Jim, Seb , Sherlock and John all arrived at the same time, I assumed that they'd had a talk in the car park and had agreed not to kill each other in the office. I stole a quick glance at Hamish to gauge his reaction to seeing our dads in the same place.

I stood up as John and Sherlock came over to me and hugged John. I pulled away and sat back down.

I made gagging sounds and looked to Seb, he looked so proud of me, I grinned at him and he grinned back, Jim looked thoroughly bored by the whole affair, not too angry…yet…

I noticed that Sherlock seemed impatient, probably nearly solved the case he was working on. John was trying to check my nose was ok. Normally I'd wave him off but right now I wanted some fuss.

Seb and Jim didn't seem too worried about me, which I suppose was usual. Seb usually cared for me a bit more than Jim but seeing as there was no blood other than Hamish's on me they had both assumed I was OK, I wasn't about to start crying for attention. Mr Fladnag, the headteacher started to talk, I could see Jim switch off so I did too. Couldn't be anything that important.

I was too wrapped up in my own thoughts to notice what Mr Fladnag was saying.

When he had FINALLY finished Jim stood up, "Thank you for your timeMr Fladnag, we'll take Layla home now. Come on Sebastian, Layla." Me and Seb stood up and we all walked out of the office together.

John quickly said, "We'll take Hamish home, if he's not in tomorrow it's because of his nose. Thank you." Me, Sherlock and John all left the office in a line.

We stopped at the far side of the car park, I looked to Jim, "Dad?" "Yes, Layla," "Why have we stopped?" "We are having a little talk with Sherlock and Dr Watson." Seb shook his head and said, "Please no Jim…" Layla shook her head at Seb, "Let 'im dad…."

Hamish followed Sherlock and John into the car park where they stopped, "Dad, do we have to do this?" "Yes." Sherlock said simply, stepping closer to Jim, "Leave my son alone Jim."

"Who knew you could care so much." Jim said.

"He's my son! Of course I care!"

"And Layla is my daughter, so I'd suggest you make sure your son is to stay away from her otherwise there will be concequences."

"I wouldn't want to go near 'im!" I shouted. "Layla…" Jim warned. I shut my mouth swiftly.

"You seemed perfectly fine origanlly…" I muttered. Jim glared at me.

Seb frowned at me and I chewed my lip mouthing, "I'll explain when Jim's not here…"

John put his arm around me. "Maybe this should be saved for another time…"

"NO!" Sherlock roared, "SHE BEAT UP OUR SON JOHN! OUR OWN SON! DO YOU NOT CARE AT ALL!?"

"Of course I care Sherlock but Hamish isn't comfortable with this. I'd rather just take him home." Sherlock glanced at me, then to Layla and then back to me. He nodded, before turning to Jim and saying, "This isn't over Moriarty. Not even close."

"I had no intention of this being over so quickly."

Sherlock sighed through his teeth and walked away, John and Hamish following. I looked to my dads and saw them exchange a glance, ooh this was going to be fun. Jim wordlessly got in the passenger side of the car and me and Seb got in to drive. I soundlessly got in the back.

"Are you going to explain Layla?"

"There's nothin' to explain." I said, "'e slapped me for callin' 'im gay so I thumped 'im in the nose." I shrugged, "End of story."

"It obviously isn't the end of the story. Either tell me now or let me find out for myself." I sighed, you couldn't win with this man, I decided to keep it minimal, I'd tell Seb the full story later.

"Before I found out 'e was Holmes' kid, I thought 'e seemed nice enough, easy to corrupt, so I befriended 'im…" Jim sighed.

"'m sorry! I didn't know, I couldn't 'ave known! I 'ave to 'ave friends!"

"Stay away from him Layla, this is none of your business, me and Sherlock."

"You 'ave to let me do something! 'e slapped me Jim! Nobody slaps me and gets away with it. Ain't that what you always taught me?"

"Yes but really Layla? You let teachers get involved and you created pathetic rumours!"

"I didn't mean for teachers to get involved, and rumours are the worst thing for a kid like Hammy –uh…Hamish… The other kids'll destroy 'im, I won't even need to 'elp."

"Good, I don't want you to help. You're to stay away and not get involved."

"But…" I looked to Seb for help. He shrugged at me and I sighed, shrinking back in the seat, at least Jim hadn't hit me like last time I made him angry.

John took me to the car and put me in the passenger seat and put himself in the back. Sherlock got in the front of the car and turned the engine on, leaving it up to John to do the talking. John looked at me,

"You OK, 'mish?" I nodded,

"I'm fine, dad."

"You sure?"

"No."

"W-what happened?"

"She said to the class I was gay…"

"But why? Why would she do that?"

"I don't know dad. Because she found out I'm your son, I suppose."

"Had you done anything else to anger her?"

"I shouted at her but I didn't start it."

"Why were you shouting?"

"She was my friend but as soon as she found out about me she hated me. She said she wanted to be my friend but she couldn't." John leaned over to hug me again and Sherlock grunted, almost in consolation. I smiled slightly.

"It'll be OK, 'mish. Don't let the bullies get to you, don't fight back" "Unless they're going to kill you." Sherlock added unhelpfully, "And most of all, stay away from Layla."

"I will dad… My nose still hurts." John went into doctor mode and started doing all sorts of medical tests on me, checking practically every bone in my body was ok. When he had worked out that my nose wasn't broken, nor were any bones in my body, only bruised, he gave me some painkillers.


P.S. If you get the Lord Of The Rings very subtle reference then you get free cookies and hugs from both of us and the Cumberlord. Let us know in da comments down here |

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