A/N:- Warning: Heartbreak situation ahead

Chapter 6

Losing one

Mary pulls the car back onto the drive, her mood sombre. Beside her Sophia is in floods of tears. She glances in the rear view mirror to see Sherlock crying silently. 'Soph, please. This isn't helping.'

'I'm sorry, I took my eyes off him.' she weeps.

'And what if they had taken Sherlock because you had run off looking for John? What then?' Mary asks her. She glances across at her younger sister and her heart melts. 'Come here.' Mary pulls Sophia into a hug and rubs her back. 'I'm not blaming you. It's a mistake anyone could make. You had two lively boys to keep an eye on. Calm down. I'll need your help with Shock.' Mary pulls back and swipes her thumb across Sophia's cheek wiping the tears away. 'Go and distract Sherlock. I need to ring Greg again.' Sophia nods and climbs out of the car. She walks round and opens Sherlock's door. He raises his eyes to hers and lifts his arms. She quickly unbuckles him and gathers him into an embrace. Sherlock begins to cry louder. Mary leans forward onto the steering wheel and runs through who might want to take a little boy in her mind. Sophia soothes Sherlock as they head into the house. Mary watches them and as soon as the front door closes she lets her tears fall. She becomes so absorbed in her tears she doesn't notice Greg pull up side her car, or him walking around and opening her door. He pulls her into a hug soothing her and murmurs nonsense into her hair.

'Where's Sherlock?' he asks when she's calmed down significantly.

'With Sophia. Inside.'

'How is he?'

'Distressed, upset, wants John. He needs John.' Mary mutters into his chest. She lifts her head. 'Does Mycroft know?'

'Yes, he's running though all the CCTV footage personally. Come on inside. I think we all need a cup of tea.' He pulls Mary out of the car and helps her into the house. They immediately head into the sitting room and Sherlock runs over to attach himself to Greg's legs.

'I'll make that cuppa.' Greg detangles himself from the three year old and lifts him into his arms.

'Hey, how are you?' he wipes the tears away from Sherlock's eyes.

'Want Don.' Fresh tears well up.

'We're looking for him. Okay?' Sherlock nods. Greg reaches for the lighter of the two teddies. 'Look after John's teddy for him yeah?' Sherlock clutches the teddy to his chest. Greg sits on the sofa. And positions Sherlock on his lap. 'Are you reading the great mouse detective?' Sherlock shakes his head.

'Don is.'

'And you were.' Sophia says sitting next to Greg. Sherlock shifts so he lies across both of them, head in Greg's lap and feet in Sophia's. He clutches John's teddy. Greg strokes Sherlock's hair soothingly. After a couple of minutes he falls into an exhausted sleep. Greg fixes his eyes on Sherlock's now vulnerable and innocent expression.

'Don't you blame yourself, Sophia Rose Morstan. This type of person will go to any length to get what they want. It isn't your fault.'

'Still feel like it.' She murmurs. Greg puts his arm around her making her rest her head on his shoulder. Mary walks in carrying two teacups. Greg unwinds his arm from Sophia's shoulders and accepts his. Sophia straightens and takes hers. Mary disappears to get hers and an orange juice for Sherlock.

'For when he wakes up.' she places the juice box on the arm of the sofa next to Greg and sits next to her sister.

'What happens now?'

'We wait.'

'That it?'

'We wait.' Greg reiterates. 'We wait and entertain Sherlock.'

Twenty minutes later, Sherlock begins to stir. He rolls onto his side almost falling off their laps. Greg catches and hoists him into sitting position with the toddler's head against Greg's chest. 'Do you want some orange juice Sherlock?' he nods. Greg retrieves the orange box and pierces the foil with the straw. He holds it front of Sherlock. The toddler's tiny hands take hold and he begins to drink. Suddenly the doorbell goes and Sherlock stops drinking. 'Keep drinking.' Greg encourages 'John would want you to keep drinking.' Sherlock nods solemnly and resumes. Mary rises and answers it returning with Mycroft in tow. Sherlock stops drinking and reaches for his brother. Mycroft takes him hold the boy to his chest. Sherlock buries his face in Mycroft's shoulder. Mycroft rocks him gently, stopping the tears before they can fall with a few whispered words.

'Left hand jacket pocket.' Mycroft mouths to Greg. He nods and reaches into the pocket feeling Mycroft's phone. The two women peer over Greg's shoulder as he looks at the picture. Greg stares at the face.

'That's-'

'Henry Watson. Yes.'

'Who?' Sophia asks.

'John's father, they hate each other not surprising after Henry kicked John out after he signed up for the army.' Greg tells her.

'That's horrible.'

'It gets worse.' Mycroft says from the floor still stroking the raven-curls of the toddler. 'John has an older brother by about ten, eleven years. The brother walked out on the family after an argument on John's sixth birthday.'

'Mycwoft.' Sherlock whispers. 'Where's Don?' Greg closes his eyes

'Address?'

'Not one on record since five years ago.'

'Nothing?'

'Nothing.'

'What about Harry?'

'Harry?'

'Harriet, John's sister.' Mary tells her sister.

'Flat 12, John Riley House, Wager Street.' Greg says standing up. 'She'll know where her father is.' Sherlock peers up at Greg. He lets go of Mycroft and clings to him instead. Greg gently detaches the toddler from his legs and squats in front of him. 'I'm going to try and find John.'

'No.' Sherlock wails. 'Pwease.' His chin starts to wobble.

'Hey, I need you to be brave and help look after your Auntie Mary and Auntie Sophie. I'm sure Mycroft will stay and help you.'

'Course I will.'

'Find Don?'

'I will Shock. I'll find John.' Greg kisses the mop of raven curls, stands and exits the house. Sherlock runs to the window and tries to climb up onto the windowsill. Sophie rises and scoops him up just as Greg closes the front door. Sherlock waves out at Greg and Greg waves back with false cheer. Sherlock leans back into Sophia's chest and watches as Greg backs out onto the road. Greg waves for a last time and Sherlock waves the car out of sight. Sophia lifts Sherlock off the windowsill and places him back onto the carpet.

'Can you pass the blocks by your elbow?' She asks Mycroft. He complies and lays them out in front of the toddler.

'What words can you spell Shocky?' Sophia asks him. Sherlock reaches for a couple of the blocks reluctantly but spells out "Mycof" The three adults giggle. Mycroft finds an r and a t and slips them in the right places. They play the game while they wait for Greg to return.