The phone at 221A Baker Street, Mrs Hudson's Snax n' Sarnies, began to ring.

Mrs Husdon jumped at the sound of the phone, having been relaxing behind the counter, watching her customers come and go. As it blared out its tune, Mrs Hudson stood, brushing her skirt with her hands as she walked over.

"Hello?" she said as she lifted the phone to her right ear.

"Mrs Hudson?" the voice crackled back quietly. "It's me, John."

"John! You called!" Mrs Hudosn exclaimed. John shushed her quickly.

"Can Sherlock hear you?" John demanded.

Mrs Hudson looked around, searching for Sherlock. "No."

A sigh of relief came through the line. "Good. I don't want him to know I've rung," John explained as Mrs Hudson sat back down.

"Why not?" she asked.

"Because... I can't face it right now," replied John after a pause.

"He misses you, John. He hardly eats, he hardly sleeps and he hasn't left the house in three months. You have to come back, John," Mrs Hudson begged. "I can't bear it. I've hardly heard him say a word. He's been so depressed, John. I'm worried."

"I... Can't. I can't talk to him right now."

"But John," she pleaded. "He hasn't taken a case since you left. He's been cooped up inside for so long."

"What do you mean, he hasn't taken a case?" John's voice was disbelieving.

"He hasn't touched his computer, or his phone. He's hardly moved at all. There's dust on his laptop!"

"But... He... He'll be so bored," John stuttered.

Mrs Hudson shook her head, even though she knew John could not see. "You've got to come back, John. He's so depressed. I would take him to a doctor, but every time I say the word 'Doctor' he looks at me with so much hope and he says "John?" And I have to tell him no. Then he's even worse than before."

There was a deathly silence that carried over the phone line. Mrs Hudson waited, because she could hear John's deep breaths through the speaker. She sat still as stone, and he, at the other end, sat with his head resting on his hand, propped up by his knee.

"I'll... I'll try, Mrs Hudson," John said at last, his anguish clear in his tone.

"Thank you, John," Mrs Hudson sighed. "Please, please, come home."

"Goodbye, Mrs Hudson," said John finally. "And... Look after Sherlock for me."

"I will," she promised as John ended the call.