We are back in business! Thank you so much for all your patience. I did delete the "chapter" announcing a hiatus so we're kept on track and the world is beautiful and I HAVE ANOTHER CHAPTER HELL YEAH.

Or maybe like mildly yeah. Whatever you prefer. Either way, here's...

Chapter 31

As I reached the flat, I saw two different cars parked out front. I recognized one as Mycroft, but the other I hadn't seen. With some hesitation, I pushed through the door and walked up the stairs to the living room. Inside stood John and Mycroft while my old social worker, Isaac, sat in the chair by the laptop.

"Isaac." I said, honestly surprised. I wasn't sure what to make of this for a moment before it dawned on me. "Oh God, please, Uncle John, I made a mistake, but-."

"I'm not sending you away. At least, not in the way you're thinking." John told me.

"Then what…?"

Mycroft cleared his throat, earning all eyes in the room. "John tells me you've been having some difficulty readjusting to normal life. Your earlier conversation proved that. That's why I suggested paying for you to go to school in America starting next school year."

The color drained from my face and my heart sank. "A…America? But that's…"

"I found a boarding school. It was started for children who went through traumatic experiences like you have. Well, many won't be as bad, but similar in cases. It might help to feel less alone."

"I don't want to leave." I turned to Isaac pleadingly. "This is ridiculous."

"I'm afraid I have to agree with Mycroft. You would be better off getting away."

I sat on the couch unsteadily, my mind reeling from the information. "It's happening again."

Uncle John sighed. "I'm not getting rid of you, neither did Harri."

"Perhaps but it's adults who keep making the decision for me that it's best to leave. Tell me, would I have been better off to stay with Mum? None of this would have happened. My life has been completely uplifted and it's never going to settle."

"Alice, please trust us. We're only thinking about what's best for you."

"Look, all I need some more room to move- to see more than the same few walls every day. You don't have to ship me off."

Uncle John sat next to me with an expression on his face demanding I look him in the eye. "I am not shipping you off. I am sending you somewhere that can actually help you. I don't know how to keep you safe. I don't know how to help you get better. These people do. If that means you go to America, so be it. I'll call you multiple times a week. You'll come back during break. You'll make new friends who understand. You can begin to have a normal life again instead of one on the run from a mad man who I bet would like nothing more than to take you as his pet. Now I'm sorry if this doesn't seem right to you. I'm sorry if it's not what you want. However, it is what you desperately need."

I stared at him for a moment, but snapped my eyes away. "I want to call my therapist."

"I'll talk to her soon. For now, go to your room. We'll talk later." When I got up and opened the door to leave he said, "and don't think of leaving this flat."

With a slam of the living room door, I headed down and to the green cell.

XXX

"Dr. Watson, it is my professional opinion that she isn't in a state where you can send her off to America by herself." I heard Dr. Abigail say out in the hall whilst I wait in her office. "I can't force you to keep her here, of course. However, I think it would do more harm than good to have her somewhere else. Instead, I might suggest listening to a few of her requests. While I understand your concerns, a girl of Alice's… temperament can feel very caged and do reckless things when kept under lock and key. I might try finding people you trust and she enjoys spending time with and plan a few outings a week for her where she gets to do the things she enjoys."

I watched through the window as Uncle John's face contorted angrily; though he held it back some. "Do you really know what's after her? She's literally being sought after by criminals. Apparently, not just Moriarty. No, because of her ties to him, she's also being hunted down by others. You want me to let her go do whatever the hell she likes?"

"In a way, yes." Dr. Abigail spoke defiantly, clearly annoyed by my uncle. "I am not saying she should be alone by any stretch, but you have to at least give her some air without making her feel abandoned. This is a delicate situation and I mean no disrespect when I say you're not handling this the best way for her."

"Oh REALLY? Then please, be my GUEST. Tell me how the hell I should be taking care of MY child!" There was a moment of silence and I watched as my uncle calmed down and then hung his head. While I couldn't see my therapist, I was sure her expression was serious, calm, and underlyingly pissed. This must have made John think twice and then continue with, "I'm sorry. I just… I was expecting to come here and have you agree with me rather than with Alice."

"I understand your concerns, Dr. Watson. I really do. However, if she's feeling choked in her environment—her words, not mine—then she can't properly heal. I might suggest talking to a female friend who can take her out. Perhaps that Molly friend of you all's? Or she told me about an ex or yours from Christmas. Janice was it?"

"Jeanette. What about her?"

"Ah yes. Well, she gave Alice her number. Ask Alice if she'd like to have that shopping trip Jeanette offered. Just do little things like that, and of course you can take her out yourself sometimes, just be sure you let her off the leash a bit."

John nodded, now having calmed down. "Right. Yes. I can do that. Anything else?"

"Well… Under normal circumstances I would advise against this, but take her to the occasional crime scene. It makes her feel like she's useful to you and Sherlock."

I stiffened up at the mention of Sherlock. He still hadn't spoken to me since I exploded at John four days ago. Looking back, I could have been more civil about how I said what I did. I wanted to tell Sherlock such, but nothing seemed to get him to listen to me anymore.

The door to the office opened and in walked my uncle and therapist. John looked a bit more relaxed; as though he were relieved he now had a better idea of how to handle everything without one of us going insane. Similarly, Dr. Abigail looked relieved but because he was finally listening.

"I heard everything so no need to go over it all." I told my doctor with a grin, who chuckled just a bit uncomfortably.

"Well, that saved me five or ten minutes then. I will say, however, that you shouldn't overdo it, and ease into the outings. We don't want you getting put in danger or accidentally pushing yourself too hard."

I nodded. "Yes, of course. Thank you so much."

She smiled warmly and showed us out. "Anytime, Alice. My doors are always open."

My uncle and I nodded farewell to her before ducking out of the building. A weight felt like it'd been taken from my shoulders since I knew that'd I'd have room to move again. Unfortunately, it fell back quickly due to momentarily spotting an ex-henchman standing on the other side of the street. Just a split second later, however, a truck passed and Gerard disappeared.