DO NOT OWN! Sherlock gets a case and yells at another incompetent adult. CHANGES MADE TO THE CHAPTER!
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As promised, when the Flu season lulled a bit, John contacted Lestrade for some sort of case for the child. Mary and he had talked and decided that they would allow him to try. If there were any nightmares or anything then he would have to wait until he was back to adult sized. Of course they knew that Sherlock would try to hide any terrors if they told him that part of the deal. So they simply told him he could have trial case. Secretly they knew he probably knew of the but in the statement but ignored it in being excited.
Fortunately for the public of London but unfortunately for the impatient child, they were well into November before Lestrade called them in on a case. John and Sherlock caught a cab, leaving Mary behind to have a quiet afternoon to herself. The man noticed the change in the boy as the cab brought them closer to their destination. He became reflective, tucking Hamish in his pocket he placed his hands to his chin in his adult thinking position and stared hard eyed at the floor of the cab. John sure he was preparing himself for the scene ahead and settled himself to watch out the window as they drove on.
It took twenty minutes to reach the scene and he hid a smile as Sherlock's lip curled in disgust. Just like it used to be.
"Why are all these people always ath crime scenes? They ruin any evidence." Huffing he walked slowly around the car and went leisurely towards the tape, his eyes darting around the area. Lestrade came towards them a small smile on his face. He began to speak to Sherlock, who ignoring him marched off to the left.
"Move!" He ordered and officer who was so surprised at the serious seven year old, obeyed looking helplessly at Lestrade who simply nodded and watched on. Sherlock circled the area, eyes narrowed he leaned forward hand fumbling in his pocket. John walked to stand near Lestrade as Sherlock pulled out his pocket magnifying glass he studied the area before motioning to the officer again.
"This is more evidence, you should cordon ith off." Instead of looking at Lestrade the cop went off immediately to get tape and a forensic photographer. Sherlock mumbled to himself a bit as he moved back towards Lestrade and John.
"Phone please Daddy." He said distractedly, still looking around on the ground. John handed it to him in awe of how fluid the boy was. It was almost like he could see the adult faded over the top of the child as he stalked further towards the tape. He stopped once more just before the yellow tape and called to the officer.
"More evidence!" He ducked just a little to make it under the tape. He twisted and turned looking all over the place. His lips were still moving silently as his eyes, hard with concentration, took everything in and processed it with lightning speed. The only time he paused was when he finally reached the body. It was of a teenage girl. If John didn't know any better, he would think that the boy recognized who she was. He stood still for a long moment and just as John was beginning to think he should get him out of there, the face went cold once more. He circled the body once, then kneeled down beside her using his magnifying glass. Once he turned to Lestrade and asked for a latex glove, before reaching and pulling open her coat. He seemed suddenly to come up with something.
"Daddy can you thell me how she died?" He asked absently as he typed away on the phone face scrunched in concentration. Looking once to the Inspector who nodded his ascent he knelt by the body. He studied noticing burst blood vessels in her eyes...interesting, he studied her throat seeing bruises, and looked at the back of her head.
"Dead for a couple hours I'd say. She died from asphyxiation not the blow to the head. That appeared to come first. Whoever it was cracked her head against the ground possibly to stun her so he could choke her.
"I concur." Sherlock mumbled suddenly scanning the crowd. "AHA!" He said. Turning he said quietly. "I know who it is follow me." He ran up the hill, looking like just some kid skipping merrily on a nice day. However, his face was focused and as John tried to figure out who he was looking at the boy got closer to the tape.
"He did it." The boy blinked up stubbornly at a man who was looking down disgustedly at him. John tilted his head a bit, he was sure he recognized the bloke. But a split second later he had begun to run. JOhn managed to grab Sherlock who had tried to run after him. The boy squirmed in his arms.
"JOHN!" The boy yelped before blinking and shaking his head." UH Daddy whath are you doing? He's getthing away!" The boys face was pained and distressed, glancing from the direction the man and Lestrade had gone to where the girl lay in the grass.
"You stay here, your too young for this. I will help catch him." Sherlock looked at him wavering. "You trust me don't you."
Sherlock nodded firmly. "Go!" He ordered, not having to say it again as the man had already jumped the tape and took off down the street. He wished later he had just stayed. He ran down the block and took the right he'd seen the others take in the distance. He nearly ran past what he thought was an empty alley before he heard scuffling. Ducking in it took him a moment to acclimate to the gloom. Lestrade was laying flat on his back grappling with the man standing above him a knife in hand.
"I won't let her ruin me! I won't." John still couldn't place him but he knew now for sure that this person was recognizable. He stealthily moved behind the man. Reaching around he maneuvered and twisted the mans knife arm almost to the point of popping it out of socket before man finally yelped and dropped the knife. He turned catching John by surprise and giving him a blow to the temple. John scrambled back stunned trying to gain his bearings. He put himself down in a fighting stance staring around widly for an attack. It took him a few moments to realize that Lestrade's voice was speaking to him.
"John mate, its ok. I got him." John relaxed minutely allowing his eyes to adjust into focus again. He saw LEstrade was indeed alright standing with the fuming man in handcuffs. John stood straight automatically taking stock of his injuries. Small headache, no concusion. Not bad for a Sherlock case, he thought amused. Noticing the grin on his face Lestrade grinned back before dragging the perp out onto the street. John followed after him. They were nearly back to the scene when sudden yelling from off to the sidelines caught their attention. John stiffened when he realized one of the parties involved was Sherlock. Lestrade whistled for an officer to come over and take the suspect, he and John heading over to the disturbance.
"SARAH ELIZABETH! You do not belong here and you will be coming home with me straight away. Or you will be very sorry!"
"I'm already sorry, I don't want to be with you!"
John froze when he heard Lestrade beside him swear. "My daughter and ex." The man said curtly hurrying. They were still too far away when Sherlock who had been blocking the frightened girl from her angry mother spoke up.
"You leave her alone, you could already geth in big throuble when we thell Uncle Dethecithive whath you did tho her! You won'th be able tho hurth her again!" JOhn watched in slow motion as the angry woman drew herself up. She was ample bodied, clearly very drunk and very angry.
"Disrespecthhh! I will nottt tolerate that!" John screamed running faster as the back of her hand collided with Sherlock's face. The boys head snapped to the left. He turned eyeing her coldly a small smirk on his face.
"That the best you can do you pathetic piece of human meat." So close not close enough, so many people in the way watching but not helping the two children clearly being hurt. Never had John wanted to shoot people so bad in his life.
"WHY YOU!" He pushed through watching as she grabbed the boys wrist and shaking him by it.
"Move! Please someone stop her! That's my son!" He tried to twist out of her grip, pain clear on his face. She back handed him once more, his already bruising cheek turning redder, a thin line of blood running down his cheek from where her ring cut him. John heard a snap over the murmurings of the audience. He was so close, he was screaming for Sherlock.
"Now move brat."
"No." His voice was steady as was his face. She held his broken wrist and reached out to slap him again. John could see the fear hidden in his eyes, but he kept the little blond girl firmly behind him and faced the woman down.
THWACK! John had fit himself neatly in between the woman and his child. Turning not considering for one moment this was a woman, like most men he had a rule against hitting woman, she was a monster. A child hurter, he punched her square in the face.
"You fucking touch these children again and I'll kill you." He hissed down at her as she looked up at him fearfully. He watched as the crocodile tears came when Lestrade stepped up behind her. He lifted the woman silently and cuffed her tightly ignoring her pleas and cry's as another officer who finally pushed his way through took her off to a car. John stared down at Sherlock who had turned and was being hugged tightly by the little blond girl. He had his arms wrapped around her and he stood quietly giving silent comfort to the sobbing child.
"Sherlock, can you bring her to the car?" Lestrade had tried to touch her but as upset as she was she flinched away anyone taller than the boy she clung desperately too. Nodding, he whispered something in her ear, and followed the detective through the silent suddenly clear path through the people. It sincerely took John all his willpower not to punch a few more faces. Who watched children getting belittled and hurt and did nothing? A side not was a deep sigh and burst of hurt deep in his chest. 'Why was it always Sherlock?' He was such a good, generous person and he got every bad thing that came their direction. It was any wonder the man hadn't been a Moriarty. He was truly stronger and more loving than he'd ever given himself credit for.
Their first stop was the hospital. Sherlock looked on distastefully as he was immediately led down the hall to radiology. He looked up fearfully at John who knelt down.
"I'll be here, I just have to stay in the room with the nurse. We have to cast that wrist." The boy nodded before obediently climbing up and positioning his arm. There were several pictures, several poses, and several tears from both father and son before the woman got what she needed. She led them down the hall to a nice big room, helping Sherlock onto the bed before leaving them to go take a look at the xrays and confer with a doctor. John already put in a call to Mycroft which is how they got in so quickly. The doctor came in eyes sad and grim, but he put a smile on for the boy.
"Well Sherlock's arm is broken. The radius and ulna. They are however clean breaks, so we will put them back in place and he'll get a cast." John nodded feeling ill." Of course he'll have to use a sling to keep it steady as well. Now son, what color cast would you like?"
Sherlock blinked up at him, considering for a moment. "Yellow." He stated simply. The man nodded before heading out to get the supplies. It was a long painful time for both Sherlock and John. Sherlock had been given some strong pain killers but even as a child his adult immunity was there. He held fast to John with his good hand when they manuevered the bones in place. They let him rest a moment preparing the casting. This part was quicker and in no time Sherlock's arm was casted yellow. Once shown how to use the sling and given some instructions to John. (He didn't bother to say they weren't needed) they went out to meet Sarah and Lestrade in the waiting room.
"You want to go home now I imagine?"
"We can'th!" Sherlock said suddenly looking briefly at Sarah's face before up at Lestrade. "You have thwo suspecths tho thalk tho, and Sarah's going tho have tho be with you ath the sthathion. I'll keep her company."
John looking down at Sherlocks determined face agreed. "It will be good for the two of them to have company. And I have someone I need to speak too." HIs eyes flashed and his voice went hard at that. Lestrade simply nodded and led them out to the car.
The car ride was silent except Sarah, whose tears began thinking it was her fault that Sherlock had been harmed. John had been proud to bursting, when they had settled in the car and the boy had presented the girl with Hamish.
"His names Hamish, he's good for making people feel betther. YOu can borrow him." She'd given him a grateful look before cuddling the bee close and getting as close to him as she could. By the time they reached the yard, Lestrade was able to take her hand, she took Sherlocks' hand along with Hamish's wing in her other. John followed along behind, debating on how he was going to make this up to the boy again. He was waiting for the day the boy would begin to hate him for not following up with his promise to protect him.
Lestrade led them down the hall to an interrogation room. He sat heavily on one side allowing the children to sit on the other. John stood quietly in the corner as moral support. Lestrade just looked sadly at his daughter for a few moments, tears forming in his eyes.
"Buttercup.." He began his voice cracking before he cleared it to continue. "Why...why didn't you tell me this was happening?" She looked desperately at Sherlock who seemed to read her before responding in a mumbled voice, staring firmly at the table.
"Ith's a new developmenth. Your ex was jealous thath you weren'th pining for her anymore. Parth of the fun for her in relathionships is playing conthrol and you weren'th playing anymore. She thried the same with Sarah and thried tho geth her tho thurn on you...buth she wouldn'th because she knew betther and idolizes you." Sarah managed a small smile at her father at that statement. " Her mother goth a new boyfriend and the thwo of them began drinking every nighth. One nighth she losth ith and hith Sarah. She threathened tho kill you if Sarah thold and then promised ith wouldn'th happen again. Buth ith did because they never sthop."His voice was hard and angry now and John knew he wasn't just thinking of Sarah's situation anymore. "They thell you thath if your smarther, nicer, cleaner, sweether thath ith will end and they will love you. Buth they never do. She figured ith outh when I didn'- I mean she figured ith outh and came for you finding outh you were ath the crime scene. Her mother followed and tried tho drag her back in the car. I wouldn'th leth her." He looked up at Lestrade daring him to say anything.
"Ok...ok." Lestrade stood and moved around the table pulling Sarah into a deep hug. "I'm so sorry buttercup. We'll fix this, you'll come live with me and this...this won't ever happen again." John waited for a sarcastic comment from Sherlock about how no one would protect her and it would happen to again. He waited for a disgusted look in his direction, angry looks, angry words, anything. What he didn't expect was a pale face, tears clinging onto lashes turn pleadingly towards him. Sherlock looked once over his shoulder to be sure that Sarah was properly busy before turning back to JOhn and lifting his good arm, silently asking for comfort. John felt as if he floated across the room he got there so fast. He encased the boy tightly in his arms, feeling the shudders rip through him and began to whisper sweetly to him.
"Such a good brave boy. I'm so proud of you for protecting her. Shhh you're a good boy. You're such a kindhearted boy." He whispered it over and over as the two children calmed themselves. Sherlock naturally pulled himself together first, at least on the outside, wanting to be strong for Lestrade's child who he found out later was actually three years older than Sherlock's current age.
After calming their children, they brought the two of them to Lestrade's office leaving Donovan who'd been at another scene, to sit quietly with them as they colored together. Sarah still had Hamish clutched under her arm, Sherlock glanced longly at him every once and a while but said nothing stoically continuing to color away. Lestrade's eyes twinkled at them for a moment before turning to John seriousness back.
"Would you like to join me?"
"Oh yes." He hissed back.
After an hour of angry words from them they finally broke her down. She balled now that she was sober enough to realize what she had done.
"That poor-innocent boy-I- oh my." Unable to speak after that Lestrade simply said that John was not pressing charges out of respect for Lestrade and Sarah but she was required to go to rehab for at least ninty days and she would likely never have any sort of custody over their daughter again. She agreed silently and only spoke once more when they were about to leave.
" I know it won't mean much, but please tell the boy I'm sorry and...and thank you for protecting my daughter." John nodded tightly before following Lestrade out.
As they reached the office, they heard Sherlock speaking excitedly.
"Somethimes grandmum and I wathch whath's ith called? Crap thelly! Well he's a new thalk show hosth on the thv...she was on his show all the thime buth he was always looking ath her angrily. I nothiced there was a foothprinth thath's the same as his shoes. His is special ordered tho have his name in Japanese characthers. He thried tho rub outh the mark buth parth of ith was lefth and if you look ath the bruising on her neck ith'll mathch the ring he sthuck down his booth justh afther uncle dethecthive got him." Donovan took notes shaking her head, jaw open a little in disbelief. Sarah sat quietly her hand holding Sherlock's good hand tightly. They both turned when their fathers came in. Sarah ran to Greg jumping into his arms while Sherlock walked more sedately to John.
"Can we go home?" He asked quietly his voice betraying how exhausted he was. While John had pled with Sherlock to put ice on his face the boy had neglected too saying it made it hurt more. His cheek was swollen like that of a chipmunk and his eye was nearly sealed shut. He decided they needed to go home where he could keep an eye on the boy and make sure he iced his face. He reached out to take Sherlock's hand, nodding to Lestrade as they started to walk out the door.
"Wait!" A high pitched voice called. They turned as Sarah came running up to them. She handed Sherlock Hamish before throwing her arms about him and then pulling back planted a kiss on his cheek. They watched as his face went a brilliant shade of red and he stared at the other child as if she was an unknown creature.
"Thank you for saving me, and letting Hamish keep me company. YOu're my best friend Sherlock!" She chirped hugging him once more. "See you soon!" She raced back to her father who was looking softly at the two children.
"Welcome..." Sherlock stuttered back she blew a kiss back at him before they disappeared into the office. Then Sherlock turned and raised his arms once more. John scooped him up and took him out to the cab and home.
Later he would ice the bruises much to the child's chagrin. They would talk about how sorry JOhn was that this had happened again and Sherlock would say it wasn't the same. He couldn't be there every second and when he did get there he protected him. He'd hug his daddy tightly and tell him how much he loved him. He'd settle in with Hamish and go to sleep
Later in the night John and Mary would remain awake until the child pattered in and slid into the sheets between them huddling against John and finally the three of them would find a peaceful sleep.
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So Sarah will definitely be returning later. For W cubed I definitely have a birthday story planned for Sherlock but we're only in November and his birthday is in January ;). I'm thinking Sherlock gets some sort of illness and tries to hide it. Pretty standard fanfiction stuff but a bit of hurtcomfort is always good for the soul. If anyone has other ideas please don't hesitate to let me know! R&R