A/N: I hope you guys are liking my little story! Sorry for how slow it's starting out and sorry for the rather short chapters so far. I promise that it will pick up soon and the chapters should get longer once I get into actual plot stuff. Also...

Thank you to Guest for the lovely review and well... Here's an update for you!

And thank you to deschperado! I'm glad you are enjoying the story.

Chapter Three

Sherlock had said nothing in response to John's seemingly horrified expression. He had simply given a small nod and then taken the papers from John's grasp. He had then tucked them away inside the drawer, slamming it with a bit more force than necessary. The desk had shook with the force of the drawer being shut and it seemed to John that Sherlock's shoulders were shaking slightly as well. The detective had then turned, given a small nod in John's direction, and stalked towards his room.

"Does she know?" John's quietly spoken question stops the detective in his tracks. "Does she know anything about this?"

Sherlock looks back at John with a fierce gaze. He stares at the doctor with anger burning behind his eyes as he gives a quick response. "No. And she won't ever know."

"You must tell her eventually. She doesn't deserve to have this sort of thing hidden from her." John looks at the detective with an incredulous expression. He shakes his head as he continues. "It's her history too, Sherlock. It might have been traumatizing for you, but she deserves to know."

"I was not traumatized. And I don't believe that I asked for your parenting advice." Sherlock snaps at John before turning and entering his room.

Sherlock sits down next to Kaley as he enters the room, watching her as she shifts in her sleep. The girl lets out a light cough as she rolls onto her side, her dark hair splayed out around her head. Sherlock rests a hand on top of her head and begins smoothing down the stray hairs on her forehead. He leans down as he hears her mumbling something, the corners of her mouth quirking as he hears her muttering the results of her experiment.

"Emotional connection to color?" Sherlock quirks an eyebrow, picking up the dyed ends of her hair. "Interesting tactic."

"Thought you would like it." Kaley blinks up at Sherlock, her almost crystal clear eyes locking onto her father's face. She sniffles slightly before attempting to sit up. "Did I get sick?"

"Of course you did." He helps her sit up, letting her rest against his chest. "You were out in the rain at six in the morning."

"Just following in my father's footsteps." Kaley yawns, blinking her eyes slowly. She then shakes her head and curls up against Sherlock.

"Your father isn't a very good example to follow." Sherlock rests his chin on top of her head. "He's not exactly accepted in society as normal. Now, it's seven. Get some sleep, or whatever normal people do at seven in the morning."

Kaley gives a slow nod, tucking her head into Sherlock's chest. She yawns again and then stays silent, letting Sherlock rock her slightly. A small smile pulls at the corner of her mouth as she feels Sherlock begin to card a hand through her hair and she slowly drifts off to sleep.

John sits in his armchair, reading over the newspaper that he had so rudely been interrupted from earlier. He skims the article on the cover, only to stop as a familiar name pops out. He goes back and reads the article again. He shakes his head and reads it again slowly. The title of the article sits boldly at the top of the page.

"Katarina Newton Escapes With Five Years Left On Sentence"

"Sherlock!" John calls the detective with a panicked tone. When he doesn't get a response, he jumps from the chair and rushes down the hall. He pushes open the door to the detective's room with another shout of his name. "Sherlock."

The detective doesn't respond and John quickly sees why. Sherlock had fallen asleep with Kaley resting against him. One hand is wrapped tightly around her and the other is hanging limply at his side. John smirks slightly as he walks up to Sherlock and taps him on the shoulder. The detective wakes with a start, jostling the fifteen-year-old into the land of the living.

Kaley shoots Sherlock a glare as she nestles her head back against Sherlock's chest. She then squeezes her eyes shut, twisting her fingers in the fabric of his shirt. Sherlock looks over at John, one eyebrow raised in question.

"What gave you the illusion that you should come and wake Kaley with your shouting?"

"I think you ought to see this." John gives a small nod as he hands Sherlock the newspaper. He watches for Sherlock's reaction, but the only thing that he can detect is a slight shift as Sherlock squeezes Kaley tightly.

Sherlock hands the paper back to John with a tight expression. He gives a curt nod, his eyebrows pulling together. He says nothing for a long while, simply hugging Kaley against him and rocking her slightly. The detective finally gives another short nod before looking in John's direction.

"That is a problem." Sherlock slowly steeples his hands beneath his chin and then gives a quick nod. "I'm sure the police are searching at this moment."

A knock at the door draws John's attention away from Sherlock and keeps him from giving a rather annoyed response. He shoots Sherlock a glare before turning and heading towards the main door. He walks down the stairs and then quickly pulls the door open.

"Good day." Detective Inspector Lestrade greets John as he steps into the foyer. "Is Sherlock here?"

"Yes, he's just up stairs. I can call him down for you."

"No, I have a feeling this might be a long meeting. It's about an escaped prisoner; Katarina Newton."

John pinches the bridge of his nose before giving a nod and leading the man upstairs. He gestures for him to sit down in the living room and then walks towards Sherlock's room. John pushes open the door and walks up to the detective who had moved from the bed.

"Lestrade says he has a case for you. About Katarina Newton."

Sherlock blinks slowly, his mouth twitching into a small frown. He stays silent as he walks past John and enters the living room. He takes a seat in his armchair and looks over at Lestrade.

"I thought I was clear when I expressed to you my wish to stay away from cases involving this woman."

"I know. And, normally, I wouldn't have bothered you with this, but we have reason to believe that she escaped for a very specific reason."

John sits down in his chair and interrupts Lestrade with a quick question. "And what exactly is that reason?"

"She's coming for you Sherlock."