CHAPTER 53. JAM
Harry shook her head, she'd taken the time to bring one of the teenagers back to Sunny Hills, children's home. The girl was on the same track that her mother had taken, and Harry was trying desperately to keep the her straight.
On her way out the ex alcoholic was refilling the young adult AA and substance abuse pamphlets in the hall of the home, when a younger boy with a cast on his arm nearly ran her over.
"Woah there." She caught him before he fell back, he was looking over his shoulder then moved quickly to hide behind her.
Three older boys were rushing in, "Where did he go?" one of the older ones started for the back play area where the arcade games were kept.
"Trouble?" the young boy stepped out, he had to be four or five, she thought he was too thin for any age. His jeans were ripped at the knee. His shoes were untied, and the striped blue and white shirt he wore was two sizes too big. It was those startling blue eyes that caused her pause, he nervously shrugged.
"Story of my life." He itched his nose.
"How old are you kid?"
"Five." He tried to show her with his cast hand.
"What happened there?" he sniffed and shifted his feet, looking away.
"I fell. Why?" he replied in a barely an audible mumble.
"No reason. Want me to tie those shoes before you fall again?"
"Do what you want." She sighed kneeling down to tie the dirty and frayed laces of the old trainers. When she reached for the second shoe, he teetered, his hand on her shoulder "You have pretty hair." He whispered. "We almost match." Harry looked up in time to see his cheeks burning red, as if this was a secret.
"Yes. We almost do." Harry whispered back " My names Harry."
"That's a boys name. And why are we whispering?" the boy asked.
"It's short for Harriette. And I don't know you started it."
"Oh, Harry's good then." The boy giggled, and Harry couldn't help but join in.
"Hey!" she nudged him with her shoulder, still kneeling down.
"I don't like my name."
"Why? It can't be as bad as Harry."
"No, it's worse."
"Worse. Now I'm curious?"
"George." He sighed, making a face, not meeting her eyes. The two made their way to the play area where George started to stack blocks. Watching her from the corner of his eye, as Harry sat crossed legged next to him, handing him a block every now and then.
"Well I like that name. It's noble enough. I can see where Georgie would be a pain. But-" the younger boy shook his head.
"It was his name. And I hate it. Like I hate him." He huffed glaring at his blocks, a hand rubbing his cast.
"Ah, Ms. Watson. Is there anything else?" The home director smiled gently interrupting the two.
"Oh, I'm sorry Brenda, I was on my way out when I met blondie here." Harry started to stand up, running her hands self-consciously over the sides of her trousers.
"Her name's Harry." George stood up and kicked his stacked blocks then walked away.
"Don't mind him. He's having a bit of a rough time. I hear you and Clara are looking to adopt. How's the paperwork going? And Have you thought of an age?"
"Oh. Don't get me started." Harry pinched her nose.
"Hang in there. It's a process. Have you considered looking over our list eligible children?" Brenda asked glancing over to where Georgie was sitting.
Harry thought that's all they would need a troubled kid. She looked over her shoulder at George, he was thumbing through a book, his feet dangling over the edge of the couch. Clara wanted a baby, Harry pushed this from her mind. Besides they had a long wait before they would eve be considered.
~0~
Harry thought of phoning her brother, wanting to vent her frustration once more over the unfairness of it all. Deciding not to, she would just go up to the adoption office and drop out her newly filled out application. She'd been given additional paperwork due to her minor police record. Damn youth and lack of foresight.
She stepped off the lift moving to the small window where a government employee looked less than enthused about being there. Harry handed in the stack of papers. The red head with the annoyed look slowly glanced over it, Harry waited patiently. Unaware that just to her left a young brunette was stepping through the employee only door, her eyes never leaving her blackberry. "I will be sure my employer is informed of the proficiency in which you've run this office. Good day Mr. Goodall." The tall man looked absolutely relieved that the short woman was finally gone. Good lord, an audit from the home office, he would hear from them in a few days. This meant pay cuts, lost jobs or if he was lucky funding increases, raises and more staff. Now the matter of that case file.
"Well Mrs. Watson I'll be sure this is processed. You'll hear from us six months to a year-" Harry felt like crying but she nodded.
"Excuse me Ms. Sweet did you say Watson?" Mr. Goodall grabbed the application quickly.
"Yes sir. This is Mrs. Harriette Watson she is reapplying-"
"Oh good gracious did you say reapplying?" Mr. Goodall felt sick, flashes of pay cuts and terminations running through his head.
Later Harriette left the office in a daze, she wondered how her luck had changed so quickly. Her application had been resubmitted, reevaluated and approved all in a day. Clara would be thrilled, she couldn't wait to call her brother and tell him the great news, he would soon be an uncle.
~0~
Harriette and Clara had settled on a baby girl, and they had decided they would wait before adding more children to their household. However three weeks later she was returning home with a five year old son. She'd had the contractor add an extra room it was tight but there were no complaints. Clara of course was excited and as always understanding of Harry's want to take in another.
"It's the name he picked." Harry sighed. She could only shrug.
"Why?" Clara giggled. "I mean, it's a good enough name but has he even met your brother?"
"No, not yet. I think it's when I was showing him pictures of his soon to be Uncles John and Sherlock. He thought we looked alike. Poor John he's going to have a shadow when he comes over I just know it."
"When's that?" Clara bounced baby Emma on her shoulder, trying to get a burp.
The door bell rang, "Sounds like now. Sorry." Harriet had barely mentioned it five minutes ago, today's events had slipped her mind. She had a busy day at the realtors, and picked up two AA meetings for the youth association, not to mention making a name change for her new five year old son.
John straightened Sherlock's scarf, "Be nice."
"John I disprove of children."
"But you want your own?"
"Yes, well someday. And then they would be ours and I wouldn't be allowed to hate them. Although I don't think anyone told my father this-" Before John could reply the door opened and a pair of bright blue eyes were inspecting the two suspiciously.
"Can I help you?" he asked.
"Well that's polite." Sherlock glared, but the young boy only met his glare evenly.
"Oh, hello there. Don't mind him, that's just how Sherlock is. He's never in a good mood. And I'm-" The younger boy smiled brightly now and before John could say anything a pair of small arms were around his waist.
"Uncle John. I know. I know. Mummy says you are a doctor and you fought in a war. And you live with a pig. Do you actually live with a pig?" John was trying to make his way into the flat.
"Johnny! I didn't say pig. No, you must have misheard me." Harry was hurrying forward to greet her brother.
"Doubtful." Sherlock growled under his breath.
"Oh, lovely, Clara look it's Sherlock." Harry forced a smile announcing this over her shoulder. Then under her breath as she made to kiss both his cheeks barely making contact. "Pig."
Sherlock was glad to take a step back, "Yes, I've arrived. With John. Who by the way has suddenly grown a smallish person out of his hip." Then under his breath passing Harry. "Witch."
"My name is John too." The younger boy handed John a red marker, and held out his cast. Someone had already made several designs. "I got to pick it out. My name. Mummy said it was ok. It will be confusing so she can call me Johnny. I don't mind." The two sat on the larger of the two couches.
"Well good. John smiled. I bloody hate being called Johnny." The younger boy just beamed up at him. "Can I ask why John? There are so many wonderful names out there." John started to draw a smiling face.
"She said you liked jam. I love jam and toast." Harry frowned that was it, simple and perfect.
Before anyone could get comfortable a heavy knock came to the door, John felt Johnny tense. Two uniforms and a gray haired man stood in the door way. "Don't you answer your mobile!" Harry and Clara stood with an annoyed grin "Oh, sorry ladies. I hope I'm not-"
Sherlock jumped to his feet making Johnny and John jump. "Not! Not at all! Lestrade. Yes. A case. My phone must be dead." He rolled his eyes, he could have avoided this hell if John had bothered to charge his mobile. After all he was always telling him to do it himself. "Come along Doctor! The Yard calls!" Lestrade looked absolutely confused.
"What's got into him?" he murmured.
"Sorry Harry. Another time. Johnny. Nice to meet you." John was apologetic, hoping Harry wouldn't be to cross.
"You and uncle Lock work for the cops?" the young boy asked in surprise.
"Yes. Sometimes they need help on big cases and Uncle Lock is very good at putting puzzles together." Johnny had followed John to the door staring up in awe at the tall men there.
"Please gentleman take some biscuits for the road." Clara had placed Emma in a bassinet, and quickly scooped up a ziplock baggie filling it with biscuits and a few other treats. Lestrade smiled brightly. Officer Clarke accepted enthusiastically. They'd all skipped lunch.
"And who is this strapping young man?" Lestrade greeted Johnny, the DI had nephews and nieces he was always good with children. He knew they always were more excited by the uniforms that the constables wore than by a DI in plain clothes. Sure enough the younger man was looking up at officer Clarke and then Officer Wright.
After they left John climbed onto mummy's lap while mum finished the dishes. Baby Emma was sitting in mummy's lap. Her chubby fingers kept tangling in mummy's long blonde strands.
"She likes your hair too." Johnny giggled making a face at his new sister who giggled in return.
"Well it's almost time to feed your sister, how about you run over and ask mum for a bottle." He nodded excitedly happy to help.
"I didn't know Uncle Lock and Uncle John are policemen." Clara frowned shaking the formula mix.
"Well, in a way. They are. They help the police a lot. And have a lot of policemen friends. Does that scare you?" Clara asked gently pretending to concentrate on the warm bottle in her hand.
"No. It means we are safe." Clara handed her son Emma's bottle a bit of her heart breaking, she knew from whom Johnny was so fearful. The courts did assure them that the man didn't know where his son had been placed and was still in jail. Behind bars." She smiled sadly. Things that are broken can be fixed. Slowly they were starting to grow a family. With John and Sherlock the family was expanding.
"Johnny sweets, how about some Jam and toast." Clara called out.
"Yeaaaay!"
"You spoil him Clara!" Harry rolled her eyes but Johnny only stuck out his tongue and hurried to the table.
