Author's note: Sorry I haven't updated sooner, but I had a busy week. I really haven't gotten many reviews on the last chapter so I hope this one will. I just own Cassandra and any other character that is not from the series, while everything else belongs to Doyle. Reviews are needed in order for the story to continue while flames will be used to heat some experiment Holmes is working on.
"Secrets are made to be found out with time."
Charles Sanford
Chapter 9
It was about two weeks later, the day that Mycroft was to take me to the British Museum, when I woke up to the sound of a small explosion and Holmes cursing. The two things combined were never a good thing. I jumped out of bed and run into the sitting room. When I opened the door, grey smoke went into my face. I started coughing and my eyes strung.
"Bloody hell," Holmes swore as he shoved the window open. "The damnation of it!"
"Holmes?" I asked.
He turned around and faced me. "Not now, Cass." He said as he opened another window.
"What happened?" I asked.
"I needed to heat up the chemical to see the exact temperature for the thermodynamic stability. I didn't realize that the thermometer was broken." He explained. "So…"
"The chemical had a reaction and it busts the beaker and fell into a different substance, causing another reaction which exploded." I said.
Holmes leaned on the table and looked at me. "Yes, exactly," He said. "I'm impressed, Cass. I only told you about reactions just yesterday."
"I was right?"
"You were correct." I smiled at the praise. "At least the damage wasn't that bad. Mrs. Hudson won't hold it against me." He said.
I giggled as I thought of how she was going to react to this. "If you say so, Holmes."
"Thank you for your confidence in me, child." Holmes said with a roll of his eyes. "And as I remember, a brother of mine will be here upon the hour."
"I haven't forgotten." I said rushing out of the room.
I quickly changed and brushed my hair before walking back to the sitting room. Holmes was sitting at the table reading the newspaper and I sat down eating the breakfast Mrs. Hudson had laid out. Once I finished, there was a knock on the door and Mycroft walked inside.
I smiled and ran over to him eagerly. "Hello, Mycroft."
He chuckled. "Hello, Cassandra. I can tell that someone is excited about the small trip today."
"She has been looking foreword to it all week." Holmes commented. "Her excitement over it has become quite annoying."
I made a face at him. "Says the man that was excited over a dead man four days ago."
"Go get your coat, Cassandra." Holmes said with a small chuckle and a gentle push. "Scarf and gloves as well, it's colder out today."
As I came back, I caught a quiet, but very strict order from my mentor. "Keep her close to you."
"I understand perfectly. I will watch her and anyone else who is as well." I walked into the room and Mycroft smiled at me. "Are you ready to go?"
"Yes." I said nodding my head.
"Not like that you won't. Your scarf is not even on." Holmes said annoyed as he bent down and wrapped it around my neck.
Behind me, Mycroft was laughing lightly and Holmes gave him a glare. "It's hardy freezing, Sherlock. Surely you are a tad over protective?" Mycroft asked.
Holmes snorted. "Hardly the child is quick to become sick. Without her scarf she will have a cold in three days, shall I send her to you do deal with then?"
"Holmes," I said impatiently.
"Keep your gloves on." He reminded me as he stood. "And behave for Mycroft as well."
"I will."
"I need to get going as well." Holmes said snatching his coat from behind his chair.
"Where are you going?" I asked.
"I have to see a client and tell him that he is being blackmailed. Then I have to go to Scotland Yard, Inspector Hopkins wants to talk to me about something."
"What is it?" I asked.
"He didn't say. Just that I am to meet him at the Yard. I should be back later this afternoon." Holmes said. "I shouldn't be too late today. When I come back I can start teaching you how to play the violin."
"Really?" I asked excited. He chuckled as he nodded his head. I ran over to him and tightly hugged his waist. "Thank you!"
As Holmes returned the small embrace, out of the corner of my eye I noticed Mycroft's face softened at the scene. "Now, I need to go."
"Come along, Cassandra." Mycroft said.
The trip was wonderful. As Mycroft and I looked at the different exhibits, he would explain some of them to me. And ones that he didn't, he would led us to the newly built library and have me look it up in the catalog. My favorite was the Rosetta Stone, I was fascinated as Mycroft explained to me how it was translated. I believe it was then that I finally understood why Holmes thought it was so essential learning different languages.
The trip also was also strengthening the bond I was developing with the elder Holmes brother. We would talk about different things, some serious and some not so. We were both trying to learn more about each other, and the more I learned, the more I was beginning to like the older Holmes.
Finally, it was time to leave. It was raining hard when we walked out of the museum. Mycroft had just stopped a cab and was talking with the cabbie when an arm wrapped around my wrist and pulled me away.
"Mycroft!" I screamed as I was dragged away.
He turned around and his face was filled with panic. "Cassandra! Unhand her!" He shouted running towards us.
The man who held me to him had tossed me in a carriage and then used his walking stick and hit Mycroft aside his head. The man then got in next to me and told the driver to go. I quickly pulled the door open as the cab started to move and jumped out. I rushed over to Mycroft, who grabbed me and pulled me tight against him.
"Are you all right?" He asked.
"I'm fine." I only had a few scrapes from when I fell, but other then that I was terrified. I closed my eyes and whimpered as I buried my head against him. I did not think he noticed my tears, but being a Holmes, he did.
"It's all right, child." He told me in a gentle tone as he rubbed small circles in my back.
"Don't let him take me." I whispered.
"It's alright. You did very quick thinking. You were able to get away."
I buried my face again and sobbed. Mycroft held me and let me cry. He made shushing sounds and stroked my hair until I had calmed down.
"I want Holmes." I said in a hushed whisper.
"I'll take you home and send Sherlock a message. You shouldn't be alone."
He helped me to my feet and kept his hand on my back as we got another cab. The ride to Baker Street was silent. Mycroft I could tell was thinking, while I sat huddled on my side of the cab. When we arrived he quickly sent the note to Holmes, and he tried to coax me into eating something, but I only stayed curled in Holmes' chair. When Mrs. Hudson came in with tea, she placed the cup in my hand where I finally did drink.
I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I can remember was a hand brushing through my hair lightly. "And she's been like this?"
"She hasn't said a thing since, I tried to talk to her, but she didn't want to talk. Your landlady was able to calm her with some tea. The affair upset her so much that she fall into an emotional exhausted sleep."
Holmes sighed. "I never should have let her go."
"You did not think that the threat was that serious. He is bold for trying to take her during the day out in the open. He is clever enough to know not many people would be milling about today. Stay with her. Do not leave her, Sherlock."
"But-
"Find him in the morning." Mycroft said, then as an after thought. "She needs you, Sherlock."
I was lifted up and I wrapped my arms around his neck. Holmes tightened his hold on me. He was silent as he carried me to my room and placed me on my bed. When he carefully took my shoes off, and helped me from my coat I spoke.
"It wasn't his fault."
Holmes paused for a second and looked at me. "Who?"
"Mycroft, it wasn't his fault it happened."
"I was not aware I blamed him."
"You mean you aren't angry?"
He shook his head. "Not at Mycroft and certainty not at you."
"Was it the same man as before?" I asked as he unwrapped my scarf and hung it in my wardrobe along with my coat. "Was it the man from the other night?"
"Clearly." Holmes said. "Can you remember anything?"
I know Holmes wasn't asking for detail about the incident, but he was asking more so about the man. "He's tall, not that much older then you. He had a beard… not a full one, it was more whiskers then hair." I thought again and looked at my arm where fingerprints showed where he had grabbed me at. "And strong, he's strong."
Holmes nodded his head as he sat down beside me. "Can you remember anything else?"
"He…he wanted me to get away." I said slowly. I looked up at Holmes, wondering if he had came to the same conclusion I did.
"From what Mycroft told me, I see it as being more than likely." Holmes answered. "For one thing he took you from a public place and than he let you escape without much of a fight."
"But why?" I asked.
He shook his head. "The question of the hour, Cassandra." He sighed and looked at me. "Tomorrow, you are not to leave this flat. Mycroft said he will also see if he can find anything."
"Yes, sir. I…I'm afraid of that man, Holmes." I admitted. "I...I didn't want to be taken away."
"You were very brave, child."
The next day, I did as Holmes said. He stayed most of the day with me, until he was called away. Even Mrs. Hudson had to step out for a short moment and I was alone. Suddenly I heard heavy steps on the stairs. Wait…Holmes' steps were light. I hide in the closet as the door opened. I held my breath as the steps made their way into the room.
"Cass?" A hoarse voice asked.
I knew that voice. I peeked out in time to see Holmes clash down to the ground. "Holmes!" I cried out, running to him.
I saw him hold his right shoulder tightly. When I knelt down next to him, I saw that there was a large wet...blood it was blood. He slowly lifted his head up and there was a medium sized gash on his forehead as well.
He noticed the panicked look I had on my face. "I'll be all right, little cat." He rasped. "Just go get Watson."
I stared at him. I was too afraid to move. What if something went wrong when I was gone? What would I do if that happened? I knew his job was dangerous, I always knew. I have seen him hurt before, but not to this extent. It was then that I realized that Holmes could be killed. One day he may not come back.
"Please, Cassandra." Holmes spoke up and then he coughed. "I will be fine, but I need you to go get Watson."
I nodded my head and stood up. I run down the stairs taking them two at a time. I run out into the rain, forgetting my jacket as I did so. I raced down the different streets, praying that Watson was home. I think it was the fastest that I have ever run.
When I arrived at their flat, I pounded on the door. "Watson! Watson!" I shouted. The maid answered, but I pushed past. "Mary? Watson?" I called out.
Mary came rushing from the sitting room. "Cassandra, what on-
"Watson where is he?" I cried.
Before Mary had a chance to say anything, Watson was walking down the stairs. "Mary, I-Cassandra, what are you doing here?" Once he was on the last few steps, his eyes widened. "What is it?"
"Holmes." I sobbed. "He's hurt, he was hurt."
"Mary, find Cassandra some warm clothes. I need to go to Baker Street." He picked up his medical bag.
"I'm going with you." I said.
"No. Cassandra, you would be more of help here."
"Watson…"
"Don't worry, Holmes will be fine." Then he left quickly before I had the chance to argue.
"Come, Cassandra. I think we have some of your clothes from the last time you stayed with us." Mary told me gently.
She led me upstairs and pulled out a nightgown for me to change into. When I finished I met her downstairs in the sitting room and she had a towel to dry my soaking hair. I sat down on the ground in front of her and she ran the towel through my wet locks.
"I'm sure; Mister Holmes will be all right." Mary said as she pulled the towel away and started brushing my hair.
"He was called away." I said softly. I turned and looked at her. "What if it was the same man that was after me?"
She let me cry into her lap as she tried to comfort me. Finally, I became tired and I fell asleep. I woke up when Watson came back hours later, but I acted as if I was still sleeping.
"How was she?" He asked Mary softly.
"Poor thing, she was worried to death about him. I tried my best to calm her down, but she only cried herself to sleep. How is Mr. Holmes?"
"He's fine now. Sleeping I should think." Watson said.
"Is it wise to leave him?" Mary asked.
"Old boy is fine."
"What happened?" She asked.
"He was ambushed. He said a pipe hit him in the head before he could see the person. He tried to fight him, but another man came and tried to choke him. One of the constables hear and rushed over to help, but not before Holmes was stabbed. It's not deep at all. He told me that it would be best if he sent Cassandra away for a while."
"What? Why?"
"Holmes said that it was a hoax. Someone had set it up."
Mary grasped. "Cassandra…she spoke of a man. John, who…?"
"Holmes doesn't know who it is. He told me that yesterday, someone had tried to snatch her, but she was able to get away." Watson said gravely.
"No wonder he wants to send her away."
"I never seen him this panicked before. Before I even finished bandaging him, he was up and packing her things. Before I left, he telegrammed Bradstreet about it…I think he was asking for help with this one." Watson said.
"Where will she go?"
"I am to take her to his brother in the morning."
"Will she be all right?" She asked.
A blanket covered me. "Holmes will see that she is alright." Watson said. He kissed my forehead. "Best to let her sleep. She'll need the rest."
I listened as they made their way upstairs, before I sat up. I wrapped the blanket around my shoulders and slid down to the ground. Who knew was it that knew about me? This was all my fault. Holmes was hurt because of my carelessness. I never should have left the flat as much as I did. Holmes should not be hurt, he just should not be.
