John couldn't help but stare in amazement as Zach walked through the door. Not because he was home almost twenty minutes late, but because he was covered in bruises and scrapes and his hand looked a bit damaged. His right eye was turning a horrid shade of black, and his split lip was curled in a snarl. His violin case was open, dragging on the ground, but there was no violin inside. Just the bow. Very… un-Zach like. He was more focused on the injuries though.
"What happened?" He said, eyes wide as he rushed over to the boy. Zach's scowl deepened as he allowed himself to be led to the couch.
"Got in a fight on my way home." He grumbled, flinching away as John gently touched the bruising eye.
"And the reason your violin in gone?" The older man questioned.
"Hit the other kid over the head with it."
Silence.
"You what!" John exploded, eyes wide and mouth agape.
Zach looked away crossly. "He wouldn't let me go and the older kids were holding me back!"
"You hit him with your violin?" Because John really couldn't get off that point.
"Yes! Not that hard!" As though that made it any better.
A knock at the door interrupted anything John might have said to that.
He walked off, giving Zach a firm "stay there" as he opened the door to a very PO'd looking mother and her sobbing son, who didn't seem that badly hurt at all and was more trying to gain sympathy.
The woman (Mrs. Stone from down the street, his mind told him in a bored tone that sounded a lot like Sherlock. Along with Luke.) was seething, thin lips pilled into a light snarl. "You child-" Like the word itself was evil in the worst extend. "-Has just jumped my son with his little friend and hit him over the head with a violin. Care you explain why, Dr. Watson?"
Isn't she from the PTA? John thought, brow furrowing slightly.
"I think you have your facts wrong, Mrs. Stone." The ex-army doctor said politely. "It was your son who jumped Zachary and the action was pure self defense." From what he knew, anyway. Didn't mean he wouldn't fight tooth and nail though.
The older woman glared, though quickly pulled her face into a mask of well places annoyance. "Are you suggesting Luke lied to me?" Luke stiffened slightly at that, eyes widening and fake sobs stopping for a moment.
"That is exactly what I'm saying, ma'am." John said with a nod. "Now if you'll excuse me." He nodded, and promptly slammed the door in her face.
Zach blinked, staring at John in complete awe as he walked back over. "Why'd you do that?" He asked, dumbfounded. "You didn't even know my half of the story yet, you could have easily assumed…"
The doctor tutted softly, tending to scratched knuckles. "Luke is a compulsive liar and mild kleptomaniac." He said, as though it were obvious. "You think I was going to believe him over you?"
"Yeah. Dad always did." The reply is quiet, still confused and maybe just a little bit hurt.
"Well I'm not your dad, am I?" John asked with a sad smile. "At least I hope I've proven that effectively enough."
"True." Zach muttered, sinking into the couch. "You and Sherlock are a lot better."
"Let's just not have anymore escapades of hitting people over the head with violins, okay?"
"Got it."