Seemed my hours of the first week of September were cut, so I was able to get time to write ahead of time! But less money, so egh. But, enjoy!
"To be fair," She spoke, holding a finger up and pointed towards the letter. "I'm not some scared pitiful girl wanting my parents found!" She barked in her little high pitched voice, the girl crossed her arms and pouted looking away. "What do I look like, little Annie? Next you'll be expecting me to sing about perfect parents or something."
The three investigators; Helena, Sherlock, and John sat in their respective seats -though Helena sat at the dining table by the window- listening to the little girl go on and on, avoiding the issue at hand. She sat there wearing sneakers with robin blue leggings, two-fer dress with the top dark blue denim and ruffled pink dress bottom with a zip up jacket of pale red. Her clothing were not anyting of new, hand-me-downs. Some tore and damage showed little care went to her clothing, as her jacket was filthy as well.
Sherlock was just twirling the letter in his hands, gazing at the girl. John watched the girl send continues glares toward Sherlock more than any of the three. He glanced between the two making sure he wasn't sending any back. Helena chewed her thumb, herself struggling to get this kid to cave.
"You're not in trouble or anything, sweetie-"
Her eyes darted to Helena, "Call me that again and I'll just stay silent during this whole interrogation."
The tramp indeed shut her lips, not expecting this girl to have such a quick tongue. John cleared his throat, "Listen, this isn't really an interrogation."
Dark blue eyes pierced at him. "You force me to sit here, while you all judge and demand answer from me. You don't call that an interrogation?"
John was now silent, not knowing how to respond to that. Sherlock turned away snorting a laughter off at her quick mouth.
Mrs. Hudson had returned from downstairs with a tray of snacks, placing them on the coffee table for the kid. She eyed them and her frown deepened. "Bribery now? Psh," She scoffed turning away pouting, though she still took a biscuit from a bowl and started nibbling on it. Mrs. H chuckled and left for the three to talk to her.
"Okay," Helena sighed. "How about we start with names- each of us." She offered, motioning to them all. "You obviously know Sherlock's name, since you wrote the letter to him." She said, pointing her thumb toward the tall thin man, then her index finger toward John. "This is, Doctor John Watson." Then to herself, "And I'm-"
"Hawkeye, or Helena Shaw, obviously." The little girl said in the most immodest tone ever to come from a child.
Helena's jaw hung by this, John was in near match with equal shock. Sherlock's brow was high, pondering how the girl could know this knowledge. It wasn't like every fellow reader on John's blog or random bystander knew this secret. It wasn't a huge deal, but it was to them for Helena's family to stay protected.
John tried to find his voice, as she girl still nibbled onto the biscuits. Bowl sat in her lap, ignoring the crumbs she was leaving on the cushions. "Okay, well doesn't it seem a bit unfair that you know our names, but we don't know your's?"
The girl swallowed, reaching for the cup of milk and chugging it down. Completely ignoring them in the subject. Sherlock rolled his eyes with a loud annoyed sigh. Helena reached back, giving a look. "Just read the damn-ahem, dang letter." She hissed at him, trying to hide her curse for the girl.
"I'm a kid, not stupid. Or deaf." She stated placing the empty cup on the tray and going back to her bowl.
"Let's add ill-mannered to that list." Sherlock added opening the envelope. He took out a folded paper and read it to himself, but seemed to find it difficult. He handed it to Helena, who took it and grinned. It was written in red crayon and everything was spelled correctly, she just guessed he refused to read it being as childish as the said child.
" 'Dear Sherlock Holmes, if you are reading this, then you are smarter than I give you credit for-'" Helena snorted out a laugh, and covered her mouth. Now she sees why he refused to read, any further that is. She cleared her throat, and continued seeing John biting back a grin. " 'You probably think this is just some poorly written letter asking you to find a kitty or lost toy. Well, It's not. I need you to investigate my home, the Littleview Orphanage. Kids have been kidna-' Kidnapped!?"
The girl nodded, putting the bowl on the tray finding this worth her attention. "It's true. The caregivers say that they were simply adopted."
John leaned forward, "Maybe it's true that they were adopted. What makes you think different?"
The girl gave a sour look to John's disagreement. "Because when they talk to the so called parents they act… different."
Sherlock frowned, "Different?"
"Before we continue, can we please have your name?" Helena brought back, standing up and walking over to sit next to the girl. She smiled down at the little dark haired smart mouth. "We'll gladly hear you, but we can't if we don't know our client."
She girl looked down, her cheeks flushing as she mumbled something. Helena leaned forward to hear, the girl raised her voice. "I don't have a name…" Her and John's eyes went wide, at her age and no name? "A birth name at least." She tried to cover seeing their reactions. "They call me Dally back at the home."
John cleared his throat, "That's a cute name." He complimented.
"It's a dumb name." She hissed at him, and crossed her arms looking to Sherlock. "Now you know my name, will you take my case? For all I know, more kids are being taken while I'm gone."
Sherlock stood, buttoning his blazer and walked over toward her with his hands behind his back. "In what different way do the children act? Who are the parents that adopt these kids? Do the adoptions happen often?"
The girl gulped, not trying to feel intimidated by his tall stature and cold stare. She subconsciously moved closer to Helena, and looked down as she answered avoiding his eyes. "They act weird, too happy or something. Some kids I knew didn't want to be adopted, but then after meeting the parents.. They changed."
"Details." Sherlock urged for.
"Sherlock.." Helena scolded turning the girl to her. "Dally, did they ever mention anything before leaving?"
She nodded, "Yes. They all say the same thing before leaving. How they'd be living the dream. I ask some what the dream is, but they never answer. I ask anything, but they just talk about living the dream, I don't know what dream they're talking about." Her hands clenched her skirt ruffled tightly.
"Do you ever see the parents?" John asked, getting up to get a notebook to write this down.
Dally shook her head, looking up. "No. For some reason, Miss Galken changed the method of adoption about a few months ago. She had it set up for the families to see all the kids in the playrooms to see how we are. Then they talk with the kid she might want, and whoever they pick, they adopt."
"How was it changed?" He asked writing down fast as he could to get all she said, she was a speed talker.
"They just call a kid in, and they're gone for an hour at most. Then come back, get their things and leave. They almost look as dazed as those drug people outside the home." John glanced to Helena and Sherlock, he shrugged.
"How often are the children adopted?" Sherlock asked, as it was the last question of his list.
The girl looked away, trying to hide the fact she was counting on her finger. Sherlock rolled his eyes, about to sigh but noticed the glare Helena sent him. He refrained and waited, she turned back and said, "Almost twice every other day. We had a large amount of kids, and toddlers live with us. But it's lowering, to just a few kids."
Sherlock then knelt down on the side of the couch. "And the age groups that the kids are adopted?"
Dally felt nervous under his stare, but gulped and answered. "Between six and ten."
It was then Sherlock jumped to his feet, and announced. "I'll take the case."
Dally jumped to her feet, almost as if to copy how he did it. "Really, Sherlock Holmes!?" Her eyes large and sparkled with delight at his answer. Helena then noticed, this could be the true personality of this orphan, the other being a facade. A good facade.
"Of course, it's something to start after returning home, right John? Helena?" He asked folding the paper and getting his coat and scarf while pocketing the paper.
John and Helena glanced to each other, but nodded. John gave a sigh getting to his feet. He honestly wanted time to write the recent case, but maybe this would be a short one. But then again, Sherlock only took cases that were deeply important, nothing boring or dull.
Helena stood and got her leather jacket on as did John with his own coat. Sherlock turned to Helena, "Littleveiw Orphanage, recognize the name?" He asked, she shook her head.
Dally answered for him, shoving the snacks on the tray into her pockets. "It's located on Stourcliffe Street." John knelt down to her, asking to thank Mrs. Hudson for the food on the way out.
Helena hummed in thought, then looked to him. "That's not too far at all. Thirty minute walk, ten minute drive." Sherlock nodded, turning ready to leave. Helena grabbed his arm, he turned back toward her questioningly. "If she's telling the truth, Sherlock. Does this mean, these kids really are being abducted? And if so, what for?"
He can see the worry in her eyes, she had a huge soft spot for orphans. No family, no one to turn to- she knew what that was like. Sherlock's stare softened into a caring gaze, placing his hand over her's gently. "We'll figure out why, if it's true." He let her hand go as soon as John stood ready to go himself.
Helena shoved her hands into her jacket, biting her lip wanting her warm cheeks to go back to it's usual color. Was he taking this case more for her then his own?
"Oh! Dally! Thank goodness you're safe!" Cried a woman of her late forties as she coddled little Dally close to her.
The woman had curly red hair, more bouncy and poofy than Sherlock's own dark curls. She was thin as bones, wearing a long dress that clung to her body. One would say she ate very little, but Sherlock could tell she was just naturally bone thin.
Helena looked around, the building was of old brick and barely looked like an orphanage of this day in age. Looked more like a prison. The windows had a metal screening over them, from the first floor all the way up to the third floor above. Helena wouldn't trust her weight let alone Dally's to climb this ancient place. The front doors were of metal, and there was only a single sign that said,
'Littleview Orphanage
Home for children and infants'
Helena frowned, looking up the streets. How could anyone be coming constantly without knowing this building even exist. She herself only knew from her Mind Map and taking back ways a lot to avoid traffic. John looked over the building himself, spotting a camera pointing at them not moving.
"Of course, Miss Galken." She said dryly patting the lady's arm, begging for release.
"Thank you for returning her, Mr. Holmes." She smiled to Sherlock, still holding the girl close.
Helena spoke up, "Well-"
Sherlock cut her off, "Of course, a little girl wandering the streets on her own. Seems she lost her way."
John looked to the little girl who seemed to still be trying to get out of the woman's hold. Sherlock's fake charm might have worked, as Miss Galken nudged Dally toward the open door, who just stood there refusing to leave. Galken swaggered past Helena and John looking Sherlock up and down, the Tramp watched closely.
"Oh, such a caring man toward the helpless children." She toyed with the lapel of his coat, but he kept a charming smile on. It was obvious she was trying to flirt with him, but if The Woman can't break him than what made anyone think this desperate woman could.
"It's such an honor to meet the famous Sherlock Holmes." She cooed.
"So then you read the stories on John's blog, right?" Helen asked, finding the answer to how Dally knew of him.
Dally came up from the doorway. "I read them on my own! He came on a serious case." Clearly wanting Galken out if this conversation.
She let Sherlock go, much to his pleasure stepping to stand with his companions. Galken placed a hand on the girl's shoulder.
"Sweetie, did you bother this busy man over that imaginary case you made up?" She asked.
Dally shook her head, "It's a real case Miss Galken! We need Sherlock Holmes to save-"
"Now, now Dally dear." She tutted leading her to the doorway. "Go on ahead inside and let the other kids know you're okay." Before Dally could say anything else, the door shut.
John and Helena looked to each other worriedly, as Galken was still there with them. John cleared his throat, wanting a word in. "Dally came to us, saying there was kids getting abducted. Is this true, Miss Galken?" He asked, taking a notepad and pen out.
She turned to the man and shook her head. "It's all for attention, I assure. You see, Dally has been here since she was an infant. She was left with a letter that her parents would come back to her when able to." She sighed, features full of sympathy as she wrapped her arms around herself. "But as you can see, they haven't returned. Just as almost every kid left here are promised to be taken back."
"Where did she learn about Sherlock and how to fine Baker Street?" Helena asked crossing her arms, looking over the building. "That's highly impressive for a girl her age… How old is she?"
"Seven." They looked to Sherlock, hands shoved into his coat pockets looking to them. "Dally has an older friend who reads the stories from John's blog to her, more or less printed out as I doubt there's any computers or tablets given to orphans. Especially at this poor establishment. She reads the blog from printed paper, Dally had some papers cut about in her pocket. Her friend is not part of this place, she lives with her family nearby and visits Dally every other day with stories from John's blog. Dally found her way to our flat by using locations in the stories and finding her way from here up a few streets She left the building by picking the locks to the doors here, doors are aged to it was easy for a girl her age to unlock. She's been gone for over three hours, though you failed to report this to the authorities. Why? You may wonder," He inquired to John and Helena. "Miss Galken here was too focus in other things. Her makeup is rushed, by the smear of her eye liner and used three different type of lipstick figuring out which was best, none do justice as a heads up. It wasn't until over twenty minutes ago did she take notice of the missing girl."
Miss Galken was awe stricken by his long but fast explanation, John and Helena stood by waiting for the reaction she would have over his words. She took in a breath, stepped in front of Sherlock, and threw herself against him with arms wrapped around his thin figure. The sound of sobbing could be heard, as the two were shocked by this action. Sherlock himself didn't expect this, looking to the two for help to unhitch her off of him.
"Ohh, I am a horrible caregiver. But, believe me I was truly worry, Sherlock!" She cried, looking up, gripping his coat for 'support'.
Sherlock managed to get her off of him, wiping off whatever possible make up stains made on his coat. "I highly doubt that." He dismissed.
Helena frowned at the woman, stepping between her and Sherlock. "Isn't it a it suspicious that it took you a long while to notice Dally was gone?" She pointed at the camera above pointed at them. "You clearly have a camera watching the front, unless-"
"It's broken."
"Yup. That's what I thought." She sighed, rolling her eyes.
"But you don't understand. Dally is hard to keep track of alone. She's rambunctious, unpredictable- I've tried hiring more caregivers, but none will want anything to do with her. I wonder if she even wants to be adopted." Galken tried to explain, rubbing her wrinkled stress filled forehead.
Helena tried to push away any guilt feeling. "How many children do you take care of?"
"Oh, it used to be over thirty, most of the kids were older and helped out. But they were adopted in the recent past weeks." She shrugged with a sigh. A frown came upon her face, "It's now just Dally, a few kids, and the toddlers. I get help now and then with offered work, but her friend Maggie is the best help."
"When was the last time Maggie came by?" John asked, arms folded behind his back.
"About a week ago," She placed a hand to her cheek shaking her head. "I think this is a way for Dally to cope."
Sherlock sighed loudly, gaining their attention. Helena gave a look, seeing he was growing impatient. "So, um, nothing serious is happening here? I mean, we're not accusing you of anything. But a little girl claiming kids are being kidnapped, is kind of a big deal."
Galken laughed it off, waving her hand as if shooing a fly. "No, no. I promise, nothing bad. Kids are just getting adopted and I don't think Dally can handle it. If it makes you feel better, you can come inside and see."
"No. If all is fine, then we'll make our leave." Sherlock stated turning to leave. "Come along." He called to his two companions. John hesitated, giving a nod to Galken and following behind.
But Helena didn't move. "I'll catch up with you guys later." She called back to them.
Sherlock kept walking, John smiled a bye to her and kept with Sherlock. Helena turned back to Galken and asked, "May I come inside? I'd like to see how Dally lives here."
Miss G nodded and lead her inside. It wasn't as bad inside, the walls were clean as was the floor. There was a lot of rooms for large number of kids, but most were now just empty with unoccupied beds. Passing by one room, there was a cute playroom where the toddlers were. One woman smiled playing with the toddlers, counting Helena found only four. Two boys were playing together, while a girl sat in the carer's lap reading a book to her. The third boy was building blocks content alone.
Up on the second floor, there was still a few kids around Dally's age playing with toys, drawing in coloring books. But she couldn't find Dally anywhere, "Um, where is Dally?"
"Oh, she usually doesn't play with anyone but Maggie. She can be found by herself in her room." Galken explained, pointing to an open room across the active one.
Helena walked over peeking into the room seeing the little dark haired Dally. She was on her bed, books around her. But they weren't open, they just sat closed piled about. The seven year old sat there staring at them, Helena can hear a sniffle now and then. Oh man, she was crying. All by her lonesome.
Taking in a breath, Helena knocked on the door frame. "Hey, Dally." Her shoulders and arms moved about, her hands shot to her face to wipe any sign of crying. "Can I, uh, can I come in?"
Dally nodded her head, hair bobbing up and down. Helena entered the room, and came by sitting on the bed with her. "Got quite a collection of books here." She told picking one up titled, 'Jane Eyre', this was actually a romance unlike the other books that were mystery novels. Helena grinned, leaning forward. "Hmm, this seems to be a bit different from the others."
Dally looked up, and gasped. She too the book and hid it under her thin pillow instantly, cheeks ablaze. "I-It was an accident! I thought it was a crime book!"
Helena chuckled, "There's nothing wrong with romance novels. In fact, I think I saw this same book in Sherlock's shelf."
Dally's puffy red eyes glared at Helena, trying to put on a tough face. "...He doesn't believe, does he?" Helena's eyes softened at her when asked that. "I'm not lying or making it up. Miss Galken always thinks I'm doing stuff for attention, that I'm a bad kid." She looked away crossing her arms tightly.
The Tramp scooted closer to the girl, "I don't think you're a bad kid."
"You don't even know me." She argued.
Helena thought about Sherlock's deduction and what Galken informed them about Dally. "I know I see myself in you."
Dally looked up at those words, "..How?"
She smiled down at her and scooted right next to her, folding her hands in her lap. "Well, if you know much about the Hawkeye in John's stories, then you'd know the Helena Shaw, right?"
"..I didn't read the stories myself.." She admitted feeling sheepish, Helena knew but let her go on. "My friend Maggie reads me them, she knew who you were because.. She's really smart I guess." Dally shrugged. "She visits me every other day, reading me stories from Mr. Watson's website. Whenever she had none, Maggie would bring books to read. She let me keep them, but I haven't seen her in a while."
"Did she write that letter you sent to Sherlock?" Helena asked, looking through the books. Some were ones she knew Sherlock had owned or she herself read.
"Yea," Dally huddled her knees up hiding her face to her nose. "I don't know how to read or write.."
Helena put a hand on her shoulder, Dally glanced up at her gentle smile. "There's no shame in that, Dally. Heck, I myself don't know much about certain educations myself. Took me a while to get used to my own phone, sad huh?" She chuckled.
Dally raised her head, "But aren't you an adult? I thought they all knew about phones and computers."
"Hmm, some do, but my case is different. Y'know why I mentioned the difference between Hawkeye and Helena?" Dally shook her head. "Well, you see. The real story of Helena is, I've been homeless since I was a near teenager. I had a conflict with my family and left living on my own in the streets. It was a hard life, but I adapted and had help, in turn I gave help to those who needed it."
"Wait, you don't live at 221b?" She asked, putting her legs down and leaning forward with interest.
Helena thought on that question, pausing in her answer. She stayed there at times, but never actually lived there. Only for about a few days for cases then back to the streets. "Um, no not really. That flat is more of Sherlock and John's place. I just go and visit, I stay for cases at times."
Suddenly Dally's eyes sparkled, "Are there any new cases that you did with them?" Helena chuckled as she shook her arm. "Are there? Are there any? Please, please tell me?" She begged, showing her true childish ways.
Helena laughed and sat her back down, "How about we make a deal, Dally?"
"A deal?"
"Mm-Mmm, I'll tell you a case we had just returned from solving if you keep this whole thing here a secret from Galken and keep us updated on what's going on."
Dally stood on her bed, and a whole new definition of excitement was given to Helena seeing the expression on this girl's face. "Yes! Yes! I promise! Thank you!" She cried jumping up and down on her bed, causing some books to fall off.
Helena laughed and took her by the shoulders to settle her down. "I'll come visit you everyday around lunch, okay? But, I'll tell you the beginning of ummm, what is it he's gonna call it..?"
"What's it about?" Dally asked, sitting on her legs, still bouncing lightly with eagerness.
"Well, it's about a hound haunting a place called Baskerville." She told her, leaned back in the bed.
The little girl tapped her chin, then she beamed. "The Hounds of Baskerville!" She said, mistakenly adding an 's'.
"Hey, that's a great title, Dally! I'll be sure to tell John to give it that title." Helena reached over and ruffled her dark hair, Dally giggled at the affection. "So, it all started on a cool clear day, John and I sat around and I asked him if he was a dog or cat person. Suddenly, Sherlock entered covered in…Um, how find are you with violence, Dally?"
"Maggie read to me about this one crime story that a man had his fingers cut off as a-"
"Okay, okay, I'll try to make this the best I can." She assured, trying to not give the girl possible ideas, nightmares, or say something to Miss Galken to keep her visits out. "Anyway, Sherlock was being a real pain in the a-"
'-Behind. Henry, a normal-looking bloke in his late 20s, was clearly very anxious when he arrived at Baker Street. He told us about how-'
"Henry was a 'normal looking bloke'?" Came over John's shoulder as the obviously bored Sherlock read what was on the laptop screen. "Really, John, you should become a professional author!" He praised sarcastically leaving John to return to his typing.
Though the man paused and watched Sherlock go back into the kitchen where he was inspecting the letter Dally sent to him. In the cab, he claimed that it'd be put on hold, but it seemed he couldn't even last two minutes to just do a thing called relax.
Helena hadn't returned or texted the two since they brought Dally back to the home. It seemed whenever this was the case, it drove Sherlock up a wall to do something. John was now able to read how Sherlock would react with Helena being gone. If they had an argument and was ignoring him, he would deduce anything that he could find or watch trash telly. When she was out on her own after a case with no contact, he would start experiments or go on John's blog to rudely comment on what he wrote. The worst had to be the argument he had with Sherlock in the comment section in his The Woman post, which included a whole conversation between the two and Mrs. Hudson.
Helena never commented, but probably didn't even own a blog as she was never on a laptop- or owned one at that. John pondered if she knew much with the internet, being homeless for so long. He remembered she needed some help with her phone but she adapted fast.
Pausing to continue typing, John got up stretching his arms and walked into the kitchen to pour some tea. He was glad to be back at the flat.
"It was all dark, our torches were shining everywhere! I was above the moor, while Henry and Sherlock were down below…" Helena started lowly, as she stood in the middle of the room looking around reenacting the scene. Dally sat at the edge of the bed, eyes wide fully immersed. "Suddenly! A howl screeched into the night!" The girl jumped back, but still smiled at the short scare.
"Was it the hound?" Dally asked in a whisper.
Helena grinned at her, and turned around, "It was- I turned and there right in front of me was the demon Hound!" Dally gasped covering her mouth. "It swung a paw full of sharp long claws at me, I fell back into the moor! Thankfully, Sherlock caught me."
"Did it scratch you?" Dally asked bouncing once more.
Helena nodded, kneeling down and revealed her hand with the still healing scars from the dog. "I got the scars to prove it."
"Wow! Did it scare you?"
Helena would say yes, but kids want adults to be brave, right? So, she stood with a scoff, "Of course not. We were shocked though, that such a beast existed! We saw the hound itself. With glowing red eyes and long sharp teeth!"
"What happened next!?"
Helena smiled and stood, "You'll have to find out tomorrow." She checked the time on her phone, "I should get back with John and Sherlock."
"Aww, okay." She accepted a bit dejectedly, "You really will come back right?"
Helena patted her head, smiling brightly at her, "Promise is a promise. But, before I leave, mind telling me about a few things with this case?" She nodded, as Helena knelt back down. "So, how did you get Maggie to write the letter."
"I didn't trick her or anything, she thinks the same thing is happening. It was her idea to go to Sherlock." Dally explained, playing with the ends of her skirt.
Helena didn't expect this. "Really? Did she tell you to go to him alone?"
"No, we were suppose to go together. Maggie is twelve and knows her way around more than I do, she even drew directions. But.. She hasn't come around lately. I think her parents grounded her or something." Dally thought sadly, she really missed her friend.
Helena put a hand on her back, she looked up at the woman. "Hey, that was pretty brave to go alone, Dally. I'm glad it wasn't far for your safety." Dally blushed by the praise, a sudden thought came to Helena. "By the way, how did you learn to pick locks?"
"Maggie taught me."
"Ah, sounds right." She chuckled.
"Maggie is really really smart, she has a book to learn lock picking. She wants to be like Sherlock Holmes and be a detective too!" Dally got to her feet and went into her dresser drawer. Helena's hand shot to her mouth, unable to hide the reaction to what she was now wearing on her head.
"You have the hat!" She stated in a near high pitch tone.
"Yup!" Although it was poorly handmade, the dedication was strong in it. It was cut and folded by paper colored in crayon of many shades of blue. "Maggie has her's at her home. She helped me make this. When we grow up, we're gonna be detectives and solve cases like Sherlock and Mr. Watson!" She said proudly with hands on her hips.
"I can't even say in proper words how cute this is." Helena mumbled to herself and got her phone. "Can I take a picture of you in it?" Dally took the hat off at this, "What's wrong?"
"...No one will make of it, right?" She asked, turning the hat about carefully in her hands.
Helena frowned, "Now why would anyone-"
"Hey, look! Dilly Dally has the stupid hat again!" Yelled a boy pointing from the hallway. Two other kids laughed and ran off down the stairs. Helena now understood why, she looked back to Dally who was hiding the hat again.
"They're just jealous." Helena said standing up and placing a hand on her shoulder.
Dally looked up in question. "Why would they be?" She asked, her lip out with a pout.
"For many things- you're cute hair, pretty eyes, great friend outside the home. But most of all-" Helena took the hat from her and placed it on her head. Dally looked up just as Helena took the photo, and showed it on her phone screen. "-because you're unique."
Dally's brows knotted with confusion. "What does, 'unique' mean?"
"It means you're different, just like we are; John, me, and Sherlock. Anyone who shows how different they are, are the best kind of people."
Dally's eyes welled up, cheeks heated up in a blush, she suddenly clung onto her waist in a hug. Helena smiled and wraps her hands around the small girl. Dally wasn't some rude boisterous girl that Galken claims her to be. She just needed someone to trust, and a friend.
Helena made her leave, promising to return the next day to continue her tale for Dally. As she made her way to the main street, she texted John.
Hey
By any chance did you get
A title for the case?
-Hawk
She took a nice cruising walk up the street. Her phone vibrated in her hand, looking down she found John's response.
No
And halfway through writing
Where have you been?
-JW
Talking with Dally
She's a real sweetheart,
once you get to know her
She thought of a title for it.
-Hawk
The response was shorter this time.
Oh? What is it?
-JW
The Hounds of Baskerville
I told her some of it,
She's really excited to hear more
=)
-Hawk
That's a good title! I'll be sure to
Send her a credit for it.
Be careful what you tell her,
she is young after all, Helena.
-JW
Helena chuckled and texted back as she stopped by a small pastry shop. Her stomach growled, she didn't eat much of her meal at the inn that morning before getting on the train, so she was starving. Going inside, she glanced between the display glass and her phone texting back.
Don't worry,
she doesn't seem affected
Bringing back some pastry,
Sherlock or you want anything?
-Hawk
Helena looked over the counter as a worker came up. "Hi! I'll take a dozen cream puffs, chocolate mousse filling, please?" He nodded and started picking up the tongs and a box to place the treats in. John's response came,
Sherlock said nothing for him
But get him something anyway
Any kind of tart is fine by me
-JW
She looked back up, "I'll also have hmm… lemon meringue tarts- four of those. And...er…" Did Sherlock even like any sweets? The best she saw was him adding sugar to his tea, that was it. Though he did like eating pies that Mrs. Hudson made. She smiled and pointed at the display, "And a small helping of the apple crumb pie please?"
Once she add all she needed, she paid for the treats and left with the small box, she decided to take a cab back. Helena honestly didn't trust herself nor did she have the patience to gently walk all the way back. She gave the driver the address, and the car was off. Sitting with it the box in her lap, she felt her phone vibrate. Did Sherlock change his mind on the dessert, she pondered.
No, it wasn't Sherlock or John who had texted her. Helena's smile and entire mood dropped, her skin felt clammy gripping the phone tightly. Her eyes stared at the words.
Missed you, Birdie.
Did you miss me?
-Jim
Thank you wheelieandblur, for the follow and favorites!
Bored411- If you ever do, that is. You know how I can be. Haha! I got only two days work so I was able to get this chapter done much faster!
Goddess of Leo- Wow, never thought of it that way. Hmm, makes sense though. AWW! Really think so? Thanks so much, I research super hard and try to keep to it. It can be a bit of a mix as well to the game series I follow or from the original books. So I tend to mix it up, but try to keep it as far from OOC as possible.