She watched him leave and get into a taxi. She stood from behind the wall where she was watching.
It was time.
She began walking, no money for a taxi, no phone to call Lestrade. A chill in the air sent a shiver down her spine. The rain had stopped but her clothes were still dripping with water. She took off her hoodie and squeezed out the excess water.
It took her 2 hours to reach Baker Street. She still didn't know what she was going to say to her father. She looked up at the building. The last time she was here was the last time she saw Sherlock...
She breathed in deeply and let out a sigh. This was it.
She walked up to the door and knocked three times. She heard footsteps. She easily recognised them to be Mrs Hudson's and smiled at her. The older woman didn't say a word, just hugged her. She had never thought she would need a hug so much in her life. She let go and gave her a nod. She walked up the stairs slowly, not wanting to alarm her father by making a scene. Then she saw him. It broke her heart. She couldn't prevent her sharp intake of breath.
He looked up. "Marie?" he asked, doubting his own senses. He looked her up and down. She had lost so much weight and she had dirt on her face. Something had gone wrong, very wrong. He stood up and started waking towards her. "Marie what happened? Are you okay-"
"Don't you dare." she said looking at her father. "Don't you dare start worrying about me. Not after everything that's happened.." she looked him in the eye. His eyes were so sad, so empty, so alone. "Tea?" was all she could say in a shaky voice. He half smiled and hugged her tightly.
"I thought I'd lost you too..." he said. She could hear his breathing become less consistent and shaky. She could tell he was trying not to cry.
"It's ok to cry." she said repeating Lestrade's wise words. He heard soft sobs coming from her father. They stood there for a while, just in each other's arms.
She felt her fathers grip strengthen slightly before he let go.
"What happened?" he asked her as he sat down on the sofa.
"Him." was all she said in reply. He nodded, knowing exactly who she was talking about. The bastard. Ruining his life was one thing, but ruining his daughter's too was taking it too far.
"I hate him."
"He killed my friends and family. I hate him."
"Family?" he looked in her eyes.
She froze. She had never told him about Moriarty and her mother. She opened and closed her mouth a few times. She couldn't speak.
"Rose?" he asked. She nodded. He sighed and took her hand in his.
"Stay here." he said with a slight hopeful gleam in his eyes. "I'll sleep on the sofa, just stay here." he half begged.
"I'll sleep on the sofa." she said in reply. She knew the last thing he needed was a bad night's sleep. He squeezed her hand lightly and stood up.
"Goodnight Marie." he said as he stood up.
"Goodnight... Dad." she said. A warm feeling grew inside his heart. That was the first time she had called him dad, not John. He smiled slightly.
As he climbed into bed he thought things may not be as bad as he thought; that was until he remembered his friend's, his only friend's last words: goodbye, John.
"Goodbye, Sherlock." he whispered into the night.