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Part 8: Layla

Quick A/N: The song above you can listen to while you read the flashback. What flashback, you ask? Just read. ;)

My eyes nearly popped out of my head as I stared at the two men standing before us.

   'No. Way.' was all I could think. Had this happened only a day before, I would have laughed at them and believed they were only actors that I'd grown to know over social media back when things were normal.

   Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman.

   But no, after meeting Thomas and the others from a supposedly fictional series called the Maze Runner, I was more willing to believe they were actually Sherlock Holmes and John Watson.

   My head reeled and I steadied myself. This was all too much. I wasn't sure how much more I could take.

   "Uh," Rose stuttered. "O..kay. I'm Rose."

   Derek's eyes narrowed. "Derek."

   Daniel introduced himself and then everyone looked to me. I was the only one who hadn't said my name. But, to be honest, I was having difficulty forming any words right now.

   "Layla." I finally managed to get out.

   "And we're busy," Daniel said, beginning to walk past the two Brits. "So, it was nice to meet you and all, but goodbye."

   Sherlock raised an eyebrow and I sputtered, hurrying after Daniel. "Daniel, wait!" I said, stopping him. Daniel stopped and looked at me, throwing his hands up. Lowering my voice, I added, "Maybe they can help us."

   "Trust two complete strangers?" Daniel replied in disbelief. "Yeah, I don't think so."

   "They're not strangers," I burst out, feeling frustrated for them. Daniel blinked. "Uh.. well, they kinda are but.. not?"

   "If I might interrupt," Sherlock's deep voice surprised me, and I jerked around. "John and I are actually on our way somewhere, so we can't help you."

   I glanced back and Daniel gave me a pointed look. "Oh," I said, looking back to Sherlock. "Okay. I'm sorry, I didn't know that."

   Sherlock gave me an odd look, then turned and went back to John. "Come along, John," he said, brushing past his friend. "We've already wasted enough time. If Moriarty gets away because of these people distracting us-"

   "Alright, alright," John cut him off. "Relax, Sherlock, I'm coming."

   I felt strangely disappointed as they began to walk away. John glanced back as they did. "It was nice to meet you all," he said, giving us a small smile. "Take care of yourselves."

   "You, too," Rose and I called back at nearly the same time.

   And they were gone, disappearing into the woods.

~ * ~

   The sun was beginning to rise when Rose came up beside me as we made our way through the woods.

   "Layla," she said, and the excited tone in her voice threw me back in time to when we weren't fighting for our lives every day.

   I glanced at her. I hadn't heard her talk like this in a long time. "Yeah?" I asked, curious.

   Her green eyes were shining and she smiled, despite the death and destruction surrounding us. "We met Sherlock and John."

   I felt a strange excitement bubble up inside me that I hadn't felt in forever. I slowly smiled back. "I know," I replied. "And Sherlock mentioned Moriarty."