"To the very best of times," Sherlock extends his right hand towards John.
John looks at his friend. He takes his hand and shakes it. His heart swells with words he cannot fathom into sentences. A "thank you" will never be enough. Sherlock does not say anything more as he turns around and starts walking to the private jet.
Hermione tries Mycroft's office phone. She needs to know where Sherlock is right now. She had run after him but by then he had already gotten into a car which was speeding away. The phone gets picked up. A female voice says, "Hello. Mycroft Holmes' office."
"Hi. I need to know where Sherlock Holmes is."
"Umm sorry, I cannot divulge that information."
Hermione gets agitated, "Listen—what's your name?"
"Anthea."
"Okay Anthea, this is very important. Mycroft knows who I am. My name is Hermione Granger."
Anthea starts. Hermione Granger. Mr. Holmes had a report on her. In fact he had kept her under his surveillance. She had moved into 221C Baker Street. Anthea had wondered why. She decides to tell Hermione where to go.
Hermione takes a taxi. She has never been to this private airport before, she cannot possibly apparate there, though that would have been so easier. The journey takes her thirty minutes. She tells herself if she had started five minutes after he left, he could be still there. She fervently hopes so.
She jumps out of the taxi and runs. As this security guard tries to run after and stop her, she throws a Full Body-Binding curse at him. She cannot stop and form believable excuses.
She reaches the tarmac. She can see them. Mycroft, Sherlock, John and this blonde woman. But they are too far away. She sees Sherlock shaking hands with John and getting on the plane. Then she realizes it is the same plane that they flew to Paris in. She decides she can apparate now.
Sherlock gets in. The door gets slammed shut behind him. He unbuttons his jacket. He is going to sit down, when the familiar sound of a whip cracking in the air reaches his ear. He startles as he sees Hermione appear before him, panting and all flustered. Before he can say anything, she comes forward and thrusts a page in his hand.
He takes it and reads it. His mouth drops down in utter shock. He looks up. Hermione nods and says, "Those are ingredients for a Polyjuice potion. Blaise's friend Rich Brook—Jim Moriarty made up that name, isn't it? I had read Moriarty had a criminal empire. And Blaise was running an illegal business in Miami and had escaped from jail. What if Blaise worked for him? What if the potion was for him and not Blaise?"
Sherlock remains as still as a statue. The plane starts gliding along the runway for the take-off.
Lestrade is at the bar watching his football team lose when the screen starts malfunctioning. He rubs his head and curses. Then a very familiar face shows up on the screen. Lestrade's mouth hangs in disbelief.
Mrs. Hudson is cleaning Sherlock's flat. Good thing he is not here now. His flat is filthy. She turns on the television and vacuums the floor while watching the news. Suddenly the pictures get distorted. When it clears, she sees a very familiar face onscreen. She screams.
Molly decides to turn on the television in her office to watch the repeats of Glee. She had missed last night's episode. With an ear on the television she goes back in her lab. She hears the credits playing and comes back. But suddenly the screen whizzes and crackles. When it clears, the face on the screen nearly stops her heart.
The plane takes off. Sherlock is still standing there in shock. Hermione is waiting for him to say something, anything. She sits down.
The on-board plane rings. The flight attendant picks it up. The voice on the other end asks for Mr. Sherlock Holmes. He takes the phone to Mr. Holmes. He is surprised to see a woman sitting. Even though he is surprised he does not say anything but hands the phone to Mr. Holmes who is looking out the window. He says, "Sir, it's your brother."
Sherlock takes the phone from the attendant. He says, "Mycroft."
"Hello little brother," Mycroft speaks, "How is the exile going?"
Sherlock lets his irritation show, "I've only been gone four minutes."
"Well I certainly hope you've learnt your lesson."
Sherlock looks up Hermione. She just gives a confused look. His brother continues, "As it turns out you are needed."
Sherlock says, "Oh for God's sake, make up your mind! Who needs me this time?"
"England."