"Mrs Hudson did you leave the lights on?" said John as he exited the taxi.

"No I definitely turned them off..." she said with a frown her face.

"Strange..." he said as he turned around and looked at Marie. "You coming?" he handed some money to the cabbie.

"Yeah..." she subconsciously rubbed her hair. Hell was about to break loose.

She quickly jumped out the cab and ran into the flat first. The pair looked at each other and then at the girl running up the stairs. John followed her cautiously, while Mrs Hudson walked into her own flat.

"Marie?" called John. "Marie, are you okay?" he asked.

I'm fine, she thought, you're not going to be...

She looked at the tall man in his armchair. It was as if he'd never left. He looked back at her. She saw the frown on his face.

"You took my violin." his bluntness put a small smile on her face but it soon disappeared as she saw her father reach the top of the stairs. Sherlock stood and walked towards the doorway.

He looked directly at the 'dead man'. He blinked hard in disbelief.

"Sherlock?" his voice broke. "No, no, no, no, no. You're dead..." he pointed at him.

"John-"

John punched him hard in the face, causing him to fall onto the sofa.

"Dad!" shouted Marie while looking at her father in surprise, who was ready to go in for another hit to the detective's face. His gaze met hers. She could see the anger and hurt in his eyes.

"You knew!" he shouted. "YOU KNEW!"

"He saved my life!" she screamed at him. John looked at her, shock on his face.

He let go of the surprised man. "He found me in the factory, not a retired policeman. He got me to a hospital."

He stepped back and sank into his armchair. He grabbed his head in his hands and let out the breath he had been holding for the last few seconds.

"John..." said Sherlock. "I had to. They were going to kill you and Mrs Hudson and Lestrade."

He looked up with a frown of confusion and opened and closed his mouth a few times. "Wait, what?"

"Moriarty had three gunmen. If I didn't die, the people I cared about would."

John looked at the taller man and sighed. He turned his head to his daughter.

Marie shifted uncomfortably. He frowned.

"Hang on," he said, folding his arms. "How did you know he was coming back today?"

She scratched the back of her head. "I didn't know he was coming back today; I just knew he was coming back soon..." she took out the bracelet she had kept in her pocket and put it in John's hands. "That's what was in the package this morning." He looked at the three silver charms. "When you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." she repeated the words from the card inside the box.

"I'm sorry John." said Sherlock as he walked closer to the man. Marie stood hesitantly in the doorframe. John beckoned for her to come closer. She slowly took a few steps towards her father and he took her hand in his. He turned back to Sherlock.

"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked. His voice broke.

"I couldn't. You would've died."

"So?" he said with a short small grin.

Sherlock smiled back briefly.

"But what about Marie? They were going to kill her anyway."

"That's only because she saw me." he took another hesitant step forward. "At the graveyard."

He turned to his daughter. "You knew all that time?" his eyes darted over her face.

"I'm sorry dad... He told me not to tell you... For your own safety..." she let the tears fall down her cheeks. "I couldn't loose you too..."

He pulled her into a hug. Sherlock stood their awkwardly. He never understood the concept of hugs but he knew it meant a lot to the pair in front of him and so didn't interrupt with a snide comment like he usually would have.

John sighed and broke away. He lifted the charm bracelet that he was still holding in his hands.

"Whatever happens," he placed it round her wrist. "from now on, we're in this together." he did up the bracelet and turned to Sherlock. "Even if we might die."

He let go and let her arm fall to her side.

A smile crept on Sherlock's face. John put out his hand and Sherlock took it, shaking it slowly.

Marie turned and walked out the door. She knew they would want to be alone. She walked up the stairs and into her room. She heard their muffled voices from downstairs and took out her phone. She dialled Molly's number and placed the phone to her ear.

"Hello birthday girl!" she heard her happy voice say.

"Hey Molly..."

"What's wrong?" she could hear the concern in her voice.

"Nothing." she said. She allowed a smile to form on her face. "Sherlock's back."