Not going into detail about the events of Reichenbach in this chapter, we all know what happens; also this chapter is a little fast paced. Uhm, almost rape situation here so yeah… Warned.

ANGST!

I don't own Sherlock.

Liz trudged up the stairs tiredly, it had been a crap day at work and she wanted nothing more than to run a deep, hot bath and sink into to bubbles, perhaps drown herself if she was still feeling miserable. She went to the kitchen first though, to make herself a strong coffee – black preferably. Only, when she reached the kitchen, there was somebody already occupied at the table pouring himself a tumbler full off whiskey. It wasn't Sherlock. It wasn't John. It wasn't even Mycroft.

He looked up and greeted her with a twisted grin, ''finally, you took your time. I've been sat here for ages, waiting for you to come home''

''You'' she hissed, dumping her bag and keys on the counter loudly,

''Me'' Lee drew a second glass from across the table and poured a second glass, ''I brought us something'' he said, sliding the glass over to her and she frowned at it, ''awh come on, it's your favourite''

''What are you doing here?'' she dismissed the glass and walked over to the other side of the kitchen. Cutlery drawer. Gun. Underneath the cutlery. If push came to shove she'd use it.

''Oh, just a social call''

Liz scoffed, ''you broke into my flat, Lee''

''Well, I didn't think you would let me in''

''You thought correctly, now get out''

''Aww come on Liz. Don't be like that, just have a drink. I know you're stressed, I can tell with your shoulders'' he passed the drink over and pushed it into her hands until she accepted. ''sit down'' he instructed and she found herself lowering her tired body into the chair beside his before she could even think.

She watched with yearning as he downed his own drink first then slammed it on the table before turning to her and indicating to the glass in her now slightly shaking hands, ''I don't do this anymore…'' she tried, she could smell it and it was driving her mad. She longed for the warm burn in her mouth, the tinge of the aftertaste and of course the light feeling you get after a few glasses. She licked her lips, suddenly dry.

Lee shifted in his chair to face her better and leaned in to whisper, ''I won't tell if you don't…''

She regarded him before glancing down at her own glass, months she'd gone without drink, absolutely months and didn't she know it. She missed it. It was the one thing she could use to put distance between herself and the real world, between feelings and uncertainties.

Before she could comprehend rhyme to reason, her hand had brought the tumbler up to her lips and she froze. Her eyes shut as she inhaled deeply. The smooth edge ghosted across her lips, barely touching the skin there before she tipped it upwards and the amber liquid slid into her mouth.

''You've never changed'' he laughed, ''only have to wave it infront for your nose, you can't resist can you?''

However she wasn't listening, instead savouring the sharp taste in her mouth – it was welcomed.

''Hello, my names Liz and I'm an alcoholic'' he mocked in a high pitched voice, ''it's been half an hour since my last drink and I'm gasping for another''

''Shut up'' Liz snapped, ''you have no idea''

''That may be but I bet you won't refuse another'' this time he pushed the bottle over to her and leant back in his chair, waiting.

''You're so sure I'll drink it aren't you?'' Liz brought a hand up to the top and started circling the rim with her finger.

''You forget who I am Liz, I know you. 'Just one more' remember?''

''I'm not like that anymore'' she stressed and Lee just shrugged.

''We'll see…''

She thought for a moment about the consequences. It wouldn't do any harm, would it? It wasn't as though she'd be having the whole bottle, just one more glassful and that would be it. Dam. There it was again, the 'one more' rule she used to abide herself by. Look where that got her.

Then of course there was the slight probability that she may be pregnant, Liz didn't honestly know the risks of drinking during pregnancy but she knew well enough that you weren't supposed to do it. But then again, she'd already had one drink… And there was a fifty-fifty change that she may not even be having a baby.

She was aware of Lee's eyes watching her, just waiting for her to give in and her grip on the bottle neck tightened.

''Come on Liz''

''I can't'' she said, pushing it away,

''Don't worry, I won't be telling your husband,'' Lee took the bottle and poured it for her, again, ''humour me just this once, please''

''I said no'' Where was Sherlock? He should be home by now…

Something flickered across his face and it registered as the same look she used to see on him all the time.

''Don't refuse me Elizabeth'' he said lowly, and beat his fist against the table causing Sherlock's lab equipment to rattle on the far side.

Liz stood up and pointed towards the door, ''go Lee, just go''

''I said no'' he mimicked her and stood up with that smirk across his bastard face.

''Sherlock will be home soon''

''And…?'' he moved a hand to her face and slowly dragged his thumb down over her lips. Those hands. She thought she loved them once. They were rough but could be gentle sometimes, not often but sometimes.

Liz sqouze her eyes shut, willing for him to stop touching her. She felt his fingers move deftly over the smooth line of her jaw and lower, lightly grazing her neck down to her collarbone before she felt him at the top of her blouse, fingering the top button there.

She snapped her eyes open to see his dark brown ones boring intently into her green,

''Don't'' she warned, half sounding like a plea. He held her gaze for a moment longer before he had the nerve to pop the first button open and she slapped him, the palm of her hand colliding with the skin of his cheek and like a chain reaction he slapped her back, hard across the face.

She held her palm over the place he had slapped her, already feeling the harsh sting and the blood rushing to the surface of her cheek.

He was breathing heavily through clenched teeth, his eyes wide and menacing. There was approximately five seconds before Lee lunged forwards, pushing her into the counter behind and she grunted as the hard edge dug into her back. ''Lee-'' she spluttered, his lips were pressed against hers firmly, his hands everywhere, roaming her body and suddenly she was taken back to that night…

The tinge of alcohol on his breath and taste of it in her mouth. She gasped when his teeth bit down on her lip and he took the opportunity to force his tongue in her mouth – invading.

He started tugging at the material of her work blouse and she became dimly aware of his erection pressing solidly into her stomach. She pushed against his chest but that just made him push his hips more firmly against hers, holding her in place against the counter.

Downstairs, Sherlock had just walked in through the door, he was about to slam it shut when he heard muffled voices and cries as well stuff being knocked over from upstairs.

Shutting the door quietly he made his way upstairs, taking care to avoid the steps that creaked as to evade being heard.

Lee's mouth was now sloppily trailing down her front, nipping and sucking violently, leaving angry red blotches on her skin.

''Stop, just stop-'' her shirt was already hanging loosely off one shoulder with only the bottom few buttons remaining still fastened. The iron grip on one of her hips slackened as he reached one handed for his belt buckle and Liz whimpered as he slid one knee between her legs. He breathed harshly through his nose, trying to concentrate on getting his belt undone. This was it. He was going to rape her and there was nothing she could do to stop it.

She just prayed that if Sherlock didn't come in now, then he would just after it happened, at least then he wouldn't have to whiteness it.

Little did she know he was halfway up the stairs.

Liz heard his belt buckle come undone and he slid his knee out from between her legs so he could shimmy his trousers past his hips. The pressure on her back ceased as he stepped backwards only slightly and that was when she bolted.

She only made it to the table before she felt Lee's hand close round her wrist and yank her back. Outside the door, Sherlock heard her cry and he slammed the kitchen door open to see his wife with her clothes in disarray and pulling away from Lee.

She kneed him, hard and then grunted as he threw her forwards against the table. She barely registered Lee's presence behind her before she grabbed the nearest thing to her – Sherlock's microscope.

Either this or he will rape me. Taking a firm hold she swung round with it, the corner striking Lee solidly in the head and he collapsed.

''He's dead'' Sherlock was no means a medical expert but he knew well enough that when a person's head was bashed in, they weren't breathing and their pulse was none existent then that person was no longer alive.

Liz sunk down against the kitchen unit and glanced down at her hands. Blood. How did blood even get on her hands? Then she looked around at the floor, it was pooling out from the wound on Lee's head. A clear strike if ever there was one.

Sherlock was knelt beside him after inspecting his respiratory rate. Blood also coating his hands and the tails of his coat.

Would this be classed as murder? She wondered. But then of course not, she worked for solicitors and she'd had enough jobs concerning the law to understand the ins and outs of the system. Well… She hoped not anyway.

''Liz'' he crouched down infront of her, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder, ''Liz, look at me'' she did, her eyes slowly coming up to meet his and she suddenly felt the need to cover herself. Her open blouse practically displaying everything she has to offer and her skirt was twisted high around her legs, ''are you alright, did he hurt you?'' he asked urgently.

''Uhm, no.. He tried though, he tried to…'' she stopped. Somehow not being able to bring herself round to say 'rape'

''I know, I saw what happened shortly before you used my microscope as a weapon'' he said lightly, a slight laugh escaping as he spoke and she smiled meekly. ''… And I know he hit you, I can see his handprint white against your cheek''

She'd forgotten about that. Bringing a bloodied hand to her cheek – it felt numb. Then her body started to shake and before she knew it, her eyes were streaming with tears. Sherlock pulled her to him, holding her against his chest as her body continued to wrack with sobs. He sank even lower to the floor, adjusting his long coat so he could sit by her against the counter, Lee's motionless body within arm's reach but he didn't care.

When John came in approximately five minutes later he was hysterical to say the least. He was used to chopped up limbs lying about the place but a fresh dead body lying on the kitchen floor was a bit too much.

Sherlock explained what happened briefly and John rang the ambulance, he offered to check Liz over but she ruefully declined.

Liz buckled into one of the kitchen chairs as Lee's body was taken away by paramedics.

Police and all sorts of people she didn't recognise swarmed the flat. They'd taken pictures, asked questions and of course, taken Sherlock's microscope away for examining and what not.

She'd not been arrested yet so that was a good sign.

Sherlock was talking to one of the forensic officers and she'd been offered a blanket. A blanket. What the hell was that supposed to do, comfort her?

''It's for the shock apparently'' John said, sitting down beside her after seeing the look of irritation on her face as she eyed the article with disgust. She made a noise in agreement and pulled the blanket tighter around herself, at least it kept her remotely covered what with all the people swanning in and out the flat. Perhaps that was why they had given it to her.

There was a couple of awkward moments when John looked like he wanted to say something but kept swallowing his words.

''Spit it out John, you've been sat here for longer than is necessarily needed to see if I'm aright. What is it you want to tell me?''

He stuttered for a second, not really knowing how to respond to her very accurate statement.

''It's just that, well, I'm your friend, you know that…'' he hesitated at seeing the slight irritation flicker across her face as she rolled her eyes so he decided to get straight to the point, ''but, I'm also a doctor and if there's anything you want to tell me, that you feel you don't want to share with the police or, or whoever then, you know… I'm here''

The thought of the possible child inside her sprang to mind before she pushed it away, ''John, I appreciate it. I do, honestly. But there's nothing you don't know that I haven't already told the police, but thankyou''

He looked down awkwardly, fiddling with the cuff on his shirt, ''Okay, well, just checking. If there is ever anything – anything at all then you know,-''

''John'' she interrupted, ''I know''

Sherlock walked over to where they were at and stood next to Liz, his hand comforting on her shoulder and she leaned into his touch. An unspoken understanding passed between John and Liz and they remained in comfortable silence before a police officer approached them at the table,

''Mrs Holmes, if you wouldn't mind, we'd like to have a few more words… In private'' he added, giving the other two a quick glance and John immediately stood up,

''Of course, I'll just go-,''

''No that won't be necessary,'' the police officer interrupted before turning his attention back to Liz in the chair, ''Mrs Holmes, we'd like you to come down to the station''

Sherlock's face dropped, ''what?''

''It's just routine, we only want to ask some questions more formally''

''What like an interview? You want to interview her? She's nearly been raped for crying out loud!'' John shouted,

''I know, and I appreciate that but it would help if we asked you these questions whilst the memories are still fresh and clear in your mind so to speak then it will help things run a lot more smoothly''

''Smoothly? It's convenient for you, you mean-,''

''I'm afraid I must insist''

''John, please. Its fine'' she assured him, ''I'll be allowed to change first though, yes?''

''Of course, just let the forensics take you clothes for examination''

''Right…'' she sighed, getting up but John wasn't having it,

''Ridiculous! This is absolutely ridiculous! Sherlock tell him''

''Yes it's inconvenient but I said I'd go so quit it'' Liz snapped before Sherlock could respond. She brushed past them both to go to the bedroom and then felt the familiar hand against the small of her back,

''Don't you think you should be going to the hospital?'' Sherlock whispered quickly as they walked to their bedroom. She turned round to look at him, slightly taken aback when she saw worry etched across his face,

''What for?''

''You know what for'' he replied giving her a knowing look and she huffed, hadn't she already told him she was fine? Besides, the paramedics had already insisted on giving her the once over.

''No, I told you already. I'm alright''

''But what if your-,''

''I know'' she snapped, ''and I said I'm fine so will you just stop it!'' Liz slammed their bedroom door open and proceeded to find some clean clothes whilst Sherlock sat silently on their bed with his hands on his knees and watching her huff about their room grumpily.

Bloody hormones as well.

Liz returned home some hours later, tired and grouchy. They'd questioned her, asked for statements, taken fingerprints – they'd treated her like a criminal!

Sherlock had gone to meet her at the station, they'd offered to drive her home via police car but she didn't want that. Sherlock wanted her to go to A&E but she didn't want that either, to be quite honest she didn't know what she wanted. Lee was gone and that was the best thing that could have happened, even better was the fact that she was the one to do it, even if the circumstances were desperate.

Considering the circumstances, she slept well that night. Very well in fact.

''' I O U... What does that mean?'' Liz picked up the apple and spun it round between her finger and thumb the next day.

''I have no idea'' Sherlock lied; he was sat in one of the chairs with his fingertips touching and deep in thought.

''And he didn't say anything else?''

''No'' he replied quickly. Liz gave him a suspicious look before dropping the apple back on the desk. She picked up her keys and shoved them in her hand bag before strolling across the room to peck his cheek,

''I'm going now, I'll see you at eight''

''Yes… See you later'' he replied, still deep in thought about what Moriarty had said, I owe you a fall…

Liz perched on the edge of the bath, pregnancy text in one hand, instructions in the other.

Three minutes.

In three minutes she would know. The result could be life altering. She didn't know if she would be strong enough this time, to have a termination. The last time was so emotionally draining, no matter how much she tried; she did feel guilty – for a short time anyway, she didn't want to go through that again.

Liz wasn't sure how to feel either. Anxious definitely, but what about the outcome? If she was pregnant, how was she supposed to react? And if she wasn't, well that would be the end to it and she'd feel happy… Right?

How convenient.

All her previous thoughts and feelings from the former pregnancy came flooding back, although this time she felt slightly different, more… prepared in a way.

Suddenly she found herself picturing it, a child with Sherlock's dark curly hair and grey eyes – oh god. What if that's what her life was going to turn into? A miniature version of a mix between Sherlock and herself to look after and… love. Oh god.

She wasn't ready for this; she really wasn't ready for this. She didn't want to be a mother, not now and not ever!

What seemed like a hundred different scenarios raced through her mind as she stared blankly at the white stick in her hands. What if she wastes her life away? What if she dies during childbirth? What if Moriarty found out? What if it was twins? Hell, what if it was triplets!

She closed her eyes and took a slow breath, pull yourself together Elizabeth, she told herself. She may not even be pregnant and she was already thinking about stretch marks and maternity pants, oh – she would get huge.

The seconds trickled by slowly, still two minutes to go.

On the other hand she may have had a lucky escape and she would never forget to take her pill again, well either that or Sherlock was going to find himself at the hospital for a vasectomy.

Whichever way, they were not having sex until she found a fail-safe way to not get impregnated. Oh the joy…

Her thoughts then turned to Lee. At least he was gone now, no longer biding his time until Moriarty gave the all go and he would come looking for her again, she didn't have to worry about that… Moriarty of course was very much in the public eye at the moment, what with the breaking into the crown jewels and what not. Sherlock had been present at the court hearing, and John. She remembered John being furious with him for having to bail him out of jail for not being able to keep his mouth shut – Liz of course found it incredibly funny.

Any moment now. Soon she would remove her thumb from over the tiny window and glance down at her fate. This may very well be her last few moments that hang in the balance before either relief or... resent?

She decided to count to ten in her head before she looked and that's exactly what she did. The ten longest seconds of her life.

When she got down to one she inhaled and held her breath before removing her crimson painted nail over the end.

Two blue lines.

That was positive right? She quickly scanned over the instructions leaflet in her right hand, one blue line meant negative, two blue lines was positive. It was positive. She glanced back at the test, two blue lines. Then back to the instructions; two blue lines indicated positive pregnancy.

Shit…

In a way she supposed she sort of knew…

After Liz composed herself, chucked away the pregnancy test and checked her make up in the mirror – luckily no mascara had smudged, she walked into the living room where she would sit in the chair and wait for Sherlock to come home.

Next chapter will be the last one before epilogue.

Please review! :D