Never Gone: A Study in Suitors Part Two ⭐

7 - The Other Woman

***A FEW WEEKS LATER***

***SHERLOCK POV***

I walked in after all the leads on Irene ran cold and I couldn't find anything new. I hadn't checked in with Portia and I knew there would be hell to pay.

I walked into the apartment. Something seemed off.

"Portia?!" I called out and got no answer. "Portia!" I yelled and searched the apartment quickly. She was nowhere to be found. I tried not to panic. I walked back out to the living room and saw something on the table. I saw her wedding band sitting on top of a folded piece of paper. I grabbed the wedding band and then the letter. I was shaking as I unfolded the piece of paper.

-Sherlock,
My love, I told you if you left, I wouldn't be here when you got back. I wasn't lying Sherlock. You promised you were done chasing ghosts, she is a ghost! You could have ignored the letter, you could have let everything go and been with me, but she was more important...once again. I don't like coming in second to her Sherlock, so I'm done. I love you but I can't live like this anymore.
We were supposed to be moving on, now I move on with my life, without you, alone. Irene can have you. Hope you enjoy the chase knowing what it has cost you.
Love,
Portia-

I just sat there reading the not over and over, this wasn't Portia, she would never leave me no matter how much I upset her. She was my soulmate and I was hers. This was Irene, she was going to hit me where it hurt again. She was going to take the woman I love to prove a point. I quickly left the house with the note and her wedding band placed in my jacket pocket.

I first went down to the docks where everything happened a year ago. I walked in but it was empty and vacant. I walked to the spot where I was a year ago holding Portia in my arms praying and willing for her to live. There was still a stain on the concrete floor where she had bled out until help got there. I sighed and knelt by the stain on the floor.

"They weren't here, where would she take her..." I said out loud. I sighed standing up knowing I was going to need help and fresh eyes on the note. Only one person I could go to, the person who figure it out last time.

🔍🔍🔍

I opened the door to the house and I saw Enola and Emilia in the sitting room reading as MJ slept in the bassinet beside Emilia.

"Hey, you're back!" Emilia said as I walked in and kissed her cheek and I nodded.

"I am."

"Any leads?" Enola asked and I shook my head.

"Her trail went cold, well until I got home anyway..." I said and they both looked at me oddly.

"What do you mean?" Enola asked and I sighed.

"Portia is gone and I think Irene took her making her leave a note and her wedding band like she left me." I said and Enola sighed as I handed her the note. She didn't even bother reading. I looked at her like she was crazy.

"Enola, I need your help finding her! Can you please read the note?" I asked and Enola shook her head.

"Sherlock...Portia did leave you." Enola said and I just looked at her like she was crazy.

"What?!" I asked.

"You left her Sherlock. She asked you not to go and you went anyway. You walked out first. She couldn't take it anymore. No more ghosts, remember that conversation? She does and she said you promised you were done. Starting a life and family. You could have ignored the Irene note. She would have eventually made a mistake, but you could handle it and went after her leaving Portia alone, having to make a decision she thought she would never have to make." Enola explained and I growled.

"Where is she Enola?!" I asked pissed off.

"I'm not telling you Sherlock. I have an idea but no sustainable clue. And even if my clue it right, I'm not telling you. She is done Sherlock. Your marriage is over." Enola said.

"It's not over! I love her!" I yelled. Enola and Emilia both huffed a laugh.

"Love her?! Funny way of showing Sherlock." Emilia spoke up and I just looked at her and she sighed. "You went after Irene, and we all understand what she did in the past and how we all almost lost Portia. Here's the thing, it's still another woman in your marriage and Portia is tired of being pushed aside for her." Emilia continued.

I just placed my hands on my hips and looked out the front window.

"I need to find her, I need to tell her how sorry I am." I finally said.

"Write her a letter and give it to me. I will see if I can find her." Enola said and I half nodded and went into the office.

🔍🔍🔍

***PORTIA POV***

I was sitting by the front window reading a book and having a small lunch when a horse rode up out front and I saw Enola get off the horse. I walked outside.

"You didn't bring the carriage? I don't like you coming alone." I said and she sighed.

"I'm fine Portia." Enola said and we hugged. I invited her inside.

"Would you like some tea?" I asked and she shook her head.

"Uh no, I actually came to bring you something and with some bit of news." Enola said and I panicked.

"Is Sherlock okay?!" I asked and Enola nodded.

"He is, he just got home." Enola said and I sighed with a nod. "And he found your ring and note." Enola added and I sighed.

"Right...how mad was he?" I asked.

"Well at first he thought Irene took you, making you write the note and leave your ring." Enola said and I shook my head.

"He would, obviously it can't be anything else..." I said and Enola nodded as we sat down.

"He came to ask me to look into it and I told him the truth. I didn't tell him where you were or anything, but I told him I had some ideas. I told him to write you a note and I would see what I could do." Enola said and she pulled the letter from her small bag she brought in. I sighed and looked at my name on the outside of the envelope in Sherlock's writing.

"Thank you for bringing this. I'm just not ready to come back. I can't come running back but because he is back just to leave when he gets another lead." I said and Enola nodded.

"I better head back. I'll come check on you in a few days and bring some supplies." Enola said and I nodded. We hugged and she was gone. I sat back down and opened up the letter.

-Portia,

I don't know what to say honestly than I'm sorry. I don't know how many times I have to apologize for my idiotic actions. Knowing you are gone kills me Portia. You really gave up and left. I don't blame you though, you warned me and told me it would happen. I never thought I would come home or have to be home without you after everything that happened.

You aren't second to Irene and I'm sorry I made you feel that way. You will always be number one and I know she is a ghost, but even a ghost needs hunted. That doesn't mean I'm doing it, I'm getting help. I'm going to have others coming in to help me look for her. I just want you home with me and us still plan on that family we want.

I love you Portia, you are my love, my life, my everything. Please come home soon.

I'm giving you my wedding band so you can keep it with you since I have yours and once we get back together we can switch them back with each other and place them on each other's fingers for the last time.

Your Deeply Sorry Husband,

Sherlock-

I wiped the tears away that had fallen and pulled his wedding band from the envelope and sighed. I set it on the table on top of the letter and just walked away from it.