Strangest Stranger

16

I wake up, sweating, and realize that I'm in a hospital bed. I sit up a bit, and see Sherlock laying in the chair, snoozing. Oh thank goodness that was a dream! I couldn't bear to actually lose him. My life wouldn't be worth living without him. He looks stressed even when he's sleeping. Wait...why am I in a hospital anyway?

I look down to see that my baby bump is gone. I don't remember anything. I blurt, "Sherlock, what happened?"

He opens his eyes, and I see the redness in and around his eyes. Something bad happened.

Sherlock croaks, sounding sick, "Ally, I'm sorry...I am so, so, so sorry. Moriarty...he shot..."

I say, feeling tears in my eyes, "He what!? He shot me! Sherlock, what exactly happened? I don't remember a thing."

He sits next to me on the bed, then says, trying really hard not to cry, "Ally...we lost the baby...because of him." Silent tears roll down my cheeks, starting as a trickle, then a river. Sherlock holds me in his arms, letting me sob, and even crying a bit himself.

He whispers in my ear softly, "No matter what happens, Ally, I'll always love you. So you lost the baby; it's okay. It's devastating, but we'll have other chances, right?"

I smile a little. Did he just imply that? I say, "Sherlock, thank you. I love you too. Even though you're kind of a sociopath."

He laughs, saying, "So I've heard."

He kisses the top of my head, then finds his lips on mine. I think he's trying to comfort me, and it's definitely working. Sherlock pulls away, but I grab his scarf, pulling him back to me. I didn't want him to stop.

-------

I sit on the couch, binge- watching Doctor Who, while Sherlock's out working on a case. I've been crying off and on; I'm a mess. I wish I knew what had happened really, but Sherlock won't tell me. My thoughts tend to wander off the deep end. What if my dream was replacing what actually happened? Well, I know that if my dream was real, then that means that I've been imagining Sherlock for a whole two weeks now.

Before I left the hospital, the nurse told me that I might need some counseling, but of course, Sherlock told her no. I guess I don't really need one, I mean, Doctor Who is being my coping method right now.

I hear the door slam, and feet running up the stairs. I turn to see Sherlock standing in the doorway, breathless, with a bundle of roses in his hands. I say, a little confused, "Hey."

He replies, still trying to catch his breath, "Hey."

Assuming he forgot what he was holding, I ask, "What'd you find? Did you solve the case?"

He blinks, as if coming back to reality, saying, "What? Oh, yes, I did. And while I was there, I saw these fresh roses, and thought of you."

So, he saw roses at a dead person's home, and took them, thinking of me.

"Aw, thank you!" I say, as he hands them to me. It's not that weird to me; it's sweet. The smell of roses fill the room, and I cough at how strong they are.

Sherlock says, "I'll just put them in the vase, then."

"Sherlock, I was just thinking?"

"What?"

"I...I like the name Annaliese." I say, out of the blue.

Sherlock takes his coat and scarf off, then settles down in his chair. He says, looking over at me, "I like that name too, sweetheart, but don't fret over what happened. The past is in the past. Moriarty's behind bars, and what happened will never happen again."

I laugh at that line, saying, "Okay, Elsa. I get it. Let it go."

He gives me a look as if he's confused, then he seems to get the reference, saying, "Oh, yeah, sorry."

I say, getting back on subject, "I know, Sherlock but...I...I want kids, you know?"

Sherlock smiles out of the corner of his mouth, and says, "I know, I do too Ally, but don't you think we should wait a while before"

I cut him off, saying, "Um, no. Please no! All I'm thinking about is...well, yeah, but I won't stop thinking about it unless..."

I look at him with sad puppy eyes, and he finally gives in, saying, "Alright, alright, fine. Just don't say I didn't warn you."

I smirk, saying, "Why would I ever say that?"