Chapter twenty-five: Shocks of a lifetime

Linda's POV,

My father draws in a collective breath and opens his mouth to speak. Ring! His phone went off and he blinks. He reaches inside his pocket and answers. "What is it Lestrade?" His eyes narrow before he jumps up out of his seat. "I' m sorry to hear that. Of course. Sherlock and I are grabbing our coats now." Sherlock stands up and heads to get his and father's coats. "I'm sorry Lestrade. Yes. I promise. I'll find him. Goodbye." He hangs up his phone and turns to us. "Lestrade just found Matthew. He's dead."

I gasp and stare at him as my mother stands up. "What? What happened?"

Father takes his coat from Sherlock. "Thank you. I'll explain to you when I'm in the taxi. Right now, it's very important that we go."

Mother waddles towards him. "No. you're going to tell us now. Remember, it's your son's birthday? You owe everyone here an explanation."

Father groans. "Right. Sorry John."

"I'm fine with it father." John shoves his hands in his pockets. "What happened to Matthew?"

"Someone murdered him inside Leinster Gardens." Father looks ticked off. "On my property, they knew it was deserted so no one would go looking for him."

"How did they find him?"

Father shakes his head. "I don't know yet, I think John might have found his body. He's been walking around visiting all the places where he's had memorable moments with Mary. Greg just found out, and he's going down to identify his…remains." Father's look is dark as he speaks. "He'd been shot and…decapitated. He was in his uniform, so he'd gone home to change. It's very possible that he was the victim of a hate crime."

All of us gasp and tears fill my eyes. "Oh no."

Mother turns to me. "I'm sorry Linda."

John turns to Clark. "Matthew was a friend of hers. He vanished a couple of months ago, in case you're wondering."

Clark merely hands me the tissue box. "Thank you."

I blow my nose and reach for another tissue as the tears continue to stream down my face. "He was a very, very nice guy. We did go out on a date once, but…following that date, I had an accident and…he vanished. I texted and called him several times before giving up on him." I look towards father. "How long has his…body been lying there?"

He shakes his head. "I don't know yet Linda. But I promise you, I will find him."

Mother touches his arm, before looking towards Sherlock. "Sherlock, you go on ahead. I need to talk to your father alone for a bit."

Sherlock nods as father looks soberly at mother. "I don't have time to talk. There's a crime committed and I've got to solve it."

She nods. "I just need five minutes."

"I don't have five minutes to give you."

Tammy's POV,

"Yes, you do." I reached up and placed a hand on Sherlock's neck. "When the painting, 'Falls of the Reichenbach' were stolen. You told Lestrade you'd be down at the scene in an hour. After Moriarty's trial, there'd been a murder." I lowered my voice so only Sherlock could hear me. "You insisted on waiting until you finished making love to me before going to solve the crime." Sherlock frowns slightly. "I just need five minutes." I hold his gaze. "Please."

He exhales and shakes his head. "I can never say 'no' to you." I take his hand and we step out into the hall. We go and sit on the small bench that's under the window. Sherlock had gotten it for me, so we could have our afternoon tea there while the children napped. We hadn't sat there in years. He runs his hands through his hair. "Now, what is it?"

"Linda."

He groans. "I knew you were going to say that somehow."

"I'm your wife, I know you. You're running away, using the crime scene as an excuse."

"I hate it when you see through me like that." I place a hand on his shoulder as he leans forward, his hands clasped in prayer. "I can't believe it."

I nod. "I know."

He exhales. "I-I finally get to see her again and she's…got a boyfriend. A real, boyfriend this time." He rubs the bridge of his nose. "He's going to marry her Tammy."

"We'll see Sherlock."

"No." He shakes his head. "I never worried about those two others because I knew it wouldn't last. This one…he…he's the one for her."

"It's too soon to tell Sherlock."

"That's because you're you. I can see it all ready Tammy. He's on parole, trying to make a fresh start. You don't punch a man over the fact that he won't keep his hand off the girl." He looks at me. "He's in love with her, I can see that, and she loves him back. This time…it's so honest, pure and sincere that nothing I can say could ever break them up."

"And that's what got you scared most of all." I whisper gently. "He's won her heart and in a few years, you won't have her around anymore. And…are you worried about his past?"

"Not really. He passed Mycroft's test, so he's relatively squeaky clean." He frowns. "I'm not scared of anything."

"Then I'll go stand in the middle of the street."

Sherlock smirks and runs his hand over my cheek. "Don't do that. I can't lose you."

"I hope that…I die first Sherlock. I've had you die on me twice. I couldn't take it a third time."

"I hope that…we die together. Because frankly, I don't think either of us could do without each other." Sherlock leans forward and kisses me on the mouth.

"I don't think I can. I still picture her when she was…a baby. She'd crawl all over me and pull my hair." I laugh softly as I remember so many images from that past coming back to us. "She always said that…she'd stay with me forever. I can still see us coloring, dancing in the rain and reading fairytales. She was my," tears glisten in Sherlock's eyes. "my little princess. And I've lost her."

I shake my head. "No Sherlock. You're her father, you'll never lose her."

"Then why…does it hurt so much?"

"It's because, the man who hold her heart, is no longer you. She loves you, but her undying love and devotion belongs to him now." I kiss him. "I have to surrender five boys into another woman's arms sometime soon."

He smiles, faintly as he rubs his tears away. "Indeed. Now…I really need to go now. Tell Linda…I'll speak to her when I get back."

"Can I tell her anything?"

"You know me Tammy." He stood up and moved towards the stairs. "You all ready know I'm weak and down, so tell her whatever you want."

"Hey," I stand up and waddle after him. "you're a strong man Sherlock. And I'm very proud of you. And even if you're not Linda's hero anymore, you'll always be mine."

Sherlock turns towards me. "Can you promise me that?"

I smile as I stretch up slightly. "You've always been my hero, from the moment you solved your first case in front of me. Yes. I can promise you that you'll be my hero."

"Good." Sherlock leans down and kisses me. I moan as he wraps his arms around my shoulders, working his mouth against mine. After a few moments, he pulls away. "Right, now I've got to go. I'll finish snogging you when I get home Mrs. Holmes."

I shake my head and lean over the banister as he hurries down. "I'll be waiting for you Mr. Holmes."