Author's note: I almost forgot about this then I cleared off my desk and found it. I only own Cassandra, everyone else belongs to Doyle. Reviews are great while flames are hated.

Sherlock Holmes was at a cross road with what was ahead of him, and it scared him a bit. On one hand he knew he was doing the right thing, he knew there was no other way to stop Moriarty. On the other, he knew there was little chance of him returning. That alone left an issue, Cassandra. Logically, he should be preparing her more for this. He should talk to her about it, but she did have an idea. The chess game was proof, she knew what she was doing, what he was about to do. However, it was something that she did not want to hear.

That was why he was standing outside her room. She had ran in there upset and he could not let her be alone. He knocked and walked inside. She was lying on the bed, her face pressed in the pillow. He sat down beside her on the bed.

"I'm going with you." Cassandra said, her voice muffled.

"No, you are staying here."

"I won't stay here. Not without you."

Sherlock Holmes placed a comforting hand on her back. "Cassandra, I can not take you with me. It is too dangerous. I am already risking Watson's life by taking him and I will not risk yours. They won't hurt you if you are here and not with me."

"What if they do?" She asked.

He thought of that, he thought of protection for her incase Moriarty had men waiting to hurt her. "I will have Wiggins and the other older boys keep guard over you while we are gone. Mycroft will be here to look after you."

"Holmes, you can not just leave me here." She turned her face and looked at him. "Please, let me go with you."

He shook his head. "I can't let you come, Cassandra."

She grabbed his sleeve. "Don't go." She begged. "Please, Holmes, don't do this."

"I have to go. Everyone will be in danger if I don't, you know that."

"We can hide in one of your bolt holes, Holmes. It will almost be like it was when we lived on Montage Street."

"Cassandra, you know that we can't. That bolt hole would be a death sentience, only with one way in and out. I am followed at every moment. They will discover it and I fear the method they will use to get us to come out to trap us. Besides it is set up for only one person."

"Then we can go to Sussex." She said looking at him with hopeful eyes.

Sherlock Holmes sighed. "Come here, Cassandra." The girl sat up and moved closer to him. "Cassandra-

"We would be safe in Sussex, Holmes. I know we would."

"It would be one of the first places they look, child. It can be traced to me. Moriarty will find out about it and then what? You need to think of the risks."

"And running away is not risking anything or predictable?"

"When have you ever known me to walk out on a case before I see the entire thing through?" He asked.

"Never." Cassandra said softly.

"Never. He knows that it is not my nature to do so."

"Why can't I go with you?"

"You know why. It is too dangerous for you to come with me-

"It can be dangerous if I stay here."

"No, you will be safer here, Cass, I know you will. When Watson and I leave he will follow us. I know he will. You must stay here in London."

During dinner, the child hardly ate. Normally, Sherlock Holmes would scold her for this, but he kept quiet. The inner battle she was fighting to stay strong was enough. Afterwards, he thought playing the violin for her would help, it always had helped her. As he played, Sherlock Holmes looked over his shoulder and saw the girl sitting in her chair, trying to keep tears from her eyes.

That night, when he went to check on her for the night, she begged him to read from King Arthur. He could not remember the last time the child had asked him to read to her from that book. He looked over and saw she was worried, worried he would not read to her.

He smiled. "You have heard this story a thousand times, and no doubt have each line memorized, dear little cat."

Later after he left Cassandra he sat in front of the fire. In the morning Mycroft would fetch Watson as he got ready and...and said goodbye to Cassandra. Goodbye for them was nothing new, but time it may be the last. He knew, she knew, and Mycroft knew he might not return. He could not let Watson know. Unlike Cassandra, Watson would not let him do this, or even worse he may try to save him. That alone terrified him, he would make certain Watson would survive this as Cassandra would.

The sound of soft steps broke him from his thoughts and he saw the child standing before him. Sherlock Holmes said nothing, he only moved in his chair leaving room for her. She sat beside him and curled up. She laid her head on his chest and closed her eyes while he stroked her hair gently.

"I don't want you to go." She whispered tears falling down her face.

"No, tears. Tears won't bring me back or make this go away. You must stay strong, Cass."

"I'm not strong."

"You are the strongest person I know." He said pulling tight to him. "Everything will be right again soon. I promise you that."

"How can you promise that?"

"Nothing will stop me from being certain that you will be safe. I will do everything in my power to see that no harm comes to you. It may not be the way you want it, but you will be all right."

"I'm afraid, Holmes."

He rested his chin on the top of her head. "I know."

The next morning he was silently finishing getting ready. She stood off to the side watching him. Once he was finished he turned around.

"You will look after Watson?" She asked.

"Yes. You will look after Mycroft for me? You know how worried he can be."

"Yes, Holmes." Cassandra said.

"Stay out of trouble, and under no circumstances are you to follow me. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Holmes."

"Swear that you will not leave and follow us."

"I swear."

"Good girl." Tears poured down her face. He walked to her and hugged her tightly. "Oh, Cass." Sherlock Holmes whispered. "My dear little girl."

She cried and buried her head in his chest. He pulled her closer and let her cry. He wanted to tell her so many things before he left. That she was his child, she would always be his child no matter what happens. He wanted her to know how proud he was of her, that he would continue to be proud of her hard work and determination. He wanted to tell her that taking her in all of those years ago was not a mistake. It would never be a mistake. He wanted her to know that she helped him in so many ways, more then he was able to think of at the moment. He had so many things to tell her, but time had ran out.

"I must go now, child." He said pulling away. "I need to meet Watson."

"Be careful, Holmes."

He nodded and then cupped her face. He pressed his lips to her forehead and kissed it tenderly. "Goodbye, Cassandra." Sherlock Holmes said.

He did not look back he could not look back.