Chapter: 9

Sherlock's head was riddled with curiosity. What could possibly posses his own daughter to be involved in a murder case? A murder case that seemed to be revolving around him. What does she want? What is she aiming for? All Sherlock knew was that she was in some way involved in this. Maybe she was sent by someone. Perhaps she was just acting to get close to Sherlock, but why? Sherlock decided he'd have to fight fire with fire and beat her at her own game. It was the only way to solve this puzzle.

During the past hour Sherlock had been texting and John had been booking tickets. They'd planned it down to the very last detail. Oh how Sherlock loved been a step ahead in the game, his eyes we're already filled with a lust for action. Then both John and Sherlock heard the light footsteps of Melanie tiptoeing down stairs.

John couldn't help but crack a smile. He knew he was only out witting a twelve year old, and that thought seemed petty, but then his expression burned with pride when he remembered that the blood of a Holmes ran through her veins.

"Remember John treat her as if nothings happened, we don't know how she's involved yet" said Sherlock quietly. John simply nodded as Melanie wondered into the room and sat down on a near by chair.

"So any luck?" she asked.

"No" said Sherlock not bothering to look at her. "I think to truly solve this, we will need to carry on our investigation in France".

"We're going to France"?

"Paris to be exact" John answered, his eyes not leaving the computer screen as he was still tapping on the key board.

"Yes, and I've consulted Mycroft. He's taken the liberty in enrolling you into the international school of Paris" Sherlock informed holding his head high.

"Why are you sending me to school?" Melanie asked. And to think all was going so well.

"Melanie we can't possibly leave you here on your own we don't know how long it will take us to solve the case. And seeing as your twelve years old you may as well carry on your education somewhere close to us where we know you're safe" Sherlock finished with a smirk.

"But can't I just come on the case with you?" Melanie asked hopefully.

"Don't be ridiculous. you're a child, you're not old enough to investigate something like this, it's not safe".

"Since when did you care about safe?" Melanie shouted. Now this was really irritating her.

"Since my daughter showed up my doorstep. You will do as your told Melanie!" He shouted, and the room fell silent.

Melanie sneered, and gazed daggers at her father she'd been warned about his annoying sense of authority. He must have an audacious nerve to think he has even an ounce of power of her, well she wasn't going to be painted out the picture that easily.

"And what if I don't?" She asked, her teeth grinding together and crossing her arms.

"Then you're grounded" Said John firmly.

"fine!" Melanie shouted and with that she stormed out of the room and back upstairs.

Sherlock turned to John, his expression blank.

"John she'd already grounded what are you talking about?" looking up and down at John seeming quite offended.

"What do you mean she's already grounded?" John asked raising one eyebrow.

"Well considering both her feet were firmly planted of the floor, yes I'd say she was definitely grounded".

John chuckled to him self as a wave of pride washed over him. He knew something Sherlock didn't.

"Grounded, is a term parents or carers use to punish their children. It involves taking away certain privileges such as, watching TV, or going out with friends, maybe taking away their freedom. But only for a set amount of time say a week. Depending on what they've done" John smiled to himself, he was quite proud of his explanation.

"Oh I see...Brilliant" Sherlock replied. He quite liked the sound of this parental lark.

Two days had passed since Melanie had stepped foot into 221b Baker street and besides the trip to Bart's, she hadn't put another foot out. She spent most of her time in John's room, sometimes popping down stairs for the occasional cup of tea and on one occasion, food. That was when John went to the shop to buy edible things. Things that weren't acidic, moving and/or purple.

It was Friday today and exactly a week and three days until they left for France. Melanie was sat at the table playing with Sherlock's laboratory equipment and seemed to be taking great interest in the outcome of mixing certain acids and solvents together. She was waiting for John to finish making tea so she could go back upstairs and carry on pondering the corners of her developing intellect.

"I'm going out won't be long" called Sherlock as he tightened his blue scarf round his neck.

"where?" John asked walking out of the kitchen becoming suspicious. Sherlock was never "not long" and he would certainly never specify how long he was ever going to be when he did go out.

"Shopping" he replied hastily.

John couldn't help but let out a little titter. He couldn't ever picture Sherlock pursuing daily tasks, it was like trying to picture a dog walking on it's two hind legs.

"for France" he specified hoping that it would put an end to the patronizing giggles. And it did. Johns amusement turned to curiosity.

"You already have everything you need".

"It's not for me" Sherlock sighed, his eyes glancing in the direction of his daughter.

And so John's amusement was back mixed with a little surprise. "So you're going shopping to buy things for Melanie?, Why?"

"Because John, by leaving her with nothing to wear she will resort to using other things such as your jumpers or even worse my blazers" Sherlock sneered. "Besides Mycroft gave me a list so it shouldn't be to difficult and while I'm gone keep and eye on that" he whispered harshly pointing a finger in the direction of Melanie.

John merely smirked and wondered back into the kitchen leaving the public to deal with Sherlock's antics for once.

The tea had been made and John set the cup down in front of Melanie. She set down the test tubes and was just about to pick up her tea and leave when John hastily stopped her.

"Wait a minute" he called as he set his tea down on the table and took a seat across from Melanie.

She stopped in her tracks and sat back down.

"I'd quite like the talk to you about a few things after all you have just popped up from out of the blue and with you being of such close relation to Sherlock I think it would be best if we actually got to know each other".

Melanie frowned a little, she looked slightly protective over herself. "OK then".

"So you seemed unhappy that we were sending you to school I thought a girl like you would enjoy school".

"Well I do...sometimes. Depending on the teacher and the subject. Biology and chemistry are my favourites right now, but they'll be angry at my when I go back"

"Go back?" John asked. Now John didn't need to be a high functioning sociopathic detective to figure this one out. "So you're already enrolled in that school and you didn't tell them you were going some were. I'm sure we can explain to them" John reasoned.

"They already hate me enough there. Things have gotten a little out of hand lately" she smirked.

"Care to tell me what happened?"

"It's a long story".

"I've got time".