Concerning Hobbits

AN/ Okay...wow had quite a few reviews on the first part. Wasn't expecting people to like this idea so much... It's astounding really. So I've decided that I'll add another chapter. Nothing much happens in this one, and there is actually an idea forming in my head for a third. Though it would depend entirely on if people still like it after this chapter.

This story is un-beta'd. If anyone would like to volunteer, just let me know...

The song that I was listening to this time was a violin cover of "Concerning Hobbits" hence the title. It's also mentioned later.

I've never been to a funeral. Not my thing. So if I've done something wrong, let me know. It's only brief anyway, so it shouldn't really matter. Some John Sherlock friendship moments. Not slash. Just...well...comforting. I think poor Lock needs it right now.

~ 0-0 ~ Concerning Hobbits ~ 0-0 ~

"I want you to come."

John looked up at those words, lowering his newspaper so that he could see Sherlock. The man wasn't looking directly at him and it was obviously a difficult request for him to make. John knew what he was asking and he nodded once before speaking. "Of course."

And that was the end of that.

~ 0-0 ~ Concerning Hobbits ~ 0-0 ~

The service was held two days later. Morbid and quiet, the sky weeping lightly with the autumn rain.

It was a simple thing really, just a small group of people stood at the grave site as the body was lowered. Sherlock, Alice and Mycroft were seated at the front. None of that was surprising- the only thing that gave John pause for thought was when Sherlock had led him to sit with them.

Coming to the funeral was one thing -being among the family of the diseased seemed to be pushing it a little too far but when he turned to Sherlock to say as much, he noticed the strained look on his face. The man was trying his best to keep his emotionless mask in place and when a shaking hand grasped the fabric of his jacket, John realized that he wasn't there to pay his respects to Sherlock's mother- he was there for the man himself and if the detective needed him, then John would always be there.

After the funeral, Sherlock's need for John was expressed much more strongly than the doctor had ever imagined it would be. The minute they returned to the flat, Alice locked herself in Sherlock's room, leaving Sherlock and John alone in the sitting room.

John poured Sherlock a scotch and turned to hand it to him, expecting him to be sat in his chair. But the man was still stood in the middle of the room, looking a little lost. Slowly, the mask began to fall and he turned to John, a look of complete and utter despair on his face. It was finally sinking in.

Putting the glass aside, the army doctor moved towards him, wanting to offer any comfort that he could. Stopping a few inches in front of him, John reached out, a hand resting gently on his shoulder. He was about to ask if he was okay when Sherlock simply collapsed against him, his head on his shoulder and his hands grasping the front of his shirt in a tight embrace.

John simply held the man as he broke down, and when his knees gave out, they sunk to the ground together, John rocking them a little as he tried to keep his own feelings at bay.

Nobody would ever be able to tell John that Sherlock was an unfeeling monster again.

~ 0-0 ~ Concerning Hobbits ~ 0-0 ~

The day that Alice became comfortable in the flat was obvious for John. For the two weeks after her parents death's, she hadn't spoken a word to either Sherlock or himself and had simply locked herself in Sherlock's room. Even when her possessions had arrived, she hadn't spoken a word.

Sherlock had told him that it was nothing to be worried about -she used to do this a lot when she was a child and she had suffered any kind of emotional trauma. Since Sherlock hadn't seemed too worried, he vowed not to be either.

The detective himself was dealing with it as well as could be expected. What little sleep he did get was on the couch since he had allowed Alice his room for the duration of his stay, but John knew for certain that his mother's death was still bothering him. He was grieving in a healthy way. John just wasn't sure how to help either of them, he could only offer them the time and space that they both seemed to crave.

Thirteen days after the 'event', as John had taken to calling it, he came home to an uncommon scene. He heard it before he saw it, a quick and quirky melody filled the air and he couldn't help but smile as he climbed the stairs to their flat. If Sherlock was playing the violin, then he was obviously feeling better.

But when he opened the door, he could see that the person playing the violin wasn't Sherlock-but rather his sister. Alice had her back to him, facing the window as Sherlock often did. Her long fingers were flying over the neck and her body was swaying slightly as she played.

John found himself watching and appreciating the sound and swaying to the vaguely familiar melody. "Hello." he greeted finally.

Alice just turned and smiled at him, not breaking the flow of the music. She continued playing for a while and John found himself humming along before pausing and letting out a soft laugh. He should've realized that it wasn't Sherlock playing.

"Is that from the Lord of the Rings?" He asked her, receiving a curt nod in response. She finished the tune and pulled the violin down, a shy smile on her face.

"Sorry." She said, moving to put the violin back in the case. "I didn't think anyone would mind." She turned to John after placing the instrument down. After a second, she tensed before smiling and then nodding once. "I don't think we've ever actually talked properly." She said, moving to sit on Sherlock's chair.

She sat with one leg up, her foot pressed as close to herself as she could get. One arm wrapped lazily around it and she regarded John, her blue eyes roaming up and down him before she nodded again, this time seemingly to herself. "So I'm Alice." She introduced herself. "I don't think I actually caught your name, Butterfly."

Butterfly? Frowning, John thought on that for a moment before letting it go and smiling. "John. Watson." He introduced himself. She barely reacted, as if she already knew that-and with a start, John realized that she probably did. Her eyes held the same look that Sherlock often had when he was deducing. "But you'd already figured that out, hadn't you?" He asked, a slight smirk forming on his face.

Chuckling a little, Alice nodded, her long hair brushing her shoulders. She'd tied it back, but the curls were very prominent. She was definitely related to Sherlock, and it seemed that Sherlock had gained most of his looks from his mother since Alice shared them too.

"Yes." She said, "But unlike Lock, I tend to try to be a little more polite about it." She sent him a sly smile, "People don't often like me simply knowing things about him."

"But you don't know." John said with a small smile, "You observe."

"Oh you're good, Butterfly." She seemed to relax a little, letting raised leg join the other on the ground. She stood and headed back to the violin. "Do you mind?" she asked, gesturing to the instrument. John shook his head and leaned back on the sofa, quite content to listen to her play.

"Any requests?" She asked, picking up the violin. She gently stroked the wood before getting into position.

"Something fast. That Sherlock isn't likely to have played."

Alice paused for a moment before smiling. "Vamo Ala flemenco." She muttered before beginning a rather quick and jolly melody. It made John bob around to it, and he was half tempted to get up and dance. She followed it up with a waltz. 'Full Waltz to the Moon' she had called it.

It was about five minutes into her rendition of 'Pirates of the Caribbean' when Sherlock finally returned. He made his way inside the flat and paused at the door, a small smile on his face as he observed the girl play with obvious talent.

He hung his coat and scarf and took a seat beside John on the couch to watch her finish. Once she played the last bar she bowed and smiled softly. She placed the violin back in its case and sat back down on the chair.

"I see you kept up with your lessons." Sherlock remarked and Alice nodded. She leaned back and relaxed.

"Mycroft insisted." She mumbled, a grimace on her face. "Claimed that it was part of my schooling."

"You're pre-med, right?" John asked, interested for obvious reasons. As intelligent as Sherlock was, he knew very little about the intricacies of medicine and it would be nice to have someone around who understood his work.

Alice bit her lip for a moment before shaking her head. "I was." This caused Sherlock to raise his eyebrows, so she continued, "I dropped out."

"Does Mycroft know?" Was Sherlock's only response.

"I should think so." Alice's bored tone told John that they'd had this conversation – or something similar often. Sherlock leaned back against the couch, his hands moving to their steepled position in front of his face as he looked at her, obviously expecting her to continue talking. "He was paying for it. They would've contacted him when I stopped showing up."

A sigh from the detective, followed by "What are you to do next? Will you finally get a job?"

"I dunno. Just know that medicine bored me. I really don't care what all the bones are called." She shrugged and the conversation petered out after that, and they spent the rest of the evening talking about nothing in particular.

For some reason, this was comforting for John. Watching Alice and Sherlock interacting, he could tell that the healing had begun, and that one day, they would be okay.

~ 0-0 ~ TBC? ~ 0-0 ~

AN/ Vamo Ala flemenco is a tune from Final Fantasy IX, and Full Waltz to the Moon is from Final Fantasy VIII. Two of my favourite tracks. Well worth listening to.

I'd like to know if anybody knows what Anderson's first name is, or if there's a headcannon for it, as he may show up soon along with the others.

Any comments, criticisms? I'm still developing Alice, so if she's a bit off, or there's something you'd suggest, please let me know.

Oh, and Butterfly will get explained later.

Now, I am wondering on people's opinion on Johnlock. I don't want to loose any followers etc if I put it in, but I think it could work here. Let me know.

And to everyone that reviewed, thank you! You can't even imagine how happy I was to get a review on this, let alone five!

So I hope everyone liked this...