Again with the hand holding? It's not Lestrade though, slim slender fingers and could fit two side by side in my palm… A woman's?

Sherlock opened his eyes only to be greeted with searing, blinding light. He blinked a few times to adjust his eyes to the light. He had been floating in and out of consciousness for a few days after his admission, he wouldn't have minded apart from having to readjust to the surroundings every time…

"Sherlock"

Head feeling as heavy as a tonne of bricks, he slowly turned to face the unknown guest. He couldn't see very well; everything looked like it was underwater. The lady had fluffy brown hair and had a London accent. Donovan? No. Incorrect. Why would the woman who he pissed of the most be here?

"Yes it's me. Sherlock?"

His eyes focused. It was Donovan. Why? Why did nothing make sense in this godforsaken hell hole?

"Sherlock… Why did you overdose?"

"W-w-what?"

"Why did you do it? You're careful, you'd never mess something like this up. Why did you overdose?"

"…..Fear"

"Fear?"

He nodded weakly. "T-they kept talking to me… They wouldn't stop… It hurt." His drug addled mind wouldn't shut up. Shut up! Why are you telling her all this?

She shifted in her chair, "Sherlock. What were they saying?"

"Freak. Boring. Stupid… M-m-machine…"

Sally sat aghast. She was thankful for the drugs disabling his filter but she was at the verge of tears of how close she'd come to killing him. At long last, she saw Sherlock for what he really was under all the layers, frightened. A bullied kid hiding, bruises from where he was kicked, tears from where he was shouted at sneered at.

"Sherlock, I'm sorry…"

"Why?" Sherlock sat up in surprise. "I am an ass, I deserved it." He stated, turning his head in confusion.

"Don't ever say that. Please, never."

The gaunt man looked intensely at the young DI, inquisitive.

"Sherlock, the last man I knew who said that he deserved that…"

"What…?"

"He died!" her head snapped up revealing the glistening slivers of tears on her waterlines.

"My little brother, Frederick, was bullied. He was too kind and just took whatever people said and said he deserved it. He just let it all pile up and one day, he cracked."

Sherlock and Sally connected their gaze.

"Overdosed on heroin. Please Sherlock… Never say that you deserve it." The brunette leaned forward and encircled the lanky detective in a firm hug. Taken aback at one of his mortal enemies' sign of compassion, it took him a few moments to hug her back. After the initial rigidness, Sherlock succumbed to the aromatic jasmine of her flesh and fall into her embrace.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

John left the ward holding his minute daughter in his arms. It had been a week since Caitlyn was born and she was progressing in leaps and bounds. The nurses recommended taking her on a short walk to introduce her to new surroundings- although the army doctor did wonder if she'd actually enjoy the repetitive beeps and whirs of the hospital.

Caitlyn made content purrs and gurgles at the forest of new faces and objects as John marvelled at his daughter's happy-go-lucky attitude. God knows where she got that from… John was snapped out of his train of thought by a high pitched squeal, Caitlyn was grasping with her tiny pink fists at the door labelled 302. Strange, that's Sherlock's room. Don't tell me you're a psychic as well.

John hadn't seen Sherlock yesterday, maybe I should visit him… He looked down at Caitlyn. Hmm… She is quite quiet, I don't think he'd mind…

Knock knock. "Sherlock?"

"Come in." John was greeted with the confusing tableau of Sally Donovan and Sherlock seeming mid-giggle. Not a usual scene for 'mortal enemies'.

"Oh hi, John! Afraid you're too late if you want to have a serious chat, they've given him something and he won't stop giggling. Ok bye, guys!" Sally draped her coat over her crossed arms and waved as she left the room.

"We've made amends of sorts" stated Sherlock, sensing John's befuddlement.

"Oh right…"

"What is… that?" Sherlock strained his eyes at the small bundle nestled in the crook of John's elbow.

"W-what do you mean? Oh god, don't tell me you've deleted babies from your mind palace!" Sherlock blinked.

"Are you actually serious?" John stared into his friend's uncomprehending eyes trying to detect some sort of signal.

"No. Ha-ha I got you! Of course I know what a baby is, I've had one! Can I hold her?"

"What?!" John gaped incredulously at his complete sincerity.

"Pleeeease?" John placed Caitlyn in his arms absent-mindedly, still awe-struck.

"Um… Sherlock? What did you mean that you had one?"

"Heh this stuff is strange, it makes me tell people things. How do I—", Sherlock mumbled, pawing at his IV. Lifting his hand away gently before he inevitably hurt himself, John reasserted his question.

"Sherlock? What did you mean?"

"Fine! When I was 20 or so and I lived in a crack den I went out with a girl called Lucy who was homeless. She got pregnant and then ran away from me when she found out about my… uh…. Hobbies…" Sherlock chose his wording carefully noting his surroundings but spoke freely as his attention was on little Caitlyn.

"So um… Where are they now?" John enquired, treading lightly.

"Lucy's in a cemetery somewhere and my daughter… I don't know…" sadness clouded his piercing blue-green eyes. John's intuition told him to enfold his friend in a compact hug briefly without saying anything (John's super power was to know the perfect hug for anyone).

Sherlock's eyes darted up, as if he'd just remembered something.

"So… how are you doing? Y'know… About Mary?"

"How did you know?"

Sherlock raised his eyebrows. "Do you really want me to explain?"

"No-no it's fine."

"I just wanted to remind you that… I'll always be here to help you with her… Always"

"What?"

"I meant what I said, John, at your wedding. I'll always protect you."

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx