Chapter 14; Mother

Steven returned again that night. Maria was waiting for him, dressed and ready to go.

"Is Mr Holmes not coming?" Steven asked, seeing Maria before him. She shook her head.

"Sherlock wanted to accompany you but I insisted, it is my mother after all," She said looking at him. Steven nodded, he could understand that. Maria walked down the steps before she hailed a cab.

"Let's get going." She suggested opening the door for him. Steven got in first, Maria pausing to look up at the window to see Sherlock looking down, watching them. She gave him a small smile and a thumbs-up before getting into the cab and pulling the door shut.

Sherlock sighed as he watched the cab drive out of sight from his window. He was dressed in his pyjamas and intended to remain dormant while she was gone. He made sure to keep his phone on him though, in case Maria needed him to send in any help. He then moved away from the window, and returned to lying on the couch.

Maria remained silent in the cab as they drove along, her thoughts on weather her mother was alright or not. Steven glanced at her every so often but she didn't really want to talk to him to be honest. She'd honestly never approved of her mother's choices in boyfriends, or in this case; husbands. She sighed quietly to herself as they pulled up in front of the orphanage. Maria got out first, Steven following after her quickly.

"Now, just remember, pretend you have the funds and the minute my mother is out of danger, you take her and run; you hear me?" Maria said looking at him. Steven nodded and they proceeded inside. They made their way into the old mess hall to find a man sitting there, waiting for them. Next to him was Maria's mother. It was clear where Maria got most of her looks from, Angela had the same red hair and sky blue eyes just like Maria did.

"Maria!" She cried seeing her daughter standing with Stephen. "What are you..?" She started to speak but the man beside her slapped her.

"Shut-up!" He said forcefully. Maria clenched her jaw to avoid the temptation of killing him where he sat. She had been an army doctor, but it didn't mean she didn't know how to kill people; she had bad days. The man looked back at her, the balaclava hiding his features. She wanted nothing more than to go up to him and to whip off his mask and show his true face, but she stood put for the sake of her mother.

"Give me back my wife," Steven said before pulling out an envelope from the inside of his jacket. "I have your damn money." He threw it down on the table in front of him. Maria stood still as the man rose, bringing with him Angela. He pushed Angela towards Steven, who caught her, then picked up the envelope.

Steven quickly when to drag Angela away but the man stopped them quickly by pulling out a gun.

"Ah-ah-ah!" He said as all three of them put their hands up. With one hand he slowly opened the envelope, the other keeping the gun trained on them. The second he looked down, Maria was on him kicking the gun out of his hands and forcing him to the ground.

"Run!" Maria cried as she struggled slightly with the man. She kicked the gun further away as Steven grabbed hold of Angela and started to run, even though she called back to Maria. Maria swore as the man threw her off and dived for his gun.

"Oh no you don't!" She cried kicking him hard in the gut, causing him to choke slightly. She reached behind her and whipped out the gun she'd stashed. "Don't move."

The man froze on the ground, looking up at the gun pointed at him. Maria quickly whipped out her phone.

"Lestrade, I have your man."

20 minutes later the man was in custody of Lestrade and Maria was being fawned over by her mother, even as she tried to see if she'd sustained any injuries.

"Oh Maria, why didn't you call!" The woman cried clutching onto her daughter. Maria sighed and started to pry her mother from her shirt.

"Because I knew this would happen, that you would get like this…" Maria explained before hushing her as she checked for any signs of her being abused. When she found none, she was satisfied and pulled out her phone again.

"You want to come meet an old friend?" Maria asked looking down at her mother, who had shrunk slightly since she'd last seen her. Angela happily agreed and Maria called in to tell him the result.

"We'll be home in a few, I'm bringing mother with me; she wants to see you again." She said and she heard Sherlock inwardly groan. While her mother had her heart in the right place, sometimes her mind was a strange place to try and deduce. She was smart yes, but not a logical thinker. Maria one day knew it would inevitably be the end of her. She sighed softly herself as they all crammed into the back of a cab to catch a ride back to Bakers Street.

Sherlock was waiting for them, neatly dressed once again.

"Sherlock," Angela greeted going for a hug from the young genius. Grudgingly, he patted her awkwardly on the back.

"You look well Ange, how are you feeling?" Sherlock asked.

"Maria's seen to me, so I feel much better," Ange replied with a smile looking at her daughter. "You better be looking after her young man."

"I'm doing my best," Sherlock said looking at Maria, their eyes meeting briefly. He smiled slightly before Maria looked away, somewhat embarrassed all of a sudden. She was somewhat glad for the arrival of Mrs Hudson who announced there was a cab waiting for Ange and Steven. They both looked at Maria.

"I figured it was best for you to head home," Maria said planting a kiss on her mother's cheek. "I'll be in touch, I promise."

It was clear that Ange wanted to stay a little longer with her daughter, probably to question her on the slight tension there seemed to be between the two childhood friends, but Steven managed to convince her otherwise and they made their way out, following after Mrs Hudson, leaving Maria and Sherlock alone once again. Maria stepped away from him, walking over to stand facing the fireplace.

Sherlock stepped up behind her, reaching out and gently touched her shoulder. Maria turned her head to look at him. He grasped her jacket and pulled it off her, revealing the handgun stuffed into the back of her jeans.

"I kept it alright?" She said as she pulled it out and placed it down on the coffee table beside her. "I know I shouldn't have it."

"I understand why you still have it Maria," He said watching her carefully. "My mind is on another matter entirely." He reached out and took her wrist gently. "The matter of last night is what's bothering me." He turned her around to face him. Maria took a half step back and ended up in his armchair with Sherlock looming over her. He leaned down, his hands on the arm rests on either side of her, blocking her in. Maria's eyes widened as she looked at him.

"S-Sherlock?" She questioned quietly, his eyes piercing her own, like there was some question he wanted answered and for once she couldn't figure out what it was. Mrs Hudson, forever Maria's saviour from now, came barging back into the room causing Sherlock to stand upright in a hurry.

"There's a car waiting for you Sherlock, dear," Mrs Hudson said almost uncertainly, like she'd thought she'd interrupted something. Maria sank down slightly into the chair.

"I didn't order a car," He said plainly, clearly wanting to get back to questioning Maria.

"They're insisting Sherlock," Mrs Hudson urged and Sherlock caved with a sigh. He didn't both to pick up his coat, intending to come straight back up after telling them to leave. Maria joined Mrs Hudson at the window to watch as Sherlock stepped outside…and was immediately grabbed and forced into the car.

"Sherlock!" Maria cried as she found herself barging out the front door to watch the car speeding away. She turned around to find Mrs Hudson holding her coat.

"Go find him dear," The old woman said handing Maria her coat.

"Thank you!" Maria cried running after the car while she pulled on her coat.