The Science of Starting Again//Book Five

Chapter 30~ East Wind

Third Person P.O.V

Teddy Holmes had left many people in her life. She had left her family and best friend when she was eighteen. She had left a man who had renewed her heart and had taught her to love again. She had left a potential lover in America to return home. Only once had someone left her and that had felt like an atomic bomb exploding inside her heart. She prayed that something like that would never happen again, but those prayers were never answered because if they were she wouldn't be here today. She wouldn't be standing on a plane runway saying goodbye to her brother who was off to save the world once again.

This time, though, he wouldn't be coming back.

"Nice entry," Sherlock said as she hopped off her bike, placing her helmet over the handle. She gave him a small smile as she walked over.

"It's all to make me look cool," Teddy replied sarcastically. "I got Greg one for Christmas, you know. Seeing as we're a couple I thought we should go all out with the whole matching thing: matching jumpers, matching robes, matching motorbikes. His one is black, though."

"I expected you to arrive with the others," Sherlock said, eyebrows furrowed. Teddy glanced over towards Mycroft who stood nearby with his men. One look from the youngest Holmes sent him backing away, signaling for the security men to walk with him. As soon as Mycroft and the other men had walked a good distance away Teddy answered, coming to stand in front of her brother.

"I wanted to come on my own," she told him, looking up at her brother. "Thought it would be best. I wanted to talk to you alone."

"Where's Lestrade?"

"He's at the pub, I'm gonna meet him there after this," she told him with a frown. "He, um, he says goodbye and good luck and he hopes he can see you again. Same with Molly and Mrs Hudson."

"Tell them I say thanks," Sherlock replied, his eyebrows drawn together as he stared at his little sister. "Is... is there anything you wish to say?"

Teddy swallowed, looking up at her brother. Sherlock saw that her eyes were wet with tears that were yet to fall. She looked pale and sick and Sherlock noticed that her hair was in a braid, something she only did when she was nervous and she felt like she was falling apart. With a deep sigh Teddy looked away from him, trying to pull herself together. It wouldn't do for her to break down in front of him. It wasn't her who would be leaving behind the people she loved. It wasn't her who was flying away to her death. It was him, her brother, her best friend. It was Sherlock. 

"I don't want you to go," Teddy finally admitted, looking back at him. The tears had fallen while she was turned away from him and now tear tracks left marks on her pale cheeks. With a choked sob Teddy stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her brother's waist, burying her face in his coat. Sherlock blinked, sudden realization hitting him like a ton of bricks. He suddenly felt the weight of what he had done settling on his shoulders. His eyes began to sting as he thought about all the things he would miss out on. Here in London his friends and family would continue life without him. John, Lestrade, Molly, Mary and Mrs Hudson would be completely oblivious to what would happen to him in six months time. Mycroft and Teddy would not.

"I know what's gonna happened to you, Sherly," Teddy cried, her grip on her brother tightening so hard Sherlock was certain he'd have bruises by the end of it. "And I don't want that to happen! You can't go, you just can't! I'll miss you. I- I need you here, Sherly, I really do."

"You'll be fine, Teddy," Sherlock replied, his voice thick as he tried to push back his thoughts. "You'll have Lestrade with you. And Mycroft and Molly and Mrs Hudson. You'll have Mary and John to help you whenever you need it. Everything will be all right."