Sarah and I enjoyed a nice quiet dinner together catching up on things. Part of me had invited her out simply to get Claire out of my head but I actually found it to do quite the opposite. Instead I began to compare the differences between the two women and I realized that the relationship Sarah and I once had was gone forever. I listened as she rambled on about her grandmother only catching half of what she was saying.

"So then…"

"Sarah stop." I pinched the bridge of my nose and sighed. "The only reason I asked you out is because I wanted to take you home and have sex. I'm sorry I know I'm a huge arsehole."

"Is it Claire?"

"What?"

"I met her before I left. Beautiful girl very head strong."

"And also 21 years old."

Sarah smiled and reached across the table placing her hand on top of mine. "When we were talking about her earlier I saw the way your eyes seemed to light up. The same way they did whenever we were together except so much brighter than they ever did for me." I pulled my hand away and began biting my nails a nervous habit I had acquired as a child. "What are you so afraid of?"

"Everything. She's young and inexperienced and if I tried to pursue her I'd feel like I'd just be taking advantage of her. I feel perverted enough as it is even thinking of her in that way."

"Life's too short to worry about age and experience John."

"She's also seeing Sherlock."

"Really? He doesn't seem her type."

"His intelligence is appealing. That's one thing I lack greatly in."

"Don't be so hard on yourself."

I opened my mouth to speak but was silenced by the feeling of my phone vibrating in my pocket. "Excuse me." I reached in and pulled it out checking the text message that showed up on the screen.

It's Claire. How soon can you meet me back at your flat?

The only thing I could think of was that something had happened to Sherlock after all she never texted me and she made no mention of him.

"Sorry to do this, but I really need to go." Sarah nodded and we bid each other farewell before I hailed a cab and headed home. I stepped inside the entrance to 221 B Baker Street and was immediately taken aback by the sound of music coming from the open door of our flat. It was Stevie Wonder's 'I Was Made to Love Her' and I knew there was no way Sherlock would ever be playing that record. He hated anything that wasn't classical music and I couldn't imagine anyone as young as Claire even knowing who Stevie Wonder was. I slowly climbed the stairs half expecting to see a burglar rummaging through my record collection. I peeked in through the door and my heart stopped. There was Claire looking more radiant than ever belting out Stevie Wonder as if there was no tomorrow. As much as I didn't want to disturb her I could never hold back singing a good song and I startled her when I entered the room and began singing with my rather horrible voice. Her shock quickly wore off and I felt her take my hand in hers wrapping it around her tiny waist. For a moment in time I forgot about her age, forgot about all the horrible things we had said to each other, forgot about her seeing Sherlock. It was just the two of us something I had been longing for. We danced and laughed as we actually enjoyed each other's company. I felt her run her hand against the back of my neck and that was the move that ended it all. Things were going on, physical things, things that I couldn't let her see. I pulled away and walked over to the record player removing the needle causing it to make a horrible screeching noise.

"Where's Sherlock?" I asked feeling my body becoming increasingly warmer by the second.

"Oh um…"

"Good answer. I think you should go." I leaned over slightly as I felt my erection becoming harder to hide. I made my way to the bathroom as quickly as I could closing the door not realizing I hadn't shut it all the way. "FUCKING HELL!" I shouted under my breath as I quickly undid my pants reaching down into my boxers and grabbing ahold of my growing throbbing want. I pulled it out held onto it tightly moving my hand up and down in a circular motion feeling myself throb harder with every stroke. I quickened my pace wanting nothing more than to get it over with before Sherlock came home. I stood up on the tips of my toes my cock quivering in my hand as I came hard not even bothering to suppress the loud moan that erupted from my lips. I heard the door creaked and turned around just in time to see Claire's bright brown eyes staring at me in disbelief. I swallowed my tongue and stood there completely mortified. I quickly tried to get myself together hoping to stop her before she left, but by the time I walked back into the living area she had gone. I closed my eyes still trying to cope with the idea that she had been watching me during such an intimate moment, but my coping would have to wait. Sherlock appeared out of nowhere falling face first into the flat. I rushed to his side and could smell the strong odor of alcohol on his breath.

"Hulllo!" He shouted before giving me a shit eating grin.

"What the hell is wrong with you!" I helped him to his feet and threw his arm around my shoulders helping him into his bedroom and dropping him down onto the bed. "I take it you had a good night."

He turned over and laid on his back staring up at the ceiling. "Do...do you always pee after sex?"

I stood up straight and stared down at him. "What?" He didn't answer me. "Who did you have sex with?" I knew it couldn't have been with Claire after all she had made it back to the flat before him clearly sober.

He looked at me still with that somewhat glazed over look. He smiled and began to laugh to himself. "Let's see Mycroft make jokes about my virginity now."

"I still want to know who you had sex with. I thought you were out with Claire."

"I was. After the movie we went to this bar downtown to meet up with her flat mate. I think it's her sister."

"You had sex with her sister?"

"Is that wrong?"

"Considering Claire likes you I'd say yes, but it's not the end of the world."

"She didn't even tell me goodbye she just took off. Said she had somewhere to go."

"Just go to bed." I looked him over and took note of one thing in particular. "You pissed yourself."

"I asked you if pissing after sex was normal."

"Well...to answer your question yes most men do piss after sex I in-particular would rather sleep, but sometimes I relieve myself afterwards." I had to admit it was actually a relief that Sherlock wasn't a virgin anymore. It gave us something new to talk about, but I couldn't help thinking that it must have really hurt Claire to have him choose her sister over her. He sat up and began to undress himself taking his pants off along with his underwear. "Shit tell me before you're going to do that! Now I've just seen your willy and that is something I could have gone a lifetime without seeing." It didn't take him long to fall asleep and I retreated to my own room. A million things ran through my mind that night and as much as I liked Claire I simply couldn't let this relationship go any further.

I woke up bright and early for my next shift. Claire seemed shocked seeing me come through the clinic doors 10 minutes ahead of my scheduled time. I took a few patients and was surprised when she didn't check up on me every minute. It was awkward between us and this is exactly what I didn't want to happen. When she was with Sherlock it helped keep our relationship clearly platonic, but after yesterday it had stepped into new territory. Territory I wasn't about to drag her into. I finished one of my patients and got up heading to her office. She was sitting at the computer typing away.

"We need to talk."

She closed her eyes and pushed herself away from her desk. "Look I didn't mean to."

"I'm putting in my 2 weeks notice."

Her eyes flew open suddenly and she stared at me. "What?"

"I'm quitting Claire."

"But...you can't just quit. You're the best doctor I've got."

"I have to."

"No you don't." She got up and walked over to me a look of sadness in her eyes. "Please don't go."

I watched as tears began to form in her eyes and I found myself breaking down. "I...I'm sorry."

She then grabbed the back of my neck and pulled my face towards her our lips finally meeting. It felt as if a lightning bolt had passed through my body every single nerve was reacting at once and I could barely keep myself standing upright. This is what I had been wanting, what I had been waiting for, but I couldn't go through with it. I pushed her away slowly her teeth clinched tightly to my bottom lip before finally releasing me. "Don't make this harder than it has to be."

"Just tell me why you have to leave? It doesn't make any sense. I didn't sleep with Sherlock. That was my sister Hattie. She's a whore."

I laughed and looked back her. Never in my life had I seen so much want in one person's eyes. "You're young, you're smart, and you're beautiful. I can't let you do something you'll only end up regretting. If I'm not around then this can never happen and that's how it has to be." I leaned in and kissed her cheek as the tears began to flow more freely. I listened to her breath in my ear and found comfort in it. I swallowed the lump that had formed in my throat and whispered softly into her ear "Goodbye Claire." I then turned around and left my heart aching at the thought that this was the last time I would ever see her.