The Power of Three
Chapter 3
John nervously stood on the threshold of the flat at Baker Street. He could see Sherlock in deep conversation with a client and did not wish to intrude. It had been a while since he had been on a case with Sherlock and much as he wanted to; he hesitated to stride in as normal. After all, he reasoned, I don't live here anymore and the client's situation may perhaps be a delicate one.
A few minutes later he was forced to stand aside as Sherlock's client left, looking angry and confused. No doubt Sherlock had refused to take the case, although Sherlock, to be honest, had that effect on most people.
As he pushed passed him, the client gave John a searching look. "You're a bloody saint," he volunteered. John smiled back. It hadn't always been easy living with the famous detective.
John was clutching the scan in an envelope. He had come straight from the clinic while his wife had gone home to tell her mother and her friends the news. It had worked. She was with child and John was over the moon.
Sherlock looked over to him languidly from his armchair and held out a pale thin arm in greeting. "By your demeanor John, I can tell it was successful. Come, show me the scan. I want to see my child."
John made his way in and perched on the arm of Sherlock's chair. His heart was bubbling over with joy. He casually stretched his arm over the back of the armchair to steady himself as Sherlock took the envelope and they both peered at the contents. "Here!" John smoothly clicked into professional mode,"It's a bit small, but you can make it out, can't you? Look- there's the head: Mary is so happy! Her mother has taken a turn for the worse, Sherlock, but this news will cheer her up. Mary is her only child."
"Yes, I can see." Sherlock was looking intently at the picture and had the ghost of a smile about him. He nodded to himself. "Sheridan is going to be taller than you. The bone structure is most promising."
" Sh,Sheridan?" John spluttered, taken aback. "You're unbelievable! How do you know it's a 'he' from that picture anyway? And his name will be Hamish by the way; I'm not having a poncey name like that for my son."
"Oh," replied Sherlock airily, "Sheridan is my grandfather's name and also my second name. It is assumed I will pass the name to my heir."
John moved from his precarious position, to sit in the opposite armchair and looked at his friend steadily. "Look, Sherlock, this is not your heir- or whatever- this is my kid, mine and Mary's. You got that? She doesn't even know you're involved."
"But I most certainly am involved, John. I am his father." Sherlock pursed his lips together and tapped the scan thoughtfully. " Hmmm, I cannot decide whether to put him down for Eton or Harrow. What would you prefer?"
John threw up his hands. "What is with you Sherlock? We can't afford private schools! Even you can't, for all your poshness. You can hardly afford this flat on your own."
"No, but Mycroft can; my brother is unmarried and has no plans to take a wife. If he did, it would be solely to provide an heir and as I am now providing one, he will no doubt be at pains to…"
"Are you even listening?" John shouted, rising to his feet. "We have a scan of a 12 week old foetus. You cannot tell from this early scan even what sex it is. "Although," he conceded, "you are somehow correct. It is going to be a boy."
"Two males, do the math John, this indicates it will be male, XY chromosome being much more likely. If somehow the procedure could be undertaken with two females, XX in both, they would be only able to produce a female offspring."
"Yes, yes, brilliant as usual, clever you Sherlock! Oh, and hats off to the Lesbian and Gay community who can now circumvent the last argument against nature to Gay Marriage, no doubt. "
Sherlock lay back in his chair and gave a short laugh as John sat down again. "Indeed so! Now two men will be able to have children together, which actually spring from their loins. John, John! We must be the first couple to do this!" Sherlock got up and began to excitedly pace the room.
"We're not a couple Sherlock."
Sherlock appeared not to have heard. He was in full flow. There was a glow on his face and his eyes were beginning to shine. He spun round. "We must contact Hello magazine. I say, this is one up on Elton, John!"
John watched in fascinated horror as Sherlock flicked his curls back, undid another shirt button and turned to an imaginary camera."What do you think? Shall wear my purple shirt for the photography?" He winked at John, who was looking completely stunned.
Sherlock dropped his gaze, and smiled condescendingly, knowing exactly what effect he was creating. "That is, if it were my thing…but of course- Sheridan must be protected from all this." He paused dramatically, moved his face closer and dropped his voice to a low purr. "It would be good publicity for your blog however, John."
There was a moment's silence as John fought for breath, trying hard to ignore a sudden tingling in his spine. Then he slowly smiled, knowingly.
"You are winding me up, Sherlock!"
"Of course, John!" Sherlock laughed heartily. "Don't worry; your secret is safe with me."
John relaxed visibly.
"I do however, want to know my son. I will defer to your good judgment on this. At some point John, you must tell your wife."
"I know." John sighed. "You have a right to see him of course. I will have you involved in all decisions and you will see him as much as I can manage. I know, I am going to have to tell her at some point, probably after the baby is born. You will not tell Mycroft about this Sherlock, I won't have his interference."
Sherlock said nothing. John had an unnerving flash that Mycroft would probably have known already; perhaps even been involved in engineering the whole thing. He reluctantly put the scan back in its envelope and made for the door.
"John, where are you going? I have just seen a client and agreed to take a case. Will you accompany me on this one? I would value your assistance greatly. It could be dangerous."
"Oh," John hesitated. He really should get back to his wife with the scan. She would want to show her friends the baby. But then… those magic words thrilled him. Again, he could not refuse."Right, Sherlock. You know I am here for you, wherever and whenever you need me."
"How I wish you could be." sighed Sherlock. "Get your weapon from the drawer John, there is murder afoot, no time to lose!"
Sherlock grabbed his coat and scarf, thundered down the stairs and whistled for a cab. John followed his thoughts in a whirl.
"But you don't need me much Sherlock, only when you have cases on. The rest of the time, to be honest, I always felt a bit in the way."He knew Sherlock was probably not listening to him but he carried on regardless. "That's one of the reasons I got married, well, that and I fell in love. I am still on call for you- even if I don't live with you anymore. You can still have me whenever you need me."John bit his lip.
That came out wrong, he thought, but he blundered on."Provided of course I'm not at work , well, even then I will get cover as soon as I can, or on holiday, well, I can cut it short if you need me, or making out with Mary, but.."
The cab had arrived and Sherlock pulled his friend down beside him onto the seat. "Yes, yes, John, I get the picture," he said distractedly. "But, you weren't in the way. Whatever made you feel like that?" He glanced out of the window for a beat then turned back. "No matter, I know I can become engrossed in something and pay no heed to anyone else. Let us leave this conversation on the back burner; we are coming to our destination. Look sharp John, there is a murderer within 50 feet of us and we have to be on our guard."
