The Mind Reader - A Sherlock Fanfic

Alone

"You don't know if it was her, Sherlock!" John pleaded as we entered the flat and climbed up the stairs to the living room. 

"I know it was her, I saw her!" I replied. 

"There were lots of people there Sherlock, someone might've looked like her. If it wasn't that, you might've been seeing things. With all the commotion that just happened, even your mind could've played tricks on you," Lestraude added. 

I plopped into my arm chair. "She stared straight at me, like she wanted me to see her. She made a connection with me through all the people. It had to have been her," 

John had enough. "Just because some woman with a familiar looking face made eye contact with you, doesn't mean that's the same woman who, I'm sorry to say, you saw die,"

The room went silent. John knew he made a mistake, but he wasn't afraid to say whatever he wanted. I suppose that's why I still keep him around. He knows what to say, but he's smart about what he says. Can't say I'm like that. This moment however, he stopped being smart. 

"Look, Sherlock," Lestraude broke the silence. "Everyone has been thinking. You've been different since... Amy died. You're never home whenever you're off a case, god knows where you go. When you are on a case, you rush and never stop to let us catch up, mentally and physically. I know, it was different to have someone else around who knew your way of thinking, but she's gone. You need to understand that and begin to move on,"

"But she's not gone," I persisted. 

John rolled his eyes. "Fine. If you are so positive it was her, then go find her yourself!"

"John-" Lestraude tried to say.

"If Sherlock refuses to learn the easy way then he's just going to have to face the truth like he does everything else, alone,"

He wasn't bluffing, that's for certain. And Lestraude gave up on trying to convince either of us otherwise. I understoood what John wanted me to do, but I still refuse to believe it. I rose from my armchair and headed for the door. No one said anything on my way out. When I started down the stairs, I saw Mrs. Hudson appear from her flat door. "Oh, Sherlock. Out so soon? I was just going to bring you boys some tea," she sighed, with her silver platter played with tea and biscuits. 

"Sorry, Mrs. Hudson. You can bring that to the others. They won't be joining me today,"

"Again? Oh, I do worry about you sometimes Sherlock,"

"Doesn't everyone?"

"Well, ever since that sweet Amy died, Bless her, you've been all mopey and cut yourself off from everyone who wants to help you,"

"I'm aware,"

"Young man, if you want to at least try to move on, you need to let people into your life. You were doing to well before. Then one girl comes into your life and changes everything. Hm, love can do unexpected things I guess," She smiled.

She was right, I suppose. Amy was different. She changed me. "Well, I'm off. Can you save me some dinner? Just put it in the fridge," I said as I walked onto the sidewalk.

"How many times do I have to say, I'm not your housekeeper!" She called after me, before she headed up the stairs to serve the others.

I never know where I plan to go whenever I go out, but I usually end up on the bridge in Hyde Park. Overlooking the Serpentine and the Long Water. My thoughts tend to reflect on itself there. No one bothers me, no one questions me, I'm just a man lost in his thoughts.

An hour passed when I arrived on the bridge. The sun was setting, people were putting on an extra coat. I seemed to be alone, except for the passing car. Memories of Mr. Herrington flashed in my head. I still didn't understand what got into him. What could he have experienced that would make him so scared. So scared that he would take his own life? "He experienced the truth," I herd a familiar voice call. 

I turned my head in the direction of the voice and my heart skipped a beat. A young woman, approached me. Slim and pale. Her deep, brown hair perfectly framed her face before falling gracefully below her shoulders. I could see her piercing green eyes from a couple meters away. She's wearing a black, leather coat with light brown and grey fur lining the hood. She matched the coat with grey pants and black boots. I couldn't imagine her wearing anything else from this style. That familiar face made my mind switch off and focus on her. Her faint grin made me feel at home. "Amy?" I almost gasped.

"What? Where you expecting the Queen?" She grinned as she leaned on the bridge's railing next to me. 

I didn't know what to say. My mind completely drew a blank, and I couldn't get my jaw to close. She must've sensed my shock, because she clasped her hands together, rested her elbows on the railing, and remained silent. There were so many things I wanted to say, scream even, but I had no control over my brain. "So, how've you been?" I spit out. Where did that come from? I felt like punching myself in the gut.

She must've thought the same thing, because her eyes widened and she hesitated. "The same, I suppose. Well, I suppose not actually, judging by the last couple months and... my absence,"

"Heh, yeah..." I nodded. I'm an idiot.

"No, you're not,"

"Excuse me?"

"You're not an idiot, Sherlock," she locked her eyes with mine.

"How did you-"

"A lot's happened to you, and I'm sorry about that. I left without warning, I know that. Things... came up, and I didn't plan for everything to happen the way it did,"

"Then how are you here?" I finally regained control of my mind. "What was with that scene at the hospital?"

She looked down at the water. "Oh, that. Well, I... um..."

"Sorry. I just... I just have so many questions,"

"I know. And there's so much I want to tell you... but I can't," she turned to face me.

"You can't? What do you mean?" 

"Oh, Sherlock," she lifted her left arm to my cheek. "This goes deeper than you think, and I don't want you to get hurt,"

"How?"

"I just... There's a lot more to me than you know, and if you did... It wouldn't just be me that you would see differently,"

"What do you mean?" I couldn't see her point. I couldn't see what she was so afraid of. "Amy, you know you can trust me. Help me understand,"

"It's not that I don't trust you, I just don't trust the others,"

"Who? John?"

"No, not them. God, what I would give to see them,"

"You can. Just come home,"

"We both know that won't happen,"

"Why? Just tell me, Amy. Please,"

She looked like she could cry, but she never shed a tear. "I told you to much at this point. I promise, things will change soon," she started backing away.

"Wait. Tell me this much. What's the 'truth' that Mr. Herrington saw?" I just wanted her to stay with me at this point.

I thought she would smile at this point, but she remained serious and slightly scared. "You can't trust many people you think are close to you, Sherlock. Listen to me, if this the only order you listen to, then listen to it well. Be careful of those you trust. Please,"

I looked down to try to comprehend what she meant. My heart and mind raced. I looked back up. "What do you-"

She was gone. Any sign of her vanished. I looked all around me, even in the water for her. I took a deep breath and calmed down. What did she mean by "there was a lot more to this than I think"? What did she mean by any of what she told me? What was she so scared of? Ugh, so many questions! She doesn't want me to get involved, I understood that much. But how could I let her do whatever she was doing alone? And how did she know what I was thinking? It was like she was just a figment of my imagination. No... Could she have been? No matter, I know she's out there. I have to find her, and I have to figure out what's going on!

I started walking home.