Falling For You

Hello Again

When Sherlock woke up, he found the paper.  It was the middle of the night, about three in the morning, and he saw the red lipstick mark on the front and knew who it was from immediately.  He deduced that she had popped by maybe two hours ago when Sherlock was asleep.  He opened the note to read it, but it was far too dark in the lightless room to make out what the note said.  Because he didn't want to wake John up, Sherlock got out of his bed, unhooking the various medical needles from himself, and walked across the room to the door.  The hall light was on and if he held it up enough, it was easy to see what the note said.

Meet me in the supply room. xx 

Sherlock didn't really want to meet her, but he figured it was probably something of great importance or she wouldn't have come back from her faked death to see him.  He wondered what it could possibly be about, so he left the room, dropping the note on the floor so that if something happened to him, John would know where to find him.  He suspected that he would be up before John was awake, but he wasn't entirely positive.

Sherlock made his way down the corridors of the hospital.  He had to stop every few feet to catch his breath.  He was in an incredible amount of pain because of the wound in his stomach, but he journeyed on.  He felt as though he had to reach her just in case she was saying goodbye for real this time or something.  After a few minutes, he approached the supply closet.  He opened the door and saw himself standing face to face with the woman he had been expecting to see.

"Miss Adler," Sherlock said, his voice weak and soft.  

Irene smiled, her red lips parting to show her pearly white teeth.  She smiled up at Sherlock, her Sherlock, she figured.

"Sherlock Holmes," she replied.  "I've missed those cheekbones."

Sherlock stiffened, unsure of how to react.  Back in the day before he realized he was in love with John Watson, Sherlock would have found his heart pumping.  He never loved Irene, but there was something about her that made him feel warm inside. But the feeling was gone now that he knew how he felt about John and how John made him feel.  Warm, yes.  But so much more.  John made him feel as though he were infinite and never-ending.  With John by his side, no bullet would be strong enough to kill him.  

"Why are you here?" Sherlock asked as cold as ever.  

Irene shifted.  She wondered why he was being so distant.  "I thought you were dead," she began.

"We all did," Sherlock huffed.

She looked at him sharply.  "I mean after the fall," she whispered. She noticed Sherlock stiffen and he averted her gaze, looking at the floor. "Is it alright that I mention it?" she asked.

"Why are you here?" Sherlock repeated, not answering her question.

She smiled softly.  Same old Sherlock, only answering when he felt like it.  "I read the papers.  They said you were alive and back, but you never got in touch.  I was worried you'd forgotten about me," she said flirtatiously, her hands creeping up from her sides to Sherlock's pale chest.  He tried to shake her off, but she wouldn't have it.  She wanted him.  She wanted to kiss him so badly.

"Forget you? Impossible," Sherlock admitted with a dry scoff.

"I figured as much, so I kept my eye on you.  Then you were kidnapped and-"

"So you called the ambulance at the pool," Sherlock deduced, wondering how he didn't come to that conclusion sooner. Irene Adler was still in love with him, even after all this time. He felt a bit bad for her, especially because she thought there was a chance of them being together.  Perhaps, Sherlock thought, she thought he loved her too.  

"I couldn't let my favorite detective die.  For real," she winked.

"Thank you," Sherlock said in return.

He started to move out of the closet when The Woman grabbed his hospital gown and yanked him towards her.