Chapter Text
Sherlock looked up as Irene Adler walked into the room, wearing her battle dress, which consisted of absolutely nothing. His expression splayed nothing of emotion, spare the slight calculation.
Irene smirked as her eyes met him, silver to blue. “Sherlock Holmes.” She walked over to a chair, standing tall and straight with confidence before sitting down and placing an arm across her lap and the other to tug at a loose strand of hair. “I’ve never thought I’d have the pleasure.”
“The Woman,” Sherlock replied, no greeting in his tone. It was flat. “It seems that you’ve built yourself quite a reputation.” He frowned just a bit when he thought of the manipulation he knew that she was under.
“Indeed, a reputation well represented,” Irene nodded. She leaned forward in her seat. “I’m talking business now. You seem all alone, but that John fellow of yours, and he’s distracted with everyone else. It seems you need a little company.”
Sherlock dodged her comment smoothly and changed the subject, passing his coat towards her. “You're cunning now, but before.. You were such a sweet young woman, why’d you do that to yourself?”
Irene pulled the coat around her body and tied it, using it as a substitute for clothes. “There isn’t any rest for the wicked, people like me. I have myself to feed and bills to pay. You, of all people, know that nothing in this world is for free, money wise or in other ways. Slowing down is not an option for my line of work, even though sometimes I wish there was.”
Sherlock frowned more by now, hearing John's footsteps as he was coming back with ice for Sherlock's requested injury.
Irene noticed and sighed quietly. She looked older than she was, the weight of the world on her shoulders.
“There isn't any rest for me until I close my eyes for good."
************
Mycroft stood in front of Sherlock, his umbrella in his hand.
“Irene Adler, the Woman, has been captured by terrorists and killed. Her body was just recently found. I hope that it doesn't affect you.”
Sherlock licked his dry lips and shook his head, taking a deep breath to clear his head. He thought back to their conversation before and what she had said. ‘There isn't any rest for me until I close my eyes for good.’
He guessed that she is finally resting now.