Hey guys Sherlock and Rebecca are back in this sequel to Laws of Familiarity and Laws of Friendship, I'm sure you're all familiar with them but if you aren't they can be found on my page so it's advisable to give them a quick look first before you start reading this.
I hope you all enjoyed last night's episode. I sure did! And I hope you enjoy this story too. Here's just a small (perhaps rather boring) chapter to get you started.
Enjoy!
A tear rolled down Rebecca's cheek.
He was dead…and there was nothing she could do.
Nothing she could do to stop the hurt, the pain, the loss.
She stared at the body lying on the floor before her.
Her tiny baby panted in her arms, before scrunching up her face and starting to wail.
"It's okay," muttered Rebecca, clutching the child closer to her bosom. "It's going to be okay. I promise."
But she had to admit that she too wanted to cry.
The figure before her….they had been there for her….for so many years and now….she had to say goodbye.
"I've rung the vet," said John. "They can come pick him up. They said your pet insurance covers it."
Rebecca gave a nod before staring down once again at Toby's tiny body, lying on the cold kitchen floor.
She had moved out of 221b almost a week ago, and the ten-year old basset hound hadn't taken the move too well. His tiny body eventually giving up on him in the night. Rebecca had found him this morning whilst heading into the kitchen on an early-morning feed.
Rebecca gave another sniff.
She had of course rung John, not really knowing what else to do. She hadn't seen or heard from Sherlock after coming out of hospital just over two weeks ago.
John and Sarah had stayed with her in 221b until she found a new flat, just off Edgware road. Sherlock had never returned to Baker Street. Rebecca and the two doctors had taken shifts to look after baby Jennifer when they all lived under one roof, but now Rebecca was on her own. Exhausted and strained.
"Thanks John," she gulped, as she rocked her little girl in her arms.
The blonde doctor paused before stepping towards her. "I can stay, if you want me to? At least until the vet comes."
"No, its fine John, really," said Rebecca wearily. "I've got to give Jennifer her feed…and I've got a load of washing to be getting on with, not to mention paperwork…"
"Sarah and I could come over this evening. We'll give you a hand," said John, placing a gentle hand to her shoulder.
"No," she said a little heatedly. "I'm fine. I can handle it. Now…go….you're going to be late for work."
John sighed. "Alright," he said giving her shoulder a squeeze then bending down to peck little Jennifer on the forehead. "But you know we're only a phone call away."
Rebecca nodded, hoisting her baby further up into her arms, as John left via the front door, closing it quietly behind him.
Rebecca stared after him for a moment before grasping up Toby's blanket from his basket and placing it quietly over his cold form.
"How was she?" said Sarah placing a large mug of tea down onto John's desk.
John gave a sigh and shook his head.
"I don't know, she says she's coping but I think Toby dying is just going to stress her out even more. I don't think she's sleeping well."
Sarah stared glumly down to the floor, it was a long moment before she spoke.
"Have you tried ringing him?" she asked biting her lip.
John scowled. "I've rung…left messages…text him about a million times…but that bloody IDIOT isn't answering."
"You don't think he's in trouble do you?" Sarah asked fretfully as John shrugged.
"He's Sherlock bloody Holmes. Of course he's in trouble…"
Rebecca rubbed her tired face.
It was late afternoon and Rebecca stood in the kitchen doing the last of the washing up and waiting for her most recent load of laundry to finish spinning in the machine. All the while, a huge stack of paperwork lay sprawled across her messy kitchen table alongside a pile of unpacked boxes and a magnitude of bottles, pumps, sterilisers and various other baby stuff.
Rebecca hadn't even had time to unpack much, let alone have any time for herself over the past few days. When she hadn't been looking after Jennifer she had been running around doing chores until her daughter woke up again in time for her next feed.
She ached all over, and she could barely keep her eyes open, but she knew she couldn't stop. Things needed to be done and she couldn't rely on John and Sarah forever.
Rebecca had her hands deep in soapy water when the washing machine let out a loud BEEP.
Jumping in fright, Rebecca's hand slipped and she cut her finger on a bread knife immersed deep within the suds, letting out a yelp she twisted the tap allowing the cold water to run across her bloody hand. Gazing around she realized that she had no idea where her first aid kit was. Probably buried deep within the boxes that were piled high in the corner.
She winced, waiting for the pain to subside, before wrapping her hand carefully in a clean towel.
The washing machine emitted another loud beep, as Rebecca heard Jennifer gurgle from the next room.
Another beep as she tugged a cardboard box to her and rooted around inside. Finding just a big pile of clothes, she pushed it aside as she reached for another box.
Another bleep as Jennifer gave a wail, before beginning to cry loudly.
"Alright, alright Mummy will be there in a second," said Rebecca, rummaging through another box to no avail.
The machine bleeped once more and giving a groan, Rebecca reached over and tugged open the circular door on the front. As she did so a large amount of water spilled out and flooded her shoes.
Little red letters appeared suddenly at the top of the machine.
'BLOCKAGE.'
The young lawyer groaned and in the next room Jennifer began to wail louder and louder.
"Ok sweetie, I'm coming," said Rebecca as she stuck her free hand into the drum of the washing machine and gave a tug at the material that was wedged at the back.
Jennifer began to scream, as the machine beeped loudly into Rebecca's ear and her cut finger stung with pain.
She gave a pull and the material un-snagged from the machine and another pool of water came flooding out all over her tiled kitchen floor. She lifted the offending garment to her face and groaned to find that it was her favourite dress, now torn to shreds.
She let out a moan and got to her feet and, being careful not to slip on the water, she unplugged the machine from the wall. She would deal with this mess later, but for now Jennifer needed her...
..wait…
Rebecca listened but no sound came from the next room…
Her eyes widened as she ran from the kitchen, tea towel still wrapped around her hand.
Jennifer wouldn't just stop crying of her own accord…then why was there no sound coming for the living room where her crib now lay?
Something must be wrong….
Rebecca skidded around the corner, stopped in the doorway and gaped at the sight that met her eyes.
"Sherlock?"
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