For the last few years, the only constant in Maddy St. Martin's life has been change. One of those changes was losing her mother to cancer two and a half years ago. A tragedy which led, through a series of steps to her living on the streets of London. Another change was when she met Abud Mohammed and he proposed marriage to her. They were going to raise money to buy a business and get off the streets so that they could have a family, but Abud had gotten shot in the head less than a month ago and all of those dreams had fallen through. But none of the changes had been as strange or as random as when Sherlock Holmes had chosen her to be a part of his homeless network.

Today that had led her to a late night dinner with a formerly suicidal John Watson whom she had distracted on his way to throw himself into the Thames. John piled more rice onto Maddy's plate, treating her as his guest even though her clothes were dirty, and she smelled bad from too many days living rough. He talked pleasantly to her in a tone that she honestly could never remember anyone ever using with her. He talked to her like an equal. It may have been because John Watson is just that kind of man. A man who treats everyone fairly, but it was more likely that he felt that he understood her because he knew that he and Maddy had both shared loss recently. The loss of someone close to them. The loss of someone that they loved.

John Watson was grieving the loss of his flatmate, partner, and friend, Sherlock Holmes, who had thrown himself from the roof of Bart's Hospital and was considered by all including John to be dead. But Maddy had a secret. Maddy knew that Sherlock was alive, because before he had left on his quest to find those people who had threatened John and the others, Sherlock had left Maddy with a charge. He had asked her to watch over John Watson.

Maddy had tried her best, but a homeless young woman has a hard enough time taking care of herself, and her promise had fallen by the wayside. However, when Maddy had recognized John balanced on the railing of Waterloo Bridge, she had felt compelled to talk to him and to stop him from harming himself. He had turned to her, and recognizing her as another who had lost a loved one recently he had invited her to dinner at the only Chinese restaurant in this part of town that was still open at this time of night. As they sipped a cup of green tea, their stomachs full from the meal, John thanked her for the intervention.

"I don't know what came over me." John said, "It's just that sometimes his absence feels so large, as if it takes up the whole room, as if it swallows the whole world, and there seems to be no point in remaining here on this Earth that is so much less without him. Do you understand?"

Maddy nodded.

"Each day I wake up and remember anew that he's gone. So I don't want to go to sleep and have to feel that shock again. I don't want to feel that loss, but I do ... every day. Every single day."

Maddy tried to smile, but failed. She wanted to comfort him, to tell him that Sherlock was alive and that he would see him again, but she could not. She had promised that she would not tell him. So she nodded her head and listened with an open heart to his pain.

If she had not lost the phone that Sherlock had given her, she would have texted to tell him of how sad John was, of how he had almost killed himself in grief. Maybe it was better that Sherlock didn't know. Maybe it was better that the rich man with the black cars had taken the phone, because it surely would have hurt Sherlock to know how pained his friend felt.

As it was Maddy was happy that she could be here to help John, and he also was helping her. Giving her food when she was hungry. Soon the restaurant closed and the owners smiled as they shepherded them out of the door. Maddy and John stood abandoned in the stillness of the evening unsure of where life would lead them. They John turned and led Maddy through the quiet streets toward his flat. John opened the door to 221 Baker street and asked Maddy in, but she stayed at the bottom of the steps refusing to enter.

"No," She said, "I wouldn't dare impose."

"Don't be ridiculous." John said, "Where else are you going to go?"

"I suppose that I'll go back to the bridge." Maddy said.

"Nonsense." John said, "You saved my life. I can't let you sleep under a bridge."

"I won't go alone into a man's apartment." Maddy said.

John looked genuinely shocked. "I'm not going to do anything to you," he said, "You have no place to stay, so I'm offering a place for you to stay the night. Are you refusing my hospitality? You hurt my feelings."

"I'm sorry." Maddy said, "Tonight has been hard for you. You feel generous, but tomorrow things might be different. I don't want to force you into a situation where you feel you want me to go but you are too embarrassed to ask. No, I won't stay in your flat."

Just then there was the noise of opening doors and Mrs Hudson came out. "John, are you leaving the door open? There's a draft."

"Mrs Hudson, just the woman I wanted to see." John said, "I was wondering if you would let my friend Maddy stay in room 221C for a few days."

"Oh...I..." Maddy began but John took her hand and pulled her up the steps and inside the house. The door shut behind her with a clap.

John put an arm around Mrs. Hudson's shoulder leading her back into the hallway. "It's only for a few days, and you know that no one lives there."

Mrs Hudson leaned over to whisper to John in a voice that nonetheless could clearly be heard by Maddy. "Dr. Watson, are you sure of what you're asking? I make my living renting rooms."

" Please, I can't let her sleep on the streets. She is my friend."

Mrs Hudson pulled her robe closer around her and pursed her lips. "Well, for tonight maybe, but I am not a charity. I won't have people staying in my house without paying rent."

"Thank You Mrs. Hudson." John said kissing her on the cheek. Mrs. Hudson walked down the hall and unlocked the door to 221C . Light from a street lamp flowed in through the window of the small flat. The smell of mold filled the air. John walked across and opened the window, then he turned up the heat on the thermostat. "It's a bit stuffy, but just let it air out for a bit and it will be alright. I'll get you a pillow and some blankets."

Maddy put her bag on the floor and then sat down on the dingy carpet. This probably wasn't what Holmes had expected when he had asked her to watch over John. She listened to the sound of Mrs Hudson and John arguing in the hallway.

"Now John, I know that you have a generous heart, but we can't just go taking in people off the streets. Once you start feeding and housing street people, where will it all stop? She can stay the night, but you'll need to find some other place for her to stay tomorrow."

"But Mrs Hudson..."

"We know nothing about the girl? Is she a drug addict, a thief, how long have you known her?"

"Not long, but I will handle it. We'll talk tomorrow."

"Now don't you forget to lock your door when you go to sleep." Mrs Hudson said.

"Mrs Hudson!" He chided.

"Goodnight." She said and walked into her flat locking the door behind her.

Later John came in to 221C holding three blankets, a sheet, and two pillows. "I'm sorry that I don't have a bunk, but we can fix this all tomorrow."

"John," Maddy said, "Thank you, but you don't have to feel responsible for me."

John took her hand again and smiled, "You're my friend, Maddy." He said, "It is not a burden for me to help a friend."

Maddy found her eyes tearing up. "Thank you." She said and began to arrange the blankets as John lowered the window to a crack.

"Goodnight, see you tomorrow morning." He said as he closed the door. She heard him walk up the steps to his room.

Maddy immediately thought of bolting. She could get out now while no one was watching, but the streets were cold, and this room was warm. She lay down in the blankets and covered herself up wondering what she should do next.

Planning had never been a big part of Maddy's life. She tended to plan just long enough to get to the next place. That was what had led to her living on the streets in the first place. Abud had been a planner. He could see step after step of things to do. Maddy could hardly believe that she would accomplish one step in a plan, much less a dozen. It wasn't that she had trouble thinking, Maddy was fairly smart. Confidence was her problem. She found it hard to believe that things could go well for her, so she never planned very far.

She didn't know what she was going to do with her life now that she was alone again, but she knew that it felt wrong to impose on John Watson's hospitality. He was grieving. He wanted to take care of her in order to fill the gap created by Sherlock Holmes' loss. She was like a lost kitten, and when Sherlock returned, what would happen to her then? She'd be tossed out on the street again after having felt for a time like she owned something. She didn't own anything here. She had to remember who she was, or at least who she was not. She was no relation to Dr. John Watson. She was alone in the world. If that meant she had to live on the streets because she was crap at managing her life, then so be it.

Maddy slept a good night in the small, warm, moldy apartment and woke to a knock on the door. She sat up and John Watson walked in.

"Sorry to wake you." He said, "But I have work at the surgery this morning. I thought that we could have a little breakfast together, and since you are loathe to come alone into a man's apartment, I brought breakfast to you."

John put down a tray. It had a pot of tea with two mugs, and a plate with sausages and toast piled high. Maddy smiled. She loved sausages.

"I would have made eggs, but I'm out. Forgot to buy any. I haven't been making breakfast lately, but the sausages are fresh. I bought them two days ago so no need to fear about them being off. Sorry, I don't have any milk for the tea."

Maddy sat on the floor and stuffed her face with the good food. "Thank you." She said taking a cup of tea. John Watson smiled, and Maddy smiled back, and for a few moments they were just two friends sharing a meal together. Then when the meal was over, and the plate was clean, John stood lifting the tray and heading for the door. "I'll be right back." he said.

Maddy folded the blankets turning at a knock as John entered. "I'm going to work, but I'll be back around six. Just stay here. Don't leave. I'll talk to Mrs Hudson. Believe me, everything will be alright. Well, I'm off Maddy see you later." He said.

"Goodbye John...Dr. Watson." Maddy said as he left.

Maddy sat in the room for a few hours stalling. She stared at the mold stains on the wall imagining that they formed a map of the world. She wondered where in the world Sherlock Holmes was now. Somewhere far away she was sure, because if he was here, why would he have given her such a charge? She remembered the darkened room. The sound of ventilation fans humming in the background as he talked to her. The light from the city illuminating the profile of his face.

"I picked you, because I trust you Maddy. I trust you with my most important mission," Sherlock said.

"What mission?"

"To watch over John," he had replied packing more emotion in his friend's name than she had ever seen him express.

If there was any way that he could stay and guard his friend himself, he would have, but he was a man committed. A man who had made a decision and he had to use the tools at his disposal no matter how poor. Maddy could stay here in this building and fulfill his wish, watching as John came and went. She could pretend to be someone that she was not, a person with a future, a person with a real life. She leaned back against the wall enjoying the warmth for the last time because she knew that she couldn't do that. She was a homeless, worthless person. This was not something that could last. John Watson would come to his senses, or Mrs. Hudson would call the police and she might be in a worse situation that she had been yesterday. She would not take advantage of John Watson's kindness. She'd find another way.

Maddy stood up and slung her bag over her shoulder. She looked back at the room one more time before walking out. She nodded at Mrs Hudson who let her pass without a word as she left the flat.

Walking down the street in the morning, Maddy wondered where to go next. If she could find a good corner, she might make enough to take a train and leave central London. That would make it harder for John to find her when he came looking that evening. She was deep in thought, and so she didn't notice the black car driving slowly behind her. As she walked out of an alley she saw her, the richly dressed woman from the black car. Maddy jumped, turning behind her to see that the car door was open. Its mirrored windows reflected her fearful face.

"Miss St. Martin. This is for you." The woman said handing her an envelope. She opened it to find a white card. The front had the letters MH embossed on the surface in pearl. She opened the card and read the note written in a fine hand.

Dear Miss St. Martin,

I am deeply mortified by my atrocious conduct in our previous meeting, and I would like to have the opportunity to make amends. Will you please do me the honor of accepting my invitation to luncheon today so that I may apologize for my actions.

Yours Sincerely,

Mycroft Holmes

Maddy looked at the car and the woman and knew that one way or another he would get his meeting. She might as well get a meal out of it. Maddy climbed into the car and was whisked off to meet with Mycroft Holmes.