Impossible Equation.

Chapter 1.

Sherlock sat in his favourite chair, knees hunched up, and his forefingers tucked under his chin lin the shape of a pyramid, he stared at the fair haired girl in the doorway. He could quite happily destroy Mycroft. This was his fault; all his damn fault and Sherlock would find a most appropriate method to get his own back for his elder brother's total lack of judgement and sheer insensitivity.

Mycroft had upset John, had upset the balance of their life together, and that damn episode in the warehouse had been a retrograde step in the slow but sure building of that new life together. John had just started to trust him again; they had gone back to the life Sherlock had longed for, after all those hard years away, after the vicious public censure and then saccharine sweet public remorse, the icing on the cake was that John finally, finally reciprocated the same feelings and there had been no more boring, vexatious females in John's life to deal with or, foil, or fob off.

Now because of Mycroft, damn his eyes, damn his calorie addicted cake eating fat thick skinned big boned big brother, there was a female in the equation who was infinitely more dangerous to Sherlock's peace of mind and their new relationship. John's teenage daughter. John's teenage grieving daughter no less.

John's teenage daughter who stood in the doorway of the living room to 221B, looking as if she was being dragged into the gladiatorial arena to wait for the lions to devour her,

John's teenage daughter who wouldn't look at either of them long enough for Sherlock to even clearly see her eye colour, although based on her skin tone, and the genetic possibilities, it was no doubt they were some shade of blue.

John's teenage daughter who had vomited all over Mycroft's shoes when he had told her John was her father. (The look on Mycroft's face had been priceless, almost worth the excruciatingly overblown emotional episode in the first place, but for a few seconds John had looked ….destroyed, then his doughty soldiers' expression had returned and wiped out any personal emotion)

John's teenage daughter, who even refused to respond to the maternalistic machinations of his dear Mrs Hudson.

John's teenage daughter who hadn't even looked up when John had introduced himself "Call me John" and Sherlock. She had pretended not to know who they were, which had also irritated Sherlock, because how could she not know who Sherlock Holmes and Dr John Watson were, after the hoo-ha in the press. She was simply being rude.

"You can come through the door you know, its not booby trapped….yet" he told her with irritation. An irritation which grew even more when he saw the small flinch and the way she seemed to shrink away from his voice.

"Sherlock" John's reprimand sounded tired, God his John looked tired, he looked tired and depressed and out of his depth, he hadn't seen that expression on his face since his return… Damn the girl for bringing it back. Damn Mycroft for bringing it back.

He saw his John turn to the obstinate young female in the doorway, and with an effort, gentled his voice
"Jocelyn, let me show you to your room and then we can all have a nice cup of tea".

What the hell did she find frightening about that? Sherlock hadn't missed her flight response to the words. What did she think she was doing here, unless it was to move in with them, damn her, damn Mycroft, damn her dead mother.

For the first time since the warehouse, since they had actually met her three hours ago, the girl raised her head and stared at the pair of them.

She was about half an inch below average height, she must look more like her mother than John, she had fair hair but John's hair did not have the tendency to curls or that shade of strawberry blonde, she only seemed to share his stubborn chin and the deep blue eyes. They were definitely her fathers eyes, Sherlock catalogued quickly. She was still in her school uniform, black trousers, white polo and navy embroidered cardigan. Her clothes were well looked after but not new. She'd had the same uniform for a couple of years. She hadn't grown much since they were initially purchased, and she was too thin.

She was pale, anxious rather than anaemic, but she was using all her courage to face her father, while darting quick nervous glances Sherlock.

"Please, why can't I go back to Cardiff?" her voice had a light lilting welsh accent; he realised that it was the first time any of them had heard her speak. She had sat in that warehouse, staring at a group of strangers shouting and making arrangements for her future without even making a token protest, Sherlock thought contemptuously. Not one peep out of her even when she had thrown up. She obviously hadn't inherited her father's courage either.

He could identify the exact origins of her accent with a little effort but the words she uttered were more interesting. Was she completely stupid? After the effort and upheaval that had gone into retrieving her, what in the world made her think she would be allowed to return to Cardiff. Even though personally he would be more than happy to see her disappear and return there, but John would object, and not just because of Moran, John would object because he had the old fashioned moralistic attitude that he should be looking after his daughter, his poor little motherless daughter. Did that bloody stupid woman Mary Morstan have to die and cause this chaos?

John stared at her with confusion, clearly out of his depth and it was Mrs Hudson who actually responded to the stupid question. "But dear, you are going to live here with your father and Sherlock now, didn't they tell you"

She spoke gently but firmly to the girl, Sherlock didn't miss the horrified flinch and neither did John. Mrs Hudson drew in a breath and instinctively put out a comforting hand towards the girl but she sidestepped the hand without looking at the elderly woman again. Mrs Hudson dropped her hand and looked at the girl, then back at John with distress. Sherlock gritted his teeth. There was a strained silence.

John brushed his hand over his hair and gave an unconscious sigh. "C'mon Jocelyn" he began tentatively, trying to ignore her question and her reaction to Mrs Hudson's response, as he moved towards the stairs.

But the girl refused to budge, and suddenly Sherlock could see rage in her face and the stance of her body, "You.. you didn't answer my question" she stuttered but it was temper not fear, and that chin, the one she had inherited from her father was stuck out determinedly.

Sherlock snapped
"Don't be more obtuse than you can help girl, Mrs Hudson has just answered your question, now follow your father to your room and stop being difficult"
His cold impatient answer drew him enraged looks from both father and daughter and a shocked scolding "Sherlock" from Mrs Hudson but he shrugged his shoulders indifferently.

"I asked why and I meant why, my father hasn't given a shit about me for the last fourteen years so why should I have to live with him now" came the surprisingly bitter and coherent response directed solely to Sherlock.
She didn't look at John or Mrs Hudson, who opened her eyes wide and stared sympathetically at John.

Sherlock raised one eyebrow and tilted his head in surprise at her question.
John had paled with distress, and then stiffened, and as he opened his mouth to try to explain things to his angry newly found daughter, Sherlock's eyes gleamed with retribution and he came up with the perfect retaliation for the aggravation, discomfort and inconvenience he had suffered and would continue to suffer because of this senseless, insensitive, inconsiderate bereaved brat.

He leant forward and smiled with cruel amusement, using the one expression he knew would enrage and frustrate the teenager.

"Because we said so"


AN:

This is set in the world of "And then there were three". It's Sherlock's POV and how he copes with Jocelyn's intrusion in their lives. It dawned on me that my episodic chapters sometime missed out things that could be interesting, especially from Sherlock's viewpoint. What happened when Joss stepped foot into Baker street for the first time? Really thought this was going to be a one shot but changed my mind there will be more to be added. No real plot just character development really, want to explore things couldn't in ATTT. Hope you enjoy. As per reviews if you like, if you don't like, if you are bored, if you want to test your keyboard, review for any reason you want, just please please review …. Hugs xxxx

Disclaimers… No infringement intended, not mine, only playing in the wonderful world of BBC Sherlock, (Only little Joss is mine)