored him, continuing to flick through the torn pages of the unbound book.

"Knew it", he said abruptly, landing on the page he had been searching for. He slammed the battered volume on his empty desk and pointed at the entry at the top of the page.

John, Adler and Mrs Hudson all stepped forwards to peer at the page curiously. Then they all stepped back and cast confused looks towards Sherlock.

"This is Molly Hooper's profile..?" John left the end of his sentence wavering, the unspoken question clear.

"Exactly", Sherlock said, as if it was suddenly obvious. When he saw that his friends hadn't followed his reasoning, he decided to continue with an explanation. "Just before I died, I went to see Molly. I asked her if she would help me, to continue my work even when I was not there." He could see John's expression shift slightly, so he quickly back-tracked. "Not that type of work. I gave her something to look at, to pass onto you - John - when she had come to a valid conclusion."

"What did you give her?" Adler asked, finally speaking up after minutes of being silent.

"Evidence", Sherlock stated simply. When Adler raised her eyebrows at him, he hastily added, "It's better to explain when you see the evidence. Which is where we're going now."

He buttoned his coat back up and made for the door.

"Wait, what?" John called, feeling rather dumbfounded at his friend's shrewdness.

"We're returning to the labs..", Sherlock said, not realising John's lack of understanding.

"Yes, so what about the security cameras?"

"Oh, nothing of an issue." Sherlock waved his hand as if he was batting away the problem. "Molly's smart. She's working in her private office on this case."

"Case?"

Sherlock didn't acknowledge the last comment - instead turning and leaving through the door.

"See you later, Mrs Hudson", he called behind him.

John and Adler exchanged a quick glance before rushing after him.

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