Author's note: Cassandra leans that not even Holmes is perfect. I only own Cassandra, everyone else belongs to Doyle. Please click the review button!
The first time she had caught him with the syringe she had only just turned five. He thought he was alone and had just finished work for a very impudent client who turned out be a blackmailer trying to trick him into getting his help. When the rush of the case had ended, he was only filled with dread due to the quick boredom. The child was out with her friend Jess for the day at her house, she was supposed to be there. He did not expect her home until later.
He did not react quick enough to hide it when he heard her open the door. "Holmes?" She asked shocked as she stared at the needle.
He jumped and shoved the syringe back in it's case and in the desk drawer. "I thought you were gone for the day." He said locking it away quickly.
He did not understand the panic growing inside of him, she was only a child. Surely she would only brush it away and something else will catch her attention. But, he knew she was not a normal child who would have dismissed it quickly. She never would be a normal child.
"Jess' father returned. Wiggins thought it was best if I came back, he walked me home." She took a step foreword. "Holmes, what are you doing? Why…" She stopped and took a deep breath, gaining courage. "Why are you using that?"
He knew he could not lie to her. Not when she was looking at him with that deducting look in her eyes. He could never do that to her after he taught her to look at things in that manner. It would be denying the way he was teaching her to look at the world. Besides, it would be better to explain it to her now then when she was older.
"Come here, Cass." He said gesturing to the messy desk.
She walked over with slow careful steps and stopped in front of him. "What are you doing with the needle?"
He sighed. "I...I am doing this because I am bored."
"But what is it, Holmes?"
"It cocaine, a drug." He explained. "Something that is not for little girls. Cassandra, what I did was...it is something I should not be doing"
"But, why do you use it?" Cassandra asked. "I do not understand if it is not good, then why do you use it?"
"It is not easy for me to explain it to you, child."
She stared at him for another moment before her glance moved to his bare arm. He followed her eyes and saw the red dot she was staring at, no doubt she was also looking at the older ones, learning it was from the same thing. She slowly reached her hand out and rested it on the fresher one, the newest.
"Does it hurt?" She asked touching the small bump lightly, before moving her hand back to her side.
He shook his head. "No, it does not." He cleared his throat as he decided to tell her the whole truth about it. "It can however have some negative effects."
"Negative effects?" The child asked looking at him questionably.
"Yes, it can eventually cause harm if I were to continue using it."
"I do not want you to be hurt." She finally said. "I...I am afraid you will be hurt."
"Cassandra, it is more likely to be hurt on a case then to be hurt by this."
"But I do not understand. If it is so bad for you, how can you use it? Why don't you stop?" She asked a very logical question.
He sighed. "It is because when you are given something that makes you feel something certain about it, you become addicted to it."
The child shook her head and folded her arms. "I do not like it, Holmes. It is a very bad habit."
"Yes, it is not a very good one." He admitted.
"But you will still use it, because you are addicted to it. You will not be able to stop using it, not matter what."
Ah, there was the accusation. Sherlock Holmes stared at the little girl as she stayed in her position. She was so very angry with him, but he noticed the small glisten in her eyes. To think he was the reason for her to be in tears of fear shocked the detective to the core. For a child so young to have such undying loyalty not only frightened him, but also touched him.
He opened his ams and allowed her to fold into his embrace. She tucked her head under his chin and tried to hide her tears from him. The child wanted to prove that she was older by not crying when things were not going the way she wanted. He knew she was angry with him by not stopping his habit and nothing would change her feelings for it.
Sherlock Holmes knew he could not change the child's mind once it was made up. She was very determined and stubborn little girl where not even he was able to change her mind, especially when it concerned him. However, he would not discourage it. Out of the mouths of babes, he thought warily, but he would see that her little voice would be heard in the world.