Sissi: thanks. I'll do my best.

CarlieKy: thanks for the alert.

Quinless: thanks for the alert.


Lyra was sitting on a park bench and writing in a book when John found her. He hadn't known she was into writing. Maybe it was a diary or one of her client's reports but he doubted that she'd write in either one in such a public. She crossly struck something else, so focused on what she was doing that John doubted she noticed that he was there.

"Lyra?" he said softly trying not to startle her. But she did look startled when she snapped up from her book so it didn't really work.

"John." She closed the book but not before putting in a bookmark. It was a psychiatry book he realized now that he could see the title. "Sorry if I ignored you. I was busy."

"Busy destroying that book."

"Well I disagreed with it." John chuckled, it struck him as such a Holmes' thing to say. Lyra scowled but not for long. "How was therapy?" she asked as she put her book in her bag.

"Not good," John said. "I swear everyone thinks Sherlock and I were a couple." His therapist had also thought that John was into Lyra but he decided not to mention that.

Lyra opened her mouth but whatever she was going to say she seemed to think better of it. "I don't really know how to reply to that," she admitted.

"Well I don't want to really talk about it so..." He really shouldn't have brought it up. But he had and now things were awkward. She probably would have let him off at not good. John mentally kicked himself.

"So how is Mrs Hudson?"

"Oh. She's great. Well her hip's been acting up again." Despite what he had said to Ella he realized that he was now having an uneasy time talking to Lyra but then anyone would in this situation. "She keeps asking after you. What have you been doing lately anyway?"

"Work," she said. "Also Lestrade asked me to help in his cases." The thought of going to crime scenes with her like he had with Sherlock flashed into John's mind and he felt a pang of sadness. "Just evaluations of the criminal's mental state, not what you did with Sherlock," Lyra added and he had the oddest feeling that she had somehow read his mind.

"That's great," John said, hoping that his voice didn't sound hollow. "I bet Scotland Yard could really benefit from your help."

"Thanks." Her phone beeped and she checked it quickly. "Got to go, Lestrade has a report for me to look over. Err, you could come if you want."

"No." It wouldn't be the same and he doubted that there was anyway for him to help her like he had helped Sherlock. "No, thanks. I have things to do." Really he didn't have anything but it sounded better than the truth.

"Okay. I'll see you around. Call me if you need anything."

"Good bye. Good luck with the case." After she was gone, John decided that he might as well head home. Maybe check in at the office first to see if he was needed for anything. John walked off wondering if he had made the right decision.