"Da, da, da, da!"
Sherlock looked up at the high pitched squeal in surprise, his face lighting up at his son's words. "Emilie, he can speak?!"
"Well, he's been making sounds mostly, he's just now figured out that two letters make different sounds. However, da has been his favorite word for the past few weeks, it is very fortunate that you are here to enjoy it in person."
Sherlock grinned at Ford, watching as he rolled a ball across the floor. "What else have I missed out on, is he walking? We see he is obviously sitting up by himself and playing alone." Voice going soft, Sherlock sat down in front of Ford and pushed the ball back towards him. "Are there no play dates for him, does he always play alone?" He could remember his childhood, the loneliness of never being invited to play dates. Having to spend time alone because your friends were scared of what you might say or do. "I do not wish for him to go through what I went through as a child."
"He has play dates, Sheeza, however they are aware that his time with you is limited and offer it for you and Ford. Do not worry, he will want for nothing, you and I will make sure of it."
"He will never want for anything as long as I am able to provide it for him." He watched his son pull himself up from the floor, holding onto the edge of the table. "Will he not hurt himself?" He moved closer, wanting to catch the toddler if he were to fall.
"As long as he knows you are there he's going to test his boundaries. Just watch him, he will let you know if he needs help or not. Remember how you were as a child? Always curious about the most unusual things. It was always the greatest fun to see our parents in an uproar over half of what you did."
Chuckling, Sherlock watched as Ford slowly moved around the table towards him, a wide toothless grin curving his lips. "They were always so boring, what else was I supposed to do other than find a way to entertain myself." His eyes widened in surprise as Ford slowly let go of the table, his small legs shaking as he took one shaky step forward, paused then took another. "Emilie..."
"Da!"
"Can you take another for me, come on I know you're smart enough to figure this out as well." He held out his hands, taking a deep breath to steady them and watched as Ford took another shaky step forward then stopped. He looked up at Sherlock and gave him a wide grin. "Ah, I see he does have a tooth, if one were to look closely."
"Yes, you can't really see it but it is there."
Sherlock laughed as he watched Ford lift his foot to take another step but started to fall. Moving forward, Sherlock caught him before he could fall on the floor. Heart racing he lifted Ford up in a hug, whispering softly to him. Pulling back, he looked down at the flushed face and wide silver eyes. "Are you alright, maybe I was pushing you to hard so soon?" At Emilie's soft laugh, Sherlock turned to her with a scowl. "He almost fell Em, it is in no way entertaining."
"The fact that you almost fell before him was, however. He will fall, Sheeza, it is how he learns, just as you, trial and error. Here let him down by the table, stand him on the side he started and you go back where you were. He will come back to you."
Sherlock did as Emilie instructed, watching as Ford grinned and repeated his earlier steps. The only difference is he didn't fall this time. "As long as he knows we will catch him if he falls..."
"He will forever trust us, we are his parents and there is nothing we wouldn't do for our own."
Jerking awake, Sherlock looked around at his surroundings, groaning as he stretched the kinks out from his arms and legs. He looked over to find Emilie and Sam sitting across from him, both appeared to be sleeping but he knew looks could be deceiving. Turning to his left, he was surprised to find Wade sitting next to him, arms folded over his chest, head down, his face partially obscured by his usual dark hoody.
"If you stare any longer, I'll think you want to do something really naughty to me."
Blinking in surprise, Sherlock frowned. "Yet again, you are always so crude with your attention, Wilson. Do you not have anything better to say when speaking to someone?"
"Well, if it gives me a chance to get you to talk like that, then..no I guess not. Must be why I like Egghead, Jr." Wade turned to look at Sherlock, watching him from beneath his hood. "I find it sexy for a person to stimulate my mind which works for my body. Helps if they're fuckable as well but not necessarily a requirement."
"Please tell me that you did not just say that Peter Stark is fuckable, because I will then be obligated to report you to his dads."
Wade chuckled as he looked over at Sam. "Actually I meant Mr. Holmes but Petey boy is adorably cute as well. I guess that's another reason why I like Egghead, Jr." He muttered absently. "Anyway, you understand that no matter what happens, my only concern other than the Stark family is the General. I don't answer to any of you really, unless Aveline says so and even then the only one who can speak for her would be Dr. Banner."
Sherlock glared at Wade, watching as cold aquamarine eyes watched them. "We are not here to argue about who is first. If we find one then we will find the others. I only wish to bring Ford and John home safely."
"Well, let me tell you, I'll kill anyone who gets in my way of me doing my job. I understand that Ramón and Marius are involved and that's going to be an issue. She isn't going to allow any of us to touch them." Wade frowned at the snort of derision from Sherlock. "Don't think..." Wade started but was cut off by Emilie's soft voice
"I will kill either of them if they have harmed my son." The group went quiet as Emilie stood up from her seat. "I understand the bonds of family but it has been family that has been trying to kill my son for most of his young life. Now, at a time when he needs us, I will have to comfort myself with the knowledge that he is with strangers while family is trying to kill him still. I have known Aveline longer than you Wade and believe me when I say this is not a light decision but my son comes first. He is all I have in this world other than Sam and I will not lose him because of someone else's sense of obligation." She turned and left the cabin, heading towards the cockpit.
"And that's who you get to go home to every night?" Wade grinned as he looked at Sam. He chuckled as the wingman glared at him in response. "No disrespect, just that she was sexy as hell right then."
"Is that all you think about? When you can get your next sexual fix?" Sherlock sighed in agitation. He remembered now why he hated doing missions with Wade. His usually off color sense of humor and overall lack of brain to mouth filter was annoying, yet...
"I have to keep talking, if I stop then I'll have time to realize that I've fucked up royally. If something happens to the General..."
"She wouldn't blame you, she'd tell you to shut up and focus though. You have a job, Wade, watching Peter and Johnny. If something happens to them then you know she will never forgive you for that." Sam gave him a sad smile. "She's a lot like Em, it's not her life she cares about but the lives of those that she loves most."
Sherlock looked out the small window, his thoughts turning to John and Ford. It's not her life she cares about but the lives of those she loves the most. He'd given his life up once to save those he cared about the most. Now, he would go to the depths of hell and back to save the lives of the ones he loved above all else.
