Okay, so this is my first chaptered fic. I'm really excited. The fist chapter is kinda boring, but it'll get better.
Disclaimer: I unfortunately do not own Sherlock or Peanuts.
It started with a mouse.
It would have started eventually, rodent or not, but truthfully, it started with a mouse.
John Watson found it amongst his many boxes of tea, just sitting quietly, not nibbling or making a mess. As a matter of fact it was so docile John started an internal debate on whether to kill it or not.
So, as with most problems, he went to Sherlock.
And, to John's great shock, Sherlock deduced that the mouse was domesticated.
"Most likely belongs to the new tenants upstairs," he said, allowing the mouse to climb onto his hand.
John rolled his eyes up to the ceiling. "They've been here for seven months, Sherlock. You should really say hello, maybe get to know someone new for once. Margaret O'Hara is nice. A bit dull maybe but…"
"You went up once when they moved in, and you only met that piano teacher, Ms. O'Hara. That hardly counts as getting to know someone."
The truth was, neither Sherlock nor John had any reason too socialize with the O'Hara's, Margaret and her daughter Gracie. They were not particularly bothersome. Oh, there was a bad note audible here or there, and an occasional encounter with Margaret's students (either Alexander or Marie), but on the whole, the O'Hara's did not much affect the lives of either man.
Or at least that was what John thought.
At the moment, the doorbell rang.
John loped over to answer it, leaving Sherlock in the kitchen.
"Hello!"
A scrawny child, her black hair cut chin length, stood outside in an Einstein t-shirt and jeans. She stuck out her hand.
"I'm Gracie O'Hara, I live upstairs. I was wondering if you found a mouse. I lost mine."
"Yeah…" John said, temporarily overwhelmed by Gracie's lightning fast testimony. Shaking her hand, he elaborated.
"I found one in the cupboard. Care to come in?"
Gracie shot him a gap-toothed grin and darted inside. "Sure! Hey! I know you! You write a blog."
John nodded, a grin slowly spreading across his face.
"How old are you, Gracie?" John asked.
"10. Mom says she's 10 million, but I know she's 28."
John laughed a bit at Gracie's direct tone.
"What school do you go to?"
"I'm homeschooled. It's much more interesting. I'm building a catapult. You should see it sometime."
Sherlock came out of the kitchen, still holding the mouse. Gracie caught sight of it.
"Yep, that's Schroeder."
The girl scooped her pet out of Sherlock's hand.
"I have three other mice: Lucy, Linus and Charlie Brown. We also have a cat called Shoebox. Isn't that a weird name? We got him from a shelter and they said they found him in a shoebox. Thanks for finding Schroeder, by the way."
"No trouble." John said.
"I'd love to stay, but my music lesson is in two minutes." Gracie said, heading towards the door.
"What do you play?" John asked.
"Tenor Saxophone… Bye!" And Gracie left, closing the door behind her.
John turned to Sherlock, a slightly surprised grin on his face.
"I think we just met Gracie O'Hara."
Review! How will I know you like it if you don't review? Also, your homework: There is something suspicious hidden in the chapter. What do you think it is? Muwahaha. Include that in your review. I'll try to post soon.