"Sherlock. Glad you could make it. We actually have the case under control, now, but we have a little girl here with us.. Eight years old. The victim's sisters daughter was here with them... she's not giving us anything... She's really scared though it's not her fault."

"well obviously not. Let me talk to her. I wont 'screw up', as you always say."

"uh, no, lestrade. the freak will not talk to a traumatized little girl!"

"you don't make the calls. Sherlock... You have ten minutes. Don't. Bloody. Mess. Things. Up!"

"Great idea cap'n, I see why your chief."

donovan stomped off downstairs.

sherlock walked in and saw the little girl.

"did your parents.. Hurt you? You can tell me, I can keep a secret." He said, and winked.

"how did you know?

"I..I um.. I recognized the bruises."

'how odd' thought john.

"did your mummy and daddy hurt you too..?"

"no.. my mummy and daddy didn't raise me.. my grandparents did. And yes.. They um.. They beat me badly."

'oh my God! Sherlock.. No...' Thought john.

"more than me? How?"

"it doesn't matter. What matters is that you help us so we can help you."

"alright... my parents said I was a mistake.. an accident... A mess up..." Tears welled up in her big brown eyes.

"don't worry", Sherlock soothed," its okay now. You are important and perfect and your parents were wrong."

"did your parents...?"

"yes, they ridiculed me. They called me a monster, some other names I probably shouldn't say..." Sherlock trailed off. "They never called me sherlock.. I was freak." He choked.

"the little girl wrapped her hands around his thin waist and he carried her, awkwardly petting the back of her head, to An obviously surprised lestrade.

"John, Im going to the flat. I will see you whenever you are home..."

and he walked off.