"So," Rose said, sitting down at one of the tables with Sherlock, each with their own basket of chips, "Should I be worried about some serial killer lose in my building?"

"You're building?" he inquired, having not made that deduction and wondering how he became distracted from realizing it.

She laughed and he found his scowl giving way to a grin.

"I'll take that as a no then."

"No. Mr. Corvan's death was an accident. Tripped over his terrier-"

She glanced at him.

"Little white one with a brown patch around his eye?" she asked, interrupting him.

"Um…" he recalled an image of the dog. "Yes, that's the one."

"Awww, I liked him," she replied, her smile slipping.

"Mr. Corvan?"

"Mitsey, Mike not so much, bit of a tosser," She glanced at him as if she said something wrong, "not that I wanted anything like that to happen."

He laughed.

"The terrier's fine. I believe Lestrade mentioned someone picking him up."

She smiled.

"Good," she popped a chip in her mouth.

Sherlock ate a chip as they sat there. He wanted to ask about the device, but she'd been secretive with the diagram so he knew he had to be careful, least he show too much interest and make her suspicious of his motives.

"It works then," he said after a few minutes.

She glanced at him, smiling in a way that told him she knew what he was referring to.

"Yep," she replied, popping the 'p.' "We've run a few tests. It's not strong enough to do what I need it to yet, but I'll get there."

"You need a stronger power supply."

"Right, been toying with some bits and bobs brought in from…" She paused, glancing at him, realizing she almost revealed too much. "…another source."

Not a lie, but he could tell she was hiding something. He smiled as if he didn't catch her slip.

"That's good then."

"Definitely. Shouldn't be long now."

He watched her, mulling over her words. Shouldn't be long until what? He brought up an image of the diagram, but found he was no closer to working out what it was than he had been before.

"Not long before you can use it to help your friend," he replied, recalling what she said during their second meeting.

Rose glanced at him. Being evasive was one thing, but she was starting to consider Sherlock her friend, especially after he helped her and she didn't want to lie to him.

"Actually, it's to help me," she revealed.

His brows drew together.

"But you said-"

"No, you thought it was to help my friend and in a way it is, but it's more for me…well, both of us actually." She turned her gaze to her chips, picking at them, but he caught the despair in her dark eyes and for a reason he could neither explain nor comprehend a stinging sensation shot through his heart. "I had this friend and we…traveled together." A sad smile played over her features. "We spent two years together and he changed me. Showed me a better way to live my life, but something happened…" She glanced up, catching Sherlock's gaze. The ache in his heart coursed through his body and although he couldn't fathom why he was doing it his hand reached across the table to rest on hers. "We were separated, torn apart was more like it and I…I've been trying to find a way back."

She was leaving. That thought was like a scalpel cutting into his stomach. His hand slid away from hers, but she surprised him by clasping it, holding him there. He glanced at their hands, his brows drawn together in confusion at the act.

"Then the…" he cleared his throat, glancing at her because the words had come out a bit choked. "The device is a means for your return."

He wasn't entirely sure how that could be, but she never lied to him so he believed it to be true. She smiled then, another of those bright smiles and, although he knew she was planning on leaving he couldn't help the slight grin that surfaced.

"Yes. That's what it was designed for."

"When will you go?"

She released his hand, returning to her chips. He couldn't shake the strange sensation that made the chippy seem colder, even though his rational mind told him that wasn't the case.

"Once I work out the power supply could do any day," she replied, glancing at him and she caught the look he wore. She reached across the table and gave his hand a squeeze. He glanced at her, confused and she smiled. "I don't leave my friends without saying goodbye."

He returned her smile. Friends. He hadn't viewed his thoughts on her until that moment and he realized that, somehow, he'd grown fond of her. Her mobile chimed, interrupting them. She pulled it out, reading off the text. Then she gave him a look that told him she was leaving.

"Sorry," she apologized. "I've got to go."

He stood up with her, planning on walking her out, but she pulled him into a hug. This time his hands wove around her waist, holding her in place. Then she surprised him, something she seemed quite good at, by kissing his cheek and he was fairly sure in that second that lasted an eternity time stopped.

"I'll see you later," she said, pulling back and in the next moment she was out the door, leaving him, once again, unable to do anything other than watch her retreating form.

His hand, subconsciously, reached up to touch his cheek. He knew her first name and where she lived so he could find her again and he would.

Standard Disclaimer.

Thank you to all my brilliant readers!

Reviews are always welcome. :)