Chapter two: The Holmes family

I stared up at the beautiful, brick and light brown wood residence. It had the word 'home' pasted all over it. I could smell the cedar firewood burning in the hearth and I could see everyone bustling around inside, everyone looked happy, to my eye at least. I smiled and paused as I admired this house. Even in the snow, it was a very beautiful place, surrounded by pine trees and a bridge over a somewhat large river. I can only imagine what it must look like in the summer.

"Are you coming or what?" Sherlock said abruptly, shifting one of my bags under his arm. He refused to carry both, still, I wasn't surprised. "It's cold outside."

"Well, you were the one tramping around in the snow earlier!" I reminded him as I tightened my grip on the case and began to follow him into the house. "Even then, you were collecting plants. Like, who in their right mind does things like that?"

"Poisonous ones." He explained without looking back at me as he opened the door to his house. He walked in without granting me the right to enter first. "And then I get hit with a snowball in the head, for minding my own business."

"Well, you made my life your business," I said as I set down my suitcase and closed the door behind me. I rubbed my arms vigorously. "when you decided to force me to return here."

"And you should be grateful."

"My mother always told me not to bite the hand that feeds me." I said calmly. "The fact that I haven't bitten yours, clearly states that I am showing my gratefulness."

He leans forward and studies me closely. I lean forward, until we're almost nose-to-nose, and match his probing expression. "I didn't know," we both turned around to see another man, probably Sherlock's brother, standing there watching us with a smug look on his face. "that when I rounded this corner I'd be interrupting something rather intimate."

Sherlock made a face at his brother as he shrugged out of his coat. "She's just a stray cat Mycroft. Nothing more, nothing less."

Mycroft crosses his arms over his chest and smiles tightly at his brother. "Haven't you heard what happens to stray cats when they're found?" Sherlock doesn't even blink. "Typically, they never leave. So, I'd say you're stuck with her."

I shook my head. "I'm only staying for the night."

"Sherlock?" all three of our heads turned towards the sound of footsteps. And older woman in deep green dress and her gray hair pinned up elegantly rounded the corner. She stopped and looked at us, me in particular. She smiled as she stepped towards me. "Hello. Who is this? I wasn't aware you were bringing home a lady for me to meet Sherlock."

"I'm his stray cat." I spat out somewhat sarcastically. I bit my lip and closed my eyes in embarrassment. "Sorry, both of them have been calling me that. It just popped out and I apologize. My name is Tamera."

She laughed and hugged me. "Don't be. I know exactly how frustrating my boys can be, so don't be too concerned. You'll find that we speak quite plainly around here." She took a hold of my arm and guided me into the parlor. "So, how did you two meet?"

"I hit Sherlock in the head with a snowball." Her brows rose in surprise. "I was walking towards the nearest inn and he startled me." Sherlock let out a rude snort. "The only thing I had to defend myself was the snow at hand."

She smiles brightly. "Good! You're a resourceful and intelligent girl. And don't worry about Sherlock's head; it's always been exceptionally hard."

Sherlock exhaled and pulled off his coat. I could help but stare at him in amazement. His house, family and manners testified that they were a very wealthy family. He, however, was dressed in the simple clothes of a working man. "Thank you for your concern mother." He grumped. "Nice to know if she ever beats me to death that you had the courtesy to feed a girl whose intellect wasn't enough to know that the human head and brain are very fragile."

I glower at him. "I'm not an idiot."

"That has yet to be determined."

"It was only one snowball and I couldn't even see you. Be glad I wasn't close."

"If you were going to get kicked by a horse, pray you're standing close to it; it hasn't had time yet to gather up enough speed."

"Sherlock!" His mother said sharply. "Behave yourself. Now, take Tamera upstairs to the library. There's a fire going there and it'll be much more comfortable for her to talk."

Sherlock nodded and grumpily walked away and I followed him. Mrs. Holmes followed us, but she got stopped by one of the servants. Sherlock and I were halfway up the stairs when this huge Irish setter came running straight at me. "Redbeard!" Sherlock shouted sharply. The dog promptly ignored him and jumped right on me. The creature was huge and next thing I knew, I'd lost my balance and I was falling backwards down the staircase!

The whole household erupted into pandemonium as I landed in a crumble heap on the ground. Sherlock and Mycroft were shouting about Redbeard while Mrs. Holmes hurried to examine me. I struggled to sit up, but a sharp pain in my side caused me to cry out and lie back on the ground.

"Sherlock! Mycroft!" She shouted. "Both of you stop it this instance! Sherlock, go fetch the doctor, I think she's broken a rib." My eyes widened in alarm. "Mycroft put Redbeard away and help me get her upstairs to bed where the doctor can examine her better!"

"I don't think that-

"Stop arguing with your mother boys!" A voice full of authority came from the top of the stairs. I looked up to see an older man, Mr. Holmes, I'm assuming, grab both of them by the collar and give them a shove. Both hurried down the stairs immediately. "As long as you live under my roof, you'll do as she says! Now move!"

Mycroft mumbled in irritation. "Honestly. So ridiculous."

For a moment, I thought Sherlock was going to report his brother's disrespect, and then I could tell he thought better of it. Mr. Holmes knelt over me as he looked to his wife. "Now, what do you want me to do?"

"You and Mycroft can carry her up the stairs and follow me." I felt as if I were outside my body watching this whole thing going n around me. Mrs. Holmes fussed over every single step that Mycroft and Mr. Holmes carried me up. I reached over to grip my aching side, to find that I couldn't move my arm without feeling pain. Mrs. Holmes noticed my grimace, though I tried hard to hide it. "And her arm as well, mind it!"

After years of watching my mother being subjected to my father's cruelty, it was a surprise to see Mr. Holmes tolerate his wife's rather fiery tongue in such silence. I hope he wasn't going to punish her later for speaking so to him.

"Where are we putting her dear?" his tone, I searched for a single note of malice in his voice, but heard nothing unsettling.

"May I suggest," Mycroft said. "the guest bedroom next to Sherlock?" I glowered at him. "He knows her better than anyone else."

"That would be improper Mycroft!" she said, before hesitating. "However, there is a long corridor between them, so, it's not that bad an idea." She turned to me. "If, you've no objections."

I wasn't sure what to answer to that statement. However, I was in their debt and I wasn't going to quibble over their decisions. "I'm," why did my voice sound so weak? "grateful, for your hospitality."

Mrs. Holmes leaned forward. "Sherlock better hurry up with John, she does not look well at all." She pushed the bedroom door open and I found myself in a beautiful green, bedroom. The room was far better than my own at home and I found it unusual that I had such good fortune, even though I'd probably broken my arm and rib. Mrs. Holmes pulled back the covers and the men set me down. "Gently!" She ordered. "Mycroft, build up a fire, now." She turned to her husband. "You, have Janine fetch more blankets and ask her to have Mrs. Hudson prepare some tea. And ask Mary to have me help her get Tamera out of her clothes."

"Yes." Mr. Holmes walked dutifully out of the room without looking back at her.

She turned to me. "Now, you close your eyes and try to relax." The moment those words left her mouth, I lapsed into either unconsciousness or a deep sleep. It was one or the other, for I didn't remember what happened next except for dark, calming blackness.