Look out for the <>!

I woke up at Walter's and Ameila's house. As I pushed myself up, I felt the room spin. I was going to vomit. I swung my legs over the bed then ran to the bathroom, loosing everything I ate yesterday. Wondering through the house, I found myself in the kitchen to see it was 12:00.

I held my head in my hands and thought about what I did yesterday and what Walter had said to me. He was right, I was out of control. I had my time to mourn, now this is just childish games. I needed to get out of this rut. This town was bringing out the worse in me. I needed structure back in my life again. I had to leave, the sooner the better. But where could I go? I had nowhere to go too. I knew I needed help, this group was enormous and I couldn't bring it down alone.

I sighed and sat down at the kitchen table to think. I couldn't just leave without saying goodbye like I did last time. But I didn't want to tell them in person who I was leaving because I had given them more trouble than I should have. I didn't deserve to say to goodbye, at least not like that. I had to leave a note this time or something of the sort.

Before I knew what I was doing, I walked back into my room and got a paper and a pencil. I walked back into the kitchen and wrote.

Deal Walter and Ameila,

Thank you so much for everything you have done for me. Thank you for finding me and telling me that my nan died. I owe you guys so much and I know this is how I should repay you. By the time you read this, I will be gone. Don't find me. I need my space. This town is not good for me. I will contact you when I am ready.

You guys have always been there for me. You truly are good friends.

Maire

As I signed my name, my hands shook. I was scared. I didn't know what to do now. What was I going to do? Turn myself in or runaway? I walked back into my room and packed my things in a matter of a few minutes, then put on my bright yellow running shoes and headed out the door, unknown where I was going.

<><>

"I only have 90 quid on me," I pleaded with the ticket seller for the boat back to England.

"Sorry sweet, it's 100."

"Please," I said, holding back tears in my eyes as the words to charm him were not coming to my mind. I felt broken, and I was sure that I wasn't the same person who got off this boat a month ago.

"Just move over and let these people go through," he said and made a jester with his hands signaling me to move.

I looked around at all the people waiting in line for the boat. I could pick pocket any of these people, but I didn't feel confident enough to do it. What if they caught on to what I was doing and they yell and I get sent to the jail? If that happened, I couldn't save anyone.

For the first time in a long time, I felt scared and I couldn't hide it. I walked off away from the people and I sank to my knees and cried. I was going to be stuck here.

"Maire!" I heard someone call my name. I refused to look to see who called me, not wanting to show my face to them. I felt ashamed about how I was acting. "Maire!"

By the second time they called, I finally looked up to see Walter and Ameila running up to me.

"We got your note!" Ameila said once they were in front of me.

"Yeah," I shrugged as I wiped my eyes.

"It's better than the last time you left us, but why can't you just say it to our face?" Walter said and offered his hand to help me up from the ground.

I eyed it for a second and took it. "How did you know I was here?"

"Lucky guess," Walter shrugged.

"You're going to need some cash to get back," Ameila said and handed me an envelope.

I looked in it and saw at least another 160 quid in it. I gave them a small smile. "Thank you. I do not know what I did to deserve you two in my life." Out of all the trouble I have given them the past a couple weeks, I just couldn't believe they would do this for me.

Walter and Amelia smiled. "Just be safe. And call us when you get to where you need to go. We want to know if you are safe," Walter said and hugged me.

I hugged him back and before Walter let go, Ameila got into the hug, making it a group hug.

After a minute, they let go and smiled at me. "Now go and sort out what you need too," Ameila said to me.

<><>

I looked at the dates, times, and places that the trains were going to within England. I still wasn't sure if it was the smartest idea to go back to London. But I missed that town more than I would care to admit. I missed the people there, the food, and the sights. Once I was there, once I was home, I would get the help I needed. I couldn't believe I would say this, but Sherlock could help me.

A part of me told my other self that if I went back, I would get back to normal. Right now, I felt weak and broken, like a little child. I needed something to shape me back to what I was before I left.

I walked over to the ticket master and smiled politely at him. "So what will it be?" the man said behind the desk.

"9 o'clock to London," I said firmly, as if I knew the choice I was making was the right one.

"Sure thing miss, that will be 50 pounds."

I shoved my hand in my pocket and pulled out the last bit of money I had left and handed it over. I was starving, but I only have about two pounds left in my pocket. Maybe I could get a bag of crisps on my way out.

<><>

<>

The air was warmer here in London than in Ireland. It was nice. The chilly breeze mixed with the warmer weather hit my face. I missed it. I strolled down a road I knew all too well as my mind ran with what I was going to tell him when I saw him. Oh hey, I'm back to stay and I need your help. Oh yeah, that will fly, not. My legs stopped at the front door of a house next to a little bakery.

"Here we go," I said under my breath and walked up to the door. I stood there for a minute, trying to work out my thoughts, until I heard voices from the other side.

"I'm not your maid, Sherlock," Miss Hudson said on the other side of the door.

"But I am on a verge of something big! I don't have time to do the housecleaning now," Sherlock's deep voice radiated.

"You always say that," she yelled back at him.

A smile came to my face as I realized nothing changed. I put my hand on the handle and turned it. To my regret, the door was locked. I almost forgot my key. I stuffed my hand into my left pocket of my jeans and put the key into the hole, then turned the handle.

"Lestrade, good, you're here. He's up stairs," Miss Hudson said in the kitchen, not even bothering to come out of greet me.

I nodded at her, knowing that I should keep an eye out for Lestrade, who would come at some point soon. "Thanks," I said in the hallway, waiting for Miss Hudson to catch on that it wasn't him.

"Rori? Are you here?" She burst through the door with a huge smile on her face. "Oh dear! It's been a while!" She gave me a tight hug. "What brings you back?"

"A lot of things. I'll tell you sometime, but right now I need to talk to Sherlock."

"Sure, he's been erratic, he has, well more than normal," she said and looked upstairs with a frown. "He's not be acting like himself since you left."

That makes two of us. I nodded as grabbed the railing to the stairs and walked up into 221B flat. I opened the flat door to see Sherlock with an enormous pair of earmuffs over his ears as he tore up pieces of paper while staring out the front window. I didn't have a clue what this 'experiment' was, but kind of I wanted to know.

"Sherlock," I said loud enough for him to hear me.

Not even a second later, his head snapped around to look at me from across the room. He stared at me for a minute, as if not sure if I was here or not. Then a small smile came to his face as he walked over to greet me.

"I didn't think you would come back," he said quite loudly with his earmuffs still on.

I pointed to his earmuffs singing to take them off before I said anymore, wanting him to give me full attention. He made a face of realization, then took them off and tossed them on the floor.

"I need your help," I said to him, knowing that the lady was going to kill people in a matter of days.

"Ok," he said firmly, then paused, tilting his head as he looked back at me. "Lestrade is downstairs. He's coming to pick me up for a case. Hide in your room until he's gone and go get John. I'll be back in a couple of hours."

As if in command, I heard slow and steady steps coming up the stairs. Sherlock didn't need to tell me twice. I ran into my old room and closed the door softly. I put my ear to the door and within a minute I heard Lestrade's voice say, "are you ready?"

"Yes."

"Good, we really need you on this one," Lestrade said, and then I heard the door close. I could say the same thing about myself. I really needed him.