Hello there friendly readers, both old and new! If you are reading this for the first time you are in luck. This is technically a rewrite of what I had originally posted, which was in need of some work. So continue reading, no need to listen to my ramblings. For those of you who have read the original chapter I would like your opinion. Did you like the original or rewrite better? Not much has really changed, until you get to the end. So let me know what you think!

Oh and to see what Amber looks like just got to my profile there is a link near the bottom of the page!

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own anything you recognize, especially Sherlock himself (if I did he would be a nothing but a sheet more often). BBC owns the amazing show and I thank them for it! I do however own Amber and the plot for this story.

Breaking the Barrier

[000]

October 20th

Amber Devons stood in front of 221B Baker Street staring hard at the door for a second. Her eyes darted down to look at the slip of paper she had originally written the address on, which was slowly becoming saturated due to the light rain falling. A slight wave of fear washed over her as she began to nervously bite at her bottom lip. She caught herself in the action, realizing she was being silly. Fear was an emotion she understood, an emotion she lived with, and an emotion that was completely out of place at the moment.

She took a few deep breaths leaving the fear and nervousness behind. It wasn't as if she hadn't looked at flats before. She was a grown adult, not a child. Moving was a natural activity that every person went through at some point in their life, some more often than most. There was nothing to be nervous about while attempting to find a new place and there certainly was nothing to fear.

With her confidence now back in place, she raised her fist to knock three times on the heavy door. She waited patiently with her hands in the pockets of her peacoat while her right foot tapped lightly on the damp concrete of the sidewalk. When the door wasn't answered after several minutes she repeated her actions, hoping that she hadn't inadvertently written down the wrong address.

Just as she was about to turn away and head back down the street the door opened revealing an older woman with a surprised smile on her face. "Hello there," the woman spoke kindly opening the door wider. "Can I help you?"

"Hello," Amber said with her own smile gracing her face. "I'm Amberlyn Devons. I phoned not to long ago about the flat," she flicked her gaze to the paper she pulled for her coat pocket. "221C Baker Street. I hope I'm in the proper place."

The woman's smile spread. "Right. Come in out of the damp. It wouldn't do to have you catch a cold," the woman said her voice just as sweet, and almost eager, as it had been when she had answered the door.

"I'm Mrs. Hudson, the landlady, I spoke with you earlier. I wasn't sure if you were coming today so I do apologize for the state of the flat. I've had workers in and out all week fixing it up. It's so hard to rent basement flats, something about the damp just puts people off."

Amber gave a small laugh. "When I first moved away from home I rented a lovely little flat, in a basement no less. I wouldn't have traded it for the world. I'm sure this one will be just the same Mrs. Hudson."

"You are sweet Miss Devons." They walked from the entry way down a small narrow hall to a door labeled 221C.

"Please call me Amber," the younger woman said as she moved out of the way so that the door could be opened allowing entrance to the short staircase that would lead to the flat below.

Amber noted that as they descended the temperature did drop, but only slightly, and hardly enough to actually be noticed. "You've had the place completely remodeled then?" she asked as the door to the flat was opened revealing a surprisingly bright and cozy living space.

"Not completely, no," Mrs. Hudson said standing back as the younger woman walked slowly around the average sized room. "It wasn't much really. Resurfacing of the floors, a new coat of paint and fresh wallpaper on one wall. It matches some of the wallpaper in the rest of the flats. The appliances in the kitchen were new to begin with, the cabinets have been refinished as have the counters. The tile wasn't bad so it stayed. The bathroom, sadly, had to be completely redone. It was in such a sorry state that I couldn't allow it to be left as it had been."

Amber ran her hand over the shining dark cherry oak finish of the fireplace mantel as she barely listened to the woman speaking. She hadn't had a fireplace, not since she was a child that was. It made her smile. She was a sucker for a fireplace and that alone made her want to rent the flat.

"The mantle had to be replaced as well. It's not the original. The fireplace is fully functional and with the winter coming it will come in handy to ward off the cold." Mrs. Hudson continued as Amber walked down the hall running her hand along the light gray-blue paint as she headed in the direction of the kitchen.

She marveled at the kitchen before she made her way to the bathroom, which to her surprise had a bath, sink, and toilet within. In her last flat the toilet had been in a separate room from the bath. Next came the bedroom, which of course had a door leading to the bathroom and then one to the hall. The bedroom was a good size, not to big nor to small. The walls were the same colour as the walls of the hall without any hint of wallpaper.

"This place is lovely." She headed back out to the living area with Mrs. Hudson following behind. "It's not to small nor to big for a one bedroom. It appears to be quiet enough and not damp at all, kind of cozy actually."

"I am so glad you think so. Will you be wanting to rent it or do you think you'll need a couple of days to think it over?" There was a slight amount of relief in the old woman's voice.

Amber gave a quick shake of her head. "I won't need a couple of days, I'll take it. My old place is getting a little too expensive for the area and I feel I need a change. This place is lovely and just the right price." She smiled. "One thing, you don't mind pets do you?"

Mrs. Hudson gave a slightly hesitant smile. "What kind of pets are you referring to?"

The younger woman chuckled lightly. "Nothing exotic I assure you. I own a small rabbit and a three year old cat named Nix. She is spayed and doesn't have a clawing probably, just a fascination with eating house plants."

"I suppose they would be alright. To be truthful I've never had a tenant that has had pets." The older woman said as they left the flat.

Amber chuckled lightly. "I've always had pets, usually something small nothing large or dangerous. Small is certainly better in a city like London."

"True," Mrs. Hudson smiled opening the door for Amber. "Would you like a cup of tea while you sign the lease? Coffee maybe?"

"Tea would be fine," Amber said slipping off her shoes out of respect for the woman's home as she entered. "Out of curiosity, it is Mister Sherlock Holmes and Doctor John Watson that live in the flat above this one, correct?"

Mrs. Hudson nodded as she poured two cups of tea from an already hot pot. "Yes, that isn't a problem is it? He can be a bit odd at times and noisy but he's a good man. I've sure you've read about him in the papers and of course John's blog."

"Oh I've heard my fair share of stories along side the blog and papers. It's really not a problem, him living upstairs that is. I was hoping to speak with him actually." Her smile was strained now as she took the offered cup with a smile, adding two sugars and a splash of milk.

Mrs. Hudson gave a soft smile. "So it wasn't just the flat that brought you here today, it was the hopes of talking to Sherlock?"

She shook her head. "No, the flat was my first priority. Really it was. Talking with Mr. Holmes was second. Is he around?"

"Sadly no. He and John are out of town on a case. They left not more than an hour before you called. I don't expect to see them home for a couple of days, if not a full week. I can give you his number if it's an emergency." Mrs. Hudson offered kindly as she set a small stack of papers in front of Amber.

"I believe the matter can wait a little while longer." She took a sip of her tea flipping through the pages, signing where needed. "When would it be convenient for me to move in?"

"Today if you wish. The work is done in the flat so it's ready whenever you are."

Amber's smile was radiant now, brighter than the sun. "Perfect. Thank you again for showing me the flat and letting me rent it. I mean it when I say I am thankful and that it is lovely."

Mrs. Hudson showed her to the front door leading out onto the street. "You are very welcome dear and I thank you for renting it. I'll see you soon."

Amber gave a wave before approaching the street. She hailed a taxi, giving the address of her friend's house. For the first time in weeks she felt truly happy. She was moving on to a new stage in her life and finding a flat that fit her perfectly was just the perfect way to start.

00000

October 27th

It had been a week since Amber had moved into the flat and the move had been seamless. From a large three bedroom flat in Sussex to a cozy one bedroom in London wasn't an easy move, but Amber hadn't had trouble making the shift. Mrs. Hudson had been the reason for that. She was more hands on than any of Amber's other landlords had been, a little annoying at times but the young woman had grown to enjoy the odd moments when the older woman decided to pop in and help out even while claiming she wasn't a house keeper.

So when Amber returned from her morning run she was not surprised to see Mrs. Hudson coming up from the basement flat. "Good morning Mrs. Hudson," she said pulling her headphones from her ears before wiping sweat off her face.

"Good morning dear. I was just about to call you. I wasn't sure if you had gone to work or just for a run."

"Just went for a run, I have the day off." She walked farther into the building noticing a small brown package sitting at the entrance of the hall leading to her door. "There's a package."

"That's why I was knocking at your door. It appears to be for you. John and Sherlock found it this morning when they returned." The older woman picked up the package handing it to Amber with a smile.

"The boys are home then?" She received a nod. "I'm assuming Mr. Holmes has already left, otherwise he would have tried to investigate the package to figure out more about me." She chuckled tucking the box under her arm.

The woman laughed. "He ran out of here just as soon as he arrived."

"Thank him for not invading my privacy when you see him." She walked towards her door, pulling her key out of the sports bra she wore while Mrs. Hudson was heading upstairs.

"Oh, why don't you come meet John. I mentioned you a couple of times when I talked to him on the phone and he really wants to meet you."

Amber gave a slightly embarrassed chuckle before shaking her head lightly. The look on Mrs. Hudson's face said she had ideas of trying to fix her up. She knew that look, her friends often had that look when trying to fix her up with some random guy. "I'm just back from a run. I'm not fit to meet anyone right now."

"Well go have shower and come upstairs. We'll have a cuppa and talk."

"Give me twenty minutes," she rolled her eyes leaving the woman to enter her flat. She sat the box on the coffee table, leaving it for later.

Twenty minutes later she had taken a shower, fed the cat and rabbit, and was walking around her flat in her usual attire for her days off: an off-shoulder yoga shirt and leggings. She settled on her couch using a towel to get the moisture out of her hair as she stared intently at the box on the table.

She didn't know where it had come from or even who had left it. If the boys upstairs had found it sitting at the front door when they arrived that meant that no one had signed for it, therefore anything could haven been in it. She didn't remember ordering anything online and her friends would have let her know if they were leaving something for her. Her birthday was half a year off and Christmas was still two months away. There was no reason she could possibly think of for a package to be left for her.

With a cautious eye she looked closer at the box. Her name and address were sprawled on top in bold marker but there was no postage. It hadn't gone through the post. It was neatly packaged with care, meaning someone had taken the time to make it look perfect. Despite seeing all that she couldn't figure out what the hell was in the damned box. It was really starting to annoy her. They only way to find out was to open it.

Fishing a box cutter out of a drawer of the side table, she sliced down the tape at the center of the top of the box. She opened it carefully, instincts telling her that the box could contain a number of dangerous things. She peeked in and what she found surprised her. Several pictures of herself from the last week and an old gold watch. At first she was confused until she got to the note at the bottom.

You can't hide from me and no one can help.

Gasping she shoved the box away from her sending it crashing to the ground, the pictures scattering and the watch skittering under the chair across from her. She got to her feet rushing out the door slamming it behind her. "Mrs. Hudson!" she screamed, eyes wide and her heart pound rapidly in her chest.

Meeting her halfway down the stairs was Mrs. Hudson and a blond man, who she was assuming was John Watson. "Amber, what's the matter?"

"Do you know who dropped off that package?" She tried to sound less panicked than she was but her question still came out rushed and fearful.

Mrs. Hudson shook her head, "I told you, John and Sherlock found it outside."

"John right?" she asked turning to the man in question on the stairs. He just nodded. "Did you happen to see who dropped it off?"

"It was just sitting there when Sherlock and I got out of the cab. It read a name and the address. Sorry." His smile was apologetic.

"Was there something upsetting inside the package? You look like you've seen a ghost," Mrs. Hudson took one of Amber's hands showing the younger woman she was indeed shaking ever so slightly.

She shook her head. "No, not really. Just some things that brought up some memories I wasn't expecting. I think a friend might have left it." She forced a smile as she removed her hand from the woman's. "How about that tea I was offered. I could use a cup."

"Sure. Amber was it?" John asked with a smile in her direction seeing right through the lie. He had been working with Sherlock long enough to know when someone was trying to hide something. He wouldn't push the matter but he knew once his friend got a hold of her he would push until he got an answer he wanted.

She gave a nod of confirmation. "Pleasure to meet you." She gave one last glance towards the front door before they headed upstairs. She couldn't shake the feeling that things were going to take a turn for the worst very soon. Her past was coming back and not in the good way.

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