Author's note: Tanks again to mrspencil, for all her wonderful ideas, one more of which this little piece happens to be.
Though the sight of my son Jackie settled on his father's back was enough to cause the men Giles worked with to stare, and the fact that he was also carrying our baby girl in his arms at the same time would have been enough to send Dr. Mills into a fit, the spectacle attracted little notice at the grocery store we regularly frequented.
In fact, overworked mothers sent their own husbands, if they were there, accusing glances or me, if they were alone and dragging their children with them, looks of envy. The occasional prim and proper lady or gentleman would be scandalized, other people's children would stop and giggle, and indulgent grandparents would smile at the sight before a few would scoop up their own grandchildren.
The shopkeeper himself would chuckle and tease my husband a bit, and Giles would good-naturedly point out that it was better than letting the boy run loose in the store. Mr. Lowell would fervently agree with him.
It left me to carry the groceries, but there was no doubt that I had the easier job of the two of us, and anyway, it gave Giles a little more time with his children. His work kept him busy, and so even a trip to the grocer's was greeted as a chance to spend time with his family rather than a chore that he was being dragged along on.
Then there was the fact that when we stopped by the butcher's on the way home the man never tried to convince Giles that bad meat was perfectly good, or that he was offering us a special deal when he was really trying to swindle us. He always dealt straight with my husband. I was still trying to convince Giles that the man was untrustworthy.
I was trying to figure out if we needed to buy more tea, and my husband was trying to remember if he had had any before coming up to bed last night. "I got in late, but it wasn't a trying case." He frowned at a child who was trying to nick an apple as he thought. The child returned the apple and darted off to find his mother. "It was late. I just wanted to go to bed."
"So you wouldn't have gone for a cup." I agreed. He shook his head. "I know we still had some last week, but I don't know how much we've used since then."
"Tuesday night." He offered. "I had a cup then. And Thursday morning…" He trailed off, his attention now on Mr. Lowell, who seemed to be trying to tell him something through the use of gestures. "Come on down now, Jackie." He murmured, and the boy didn't need to be told twice. "Stay with your mother." He offered me our daughter.
I took her in one arm, maneuvering my shopping basket out of the way, and watched my husband slip away from us and towards a man who I quickly realized did not intend to pay for the items he was slipping into his coat.
I stifled a sigh as my husband stepped behind him and tapped him on the shoulder. They spoke for a few seconds, and Giles must have introduced himself as 'Inspector Lestrade' because the other man suddenly shoved my husband backwards and made a break for it.
Giles was after him in a second, shouting for him to stop. The man did not comply, but lost a few precious seconds when he looked back over his shoulder. I winced as my husband tackled the man and they both went down.
Giles was up again in a second and slapping a pair of cuffs on the man. "Stay there." He growled, and headed for the door. He stepped outside, and a second later I heard the sound of a police whistle being blown.
My son was staring at his father as he returned and relieved the man of his ill gotten gains. So was everybody else. Giles either didn't notice or had chosen to ignore his audience. Knowing him, it was likely the latter.
"Wow." Jackie breathed as two Constables appeared on the scene. "Da's a hero."
I smiled and made a note to mention that to Giles later. It would make him feel good, and hopefully would distract him from the fact that he had made a spectacle of himself in the grocery store today.
Disclaimer: Sherlock and the boys do not belong to me.