Chapter 3: Lestrade and the Yarders

John and William had a quiet evening. After Dinner and a bath (William loved the bath duck with the detective-hat they had received as a present from a client) a new problem made itself known. Where should they sleep? Mycroft had said William wouldn't want to sleep alone but John felt a bit uncomfortable to sleep in the same bed as Sherlock, child or not.

In the end he decided to use his bed. William laid down, pulled the cover up to his nose and waited for John to climb in next to him. "John will you tell me and Mr. Bee a good night story? Please." When an adorable three-year-old with a stuffed bee asked you something like that you could never say no.

John settled into bed. "I don't have a book that I could read to you but I could tell you one of the adventures my flat mate and I had." William nodded.

"Okay first I have to tell you something about him. He is a genius like you and your brother. But sometimes he does really stupid things. You know in a dangerous situations it's always better to stay together, right?" William and Mr. Bee nodded. "But he just ran after a bad man to catch him. He is a detective, my flat mate, but he left me behind. This case was a bit of a strange one. Someone stole birds from animal shelters, veterinary studios and food production facilities. No one could tell why the bad man was doing that. In the end we never found out, but back to the story. My flat mate ran away and when I found him he looked more like a chicken then a man. He was covered in something sticky and had been thrown into the bad man's collection of feathers. It looked really funny: a man-sized walking chicken. We needed a whole day and four bath sessions to get all of the feathers away from my flat mate. He smelled like a chicken for a week and I wasn't allowed to write about it in our blog." John looked back at William and was glad to see him sleeping, he only needed a voice to focus on to fall asleep.

For a moment John played with the thought to stand up and watch telly or read but he would be busy tomorrow and he was exhausted after only a few hours with a child. But little William was an easy child if you could ignore the fact that you couldn't even go to the toilet alone. He had to leave the door open. But his cuteness made you overlook and forget all the awkward things. John was proud of his growing collection of William pictures. He would save them somewhere to make sure Sherlock didn't delete them.

John stroked through William's hair before he closed his eyes. "Good night, William."


The first noise John heard was someone talking. He slowly opened his eyes as he heard a child's voice. "It's not nice to call early in the morning. You will wake up John." His brain needed another second to remember yesterday. Sitting up he found Sherlock, or better William, standing next to his nightstand with his phone in his hand, talking to whoever had called him.

"William, please give me the phone." William hadn't notice John waking up but he handed the phone over. "It's a man. He said his name is Lestrade and his sounds tired. You should tell him to sleep longer and call people later." John watched William and Mr. Bee walk around the bed and climb back into it. He turned his attention to the phone. "Yes Lestrade. What can I do for you?" With a look at the clock he saw that it wasn't that early, 7:36 am. Not too bad.

"John who was that on the phone? Why do you have a child with you?" Great. Of course Lestrade would notice.

"I'm watching a child for a week. What can I do for you?" John feared what would come and Lestrade confirmed it with his next words.

"I need you and Sherlock at the station. I need you two to do the paperwork you always ignore. And I need you today. I can't reach Sherlock and he would ignore it anyway but you will make him come." Lestrade sounded not only tired but also a bit angry. It was true: he and Sherlock ignored paperwork most times and when they did it, it was only because John pushed Sherlock to Scotland Yard.

"Sorry Greg but Sherlock won't be able to do any paper work or signing for at least a week." He looked down at William who was playing with Mr. Bee again.

"Why? What happened? Is he alright?" Great. Now he was worried.

"Don't panic, he is okay. Just one of his stupid experiments worked a bit too well for my liking." He smiled at William. It was nice to see his friend in a new light. He wondered what had happened to form that innocent and shy child into the person his flat mate was today.

"So he is okay? But I still need one of you to sign the paperwork. Can you come?" John knew he had to go.

"I will be there as soon as possible." He ended the phone call. "William." The child looked up. "Would you like some pancakes for breakfast? And after breakfast we have to visit a friend of mine. He needs something for his work. Would you like to come too?"

"Yes. Yes to both. Pancakes and going out." William climbed into John's lap. "Will you carry me downstairs? Mr. Bee needs someone to hold him so I have to do that and can't walk." Smiling John lifted both William and Mr. Bee and walked with them downstairs. Sherlock already knew as a child which buttons to push to get what he wanted.


Dressed in a coat that looked a bit like a small version of Sherlock's, William and John were on their way to Scotland Yard. Inside the cab were William and Mr. Bee, both busy looking out of the window and pointing at buildings, statues and people. He asked John about things and told him some others when he deduced something. William was already able to read people without knowing what he was doing.

As they arrived at the building and left the cab, William wanted to be carried again, which John gladly did. He liked carrying the small boy. He held tight with one of his hands on John's shoulder the other keeping his toy safe. William hadn't touched any of the other toys Mycroft had brought over. But as an answer when John had had asked, he received a 'was to be expected'.

In the lift William wanted to be let down again. "I'm big enough to walk on my own." John smiled proud as ever. William was trying hard which is all John could ask for. They walked hand in hand between the tables and John stopped in front of Lestrade's office. Through the window he could see the man on the phone and it didn't look like a pleasant call.

"William we have to wait a bit so Greg can end his phone call." The boy nodded and looked around the office. His eyes caught a head with lot of curly hair. Pulling John into the direction of that person, John recognized Donovan with her back to them.

"Do you want to talk to that woman? Her name is Sally Donovan." He asked William who nodded and pointed at her hair.

"She has hair like me. I want to touch it to see if it feels like mine. Strait hair feels different than curly hair and hers looks really curly." Sally wouldn't get the information that she was dealing with a small Sherlock.

"Hi Sally." John called her as they were only a meter behind her. She turned and expected to see not only John but also Sherlock. Her eyes lay immediately on the small boy holding John's hand and his stuffed animal.

"John, who is this child and where is the freak? Lestrade is talking to the chief, so don't interrupt him." Sometimes he hated her. How could she call Sherlock 'freak' and that in front of a child?

"First of all, I know Lestrade is on the phone; that is the reason why I'm not in his office but outside and waiting. Second, could you stop using words like that when a child is around? Or better never call him something like that again." John had to wrap his anger in cotton wool. He couldn't start a fight with a police officer in a police station when he had been entrusted to watch a child. Even if he was right. Sally must have felt his anger and saw no further reason to fight when Sherlock wasn't here.

"Alright but what's with the child?" She eyed William who was standing a bit behind his leg, just to be safe.

"I'm in charge of him for a week and he has a question for you, isn't that right William?" William tightened his arm around Mr. Bee but stepped in front of John.

"Can I touch your hair? I want to feel if it feels like mine. It's curly but it looks different than mine. Please can I?" The cuteness was breathtaking. When Sherlock would be grown up again he would miss that. Sally was shocked for a second but smiled and kneeled down next to William.

"Of course you can." She turned a bit to the side so he could reach it better. Even Donovan has a soft spot for children.

"William you need to let go of my hand so you can touch it or should I take Mr. Bee for a second?" You could see the battle between both possibilities. Let go of John's hand in a room full of strangers or give away Mr. Bee for a second.

It would only be a second and it would be John who would be holding him; so it should be alright. "Can you hold Mr. Bee for a second John?" John took the bee and William started with shy touches to feel Sally's hair.

"It really is different." William looked amazed. "Miss Donovan's feels totally different from mine." Williams's finger tangled in her hair and John watched both of them. She was smiling and he was just curious and happy. As William was finished he stepped back and held out his hand for Mr. Bee. "Thank you Miss Donovan."

"You're welcome." Sally stood up again, William's eye wandering again through the room to find the next interesting thing. "Polite and cute. Where did you find him and are there more?" She meant it as a joke but John knew she was trying to make up for her misstep before. He wanted to answer her but in that second Lestrade's office door opened.

"John, I'm finished you can come in an …" Whatever Lestrade wanted to say it was lost as John and William walked over to him. It looked like he wanted to say something as both passed him but he waited until the office door was closed and all were seated. William in John's lap on the visitor chair and Lestrade behind his desk.

"Greg meet William." The boy and his stuffed animal sat still and were watching Lestrade with huge child's eyes. "William this is my friend Greg. The one you talked to on the phone this morning."

"Hello Greg. You shouldn't wake people with a call early in the morning. They might think something happened. Mr. Bee was sleeping and John was too." As he mentioned his toy he showed it to Lestrade to prove his point.

"I'm sorry William but I needed to see John today." To John's surprise the cop played the game with the living toy. "I'm sorry for waking you Mr. Bee. Would you and William like to draw me a picture so I can show it to everyone who comes to my office." William liked that idea. "In the corner by the sofa on the table there are a few crayons and paper." William climbed down from John's lap and started drawing in the corner. Once he was busy and no longer listening to the adults Lestrade started to talk.

"John what the hell. Why are you bring a child to the police station? Or better who is it and why does he look like a younger version of Sherlock? I knew him as a teenager; don't tell me he has a son." John started to laugh. He had wondered why no one else had seen it.

"No it's not Sherlock's son. It's Sherlock himself. You won't believe it but the idiot did an experiment on himself and will stay like that at least for a week. And guess who is taking care of him?" Lestrade's eyes opened wide, disbelieve and resignation showing on his face.

"Really, that's him?" John nodded; still smiling because he had in the meantime fully accepted his fate.

"Isn't he cute? He asked Donovan if he could touch her hair and she let him do it. When she finds out that the sweet little boy who was so polite was him. She will get really angry. But don't tell her. Mycroft and I decided not to tell everyone." He pulled out his phone out and took a picture of William drawing with his tongue between his lips and Mr. Bee sitting on the table. "But that doesn't stop me from collecting little pieces for later usage." Grinning he showed Lestrade the pictures with the jam, in the bath tub with the duck, William with his cute little pajamas and William cuddling Mr. Bee.

"John Watson you are an evil man. Send them to me, I will find use for them later. But back to the important things." Lestrade got up and picked up lots of papers. "John I need you to read these and then sign. I won't let you leave until it's done." John sighed although it was exactly what he had feared. So without further talking both men continued with their work.


"John. I need to go to the toilet." None of them had noticed William getting up from his place at the sofa but now the boy was standing next to him.

"Of course. I'll show you where it is." Both John and Lestrade stood up at the same time.

"I can take him and you finish your work." John looked uncertainly between Lestrade and William. He knew William was a bit too much fixated on him but at the same time he didn't want to lose the child's trust.

"Would that be alright with you William? I promise I won't leave and I'll wait for you even when I'm finished with my work." John had seen the look of fear in the child's eyes. With every word John spoke the look on William's face changed into something resembling 'feeling safe'.

"Yes Greg can bring me. But you have to watch Mr. Bee. He doesn't want you to be alone and I'm with Greg so he stays with you." John took the bee and placed it on the desk like William had done before.

"Thank you William; that is really nice of you. And thank you Mr. Bee for staying with me." Sherlock took Greg's hand and they left the office together.


Greg walked with William holding his hand between the other desks. William waved at Sally as they passed her. After they had a little stop by the toilet William was led by Lestrade to the cafeteria.

"That's not the way back to your office." Sherlock noticed immediately.

"I know but we need a bit of food and coffee to work further. John is nearly done but a cup of coffee does miracles sometimes. We could get you a juice." William needed a minute to answer as he was deep in his mind.

"With 'miracle' do you mean something like John's magic tea that taste nice for children?" Lestrade wasn't sure what magic tea was but he could imagine it with Sherlock having such a sweet tongue.

"It's more the feeling you get after drinking coffee. When you are tired you get a bit more energy and you are fully awake again and can concentrate on you work." He couldn't find a better way to explain caffeine to a child.

"Is John tired?" Oh no! Now he had started something. Answer Sherlock Holmes' thousand and one questions. Or in this case Little William.

"No not really tired but it's a boring job to read and sign all those papers and then a hot coffee is the right thing." 'Was that right? Don't ask more. You don't want to screw up you cuteness. Wrong thought, Greg.'

"Can I have coffee too?" Okay that was a question he could work with.

"No Sh...William that's something for adults only. You wouldn't be able to sleep tonight if you drink coffee." He had nearly called him Sherlock.

"But tea is something for adults too. And John made it taste nice for children. Why can't you make the coffee taste nice?" Good argument.

"Nope, sorry William. Coffee is different than tea. You can have a juice."

The rest of the walk to the cafeteria, buying coffee and juice and the way back were spent in silence. Sherlock or better William hadn't gotten what he wanted and wasn't happy about it but all the same he never for one second let go of Lestrade's hand.

Back in the office John was finished with the paper work and waiting for them with Mr. Bee on his lap. As soon as the door was open William ran to John and hugged him with the toy between them. John was surprised but laid his hand on William's curly hair and stroked it slowly.

"Did something happen?" He asked Lestrade.

"Not really, he wanted coffee and I tried to explain to him that it's nothing for children." While speaking he gave John his cup.

"William can you look up for a second?" William did and one of his hands closed around the bee's wing. "Greg is right. You shouldn't drink it. It might smell good but even my magic couldn't make it taste good for children."

"But I want to try it." There were a few tears in his eyes.

"Okay, here is the deal: you can taste it but only a tiny sip. Okay?" William nodded "And if you don't like it I would like you to say sorry to Greg. It's not good to always question the answers adults give you." William nodded again and took a really tiny sip from the cup John offered him. The way John drank it – black - was worse than the over sugared coffee Sherlock always drank.

"I'm sorry Greg. You are right: it doesn't taste nice." William took Mr. Bee and his juice and looked at John who understood that Sherlock wanted to be lifted up onto his lap. The boy busied himself with his bee again and drank his juice.

"He is really cute but a bit shy and how can he busy himself with that toy without getting bored?" Lestrade commented as he sat down again. He picked up the pictures William had drawn for him and asked: "William can I keep the pictures you have drawn?"

"Yes, I drew them for you. I wrote my name on it in the corner so you won't forget who made them for you." A proud William smiled at Lestrade.

"I think you two can go now. Don't want to take the whole day away from you and I think the little man in your lap needs his lunch." With a look on his watch John saw that it was nearly noon.

"That's a good idea. When Sherlock is back I will make him come to see you. See you later." Sherlock waved Greg good bye as they left.

As they left the office William stopped to look around until he found Sally. "Bye Miss Donovan. It was nice to meet you." John smiled as they left a happy police officer. They had made her day.


Lestrade sat in his office and looked at one of the pictures given to him by little Sherlock. There was one of him and John in a cab, one with something that looked like Donovan's hair, another one with the title 'Uncle Mycroft' depicting Mycroft, an umbrella and a tea cup. One with John in the kitchen wearing something looking like a wizard's hat, one of Greg working and a collection of Mr. Bee portraits although the bee was also on all the other pictures.