2

A little less than an hour had passed as Sherlock, Shirley, and John sat in the waiting room. Doctors and nurses went in and out of Mary's room casting nervous glances at John who wouldn't stop shaking. Sherlock held Shirley in his hands. He had quickly put her to sleep. John looked up at Sherlock and then rested his eyes on Shirley.

"Can I hold her?" John asked with a shaky whisper. Sherlock immediately handed her over. It was his baby and Sherlock had been holding her the entire time.

"Of course John, I'm sorry. I-I didn't realize." Sherlock broke off feeling horrible. John had just lost his wife and he was just sitting there with his child. He felt the urge to hold John and tell him that it would be okay, but he knew that if he was in John's position and someone told him that, he'd most likely punch him in the face. A young doctor came out of Mary's room and headed for John, who got up immediately.

"Well?" John asked nervously, clutching Shirley closer to him.

"Mr. Watson," She began, "I'm so sorry-" and that's all she managed before John gave Shirley to Sherlock and buried his face in his hands screaming. John fell to the floor sobbing. Sherlock was hesitant, only for a moment, before he handed Shirley to the doctor and crouched to the floor next to John.

He wasn't exactly sure what to say. In fact he was almost 100% positive there was nothing he could say to make it better, so instead he just turned John to him and hugged him. John buried his face into Sherlock's coat and continued to cry. John grabbed Sherlock's coat and bunched his hands into fists, while Sherlock just patted his back. They continue this for about a minute when Sherlock looked up at the doctor who was rocking Shirley. Sherlock couldn't hear Shirley over John's wails and hadn't realized she started crying. He got up taking John with him while supporting him by clutching his arm.

"Thank you." Sherlock said as he took Shirley from the doctor who nodded and headed off. He wanted to give her to John but he couldn't carry her right now, so Sherlock held them both as they left the hospital. Mary's blood was stained on the floor and once Sherlock, John, and Shirley got out John sobbed even harder.

He walked him into the parking lot still unsure of weather to say anything or not. John's keys were still in his coat pocket as they approached the car. He walked John to the passenger's seat and handed him Shirley. He fished the keys out of his pocket and unlocked the car for John. After John got in Sherlock walked to the other side of the car and got in.

They drove in silence, well aside from Shirley's babbling. John had stopped his wailing but Sherlock could still see tears falling from his eyes.

"John," Sherlock started, sick of the silence, "I'm sorry I can't really provide you any comfort, but I've never been in a situation like this and this is one of the very few times I have no idea on what to say, that is, if I could say anything that could make this better." Sherlock glanced at John a few times while saying this hoping he could see that John understood.

"I know." John said in a hoarse whisper. His throat burned from all the screaming. He knew Sherlock couldn't help him. No one could. All he needed was time. He had lost many close friends in the war and thought he should have been used to loss by now, but he never would. He would never find loosing someone you love get easier, if anything, it only got harder for him. He had lost so many faces and now Mary was added to the list.

They spent the rest of the ride in silence. John tried playing with Shirley and Sherlock tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. When Sherlock finally pulled up in front of his house he looked at John, who was already climbing out of the car. Sherlock got out too and handed John the keys.

"Do you want me to come in?" Sherlock asked even though he knew John wanted to be alone.

"No thank you." John said as he glumly walked into his home, for the first time without Mary, and for the first time with the baby.

"Call me if you need anything." Sherlock said wishing he could do something. John just nodded and gave Sherlock a sad smile as he closed the door behind him. Sherlock sighed; despite all he and Mary went through he liked her, and was very sad that she was gone. He hailed a cab and gave the cabbie his address and then sat through another car ride in silence.

Sorry this chapter wasn't really eventful, its more of a transition to the next chapter which I hope you guys'll find exciting