A/N This piece is meant to go with our crossover fic, How I Met Your Father... But we forgot to include it. So here it is, anyway. Our planned A/N read as follows:

Okay, this is not the chapter with the plot. This is more of a quick way to round off Chapter 9 before we get distracted by the real plotline.

Unseen by her acquaintances, a woman sits facing the window in a coffee shop, tapping messages into her Blackberry with unerring speed and precision.

Well.

Almost unerring.

She looks up to take stock of her surroundings, always wary of agents out to sabotage the British Government's right hand, and catches sight of a man and a woman power-walking down the street from MacLaren's, the site of the recent murder.

Of course, she had chosen this coffee shop precisely so that she could observe any comings and going to that place.

But when she recognised the people, she was understandably confused.

Why weren't John and Molly with Sherlock?

Then she spotted it. Their hands, casually linked, Molly taking the lead and John attempting to keep up with her.

When she realised they were not just together but together, she felt an inexplicable surge of possessive anger. Who did that mouse think she was, taking the doctor from her…?

No. No, he didn't belong to anyone – except possibly Sherlock, and despite what people said, it wasn't in that way – and he could date whomever he wanted. But her pride was wounded at being upstaged by Molly.

She looked down at her Blackberry, expecting to have touch-typed a memo to Mycroft, and saw a total mess.

M, don't forget to buy more air freshener for the office, and no carbs while I'm away - someone's got to wHat th3ts not rught why the hell id he holding her hand hamg on are theu toather DAMMIR have I missed my chance? Oh god, please don'y let mw be fallinf prêy to sentiemnt

With a groan, she quickly deleted the memo and began again.

She told herself as she typed that it didn't matter. It wasn't important. All that matters is the Work.

But no matter how often she repeated it in her head, her mind would not stop returning to memories of a reassuring smile, a warm, steady hand on her shoulder, and a feeling that somehow, despite her fears, everything would be okay.

She wondered if Molly felt like that around John, too.

Shaking her head, she typed out a quick text and sent it before she could change her mind and waste time moping.

S, I saw you get into a taxi. Got a lead? Maybe I can help. Tell me where you are, I'll join you shortly. - E

There was a case to solve, after all. And she was nothing if not professional.

A/N Oh, the misunderstandings… How we love them!