It had been a few months since Sherlock had gotten shot. John still wouldn't talk to Alex and Mary would barely acknowledge her. Sherlock and Molly were the only people who would talk to her. The day Sherlock could come home finally arrived. John helped him into the flat. Alex kept her eyes averted from both of theirs. She could feel John glaring at her.

"You sure you don't want me to stay?" John said. "I mean, with her around?"

"I'll be fine." Sherlock sighed. Alex got up and left the room. There weren't many places she could go, but the bathroom was preferable choice. Sherlock turned to John. "She's still your sister, you know."

"She's not acting like it." John said. "I'll see you later."

John left. Sherlock sat down in his chair. Alex crept out of the bathroom. Sherlock smiled at her and patted the arm of his chair. Alex sat down on the couch. No matter how many times Sherlock said he forgave her, she still didn't believe it. Sherlock looked at her. Alex finally met his gaze.

"How are you feeling?" She asked quietly.

"Much better." Sherlock said. "You're brother is coming over tomorrow to discuss what Magnussen has on you."

Alex just nodded and picked up her book. Sherlock knew she was frightened of any anger that might be directed towards her. That was all probably going to come from John. After they had eaten dinner that night, Sherlock got ready for bed. He laid down in his bed and read a book, waiting for Alex to come in. She didn't. Sherlock got up and went into the other room. She was curled up on the couch, just like when she and Sherlock had only been friends. Sherlock sighed.

"You're just being ridiculous now." He mumbled, picking Alex up.

"The heck are you doing?" She mumbled.

"You're coming to bed." Sherlock said.

Alex didn't struggle. She was too tired. She curled up next to Sherlock and fell asleep. When morning came, Alex talked a little more freely with Sherlock. When evening came, John knocked on the door. Alex jumped. Sherlock went and answered the door. Mrs. Hudson was cleaning the flat.

"John!" She said. John just nodded at her. He was glaring at Alex, who had her head down. "What's going on?"

"Bloody good question." John said.

"These two are about to have a domestic, and fairly quickly, I hope, because we've got work to do." Sherlock said.

"No, I have a better question." John said, walking up to Alex. She wouldn't look at him. "Look at me. Is everyone I've ever met a phycopath?"

"Yes." Sherlock said, after pausing a minute. "Good that we've settled that. Now-"

"SHUT UP!" John shouted. Alex cowered in the corner "And stay shut up. Because this isn't funny. Not this time."

"He didn't say it was funny." Alex said quietly. John turned to her.

"You. What have I ever done? Hm? My whole life, to deserve you as a sister?" He asked.

"Everything." Sherlock said.

"Sherlock, I told you, shut up." John said.

"No, I mean it, seriously. Everything." Sherlock said. "Everything you've ever done is what you did."

"Sherlock, one more word, and both of us will have greatly injured you." John said.

"You were a doctor who went to war. You're a man who couldn't stay in the suburbs for more than a month without storming a crack den and beating up a junkie." Sherlock said. "Your best friend is a sociopath who solves crimes as an alternative to getting high. That's me by the way, hello! John, you are addicted to a certain lifestyle. You're abnormally attracted to dangerous situations and people, so is it truly such a surprise that your favorite sister and the one you feel the most need to protect conforms to that pattern?"

"But she wasn't supposed to be like that." John said. "Why is she like that?"

"Because you had two sisters to chose from. And you chose her." Sherlock said. "And it's partly your fault that I got shot. You scared her and that caused her to pull the trigger."

"Why is everything always MY FAULT?!" John shouted, kicking a chair. Mrs. Hudson jumped and left the flat. Alex cowered again. Sherlock knew this was not the first time she had suffered her brother's wrath.

"John, listen, be calm and answer me." Sherlock said. "What is she?"

"My lying sister?" John said.

"No, what is she?" Sherlock asked.

"And the woman who's dating my best friend and lied to me since the day she came to stay with me four years ago?" John said.

"No, not in this flat, not in this room. Right here, right now, what is she?" Sherlock asked.

"Okay. Your way. Always your way." John said. He grabbed the client chair and set it down. "Sit."

"Why?" Alex asked, feeling sick to her stomach.

"Because that's where they sit. The people who come in here with their stories. The clients. That's all you are now, Alexandra. You're a client." John said. Alex looked to Sherlock. He stared back at her sympathetically. "This is where you sit and talk, and this is where we sit and listen. And we decide if we want you or not."

John sat down in his chair and Sherlock walked over to his and sat in it. Alex went to the client chair. She sat down and took a flashdrive out of her pocket. She slid it to John. The letters A.S.W. were written on it.

"A.S.W. What's that?" Sherlock asked.

"My initials. Alexandra Sierra Watson." Alex said. "Everything about who I was while I was gone is on there. If you still think of me as a sister at all, don't read it in front of me."

"Why?" John asked.

"Because you won't think of me as a sister when you've finished." Alex said. "I don't want to see that happen."

John grabbed the memory stick and put it in his pocket. Alex looked to Sherlock.

"How much do you know already?" She asked.

"By your skill set, you were an intelligence agent. I would say that I don't think you're English, but your brother is English. You're one the run from something, maybe you went into hiding." Sherlock said. "You've used your skills to diappear. Magnussen knows your secret, which is why you were going to kill him."

"You're good. The stuff Magnussen has on me, I would go to prison for the rest of my life." Alex said.

"So you were just going to kill him?" John asked.

"People like Magnussen should be killed." Alex said. "That's why there are the people like me."

"Perfect! So, that's what you were. An assassin? How could I not see that?" John said.

"I wasn't an assassin." Alex said.

"Then what were you?" Sherlock asked.

"Let's just say...I worked for someone who wanted to destroy you for a little while. I found out you were working with my brother, quit, and then went into hiding. I tried to blend in with David first, but that didn't work out, so I came here." Alex explained. "I was trying to protect you both. It was the least I could do after everything else I had done. Then I fell in love with you, Sherlock. And, John, you did see that I was like this. And you still accepted me. Because he's right. It's what you like."

"So, Alex, any documents Magnussen has concerning yourself, you want extracted and returned?" Sherlock said.

"Why would you help me?" Alex asked.

"Because I love you." Sherlock said. He turned to John. "John, Magnussen is all that matters now. You can trust Alex. She's one of the most trustworthy people I know."

"She shot you." John said.

"Mixed messages, I grant you." Sherlock said. "But it was an accident. You know that and I know that."

"I've said it a million times and I'll say it again: I'm sorry, Sherlock. Truly, I am." Alex said.

"I know you are, and it's okay." Sherlock said. "John, think it over."

"Right." John nodded. He grabbed his coat and put it on and left the flat.

------------------------

(Christmas Day)

Sherlock had dragged John, Mary, Alex, and Billy (one of the new people in his Homeless Network) out to his parent's house for Christmas day. Alex had seperated herself from everyone else and was reading in the other room. It was a book Sherlock's mother had written about math, a topic Alex found absolutely boring, but it kept her and John seperated.

"Oh, dear God. It's only 2:00. It's been Christmas Day for at least a week now. How can it only be 2:00? I am in agony!" Mycroft groaned. (MYCROFT IS ME)

"Mikey, is this your laptop?" His mother asked.

"Upon which depends the security of the free world, yes. And you've got potatoes on it." Mycroft said.

"Well, you shouldn't leave it lying around, then, if it's so important." Mrs. Holmes said.

"Why are we doing this?" Mycroft asked. "We never do this!"

"We are here because Sherlock is home from the hospital and we are all very happy." Mrs. Holmes said.

"Am I happy too? I haven't checked." Mycroft said.

"Behave, Mike!" Mrs. Holmes said.

"Mycroft is the name you gave me, if you could possibly struggle all the way to the end." Mycroft said.

"Mrs. Holmes." Billy said, handing her a glass of punch.

"Oh, thank you, dear." Mrs. Holmes said. "Not absolutely sure why you're here."

"I invited him." Sherlock said.

"I'm his protege, Mrs. Holmes." Billy said. "When he dies, I get all his stuff and his job."

"Nope." Sherlock said.

"Well, I help out a bit." Billy said.

"Closer." Sherlock said.

"If he does get murdered or something-" Billy started.

"Probably stop talking now." Sherlock said.

"Okay." Billy said.

"Lovely when you bring your friends round." Mycroft said sarcastically.

"Stop it, you! Someone has put a bullet in my boy and if I ever find out who, I shall turn absolutely monstrous." Mrs. Holmes said. She picked up a can of Dr. Pepper. "Oh, this was for Alex! I'll be back in a minute."

She left the room. Sherlock checked his watch. Alex was still in the other room, reading. Mrs. Holmes walked in the room.

"Ah, Alex, there you are." She said, handing her the soda. Alex took a sip of it. 

"Thank you." She smiled.

"Now, if Father starts making little humming noises, just give him a little poke. That usually does it." Mrs. Holmes said. Alex laughed.

"Did you write this?" She held the book up.

"Oh, that silly old thing. You musn't read that." Mrs. Holmes said. "Mathematics does seem terribly fatuous now. Now, no humming, you!" She walked out of the room after playfully hitting her husband.

"Complete flake, my wife, but she happens to be a genius." Mr. Holmes said.

"She was a mathmatician?" Alex said. Mr. Holmes nodded.

"Gave it all up for children." He said.

"I can't even do simple algebra problems." Alex said.

"I could never bear to argue with her. I'm something of a moron myself." Mr. Holmes said. "But she's...unbelieveably hot."

"Oh my God!" Alex laughed. "You're the sane one, aren't you?"

"Aren't you?" Mr. Holmes asked.

"No." Alex laughed quietly. "That would be my brother."

John walked in at that exact moment. Alex looked up and instantly turned back to her book when she saw him. 

"Oh, sorry." John said. "I just..."

"Do you two need a moment?" Mr. Holmes asked.

"If you don't mind." John said. Alex's body stiffened.

"No, of course not." Mr. Holmes said. "I'll go see if I can help with something or another."

John walked in front of Alex. She looked at him slightly, and then looked back down at the book. They were silent for a few minutes.

"So, you okay?" John asked.

"Oh, are we doing conversation today? It really is Christmas." Alex said. John took the flashdrive with her information on it. Alex's face turned red and she stiffened again. "N-now? Months of silence and we're gonna do this now?" John nodded. Alex turned away, fighting back tears. When she had composed herself, she turned back to John. "So, have you read it?"

"Would you come here a moment?" John asked.

"No. You're going to hit me or something." Alex shook her head. "Have you read it?"

"Just, come here." John said.

Alex got up after a moment's hesitation. She walked over to her brother, her legs shaky. She avoided his eyes.

"I've thought long and hard about what I want to say to you. These are prepared words, Alex." John said. Alex noticed that she was calling her by her nickname again. "I've chosen these words with care."

"Okay..." Alex nodded.

"The problems of your past are your buisness. The problems of your future are my privilege. You're my sister, Alex, and it's my job to protect you no matter what you've done." John said. "That's all I have to say, that's all I need to know." John threw the flashdrive in the fire. Alex started crying. "No, I didn't read it."

"You don't even know what I was." Alex whispered.

"Is being my sister good enough for you?" John asked.

"Yes! Dear God, yes!" Alex said.

"Then it's good enough for me too." John said. "Come here." He hugged his sister tightly while she sobbed into his shoulder. "All this does not mean that I'm not still basically pissed off with you. I am very pissed off and it will come out now and then."

"I know, I know." Alex said. She kept crying.

"Shh, it's okay. Calm down. It's okay." John whispered. He was reminded of when Alex had just been a child, afraid of a nightmare and in need of her brother's comfort. He let go of her and kissed her on the forehead. "Go find Sherlock. He'll want to know we've made up."

"Do you forgive me?" Alex asked.

"Yes." John nodded.

Alex walked out of the room. She went outside to where Sherlock and Mycroft were. They were talking and Alex could see smoke coming up. She felt furious and stormed outside.

"Are you smoking?!" She shouted at Sherlock. He put the ciggerette behind his back and whirled around.

"No!" Mycroft said.

"It was Mycroft!" Sherlock said.

"Liar." Alex said, coming outside. "I just wanted to tell you that John and I have made up."

"Good!" Sherlock said. He kissed her on the lips. Alex coughed and backed away.

"Yup, you were smoking." She said. Sherlock hugged her tightly. 

"You've been crying." He said, wiping one of her stray tears away. 

"It was out of happiness. I'm fine now." Alex said.

Meanwhile, John and Mary were talking. Mary was the one who had helped turn John around about what Alex had done. She knew that Alex was one of the things that John cared about the most. 

"See? I knew you loved her." Mary smirked.

"I do. A lot." John said. He hugged Mary. Mary's head was hurting. She rubbed her temple. She then passed out in John's arms. "Mary? Oh my God, Mary! Can you hear me?"

"Don't drink Mary's tea." Sherlock said, popping his head in the room. "Oh, or the punch." 

"Sherlock! Did you just drug my pregnant wife?!" John asked.

"Don't worry. Wiggens is an excellent chemist." Sherlock said.

"I calculated your wife's dose meself." Billy said. "Won't affect the little one. I'll keep an eye on her."

"He'll monitor her recovery." Sherlock said. "It's more or less his day job."

"What the hell have you done?" John asked.

"Deal with the devil." Sherlock murmered. He had arranged a meeting with Magnussen to trade Mycroft's laptop for the files regarding Alex. He explained this quickly to Alex and John.

"Sherlock, no way. I'm not that important." Alex shook her head. "I'd rather go to jail."

"You're important to me." Sherlock said. "I love you."

"Sherlock, please tell me haven't just gone out of your mind." John said.

"I'd rather keep you guessing!" Sherlock called. There was a whirring noise outside. "Ah! There's our lift."

"Well, Sherlock, this has been a devine vacation!" Alex said. "But, if it's all right with you, I think I'll just wait for the bus."

"All right." Sherlock shrugged, starting to walk out. 

"Wait, you're seriously just going to leave me?" Alex asked.

"You just wait for that bus." Sherlock smirked. He walked out of the house with John. Alex hesitated before following Sherlock.

"Can someone please explain why I keep following Dumb and Dumber?" She muttered. She walked to helicopter, still muttering. "I can believe I'm following a doctor and a...fricking...high-functioning sociopath!"