Sherlock came into 221b as John and Rosie were leaving.
"Going on a walk?"
"No, we're going to the moon."
"I'm joining you."
"Nothing I can do to stop you." John was angry, very angry. Sherlock matched his pace to theirs as they left the flat.
"Oh, Sherlock, glad to see you're out of jail." Mrs. Hudson called as she emerged from her part of the complex.
"Not as much as I am to be out." He responded under his breath.
"What did you say? I didn't hear." Mrs. Hudson asked.
"Nothing of importance, see you!" He left the building, forgetting for a moment that he was supposed to be with John and Rosie.
John lingered in the doorway.
"Don't be too mad at him dear." Mrs. Hudson told him kindly.
"We'll see." John took Rosie's small hand and went to join his flat mate; it was a mark of how agitated he was that he didn't stop to say goodbye. Mrs. Hudson stood in the hallway for a while longer, no doubt in her mind that her boys would get things sorted.
Rosie babbled happily at everything she saw, trying to name everything. John patiently repeated the right word, proud of his daughter. Sherlock walked beside them, hands in his pockets, withdrawn, glancing out of the corner of his eye at John from time to time as if John didn't notice. Despite his cheerful countenance for Rosie, his frustration at the actions of Sherlock increased.
They sat down on a bench in the nearby park to give Rosie a rest.
"Well, what's bothering you?" Sherlock broke the silence. John snorted, trust Sherlock to make it seem like he had a problem, not him.
"How about the fact that you got yourself arrested? While in court?" Sherlock seemed genuinely puzzled as to why that would be a problem.
"I'm out now, and aside from the sentencing tomorrow, done with Jury Duty. I'll admit that being in that holding cell was mind-numbingly boring, but luckily there was a nice guard who gave me a book." At this Sherlock patted his pocket where the outline of a paperback could be seen. John sighed incredulously. Was it possible for anyone to more self-absorbed than Sherlock?
"And it's not the principal behind it; we've been arrested numerous times." Sherlock continued.
"You're forgetting that there is a big difference in both of our lives now."
"What?" Good Lord, John had to spell everything out!
"Rosie!"
"Oh, right." Sherlock looked at the girl who was happily eating an animal cookie, chubby legs swinging from the bench seat.
"It's not just us anymore. There's Rosie. I understand Jury Duty, it's unavoidable, but you could have avoided that side-stop in jail if you had stopped to think about it for a moment. It was your day to watch Rosie; I had to take a day off work to watch her instead. And we can't just keep getting Molly to watch Rosie. I already used her so much after Mary died!" John paused for a moment to collect himself. Sherlock had the grace to look the slightest bit shamefaced.
"I suppose I could have considered my actions more before I started to argue with the prosecution." Sherlock admitted reluctantly. "I never meant to adversely affect Rosie, or you." He added as an afterthought. "I just didn't think about anyone else."
"Obviously."
"Look, John. You're my best friend, not only that, but I truly want to help you with your daughter. I would never willfully neglect Rosie. I'm- sorry." Sherlock forced the last words out of his mouth as if they tasted bad.
"I know that idiot." John responded, but not without fondness. It was a rare event indeed when Sherlock apologized for something, or called him his best friend.
Sherlock smiled, sensing things were once again back to normal between them. Well, as normal as their relationship ever was.
"So, my time as a juror, serving the country with my wisdom and powers of deduction is now over. For at least three years." He decided to change the subject. Despite John's rightful anger, Sherlock could see a faint smile threatening to break free from John's stony countenance.
"Good thing for that. Two hopeful clients came today asking after you."
"Anything interesting?"
"One suspected affaire."
"Boring."
"And the other a robbery."
"Even worse! There has to be a good murder mystery somewhere." Sherlock complained.
"What about the one you were just involved in at court?"
"That was hardly a mystery, casual perusal of the facts quickly brought the truth to light. But this was not my usual case, oh no. This time there were rules."
"Which you did not hesitate to break when it was convenient."
"Not my fault they were stupid."
"Right."
"The real problem was convincing the other jurors. People are so stupid! They insisted on going over every detail with a fine toothed comb. Maddening. At any rate, all I have to do know is attend the sentencing and this horrible episode of my life will be over."
"I thought the sentencing was optional."
"It is, though it only seems right to finish things completely, and hearing the official verdict read by that horrible Judge Simon seems like the last thing I have to do."
"Alright then, I'm coming with you." John announced. "Someone has to keep you from getting arrested a second time."
"I thought you have work."
"I took today and tomorrow off, no clue how long you'd be- detained for. At the rate this is going, I'm going to lose my job!"
"Oh hardly, that emergency clinic you work in needs all the s-" Sherlock halted midsentence.
"Where's Watson?" Sherlock asked. John looked at the spot between them where his daughter had been sitting a moment ago.
"She was just here!"
"And now she's gone." The two stood up and began to look frantically for her.
"I found her!" Called Sherlock. John ran over, breathing heavily. Rosie sat in the middle of the path that led to a small duck pond, staring at the body of a dead duck. She looked up happily at John and Sherlock, oblivious to their worry, then said with near perfect enunciation,
"I'm 'vestigating a murder!"
More than one set of eyes turned to look curiously for the source of the laughter. And quite a few were bemused to see two men laughingly heartily while a little girl proudly pointed to a dead duck.