You See But Do Not Observe

RECOVERY

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX : RECOVERY

(Serena's POV)

She was healed. The doctor told her that. He also said she'd be fine with rest and time. She would always have scars, but her wounds had healed.

If the doctor told her that, it must be true. It didn't explain why she felt so fragile, like if anyone held her, she'd shatter. Someone would come along and sweep up broken pieces of porcelain.

She hated when the nurses looked at her pityingly. It only made the porcelain thinner, and she felt weak enough.

Sherlock understood how she felt. He didn't dance around her like if he stared at her too long, she'd faint. She liked him more than ever now. John and him visited every day, probably for longer than they should have. But Serena had gone so long being alone that she welcomed the attention. Greg even visited once, briefly. Serena had liked that, making her life normal again.

She was released three days after the fight. She had been kept for psychological testing, but she had dealt with this before. She wasn't insane, and she had told them that. They didn't believe her, but she was a psychologist herself. She thought she would know.

For example, she knew she wasn't completely better. She still had nightmares. And she would wake up, in the dark, and no one would be there. So she would try to sleep again futilely.

Sherlock and John came for her at the end of those three days. When she took her first steps out of the hospital, she felt like she was taking the first steps on a long healing.

Last time she had never healed. She had recovered, but she had been alone. She had settled for recovery. This time she wouldn't stop until she felt like she was made of steel, not porcelain.

They brought her back to Baker Street. Mrs. Hudson had fussed over her, and Serena had smiled. It felt good to smile knowing the threat had disappeared for good.

They stayed up late that night, laughing and celebrating and, for Sherlock and Serena, holding hands and kissing and smiling for the sake of smiling. John called some people around nine. Molly, Greg, Serena didn't know if there was anyone else. But it was fun.

"And you're alright?" Greg asked for the hundredth time.

"Yes, fine!" Serena held up one of her still bandaged wrists. "Except for these, I'm in perfect health."

"Excellent! Also, about business, i was wondering if you wanted me to restore Serena Gambles. Or do you prefer Amanda now?"

"Give me back Serena." Serena said happily.

"Fantastic!" Greg had tossed back quite a few drinks already, and he swayed slightly as he walked to talk to Molly.

"So, what do you think?" Serena asked Sherlock, sitting next to her. He seemed unwilling to let go of her hand.

"Of?"

Serena craned her head subtly toward Lestrade and Molly.

"She's better than his wife." Sherlock murmured and Serena smiled.

"This is nice. A family."

"You do know none of us are related."

Serena laughed a little at that and Sherlock looked pleased. "Yes, but we both know blood means nothing. This is what makes a family."

They looked together at the room. Small, a bit crowded, loud, but unified in the strangest of ways.

"It's true." Sherlock said, and Serena leaned her head against him.