Out of Sorts

By: Raven612

Chapter 3: Take it a Day at a Time

A/N: Well chapter 3 already, what will become of the little girl and her monkey, and will Holmes finally warm up to her? Also, I promised lemons, so now I shall make some lemonade! Also I do not own the poem in this chapter, William Wordsworth does! Also, yay, two reviews for my last chapter, let's try and get three with this one!


Midge sat at the dining room table kicking her feet back and forth as she waited for Mrs. Hudson to set her breakfast on the table. Midge cooed quietly to Lionel while Colonel Wordsworth ate the apple slices Mrs. Hudson grudgingly gave to him.

"Good morning Mrs. Hudson," Watson smiled and nodded in her direction as he took a seat at the table with Midge.

"Good morning," Midge said and turned to look at Watson.

Watson grinned and tipped his head as he sipped his tea and grabbed the newspaper. Colonel Wordsworth threw an apple slice at Watson and it hit the paper and fell onto the table. Watson lowered the paper and glared at the monkey who cackled and threw its head back like it was roaring with laughter.

Midge picked up the apple slice and handed it to him, "Naughty Colonel, the doctor is our friend," she scolded him lightly.

Mrs. Hudson shuddered as she watched Midge tickle the creature under its chin, "Breakfast," she announced and set the tray with toast and eggs on the table and backed away lest she touch or be near the monkey.

"Will they have a funeral for mommy?" Midge asked suddenly and looked up at Watson, crumbs from her toast sprinkled on her cheeks and the front of her white dress.

Watson choked on his tea and picked up a napkin to dab at his lips as he coughed. He finally cleared his throat, "I could arrange for them to have a small one if you'd like to say goodbye."

Mrs. Hudson turned from the dishes and watched the doctor and little girl. Midge broke apart the crust of her toast as she thought about saying goodbye to her mom, she then looked back at Watson, "Do you think mommy can hear me?"

Watson smiled and ruffled her hair, "Of course she can hear you, she can hear you no matter where you are, as long as you talk to her and keep her in your heart she'll always hear you."

Midge smiled, comforted by the thought, she then put her hand on her heart, "Mommy is in here," she explained to Colonel Wordsworth, who had stopped eating and was watching her.

Watson smiled fondly as Midge went back to eating her breakfast and he went back to reading the paper. After some moments of silence Holmes finally showed up, dressed casually, and in a sloppy manner that just seemed to work on him. Watson looked up; Holmes paced the small space between the table and counter, staring at Colonel Wordsworth, who in turn stared back.

"Holmes?" Watson inquired setting his tea cup down.

Holmes stopped mid stride and looked at Watson, raising a brow.

"What are you doing?"

"Watson, I'm close to a breakthrough, I can feel it…it's just one step away," Holmes slumped into a chair and grabbed a piece of toast and Watson poured him a cup of tea.

"You'll get it old boy, you always do."

Holmes nodded as he stared off into space and Midge giggled, pulling the detective back. Holmes slowly glared at the little girl, "What is so funny?"

"You think too hard."

Holmes raised a brow, "If I didn't think at all I would be out of business and life would be dull."

Midge smiled in response and stirred some milk into her tea, "He'll help us Lionel, you'll see," she whispered to her stuffed lion and patted it on its head.

Watson grinned and picked the paper back up to finish reading it. Holmes ate his breakfast mechanically as his mind still worked at the mystery before him. Colonel Wordsworth sat at the windowsill watching the people outside and Midge hummed while she finished her breakfast and fed Lionel.


"Midge, would you like to come to the police station with me?" Watson asked. Lestrade had sent a telegram earlier asking for Midge to come down and answer a few questions about the men who had captured her.

Midge was sitting on the floor of Watson's old room playing with some dolls while Colonel Wordsworth kept watch from high on a shelf. Midge looked up suddenly when Watson spoke from the doorway, she looked back to her dolls then back to the doctor, "They're there," she whispered and shivered.

Watson frowned and went into the room so that he could crouch down next to her, "You won't see them; the police just have a few questions they want to ask so they can help you and your mom."

Midge brought one of her dolls close to her chest and stroked its hair, "They won't hurt me?" she questioned.

Watson went to the bed and sat on its edge, "They won't even know you're there," he smiled for her sake.

"Will the police send me away, to live with someone else?" she pushed herself to her feet and stood a foot away from the doctor, her hands clasped tightly behind her back.

Watson's smile fell and a thoughtful look entered onto his face, "I'm not sure, but they will do what's right for you, that's for sure."

Midge chewed her lip and began to rock on her feet as she looked down at the floor, "I want to stay here, with you and Mr. Holmes, mommy said she trusted you to keep me safe, she said I should trust you, I do trust you, I don't want to go anywhere," she then began to wail.

Watson flinched, unprepared for the sudden outburst. Holmes soon appeared in the doorway, "Watson, what have you done?"

Watson glared at Holmes, "She's scared of going to the police station, she thinks they'll send her away," Watson then moved from the bed to the floor, kneeling he drew Midge into a hug where she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and sobbed into his collar.

"They might," Holmes said in an aloof manner and leaned against the door watching Watson rub the little girl's back in a soothing manner.

"Holmes," Watson hissed in a warning and Midge clung to him tighter and wrapped her feet around his torso as he stood; wobbly.

Holmes reached out and steadied the doctor, "We can't take care of a little girl, Watson; we can barely take care of ourselves and a dog."

"Speak for yourself, Holmes," Watson retorted and bounced Midge in his arms as he whispered to her. Colonel Wordsworth was now on his shoulder making small noises into Midge's ear.

Holmes scoffed and tilted his head as he took in the sight of Watson comforting the little girl, some tiny part of his heart was warmed by the sight and a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Watson noticed the small struggle on Holmes' face and smiled himself. He ran his hand through Midge's hair as she began to hiccup and cough. Holmes noticed the triumphant look on Watson's face and turned on his heel to go into his study. Watson watched him disappear and then the noise of his plucking soon wafted into the room where he stood with Midge.

Midge pushed herself away from Watson's shoulder, sniffling and pushed her masses of auburn hair from her wet and sticky face, "I'll go, I want to be strong for mommy."

Watson smiled and kissed her temple, "That's a good girl," he soothed and set her back on her feet, Colonel Wordsworth jumped onto her shoulder.

Watson drew his handkerchief and knelt so that he could clean Midge's face for her. He wiped away her tears and held the hanky to her nose so that she could clear it. Colonel Wordsworth bounced to the bed and grabbed the blankie Midge slept with last night and rubbed it over his own face, mimicking what Watson was doing to Midge.

"Thank you Mr. Watson," she smiled and hiccupped once more.

"You don't have to call me Mr. Watson, Watson or John is just fine."

Midge smiled and nodded, "Okay, Watson," she giggled as she said it.

Watson smiled too and pushed himself to his feet, he held his hand out for her, "Shall we?" he asked.

Midge huffed up her chest and nodded, she took his hand and they began walking out the door, but once they got to the hallway she stopped and tugged him in the direction of Holmes' study, "Mr. Holmes needs to come too," she demanded.

Watson sighed and allowed Midge to pull him towards Holmes, "He won't come; he's quite busy at the moment."

Midge kept pulling until they got to the closed door. Midge dropped Watson's hand and opened the door, "Mr. Holmes," she called into the dim room, though it was noon and a clear day outside.

Holmes kept plucking, pretending he didn't hear the little girl. Watson sighed; he hadn't wanted this to take all day. He followed Midge into the room and threw open a curtain for some light. Holmes yelped and dropped his violin.

"Bloody hell man, be gentle," Holmes scolded as he bent to retrieve his violin. He jumped when he noticed Midge standing next to his chair, her tiny hands holding his armrest as she looked up at him.

"Mr. Holmes, will you come with us?" she pleaded.

Holmes furrowed his brows and tried to pluck at his violin, but the tapping of Watson's foot cut off any concentration he had. He sighed heavily as he put the violin on his desk.

"Please?" Midge asked in a sweet voice and pushed herself onto her tip-toes.

"Oh just come along Holmes, who knows, maybe you'll find the break you've been searching for."

Holmes frowned, and pushed himself from his chair, "Alright," he conceded as he glared at Watson.

Midge smiled and clamped her hand around his large and calloused one, Holmes flinched, not used to the contact and Watson smirked. Midge then held out her other hand, her eyes beseeching Watson to take hold of her also. Once Watson secured his hand around hers she smiled, feeling stronger.


The threesome stood before the police station, held back by Midge who didn't want to go in. She stared up at the building feeling like it was going to swallow her.

"Come now, this isn't the time to feel weak," Holmes said as he tugged on her to follow him up the steps.

"No!" she yelled and forcefully pulled him back a step.

Holmes shot her a look, but it softened upon seeing the tears in her eyes, "Come now Midge, they just have a few questions for you."

"No," she said again, this time a bit quieter.

Watson squeezed her hand lightly in his own and knelt down to her, "Midge, what do you think your mother would have wanted you to do?"

Midge sniffed and looked up at the station, which wasn't that big, but when you're as small as she is, everything is intimidating. Midge gulped and pondered her options while Watson got back to his feet.

"We'll draw a crowd soon," Holmes said under his breath as he looked out through the brim of his hat.

Watson sighed and shifted his weight, "We must go inside, Midge," he tried once more.

After a few silent moments, Midge finally nodded, "Okay, I'm ready now," she took a deep breath and just to prove she was ready she took a step forward.

Holmes and Watson smiled as they led the little girl up the steps and into the police station.

"Mr. Holmes and Dr. Watson, what brings ye down to these neck of the woods?" the man behind the front desk asked with a toothy grin.

"Lestrade wanted to speak with a witness," Holmes said coolly.

The man behind the counter raised a brow, "Oh? And where is this witness?"

Watson bent and picked Midge up, "Right here," he said and placed Midge on his hip.

Midge wrapped her hands around his neck and buried her face in his collar so that she didn't have to look at the man.

"Right, follow me then," the man stepped out from behind the desk and led the doctor and detective into an interrogation room, "I'll fetch him for you lads and lass."

Watson and Holmes nodded. Watson sat and placed Midge in a chair next to him; her forehead barely peeked over the table so he picked her up and placed her in his lap. He poured them a glass of water and Midge picked hers up immediately and began to drink noisily.
Holmes paced in the small room waiting impatiently for Lestrade.

The door suddenly opened causing Midge to spill some of her water on her dress as she jumped.

"My apologies," Lestrade said as he noticed the startled look on the girl's face and his cheeks reddened lightly. He took a seat opposite Watson and Midge.

Midge shook in Watson's grasp and her lips trembled as she kept herself from crying.

"Hello young lass, I'm inspector Lestrade, what's your name?"

Midge looked up at Watson, who nodded for her to talk; she looked back at Lestrade, a sudden serious look on her face, "Are you as good a detective as Mr. Holmes?"

Lestrade turned red and stammered opening and closing his mouth, trying to form a response.

Holmes stopped his pacing and looked at Lestrade, waiting to see what he would say.

"Well I, why yes I am," he answered finally gaining his composure.

Midge tilted her head to the side, "That's not what my mama and Aunty Rin would say."

Lestrade looked furious and his face turned a fierce shade of red and he glared daggers at Holmes who was now standing behind Watson and Midge, a smug look on his face. "Well we're not here to discuss your mother, God rest her soul, or your aunt. I'd like to know what happened the other night and why those men had you."

Watson didn't approve of the forward questioning, but he kept his mouth shut and waited for Midge to answer. Midge shifted her weight on Watson's legs as she looked across the table to Lestrade. She blinked a few times before she finally opened her mouth, "Mama got in trouble and they took me."

"What was she in trouble for?"

Midge shrugged, "She had something those men wanted, something shiny, but she wouldn't give it to them when they asked for it. They got her and then I didn't run fast enough and they tied me and Lionel up."

Lestrade raised a brow, "Lionel?"

Holmes grunted as he began to pace again.

"Lionel is her stuffed toy lion," Watson supplied.

Lestrade nodded, "And did you hear what the men wanted?"

Midge shook her head and kept her mouth shut tight to keep from crying as old memories surfaced, "They didn't talk when they took me to the house."

Lestrade nodded then looked up to Holmes, "Mrs. Jennings hired you to find a diamond, and I gather these men are after the same thing?"

"Not much gets by you, does it?" Holmes said back.

Lestrade reddened at the remark, "We can put Midge into protective custody if you'd like, doctor."

Watson's brows furrowed at the thought and Midge stiffened in his lap, "No, that is quite alright Lestrade, Mrs. Jennings trusted us to look after Midge and so we will do so."

"She might be safer in—right, no, didn't think so," Holmes let out in a groan as he read the pointed look shot his way from Watson.

"You gentlemen are aware that people will talk when they see two bachelors with a small child," Lestrade coughed uncomfortably as he spoke.

Holmes raised a brow, "Oh, and what will they say, inspector?"

"It's not proper," Lestrade shot out, having become quite fed up with Holmes and his condescending manner.

"Mrs. Hudson will be around; Midge will stay with us until family comes for her, like her aunt." Watson tried to sound reasonable, but he knew the stigmas society would place on he and Holmes if they were to ever find out they were harboring a child, though they deserved these stigmas, Midge did not.

Lestrade nodded and gathered his notes, "God's speed with the case then," he tipped his head in their direction as he left the room.

Watson and Midge both seemed to relax when the inspector left the room, "Well, let's get home then, this mystery won't unravel itself," Holmes muttered as he led the way from the small room.

Watson lifted Midge and they followed after the detective.


Later that evening Watson sat on the edge of Midge's bed while she got settled, "Will you be able to sleep alone tonight?"

Midge wiggled on the mattress some more as she settled herself then looked to Watson, "I'm not alone, Lionel and Colonel Wordsworth are watching over me."

Watson nodded, "Ah, and since we are on the topic, where did Colonel Wordsworth come from?"

Midge grinned as her mind traveled back to the day her mother arrived home with a rather noisy package. "Mama brought him home one evening. She said he could be my friend since I hadn't any. She was very busy trying to earn money so she wasn't home very often. Aunty Rin would babysit me sometimes, but Colonel Wordsworth was always there. He's my best friend, he listens to anything I tell him and he doesn't tell a soul."

Watson smiled and nodded, so Holmes was right—of course he was right, "How did you name him?"

Midge smiled, "Easy, Colonel because, to me, Colonel Wordsworth is a very important person and Wordsworth because he was mama's favorite poet. Do you know William Wordsworth?"

Watson nodded, "I do. He was a talented poet."

Midge nodded, "My favorite poem is 'I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud,' I have it memorized, mama used to say it all the time."

Watson smiled fondly, "You've got the entire poem memorized?" he asked in a skeptical tone.

"Oh, I would like to hear you recite it," Holmes said as he suddenly materialized in the doorway.

Midge craned her neck around Watson so that she could see Holmes standing in her doorway, "Okay," she said easily enough and pushed herself into a sitting position.

Holmes entered the room and sat on the chair in the corner, his head cocked as he studied her.

Midge cleared her throat and closed her eyes as she recited the entire poem by heart,

"I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed---and gazed---but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils."

Holmes clapped, thoroughly impressed by the recital of the poem by Midge, "Bravo young lady, that was quite nice," he grinned slightly.

Watson clapped enthusiastically and kissed her lightly on her temple, "Very well done Midge, you've got a mind in you, we best not waste it."

Midge's eyes twinkled, "Do you mean I can go to school?"

Watson nodded, "Of course darling, you should be in school."

Midge smiled widely and turned to Colonel Wordsworth, "You hear that Colonel, I actually get to go to school," she clapped once and squirmed under the sheets.

Watson shushed her as he tucked her in, "No more excitement for the night, time to get some rest."

Midge yawned and nodded, she then turned to glance at Holmes, who was currently staring at Lionel, "Mr. Holmes, could you check the closet for monsters?"

Holmes moved his eyes from the lion to the girl and he raised a brow, "Monsters don't exist; now get to sleep."

He pushed himself from the chair and went out her door and to him and Watson's room. Watson scowled at Holmes' retreating back then turned back to Midge before he blew out the candle, "You alright love?" he asked.

Midge smiled sadly at him, "He doesn't like me," she admitted and plucked at Lionel's mane.

Watson sighed, "He's difficult, but give him some time," Watson patted her head as he blew out the candle and tucked her in one last time before leaving her room.


"She thinks you hate her, you know," Watson said as he loosened his collar and unbuttoned his waistcoat.

"I don't, I hate her bloody monkey," Holmes shuddered at the thought of the beast.

Watson smirked and went over to the detective and took over unbuttoning his shirt, "Maybe you should try and be nice to her."

Holmes scowled, "I'm trying to solve a case Watson, not playing babysitter."

Watson finished unbuttoning the detective's shirt and pushed it to the floor as he leaned in a kiss Holmes firmly on the lips. Holmes responded fiercely and in a hurry removed Watson's waistcoat and shirt, needing to feel the doctor's skin under his sensitive fingers. Watson was the first to pull away from the kiss and trailed his lips down to Holmes' neck where he nipped the detective in a playful manner. Holmes moaned deep in his throat and pushed Watson onto the bed.

"Watson, it worries me, you shouldn't get too attached to Midge; she won't be with us forever," Holmes sighed as he ran a hand through the doctor's hair.

Watson closed his eyes and moved his head into Holmes' touch, "I know," he whispered and brought his lips up to meet Holmes' in a light kiss.

Holmes nodded and trailed kisses down Watson's torso to his hips where he removed Watson pants. Watson moaned low in his throat as Holmes took him skillfully into his mouth; Watson soon writhed beneath the detective feeling his release coming on hard and fast.

"Holmes," he hissed in a warning as his fingers dug into the detective's scalp.

Holmes smirked and brought his lips back up to Watson's. Watson used the distraction to reverse their positions so now Watson was on top of Holmes. Holmes smiled like the Cheshire cat and sighed as Watson assaulted his body with his lips and tongue. Soon Watson freed Holmes of his trousers and began to stroke the erect member that was hidden in the pants. Holmes growled as he arched his hips into Watson's touch. Soon Watson's mouth took the place of his hand and Holmes began to writhe more.

"Watson, I fear that if you keep at it you'll be sorely disappointed," Holmes said between clenched teeth.

Watson grinned around Holmes member and it popped from his mouth. Watson brought his lips up to Holmes as he reached for the oil next to the bed. Not breaking the kiss Watson liberally oiled his itching member and slid into Holmes at an agonizing slow pace. Holmes broke the kiss with a growl and tried to speed up the process by moving his hips trying to get Watson to go in and out faster. Watson smirked and pecked at Holmes while he slid in and out. Holmes reached between them and began to stroke himself. After a few blissful moments Watson came first, emptying into Holmes, and in the following seconds Holmes came too.

"Delightful," Holmes sighed and pushed him to a sitting position to clean him off.

Watson dropped down next to him, drenched in sweat and breathing heavily, he looked over at Holmes with a drunken smile, "You look gorgeous," he joked and sighed as Holmes settled in next to him.

Holmes smirked, "Watson, I think I may have solved the case."

Watson raised a brow and looked over at the detective, "Oh?"

Holmes nodded and put his hands under his head, Watson knew he wouldn't be getting any answers tonight so he turned onto his side and drifted slowly off into sleep.


A/N: So? How have those that are actually reading this liking it? I hope this chapter was good, because the next one will be short and sad, then the next one will contain a twist! Stick around and please, please, please review and let me know how this is going!!