Dear Normund,

I am pleased to hear you are taking good care of yourself. I haven't yet lft for Brighton though I am packing. We're leaving in a few days. Going out tonight for a nice dinner at a nearby restaurant.

It definitely will be good to get out of London for awhile, as my mate Greg says, 'It's nice to get London out of your lungs' every so often. I haven't really been out since the case back in Dartmoor. And that was hardly a holiday.

I think I will go ahead with the book idea, let everyone know the full story. It's just sad it's such a short and tragic one. I wish I had had more time with him. He was becoming more human, our friendship was getting stronger by the day, oh well, no use brining up sad memories.

Stay safe mate.

John.

Mary looked lovely, the restaurant was expensive, the food delicious, frankly in John's mind, the night couldn't get any better. Their relationship was flying in leaps and bounds, on the wings of love. God that did sound a little corny, but where Mary was concerned, John didn't really care if it was or not. He loved her. Absolutely loved her. And the best thing? She loved him back just as much.

"This was a lovely idea John and the circus this afternoon, I haven't been since I was a child! Loved it, every minute" John grinned, exactly the reaction he was hoping for.

"Old friend suggested it too me and I haven't been to a proper one myself in a long time either, thought it was something different. I'm glad you enjoyed it too!" The doctor sipped his wine, drinking in Mary's smile, her hair, her eyes, her everything. How could one woman be so perfect? It was unnatural. John loved it.

Mary smiled again, finishing up her meal and watched as John ordered desert for the both of them. "Mmm, ice-cream, my we are spending big aren't we?" She teased placing a small dab of strawberry ice-cream on his nose and watched as he went adorably cross-eyed. "Well, I like to splurge" John chuckled, wiping the cream off his nose. The rest of the evening went smoothly along and soon they left the restaurant arm in arm looking for a taxi.

"Wanna see a movie? Or has the day been too big for you and would rather go, "sleep it off"?" John nudged her, a cheeky grin splashed across his face. "Hmm, well a movie does sound tempting, anything in mind?". John shrugged, he honestly had no idea what was on, but perhaps they could find a nice adventure film they both might in enjoy or a scary movie so she could scream and jump into his arms. Now there was a plan.

John waved a hand, trying to catch a cabbie's attention when something else caught his. A familiar face sitting in the back seat of a car. Where did he know that face from? Old colegue? No..old friend? No...oh! OH! Of course, Mycroft! He'd shown John a bunch of photos, and this man had been in one of them. An assasian! But why was he back in London? John's feet itched to follow.

"Mary?...Do you trust me?"

"Of course"

"..Run!"

The two of them pelted down the streets after the elegant black vehicle, running down twisted alleys, up fire escapes, down stairs, through open shops. It was just like old times and several glances at Mary told John she was enjoying every minute of it. John stopped in the middle of a road, just as the car turned a corner and seemingly vanished. Swearing John threw his cane to the ground.

"Damn it!"

"We have the number plate, maybe we can track it?"

"I'll tell Lestrade. Sorry, that was utterly ridiculous"

"It was extremely ridiculous, completely dangerous but definitely fun. Who was he anyway?"

"Just someone, an assassin. I should tell Mycroft too, though he probably already knows. Always does."

The two of them laughed and John bent down and picked up his discarded cane. "John.. you ran the whole way here without using it..". Smiling John nodded but noted the pain had returned. Just for a moment it had left him. Perhaps it would leave again soon. "Yeah, it does that."

John turned and began walking over towards Mary who was waiting on the pavement. A car skidded around the corner. And everything happened at once. Wheel's screeching, bright lights, someone screaming, and explosion of pain and then silence.

"JOHN!"

A/N: Sorry for the shortness, next chapter will hopefully be longer because of emotions and stuff.