New improved chapter one! Edited by the lovely Dr Kitten,

…..

Childhood Toys

The airport was crowded and their plane was delayed. Sherlock and John wandered over to a waiting area and sat down. They had been called at short notice by the police force of a European city working closely with Scotland Yard. John had rushed around packing while Sherlock pondered over the details.

As John brought over two coffees, Sherlock began to deduce his fellow stranded passengers. John always liked to listen to his deductions and observe the way Sherlock observed. Today, however, his mind was on other things like what on earth had he packed for Sherlock? He had grabbed two of his silk dressing gowns but no nightwear, did Sherlock even wear anything in... Anyway, had he forgotten something important? The case notes? A family came by. The father was a harassed looking man and the mother looked rather rushed. The youngest boy was being pulled along by this mother and the lad was dragging his teddy bear listlessly behind him. Sherlock started up his observations again. "The father is concerned he will miss his business appointment with his client, John," he whispered so as not to be overheard. The family stopped. "He is an executive in an accountancy firm and his client is a Japanese paper magnate, see the cufflinks he is wearing with their logo, surely you recognise it? And the phrase book in his bag."

"Yes, but don't you feel for that poor boy? I bet he doesn't want to go all the way to Japan at his age. Don't you think his parents are ignoring him? Look, he's nearly crying, poor lad". The mother obviously had sharp ears and gave them a strange look before moving on.

"Sentiment, John, it mustn't cloud your judgement . The child is looking forward to going to Japan. Did you not also see the animation on his backpack? His older sibling is a fan of Japanese art as you can tell by his badges on his hat and his scarf and has got him interested. He will be fine. It looks like they will be away for several months , hence the reason for the whole family to travel."

There was a silence for a few minutes before John suddenly said, "I expect a posh kid like you would have had a teddy bear." He smiled and waited for an answer. Sherlock leaned back on the plastic chair. "I did," he replied. "What of it?"

"What did you call him then? And was it your favourite toy, Sherlock?"

"For goodness sake, John, is this relevant to anything?"

"I imagine it was Aloysius or something silly like that."

"No, you are getting our family mixed up with Brideshead revisited, I read that book by Evelyn Waugh too and I can assure you I did not bring my teddybear to university much as I would have liked to have something to talk to. Anyway he was no more. By that time I had the skull instead"

"Even more macabre!" wondered John

If you must know, I called him Jojo . Happy now?"

"My sister called me that when I was little!" said John incredulously."You are making this up, Sherlock!"

"Am I?" said Sherlock lazily though half-lidded eyes." Well he came everywhere with me, was a lovely blond colour, and had blue button blue eyes." He smiled."Somehow history repeats itself. I was really attached to that teddy."

"Sentiment?" asked John thoughtfully, staring at Sherlock.

"I was only a child John. So, what was your favourite toy, if we must have this conversation?" John looked up at Sherlock, something had happened to him as a child that made him different, sentiment was not part of his adult life, he wondered when it had changed.

"My action man, till Harry took it off me. He was a regular army guy. Oh, and my Dr. Who figure. You know, the one with the dark brown curly hair and the long coat and scarf? I had such fun with him and my action man on little adventures in time and space." He sighed.

"Humm," said Sherlock." History does repeat itself." They both laughed.

Then Sherlock hit his forehead suddenly.

"I was wrong, John, this conversation is of the upmost importance. There is not a moment to lose, quick man!" And he stood up suddenly and raced across the concourse with a puzzled John at his heels.

"What's the matter, Sherlock?"

"The family, I knew there was something about that teddy, he was dragging it along not caring, and did you see he didn't even look at it or want it? We loved our toys; that toy was not his!"

"You mean..."

"Yes, that teddy is probably concealing something inside and we need to find out what it is, come on!" And so saying, Sherlock raced over to the gate for the flight to Japan, which had just been called. The family was there and while John informed the flight attendant at the desk of a possible crime Sherlock bent down - to the parents' dismay - and asked the boy who gave him the teddy just before the flight.

"The Customs and Excise people are on their way over to investigate Sherlock," John said. The little boy looked lost. "Well?" asked Sherlock impatiently.

The father was about to storm off, but the boy's brother said, "It was our uncle. We don't like him but Mum said, 'Just take it, he is being nice,"

"These gentlemen will have to take it off you, but we will get you a better one from Japan" said the father. The father looked up at Sherlock and mouthed "what's going on?" with a glowering facial expression

The little boy nodded and handed over the teddy quite happily. Sherlock tore it open."I think you will find these packets need to be analysed ,they might not be what you think and you might want to handle them with care,"

"Not drugs is it?" Asked the HM Customs officer, an officious looking weedy man. Sherlock looked at him as he was handing over the concealed contents within the stuffing. "I suggest you call my brother" He said handing over Mycroft Holmes's card. The man looked at the name on it and paled visibly

…..

Sherlock and John finally boarded their own plane and as it finally took off they both sat back and tried to relax. Sherlock looked sideways at his companion. "That conversation we had after my observations on that family may just have saved everyone on the flight! All thanks to you John. You are amazing, a conductor of light," The ground rushed away, and John sighed happily and turned his head. "It wasn't drugs then?"

"If I am right, no, John, but let's wait for the analysis first. Mycroft will text me when we land." Sherlock looked away from the window, he seemed uncomfortable.

John nodded. "I'm a bit more useful to you than a teddy, then, aren't I?"

Sherlock laughed."You're my action man too!"

John smiled as he looked at the ground disappearing. He was content to be by Sherlock and had flown many times but he could also see that Sherlock needed a distraction as he obviously didn't like flying.

"Did Mycroft have a favourite toy?" he asked.