A/N Thank you to anyone who has gotten this far! Sorry for the long delay in updates. I have most of this written already, I've just been exhausted from work! Please let me know if you have any ideas/suggestions!
Disclaimer: I don't own Sherlock or any of the characters except Sofia.
- o O o -
While Sherlock was helping to wash the hair of their new guest, John was in the sitting room, cleaning things up from the girl having been on the sofa for the last few days. They thought it would be safer so they could keep an eye on her, rather than settling her in one of the bedrooms.
It is only a minute or two after they're gone and he's finished when his mobile started to ring and he walked over to pick it up. "Hullo, Greg." He says into the phone, having recognized the number as Detective Inspector Greg Lestrade.
"Good morning, John. Hope it's not too early, but I was wondering how it's going with your patient." There was some shuffling of papers in the background, so Lestrade was obviously at Scotland Yard, probably at his desk.
"Awake, finally. Her name is Sofia Charles.. she seems to be suffering from some sort of amnesia. She remembers a bit of where she was kidnapped from, but nothing before and nothing after. It's a little worrying." John admits as he thinks about it. "She's still weak, but that's sort of to be expected. She's getting herself cleaned up at the moment." He says as he glances toward the bathroom, listening to the muted voices of Sherlock and Sofia.
"Awake? That's good, at least." Greg says in a slightly more cheerful tone. "I'll need to get her statement if you think that'd be alright. I can come 'round to get it if you like, I imagine she should take it easy for a bit yet." More papers shuffle and it seems that Greg is getting up.
"Yeah, that should be alright, I was just about to make lunch. Should be ready in about half an hour if you fancy a bite." John offered as he moved back toward the kitchen, considering what might not upset Sofia's stomach before putting his plans for lunch into motion, still on his cell phone.
"Much appreciated. I'll see you in a bit." Lestrade says before he hangs up the phone, leaving John to do the same and put his phone back down by his chair.
John chuckled a bit with a shake of his head. "I hope that I did not just make a mistake.." he mumbles to himself as he goes about making a meal that will taste good, while being bland enough for sensitive stomachs, making enough for the four of them.
- o O o –
Sherlock came down the hall first, going back to whatever experiment he was working on at the kitchen table.
"Everything go alright, then?" John asks with amusement from where he's standing at the stove. "Could you clean off the table, so we can have a proper sit down? Lestrade is coming over to ask Sofia some questions.. I'm making enough lunch for us all." He sounded quite smug, almost proud of himself.
Sherlock sighs a little, exasperated, some part of him not liking the idea of others coming to see Sofia so soon, but he pushes those thoughts away to focus on his experiment. "I will be done before lunch is." He reassures his flat mate.
"Good." John says a little stiffly, glancing at Sherlock for a moment. "And to answer your question earlier.. no, I've never had to wash my girlfriend's hair, nor a patient's."
"It's hardly rocket science." Sherlock snorts with some disdain, shaking his head for a moment before turning back to his microscope. Finally, he sighs, jotting down the rest of the information in his notebook before he goes to start clearing off the kitchen table.
- o O o –
After finishing with my hair, I feel good, a lot better than I did when I woke up. I still feel awkward, nauseous both from lack of eating and likely from my withdrawal. I take a deep breath before I head out of the bathroom. My movements are slow, stiffer than I'm used to, but my hair is lovely and soft, still damp, from whatever shampoo they had gotten me. I thought I would be ok, and that I would make it into the kitchen just fine. I was wrong. I barely got out of the hallway into the kitchen when my knees buckled, and I started to go down.
John got there first, though Sherlock was already getting up. John's arms grabbed me and caught me, keeping me upright. "Whoa.. you should be more careful, Sofia. You've had a rather exciting day, all things considered. You should rest, I'm making a bit of lunch. I'll get you some tea." He says in a professional tone as he helped me over to the couch.
Sherlock moved into the living room as well, tidying some things idly, an awkward gesture for him clearly, but he kept looking over at me. "Hm. Anthea has excellent choice in hair products, clearly. I had no idea your hair was that red, Sofia." He said in a disinterested way.
I couldn't help but smile at the two. "You boys don't need to hover over me.. Tea would be nice, and thank you for not letting me hit the floor, John." I said with a little smile, noticing two sets of eyes look at me almost indignantly when I called them 'boys', and that made me laugh a little.
John recovered first and he smirked a little as he heard me laugh. "I'm glad to see you're in a better mood now. I'll get you that cuppa." He offers as he heads back toward the kitchen.
"Really, John. I suppose next you'll say you're not her housekeeper." Sherlock says in exasperation, but that sets both of them to giggling for some reason. "You have been spending far too much time with Mrs. Hudson."
John snickers and then giggles a little, and he nods. "You're probably right."
I just feel confused, but I can't help but grin a little as I watch the two men in a more relaxed state, neither of them hovering over me thinking that I'm going to break. I shift, laying down a little on the couch, getting comfortable enough to watch the two. "Who is Mrs. Hudson?" I finally ask.
Sherlock glances at me. "Our landlady. Lives in the downstairs flat. Not our housekeeper, as she reminds us so often." he says with amusement as he watches me, then looks at John, who just snickers a little.
As if summoned by her name, Mrs. Hudson comes up the stairs a little bit later, followed by Lestrade. "Sherlock, dear, you've got a visitor.." She says as she motions to Lestrade, then she makes a small sound. "Oh, and your guest is finally awake! Oh, I was so worried, dear, the way you were carrying on..." She says with a little smile. "But I see you've got it all in hand, John, you boys take good care of this poor dear." She says the last in a more strict tone. "I'd stay but I'm off to pop to the shop, do you dears need anything?"
John shakes his head. "We'll probably be going out a while later, I'll get anything while we're out." He reassures his landlady with a little smile over at her, finishing up the lunch and starting to dish it out onto four dishes, assuming the Detective would be staying.
Mrs. Hudson smiles. "Of course.. I'm Mrs. Hudson dear, I live just downstairs. If these boys give you too much trouble, you just let me know." She said, patting my hand before she bustled out.
Lestrade nodded a little. "Sherlock, John." He greeted the two men once the elderly landlady had exited. "I'm Detective Inspector Lestrade." he says as he holds his hand out toward me.
"Sofia Charles... It's nice to meet you, Detective." I said quietly, reaching out and shaking his hand weakly.
Lestrade frowned briefly at me. "How are you feeling? John tells me you just woke up.. well.. I should say you just started to be.. coherent." He said awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head.''
I pitied him his awkwardness, and I could feel Sherlock's eyes on us, observing us although he seemed to be in a meditative pose. "Yeah.. You might as well say I just woke up today.. I don't remember much from the last few days.. or.. however long it has been. Mostly just voices.." I admitted with a little blush, glancing at Sherlock and John.
"Lunch is ready.." John called from the doorway between the kitchen and the living room. "No. No, no." He said as he saw me starting to get up. "Stay there, Sofia. We'll eat in the living room. I made you a plate, Greg. Tea for all." He brought out two plates, one for me, and clearing a spot on the desk for Greg, motioning him to it before he brings out a plate for Sherlock. "Eat." He orders in a firm tone, then he comes out with a tea set and his own food. After tea is made and passed around, he settles down to eat.
"Cheers." Greg says with a nod of his head. "Much appreciated, John, this is good." He compliments with a nod of his head after taking a bite.
Even Sherlock is eating, and I just poke at my food a bit, uncertain since my stomach is still feeling a bit queasy, but I slowly take a few bites, wondering what kind of questions will come up when the food is gone.
Silence reigned in the flat for a while as the food was eaten, the least of which was eaten by me. While the plates were cleared away by John, Lestrade turned toward me. "Thanks for that, John. Been a few days since I had a decent meal." he says before he turned to look at me. "Ms. Charles, I just need to know what you remember, anything you remember about your attackers."
I had to take a deep breath, pulling my legs up onto the couch with me, drawing in on myself a little to preserve what body warmth I had, even though the food helped. "I.. I was going out. Before. I was in a club, or a bar.. There was dancing. I was alone. I wasn't drinking. Not alcohol. I don't drink." I was trying to put my thoughts in order. Everyone's attention was on me now. "I was dancing.. and there were a lot of people.. One guy came up and started dancing with me. He seemed.. nice." I wasn't looking at the room now, I was looking inside at what few memories I had from before being drugged. "We were dancing, and this other guy came up behind me... I was enjoying myself, I didn't think anything about it. I felt a prick, near my hip, maybe my thigh. I looked at the guy behind me, he was taller.. bigger, like a bouncer. I thought maybe he pinched me, and then.. everything went dark." I sighed, curling up. "And then.. the next thing.. I just remember glimpses of things. voices, lights, everything too bright, too loud. Tried to talk, and I was slapped." My head turned to the side sharply, the memories feeling quite real to me, my hand being placed against my cheek. I didn't realize I was shaking, until just then. "There was pain, cold, hunger.." I stopped speaking as I started to hyperventilate a little, not realizing what was happening until there were two men sitting on either side of me.
John pushed my head down gently between my knees. "Sofia.. that's enough. Breathe, deep breaths for me." He said in a firm tone. Sherlock put his hand on my back, rubbing it gently as I tried to get my breath.
"I.. I'm ok." I finally said, after managing to get my breathing back under control, slowly sitting up. If it had been any other time, I would have laughed, Sherlock and John looked so concerned. Even Lestrade was standing over me looking concerned.
John's look was fierce. "That's enough questions for today, Lestrade. I think Sofia has told you everything you need to know. I need to get her to the hospital, and have her looked over."
That almost sent me into another panic attack. "H-hospital?!" I gulped as I looked nervously at John.
"Yes.." John's tone was cautious. "I don't have the right equipment here or the right.. skill set to make sure that there wasn't more serious damage done to you." He said gently as he watched me carefully, gauging my reaction.
But a strange place, a hospital, people poking and prodding at me, that was not what I wanted. "I.. I don't.. no.. I don't think I can handle that.. right now.. Isn't there anything you can do?"
John shifted awkwardly, glancing at Lestrade. Rubbing the back of his head, Lestrade cleared his throat. "I better go.. let me know if you remember anything else." He said to me, nodding before making a quick escape.
Sherlock was pondering this problem apparently, knowing that while John was a surgeon, there were certain skills he did not have, specifically concerning the female form. Without a word, he got up while John was still trying to phrase an answer, and pulled out his cell phone, hesitating before dialing.
"Mycroft." Sherlock spoke when someone picked up on the other end. "No, we're fine. Sofia needs to see a doctor, but the idea of going to hospital has made her.. uneasy." He sighed in exasperation, and while his voice was reasonable and calm during the rest of it, now he was getting frustrated. "Sofia. Yes, the woman. Don't play dumb with me, Mycroft." he snapped. "Will you send a qualified physician over or not? Yes, John is, but.. there are certain exams he is not qualified to perform." He spoke softly during the last part, as if I couldn't hear, though certainly not because he was embarrassed. I was pretty sure the man never got embarrassed.
John for his part was merely staring during this conversation. "Blimey.. " he paused, looking at my confused face, before saying. "Sherlock never calls Mycroft. The two take sibling rivalry to a whole new level."
"Then why would he do something like that for me? I'm nothing to him." I said quietly as I watched Sherlock arguing with his brother, not catching most of the conversation, but the lanky man had started to pace.
John sits back on the couch for a moment as he considers his friend. "I haven't quite figured that out yet." He admits honestly.