"He's in," Maelin said simply, the voice on the other end of the line starting to chuckle.

"I knew you were up for this," he replied as his laughter subsided.

"Just remember what you promised me," she added.

"As long as you're a good girl and get daddy what he asks for."

Maelin flinched. "I don't really have a choice, do I?"

"Well, no. But I like hearing you say how much you want to please me."

She took a deep, silent breath, willing herself to remain calm. "I'll get you what you want."

"Not want, need." His tone had grown cold and sent a chill through Maelin.

"Of course," she smiled, a cold smile. "Whatever you need, sir."

He chuckled again. "That's my girl. You play him as well as you're playing me, and your reward will be more than you asked for."

"As you wish," she replied and heard his line go dead.

She took a deep breath, then flipped over her phone, cracking open the case and removing the sim card. She walked across the bridge and tossed the battery of the phone in a bin and the rest in the canal, then slipped the card into a small pocket within her jacket. Picking up her pace, Maelin started jogging into the park, knowing it would be at least an hour before she recovered from that call, and perhaps longer to reconcile what she needed to do with what she wanted to do.

Two hours later she found herself standing before the one place she wanted most and least to be. She raised her hand to knock, then brought it down, rubbing it across her face. Instead, she turned and walked next door, entering Speedy's cafe. She ordered a tea, bottled water, and a bagel, then sat down at a small table near the back. She ran the cold bottle of water across the back of her neck and sighed before cracking it open and drinking half of it.

A few minutes later as she sipped her tea and took her first small bite of the bagel, the chair across from hers was dragged back. She looked up, more out of courtesy than anything. She knew he would come down to her.

"Rethinking your plan?" John asked as he adjusted his seat.

"I'm constantly rethinking a lot of things, Doctor Watson."

"You can call me John," he interjected. "Please."

She gave a small smile. "Thank you, John."

"You know Sherlock's upstairs pacing about and muttering to himself all sorts of insanity."

"It's not insanity," she said, taking another sip of tea.

"Well, you know what I mean."

"I do," she said, smile broadening. "You should have seen him as a teenager."

"God no," John laughed as his tea was brought over. He nodded to the server before continuing. "I wouldn't want to know how insufferable he was then."

"Yes you would. But not now. You have questions."

"Just one, really." John said before taking a sip of his tea. Maelin gestured toward him, giving him the floor. "Do you really think you can win this?"

"It's not really a game, John."

"Bull."

Maelin sighed. "It's not like Sherlock said earlier. I can't smash all the pieces. I mean, I could, but seeing as how we're pieces it's not something I'm keen to do."

"That still doesn't answer my question."

"I know. It's… complicated."

"Trust always is."

Maelin stared at him for a moment.

"What?" John asked after taking another sip of tea. "You think I can't be observant sometimes?"

She took another bite of her bagel and sip of tea, all smiles having faded from her. "You're right. Success, or winning, if you want to call it that, could very well depend entirely on my trusting Sherlock, and him trusting me. I wish I had full confidence that it's possible but-"

"Why isn't it?"

"That's a simple question to a very complicated answer, John. We're different now, both of us. He's better with you," she said so matter of factly John raised an eyebrow at her. "I can see it already, and even in what I've studied with the two of you, and how he speaks of you it's clear. I might be good for Sherlock again, and I might be worse. I don't know yet."

"What about his effect on you?"

"You read my letter."

"I didn't mean-" John started before she held up a hand. John looked down at his tea, taking a sip. "I'm sorry."

"It's alright. I knew there was a possibility you'd see it, too." She paused, sipping her tea and taking another bite. She then ran a hand through her hair, as much as she could with it pulled back in a loose bun.

"You don't have to answer that," John finally said.

They sat in silence for a moment, sipping their tea and avoiding looking at one another. Rubbing her hands on her knees, Maelin finally spoke. "We keep sitting awkwardly like this, people will think we've had a fight."

John smiled and they looked at each other. "You should go up to him."

"And say what?"

"Anything, or nothing. I think… I think he just needs you around."

Maelin sighed again. "It's been a long time since he's needed me for anything."

"I very much doubt that's true. Maybe he learned how to get along without you. Well, he's had to obviously, but I wouldn't mistake that for being unneeded."

She eyed him before replying. "You really believe that?"

"At this point it's not about what I believe, though for the record I do. It's really about if you're ready to do what's necessary for him."

John slid a key to the flat across the table to her. "I've got some errands to run."

He left her there, and Maelin stared at the key for several moments before taking it and leaving Speedy's. With one deep breath she moved next door and turned the key in the lock.

Entering the flat, she could hear Mrs. Hudson's radio on in her kitchen as she cleaned. Maelin quietly ascended the stairs, hearing the shower running once she got to the landing. She moved into the flat, contemplating as she glanced around what to do with the key. After a moment, she slipped it into her pocket and moved to the leather chair by the fireplace. She sat down, crossing her legs and putting her elbows on her knees. Propping her chin on her hands, she remained like that until the door to the bathroom opened, then the only change which occurred was a small smile as Sherlock emerged and strode into his room, completely naked. The door to his room closed without a glance in her direction, but once it was shut, his voice echoed from inside.

"Is there something I can help you with?"

"No," she returned.

"What did John send you up here for, then?"

"Quality time."

There was a pause as though he was contemplating her words. He emerged a moment later in navy lounge pants, a tee, and one of his dressing gowns. He looked at her, studying.

"You're serious."

"On occasion," she smiled. "Can I use your shower? I've been on a run in the park for nearly two hours."

He gestured toward the bathroom.

"You wouldn't happen to have any clothes I could borrow?" She saw the flicker in his eyes, and raised her head, giving a single nod. "Something like that is fine. Or I could go ask Mrs. Hudson."

"Don't be ridiculous," he finally replied. "You'd look absurd in one of her frocks."

"More absurd than on your clothes?"

"There's pants and shirts in the third drawer of the dresser," he said as he moved toward her, waving her out of the chair.

Maelin moved and was almost immediately supplanted by Sherlock plopping in the chair. As she moved toward his room to pick out some clothes, he called after her.

"How was you call with Moriarty."

Maelin continued into his room, silent. When she reached the dresser, she noted her hands were shaking. She opened the drawer and quickly shuffled through the well folded clothes. She pulled out a pair of plaid green shorts and a brown tank. Closing the drawer, she squeezed the clothes tightly before moving back out of the room.

"Difficult," she finally said as she moved toward the bathroom. "As I imagine all contact with him will be."

Sherlock nodded, only half listening now as he moved into his own thoughts. Just as she went to close the door, she heard him say, "I imagine it will."

Once inside, Maelin stripped down and pulled the sim card out of her jacket. She looked at it for a moment, then slipped it into one of the pockets of the shorts. It took most of the shower to get her hands to stop shaking.