John didn't know if he was making the right choose when he sent the text to Mycroft.
I need to talk to Jim. I mean it. Don't you dare ignore this text.
John
He wasn't going to tell Sherlock about it. Sherlock had enough on his mind without worrying about what Jim was going to say to him. Hell, Sherlock might even want to go and that would be a very bad thing. He couldn't imagine what Sherlock would say to 's was surprised when he got a text right back from him. That wasn't
like Mycroft. Mycroft must have known John was ticked off. He was mad at him for letting Aaliyah even see Jim in the first place.
I see. I'll pick you up at noon.
Mycroft
That shocked John. He had woken up that morning at six with Wisteria. She seemed nervous and didn't want to go back to sleep. She was very whinny. It wasn't like her to cry. He tried everything but she kept whimpering. In the end he had placed her in front of the telly. She clung to the deerstalker and wouldn't let it go.
He glanced at the clock and saw it was only nine in the morning. He had a long time to think about what he was going to say to Jim. He wanted to give that man a piece of his mind. He needed some space and time to think about it.
"John?" came Mrs. Hudson voice. "Are you alright dear?"
"Fine," John said picking up Wisteria's toys.
He tossed them into the toy box in the corner without much thought. She was sitting on the couch watching My little Pony. She didn't seem to into it though. she kept glancing at her father.
"Can you watch Wisteria today?" John questioned. "I have to go out."
"Of course," she said walking over to him. "You look stressed. Is everything ok?"
"Not really," John said dropping into his chair. "But it's going to be OK. Everything is going to work out."
Mrs. Hudson walked all the way into the room and sat down next to Wisteria.
"Oh my," she said with a laugh. "I see she has the hat. Aw...it looks like cute on her."
John smiled looking at his child. His kids were his purpose in life now. He needed to make sure they had the best life he could give them. He would do anything for them. He would face the man he hated for them.
"I'm going to be back soon," John said kissing the top of her head. "Be good."
The child simply laughed and went back to watching telly. John headed out of the flat. He would go to Angelo's. He would have something to eat and think things over.
Jim was so very happy. He wouldn't show it though. He allowed a small smile to cross his face. Mycroft had just come by to tell him John would be by.
Oh goody goody. He hadn't had a chance to see John in a long time. He never really got a chance to sit down and talk to him. No doubt John wanted to talk to him about Aaliyah. Aaliyah had come by right after her conversation with John. She was upset and crying. She didn't know what to do. Jim had simply told her to do what she thought
was right. She said that she loved her children but she couldn't turn her back on Jim. She couldn't live without seeing him. He really hadn't done anything to swing her decision. He didn't have to.
It made Jim so happy to know that Sherlock's mother had chosen him over her own son. It warmed his heart.
Ordinary people were so funny. Sherlock was smart to have a normal person around. They were always saying something that made him laugh. Aaliyah really believed Jim loved her. He could play her like a fiddle.
He realized that killing Sherlock was a bit silly. It was far too much fun to mess with Sherlock. He could do so much from his cell. When that got boring he would leave the prison he was in and find another way to have fun. Mycroft knew his prisoner could find a way to escape from any situation.
He was laid out on his bed reading the new book Aaliyah had brought him. A book called 'the love dare'. She hoped it would open him up a bit. Was she really that stupid?
There was a loud click as the door opened. Jim didn't look up. He knew who it was. He only had to hear the sound of someone's footsteps a couple of times to know just what they sounded they like.
"Hello," John said dragging a chair closer to the cell.
"Hello John," Jim said closing his book. "How can I help you?"
"Tell Aaliyah to get lost," John ordered. "Tell her the truth. Tell her you aren't interested in her. Maybe there is still a chance for her to have a good life."
"Why should I care about Aaliyah?" Jim said with a chuckle. "You're wasting my time. Women like her are a dime a dozen."
"Sherlock isn't going to let her see Isabell or Wisteria," John explained. "Isabell is upset. She knows something is wrong but she doesn't know what. She wants to see her grandmother. I know that deep down you love Isabell. Please think about what is best for her."
"Why should I?" Jim asked returning to his book.
John hadn't been there a full minute and Jim was already bored. John had said everything that he expected him to say.
"Don't you want her to be happy?" John asked getting to his feet. "Dammit. You brought her into this world. Don't you give a shit about her?"
"Please," Jim said turning a page.
He would never admit out loud but he did care about Isabell. She was his only child and he wanted her to have a good life. He didn't plan on having anymore children. When she was eighteen Jim would contact her and tell her the truth. He would let her grow up before he told her. It would be a lot to take in.
John was about to loose his mind. He thought he could talk some sense into that man. He thought perhaps Jim would put Isabell's needs before his own.
"It is all up to Aaliyah," Jim said after a long moment. "If she wants to see me she will. There is nothing I can do do about that. You know how women are. Perhaps you should take it up with Mycroft. He let her in here after all."
John sighed placing his head against the bars. He knew it really was a lot cause. There really was no getting through to that man. He shouldn't have even tried. It was annoying him too much. The man did have a point and that really made him mad. John was made at Mycroft as well. He shouldn't have let Aaliyah in there. That was a big mistake.
"I'll go," John said getting up. "I see you're just as selfish as Aaliyah when it comes to your own kids. I know you're having fun messing with that woman's head but it is coming at a price. Isabell will suffer."
Jim didn't say anymore. He was focused on the book in his hands. John growled walking out of the room. He slammed the door on his way out. As soon as he was gone Jim closed his book and sat it on his bedside table. He knew John was right. He was being selfish. But, hey he never said he wasn't selfish.
He did want what was best for Isabell. He had decided that her Aaliyah was not the kind of woman he wanted around Isabell. Isabell might miss the woman she knew as her grandmother. In fact he knew she would. It did bother Jim to know it would make her sad but it was for the best.
Three days later the hospital allowed Isabell to come home. She didn't want to be in the hospital. She wanted to be home with her Papa, sister, and Dad. She wanted to see Mrs. Hudson. She had only seen her once while in the hospital. Mrs. Hudson's hip had been acting up very badly.
Marcus, John, Mrs. Hudson, and Wisteria were sitting in the living room waiting for Sherlock and Isabell to get home. Lestrade wanted to be there to welcome her home but he had to work. They hadn't heard from Mycroft much since the whole incident took place. He had only texted once saying he was still coming Friday to take Isabell to see her new school if she was up to it. Isabell was supposed to have some testing done that day as well.
Aaliyah seemed to have dropped off the face of the earth. John had tried to text her a bunch of times but he couldn't get through to her. Sherlock hadn't even tried. He knew that his mother wasn't going to be coming around anymore. It hurt but he did his best not to show it.
John's shoulder and wrist were feeling a lot better. His arm was out of the sling but he still wore the wrist brace. He would need that a little longer. He wished he would get better faster. He knew how guilty it made Sherlock feel. Of course he knew that was a good thing. It would keep it from happening again. Sherlock was actually being very good about everything. He was doing most of the cleaning and taking care of Wisteria when he wasn't visiting Isabell.
Plus Mrs. Hudson would always make a little noise when she saw him. Wisteria was wearing 'the hat' as Sherlock liked to call it. She refused to take it off. They could barely talk her into taking it off at bath time. Sherlock was glad someone liked that hat and she did look cute in it.
"Are you sure she is ready to come home?" Marcus asked looking out the window. "She just had surgery on her lungs. I mean she is so small to have that done. It must have been rough on her."
"She'll feel better at home," Mrs. Hudson said going into the kitchen. "She needs to be with her family. She just needs to take it easy. Poor child has been through enough."
Little Wisteria was walking along the flat holding to something as she went.
"Plus the hospital food is driving her crazy," John said watching his daughter. "She isn't big on eating anything sticky and shes hates gravy. They also feed her on a different scheledle. You know how she is about schedules."
Wisteria was really starting to get into things at her age. She already had some draws open and was going through them. Mrs. Hudson gently batted her hands away and picked her up. She pushed the hat up and out of her face.
"I'm making spaghetti," Mrs. Hudson said showing her the pot. "See. Are you going to try it?"
"Red," Isabell said nodding. "Red."
"She likes red I see," Marcus said with a laugh. "You know I have a friend who is going to put her baby for adoption. She already has a couple of kids. It's going to be a girl. She is due in a month. You interested?"
"I don't think so," John said getting up to take Wisteria from . "Between work, two kids, and Sherlock I'm busy as hell. Sherlock and I decided that two was our limit."
"Are they still testing Isabell for Autism?" Mrs. Hudson asked turning off the heat on the stove.
"Asperger's Syndrome," John corrected. "It is similar to Autism. They're supposed to test her friday. They want her tested again. I hope she is up to it. She did a test with a doctor two months ago. They're pretty sure she has it."
"We're home," came Sherlock's voice.
"Papa!" Wisteria said in excitement.
Sherlock walked into the room carrying Isabell. He laid the young girl down on the couch. Wisteria whinned and looked towards her sister. John walked over and knelt down next to the couch.
"You look so silly," Isabell said to her sister. "You have no fashion sense."
"Mine," Wisteria said putting a hand on the top of the hat.
"I don't want your stinky hat," Isabell said sticking out her tongue.
John smiled setting Wisteria down on the floor. She went over to play with her blocks. They were Isabell's old periodic table blocks. Isabell rolled her eyes as she watched her sister pile the blocks up. She wasn't even using them right.
"Now now," her dad is patting her head. "Wisteria is still little. Let her play the way she wants."
"Food!" Mrs. Hudson said starting to dish the food out. "Who is hungry?"
"Eat!" wisteria said knocking over her blocks in her excitement.
John tried to pick her up but gave a cry of pain. He knew he wasn't supposed to be carrying the kids around. His shoulder gave him a stab of pain.
"I've got her," Sherlock said quickly picking up the child.
"I'm OK," John said stretching out his shoulder. "I think it is bothering from not using it."
Sherlock put Wisteria in her high chair and dished out her spaghetti. Wisteria dug in right away. Both of her parents knew it wasn't going to be much fun cleaning up after her.
Isabell sat up and Mrs. Hudson sat a plate for her on the coffee table. She was sure the child wouldn't feel like sitting at the table.
"Are you eating?" Mrs. Hudson looking at Marcus.
"Oh no," he said waving his hand. "I don't eat much."
"Oh that OK," Mrs. Hudson said with a smile. "You're eating some Sherlock. I can see you're losing weight again."
"Oh course nanny," Sherlock said with a laugh.
He knew it was true. He had too much on his mind the last couple of mouths. He took a plate and sat down at the table. An uncomfortable silence took over the flat as they ate. Everyone had something on their minds and wasn't sure how to deal with it.