TWENTY-ONE
the house
Sherlock's cab dropped him off in front of a pale yellow house that had a slightly overgrown lawn. He paid and walked toward the house. Yes, Alana had come here. That type of mud was right outside the hospital, and that footprint in the grass was the same size.
He walked up to the front door and pushed it. It swung open with a slight creak: obviously someone was home.
He padded silently through the hallway, walking towards the stairs. His sharp eyes caught the signs of a struggle that someone had tried to clean up, but a few splatters of blood remained.
This is where she was taken, he thought. This was where she watched her parents die.
Yet, when alone, she had fled here.
He walked up the stairs and opened the door to a room. It was painted blue and had pictures of football players and trophies on shelves. Obviously her little brothers'.
He closed the door and opened another.
Alana was lying on a bed, staring at her ceiling. Books covered the walls of her room.
He stood in the doorway, understanding that she would talk when ready.
After several minutes of silence, she said, "Hi."
Sherlock just stood there.
"Did they send you to get me?"
"No."
"I think your brother wants something from me."
"Yes."
"He was calling a lot before I left."
"He wants you to become a spy."
Alana was quiet, still staring at the ceiling.
"And you don't want me to, do you."
"No."
"But what will I do if I don't take his offer? Foster care? There's nowhere for me to go, otherwise."
"I could talk to Mrs. Hudson. I think 221C is available."
"No. Don't offer me that. If you truly are offering, just don't. I'd never leave, Sherlock. You and John have such an amazing life together. Full of adventure and excitement. I can't live like that, not now. I have to leave."
Sherlock recognized the truth in her statement and acknowledged it with his silence.
Alana sighed. "I think maybe I'll go to America. Try and start a new life. Maybe I can get Mycroft to get me to do something for the government there. Without my powers."
"You could still have a childhood."
She laughed softly. "And what do you know about a childhood? I know yours was… far from the ordinary."
This was a fair point.
"Sherlock, I'm not magical. Just impossible. And if the only way to get my freedom is to be a government agent, then I'll do it. But I'll do it on my own merit, and not with the help of my powers. Who knows? Maybe they'll disappear."
Sherlock felt a twinge of regret. He liked Alana well enough. She had seen his mind, and so he should hate her, but instead he felt compassion. How long had it been since he had last felt that?
She said, "Are you going to take me back?"
"Yes," he replied.
She sighed. "I'm ready now."
He held out his hand, a rare gesture. Alana understood this, and took it with a smile.
A/N: Hi guys! The story's almost done, just a couple of chapters left. Thanks for all the support, almost 3,500 views! If you liked this chapter or the story, please, please, please leave a review. I love them, really I do.
Alana's story will continue, but in a different fandom. Technically it's not a crossover, since they're two separate stories, but you'll be able to find some parts of this story in it.
The working title of this story is The Telepath and The Trickster and I'll let you know when the first chapter will be up!
UPDATE: Three chapters up now of The Trickster and the Telepath! You can find it through my profile or by searching for it in the story search bar. Thanks so much for your support!
Bye for now,
masterofthefall