Hope you remembered your tissues and ice cream! Anybody want to share with me?
Justice: Part II
Chapter One
19 Months later.
John Watson smiled as he heard Joseph Morstan—his stepson!—bound down the stairs and into the sitting room. Gone was the shy, quiet child that had moved into 221B Baker Street and in his place was a boy with endless energy and enthusiasm.
"Are you ready for your first day?" John asked, grinning as the boy seemed to vibrate in place.
Joe nodded furiously. "I get to be in Mr Langeley's class this year!"
"I know," John replied, almost not able to laugh when the boy wriggled up into his lap. He finally settled on John's thigh, satisfied, swinging his legs back and forth.
"Are my boys ready?"
John and Joe turned to see Mary coming out of the kitchen. Her personality had changed as well. She no longer had to bare the weight of her situation alone. Without the stress of looking over her shoulder all the time or having to move every few weeks, Mary had flourished as much as her son. The article that had begun the movement to clear Sherlock's name (which was still going strong) had launched her career at The Sun.
"Yes, Mummy," Joe said as he slid off John's lap and ran to his mother.
"Well, don't you look dashing!" Mary exclaimed, eyes laughing as Joe spun in a circle, showing off his new uniform she'd laid out for him the night before.
"Thank you, Mummy," the boy said. "Didn't you say that you have to look your absolute best on your first day?"
"Yes, I did," she replied and knelt beside him. "Give me a kiss. I've got to go."
Joe complied and hugged her tight as he told her he loved her. When he let go, she stood and went over to John. She leant down and pecked his forehead.
"You remember where Joe's school is, right?" she asked.
"Yes," John replied, grinning. "And several ways to get there. When to drop him off and pick him up as well. I've already packed his lunch, too. Is there anything else?"
Mary shook her head, laughing. "Just breakfast, which Mrs Hudson said that she'd make."
"Okay," John said and caught her hand in his. "Have a good day."
"You, too," Mary replied as she squeezed. She let go and went to the coat rack. "I'll see you boys tonight," she said as she shrugged her jacket on. She bent down beside her son once more. "Enjoy your first day back," she told him as she brushed some of his unruly locks away from his eyes. "I love you."
"I love you, too," Joe said, wrapping his arms around her waist.
They heard her laughter as she went down that stairs. Mrs Hudson called for her to enjoy her day as she made her way upstairs with a tray full of pancakes.
They had just sat down to eat when they heard a gunshot and then car horns. John and Mrs Hudson stared at each other before John jumped up and ran to his and Mary's bedroom. He unlocked his bedside drawer and took out his gun.
"Watch Joe for a minute, Mrs Hudson," John called as he tucked the gun in the back of his jeans and covered it with his jumper. He shut the door behind him and saw the older woman holding a confused Joe down by his shoulders. "Eat your breakfast before it gets cold, Joe. I'll be right back."
John skipped every other step as he ran down and out onto the street. He looked both ways and saw the group of people a few streets over. He ran towards them.
"Let me through, I'm a doctor," John yelled as he shoved past people. As he squeezed between two large men, John finally saw the scene.
There was too much blood. All the years spent in medical school and then serving told him that the odds of someone living through this were decreasing by the moment. He could see a woman's legs beside the stopped car. John forced himself to keep breathing as he knelt beside the woman. It was Mary.
"John, is—" Mrs Hudson cut herself off as she saw him slowly walk up the stairs to the flat. "Oh God."
John had already stripped his jumper off and was working on the buttons of his shirt. They were both spotted with splatters of blood.
"Is it?" she asked quietly.
John nodded, throat tight.
Mrs Hudson covered her mouth as tears fell from her eyes.
John threw his shirts away and put his gun back in the locked drawer. He took another jumper from his drawers as he walked back to the main room.
Joe sat beside Mrs Hudson as she sobbed, holding him. The boy looked terrified and confused. John sat down beside him.
"Joe," John began and cleared his throat. "You're…you're going to miss your first day."
"Why?" the boy asked, confused and innocent.
"We have to go to the A&E," John told him. "Your mum…she needs us."
"Is she okay?"
John couldn't answer him. He just hugged the boy to his chest and tried not to cry.
Mary had her own private room, courtesy of one Mycroft Holmes. John's throat burned when he thought of the man. This was the second time they'd been unable to protect someone important to John.
"Dr Watson?" he turned and saw an aging doctor asking him to come to him. John turned back to Mrs Hudson.
"Can you take him in?" he asked. She nodded and the man bent down to the boy's level. "You have to be careful, okay?"
Joe nodded, wide eyed, before Mrs Hudson gently pushed him into his mother's room.
John woodenly stood and made his way to his wife's doctor. His eyes wet as he listened. He nodded, unable to speak and, finally, the doctor allowed him to see her.
He stood in the doorway, watching Joe speak quietly with Mary, who was already visibly weakening. Her face was pale, lips beginning to fade in colour as well. She glanced over and beckoned him over.
John sat in the seat beside Mrs Hudson and pulled Joe into his lap and wrapped his arms around him. Mary gave him a shaky smile.
"Mrs Hudson, could you go with Joe and get something to drink?" Mary asked, voice soft.
"Yes, dear," the older woman replied and stood, taking Joe's hand. "Would either of you like something?"
They both shook their heads and the two left the room.
"I'm dying, aren't I?"
John covered his face and nodded. "The bullet wound wouldn't be fatal by itself. If it had been just that you would have been able to recover, but the car…There's too much internal bleeding and…they can't do anything about it."
Mary shifted on the bed. "I need you to take care of Joe. Tell him that I loved him," she said, voice thickening with tears. "Keep him safe and, please John, love him like he was your own son."
John lowered his hand to one of hers. The skin was dry and papery. "I already love him, Mary. I'm so, so—"
"No," she interrupted him. "I always knew I wouldn't see him grow up. Especially after Charles died. Joe has always been my priority," she paused swallowing, tears falling down her cheeks. "Thank you, John. I am forever grateful for what you have done for Joe and me."
John took a deep breath. "I'll tell him what's happened."
Mary nodded, wiping her cheeks with one hand. "Thank you, John. I'm sorry. I'm not sure I could do it."
John nodded and covered her hand with both of his. "Did you recognize your attacker?"
Mary nodded. "It was Charles' brother, Edwin. No doubt, he's already disappeared."
He nodded and squeezed her hand. He should have gone with her that morning.
"John, I don't want Joe to see it," Mary said. She glanced at the door. "It's going to be hard enough. He doesn't need to be here. Just let me say goodbye."
"I'll have Mrs Hudson take him home," John replied.
"You don't have to be here, John," Mary said gently.
John shook his head and brushed her hair away from her eyes. "We may've never loved each other, but you've been a great friend. I can't let you go through this alone."
She squeezed his hand and closed her eyes. "Thank you."
"Mummy!"
They both turned and saw Joe run over and stand between John's knees, gazing up at his mother. He held a large bottle of water in his hand. "One of the nurses gave me this!"
Mary nodded and brushed her hand through his soft, tangled locks. "Honey, Mrs Hudson's going to take you home, okay?"
Joe nodded and wriggled to his mother's side. "I love you, Mummy!"
A tear fell from Mary's cheek. "I love you, too, Joe. Be a good boy."
The boy nodded. "I'll see you soon!" He hugged her hand kissed it before running back to Mrs Hudson.
"Mrs Hudson," Mary called and the woman turned back. "I've appreciated everything."
Mrs Hudson nodded and stifled a sob as she and Joe left.
John came home late that night. He wearily hung his coat and slumped on the couch.
"Where's Mummy?"
John turned and saw Joe standing in the doorway in his pyjamas.
"Come here, Joe," John said and the boy warily walked to him. John lifted him into his lap and held tight. "Joe, your mummy…she's not coming back."
"Where'd she go?" Joe asked.
John bit his lip. "Mary passed away. She didn't want to leave you, but she had to. She loved you very, very much."
"Mummy," the boy whispered as tears began to fall from his eyes. "I want my mummy."
John pulled the boy to his chest and held him there. His heart broke for both mother and child as Joe sobbed.
I told you about the tissues. Just reading through on a final edit almost had me going. Don't forget to drop a line!