I'm back! I'm sorry if I'm annoying you with my random updates but I'm really busy doing homework and other stuff. Lame excuse, I know but I'm really beginning to lose my muse with this story and I'm only continuing it for your sakes.

This chapter is dedicated to Candy [candyfloss2008] for becoming my critic in return for me being hers.

DISCLAIMER: I do not and ever will do own Sherlock Holmes as much as I beg my parents to buy the rights for my birthday [31st August, if you want to know] ;)

/WATSON POV\\

Mary and I were just about to get in a waiting carriage when I spotted one of the younger Irregulars running at full pelt down the road at me.

"Oh, dear God… What's he done now? Blow up the house? Kill Mrs Hudson? Die?" I asked the boy in a long-suffering tone. Mary laughed at my suggestions, not knowing that with Holmes all of them were completely possible.

"N-no, sir...It's Miss Khan. Sh-she's 'urt real bad, sir. She needs y-your help." He panted, hands on knees, gulping for breath.

"First day here and he's already gotten her injured. Come along, Tomas." I sighed and we boarded the carriage and it trundled along to Baker Street, leaving my hopes of a normal civil dinner behind.

I rushed through the already open door which was being held by an anxious Mrs Hudson with Mary on my heels.

"In the parlour." she informed me, her face ashen white.

Lily was covered in blood and Holmes was dabbing away at her wounds, cleaning methodically and wetting the cloth in an already blood-tinged bucket of water.

He rose when he spotted me, sleeves rolled up and clothes already covered in blood.

"Ah, Watson, just when I didn't need you! As you can see, I have handled the situation expertly and am about to put the bandages on. There is no sign of infection and she'll wake up completely fine from the anaesthetic I have administered to her. I'll then have Nanny dress her in some clean clothes and take her up to her own room where she'll have bed rest. Aren't you proud?"

"I'm a qualified doctor, Holmes, I'll see about that." I snapped back and examined the patient.

Deep cuts but with regular cleaning they should heal up nicely leaving only scars. Blood pressure seemed normal and so did her breathing rate. Damn that man.

Helping him wrap the bandages around the wounds without it getting too awkward, we laid Lily back down.

"Fine," I said, grudgingly. "But it still doesn't explain how on Earth she got them. Did you shove her out of the carriage to see what happens? Or, wait for it; she cut herself because she developed depression from living with you?"

"No and no. I'm disappointed, Watson, your deduction skills have declined greatly; Miss Khan's ripped bloodied dress on the floor should've said it all."

Mary's hand flew to her mouth. "She was raped?"

Holmes flinched from hearing her voice, before nodding slowly. "At least, I believe so. She wasn't able to give me any details before she fainted but she should wake up in…" he checked his fob watch, "Three, two, one…"

A groan from the recliner signalled that she had regained consciousness at the exact time that Holmes had finished saying one. How the devil does he do it?

/LILY POV\

Groaning, I opened my eyes reluctantly to the harsh light and saw Holmes and John peering at me and a pretty auburn woman dithering about in the corner.

"Ow...Oh God, I'm sore all over, what on earth happened?"I said, attempting to prop myself up with my elbows.

"We were just about to ask that question ourselves, Miss Khan, maybe you'd care to enlighten us?" Holmes asked, with a certain glint in his eye which I couldn't pin down. I'll muse about it later; my most harrowing concern right now was what the hell happened to me.

Shaking myself from the thick fog that lay on my brain, I remembered what happened. Getting lost, those three men, being knifed and-and fainting in Holmes' arms. I cringed at the memory. I don't faint, that's reserved for those infuriating, insipid drawing-room misses that I call my peers. Failing to erase the memory from my mind, I answered his question.

"There were these men and I was lost and they-they violated me. I only just escaped from the more…harsher treatment when I saw you and I sort of blacked out…I'm sorry I totally ruined your evening, it just goes to show that I missed out when they were handing out patience." I joked lamely, directing it to John and person I deduced was soon to be Mrs Watson.

John half-smiled at the remark but still didn't lose the look of concern from his face. Holmes, I assumed, had guessed as much what with his powers of deduction he had turned on me this morning.

"Oh you poor dear!" gasped Mary and broke into chorus of sobs which made me raise an eyebrow. I mean, seriously? I'm the victim here!

John went over to comfort her and Holmes grinned at my expression of disgust and shock on my face.

"You're right, she's nothing like him. And I thought it was just your antisocial tendencies kicking in." I whispered to him.

"To be perfectly honest, I don't know how the deuce Watson fell in love with that over-emotional sodden rag anyway. He's always liked a bit of adventure and exoticness which is leads to my theory of her being a witch or very good in bed." he replied in the same tone, also observing John bring Mary back from her fit of vapours.

"Here's an idea. Don't even go there, Holmes."

He laughed again, which made me smile. He had such a genuine happy laugh yet it sounded unused…

"I'd prefer if you'd call me Holmes than Mr Holmes. It's so polite and I'm not really the one for formalities."

"I'd figured." I chuckled and turned back to the couple who had sorted their priorities out, as it were.

"Miss Khan-"I gave her a look, "Lily, we were wondering if you'd like to have some dinner here as going out is definitely out of the window." Mary asked, her hands knotting

"I'd love to but I'm a bit bloody, as you can see. If someone could help me…" I responded, gesturing to blood-soaked clothing.

Hold on a minute! My wounds were clean and bandaged and Holmes had a bucket and cloth next to him… Oh God, all my cuts which were mainly located near my chest. My cheeks started burning a bright red but because of my skin shade, I was certain no one had noticed. Maybe.

"Of course, I'll help you! John, darling, help me take Lily to her room." Mary suddenly said, interrupting my reverie of silent cringing.

John hoisted me up the stairs on his own and sat me down carefully on my bed before leaving me and Mary to it.

As soon as the door shut, she rounded on me.

"Well? What's your relationship with Holmes? I saw you two laughing together! Do you like him? Do you think he's handsome? Are you planning on marriage?"

"Actually, we-" I tried to reply but she interrupted again.

"Shh! You obviously like him but the question is, does like you? I'm going to make him like you, dear and you are such a pretty little thing, we can use it to our advantage. Where do you keep your clothes?"

Deciding that the path of least resistance was the best way to deal with this good-intentioned romantic, I pointed towards the bags and boxes strewn on the floor.

She tutted at the mess and after rummaging through them she picked out a pale blue dress with silver embroidery on the bodice and hem.

"Oh, this is just lovely! Where did you get it?" she questioned me, holding it up admiringly.

"Erm, this shop in the market..."

"You must point it out to me when we go shopping together! Come on, I'll help you put it on." she gushed, addressing me as if I was her best friend.

I changed into a new shift and dragged the garment over my head, wincing as I stretched my arms. Mary tied up the various strings and what not and laced some slippers onto my feet then arranging my hair elaborately. After dressing me up, she started on herself, using my vanity mirror to its full advantage.

Going down the stairs was a less trying task and I made it to the dining room door feeling like a fragile china doll, afraid of putting a foot wrong. God, was Holmes gonna give me stick for this.

/HOLMES POV\\

Mrs Hudson had just finished setting the table when the two women walked in, Mary in her usual splendour with Lily trailing behind her even more made up, recognisable only by her dark colouring and unique eyes.

She caught me staring and glanced at Mary for explanation, rolling her eyes. I winked at her and raised my eyebrows in reply. Mary saw me and smiled in a triumphant manner which left me confused. Unless…

We sat down to a beautifully done British steak with the usual accompaniments. Nanny had outdone herself today, I must compliment her in my usual off-hand way.

"So, Lily, are you enjoying England so far?" Mary asked, rather stupidly in my opinion.

"It's just wonderful, darling! I've only been raped and slashed to ribbons. Oh and let's not forget the brilliant weather!" was her sarky reply, making me inhale the vintage Barsac up my nose.

I returned from the coughing attack sopping wet much to Miss Khan's amusement who then handed me a napkin.

The ice was successfully broken and soon Watson and Mary were making their own conversation about the upcoming wedding. Miss Khan and I were pleasantly chatting about the wonderful life in India.

"Once, my father and I went on a walk together in one of the crop fields as an early morning jaunt when we came into the most horrible scene. A farmer boy, only about 7 or 8, having a cardiac arrest while this horrible snake slithered towards him. Father shot it immediately and it died before it could even try to retaliate but unfortunately we couldn't save the poor boy." She said,

"The Indian Cobra, I assume or to call it by it's binomial name, naja naja."

"Exactly. One of the disappointing things about England is that there is no unusual entertainment on the streets. Walk down a road in Agra, you'll see about 10 snake charmers, all playing different tunes but the snakes doing the same intricate dance."

"Not many people know that the snake is not dancing to the music but to the movement of the instrument. I'll demonstrate; wave your fork in a fancy pattern."

She did as I asked and I climbed onto the table, shoving plates and cutlery aside.

"What the-" Watson yelled, getting up.

I swayed in my body as if I was ribbon in the wind, matching the utensil's movements perfectly. To add more realism, I flickered my tongue in and out. When the fork went low, so did I but I accidentally licked Watson's ear.

"That's it!" he declared and wrestled me back into the chair, pinning my arms down to the rests.

"Killjoy…"I muttered when he let go, trusting me enough not to get up and do it again.

Something was rather odd; Miss Khan was nowhere to be seen…There was loud snort from under the table then a hiccupping sob. I peered under the tablecloth to investigate and saw Miss Khan in some sort of a fit with tears streaming down her face, finding it difficult to breathe.

I'm sorry again for the late update! It's been 3 weeks today since I uploaded my first chapter of the story and can I say, I'm so proud about all the views I've been getting and it's giving me the ego-boost of the century!

This story is unbeta'd so I'm sorry about the mistakes etc. So yeah…

REVIEW PLEASE!