Next day

“I can’t believe I let the two of you talk me into this.” John said as he follows Sherlock through the streets to the elevated station.

“I think you’re making a bigger deal out of this than it is.” Sherlock told his friend as they climbed the stairs to the station.

“How did I end up stuck with you two in my life?” John fussed...

“Ms. Watson?” A voice asked.

“Col. Hudson...” John said “It’s wonderful to see you again.”

“Please... you don’t need to use my rank anymore, I’m retired.”

“Congratulations.”

“Thank you. Are you still with the army?” She asked

“They released me last week.” He said “army doesn’t need nurses when there’s no one to patch up. I’m looking for work at the moment.”

“Where are you staying?”

“A ladies boarding house in Brooklyn.”

“No... I shall not have it. I have a spare room you can stay in.”

“Sir... I couldn’t.”

“You can and you should... just one thing... I have a ward... I need someone to keep him company.”

“A companion?”

“Basically.”

Mr. Hudson brought John home and led him upstairs to the room. She knocked on the door.

“Miss Holmes...? Are you decent?”

“Yes...” came the lazy answer.

She opened the door and led John in. The young man was sitting is a chair reading.

“Miss Holmes, please meet Miss John Watson.”

“Hi...” he said, without turning his head or putting his book down.

“Sherlock...” mr. Hudson said “John will be staying with us for the near future. Pleas make him feel welcome.”

She turned and exited the room.

“So...” John began to say

“Yeah?”

“You are very unladylike.” John noted of the other boy.

“I’ve never been much of one, no.” He said, playing with the ends of his hair as he read.

“Mr. Hudson told me a little about you on the way here.” John said “I’m sorry about your parents.”

Sherlock just let out a sigh.

“If you know Mr. Hudson So well, you must have been in the army?”

“Yes, I was a nurse.” He said “Mr. Hudson’s unit was in charge of guarding the field hospital.”

“See any dead bodies?”

The train jerked to a stop and John was aroused from his thoughts.

“Come on,” Sherlock said “and don’t get your petty coats caught in the gates this time. You’re a married man. You can’t get a date that way any more.”

“You won’t let me forget that, will you.”