The sister... [Recently edited]

Chapter 14 - And It's Been a While [EDITED]

Mykala POV

It had been twelve days, ten hours, thirty-four minutes and forty-five seconds since I had last seen Sherlock.

Not that I was counting.

John had shaved off the ridiculous moustache he'd grown after Sherlock's return.

He and Mary were now engaged.

I had successfully avoided going anywhere near Baker Street.

And, strangely, Mycroft had stopped sending me work altogether.

The twins were back at playschool and, as usual, spending the afternoon with Mr and Mrs Holmes. They adored having their grandchildren, and Joseph and Boo loved every second they spent there.

Which meant...

For the first time in a long while...

I had an empty flat.

No work.

No children.

Just silence.

And somehow, that silence became too loud.

Before I could talk myself out of it, I found myself driving to St Bartholomew's Hospital.

---

The pathology lab was exactly as I remembered it.

Cold.

Clinical.

Quiet.

Molly stood with her back to me, completely absorbed in a microscope.

A mischievous smile crept onto my face.

Some habits never disappeared.

I quietly crept towards her...

Only for the laboratory doors to swing open.

Sherlock.

Instinctively, I ducked behind one of the stainless-steel counters.

Molly looked up.

Her eyes widened the moment she spotted me.

I raised a finger to my lips.

Please.

She gave the tiniest nod.

"Sherlock," she said, trying very hard to sound normal.

"What a... pleasant surprise."

"Hello, Molly."

His voice sounded tired.

Far too tired.

"What brings you here?"

"I need to borrow one of your microscopes."

He paused.

"...And you can tell Mykala she doesn't need to hide."

I closed my eyes.

Of course he'd known.

Slowly, I stood.

Molly looked apologetic.

Sherlock's eyes immediately met mine.

For a moment...

Neither of us spoke.

He looked thinner.

His cheekbones were sharper.

Dark circles sat beneath his eyes.

He looked exhausted.

"Mykala."

He took a cautious step forward.