18th September 2005 into 19th September 2005
John's POV
He's mildly surprised when Ella messages him to tell him that Sherlock and Mr. Moriarty are here. He didn't expect to hear from them until later today. So something either went wrong while the two were out playing tag, or something went very right.

Five minutes later, Sherlock comings striding in the office with a wide smile. —I talked!—

He grins at the teenager, —Congrats!— he replies.

—I told a bunch of cops about a killer. Even pointed out the killer,— the dark haired genius tells him. —The idiot ran into Jim.—

He laughs, because he can imagine the very bored and dangerous expression the agent probably had on his face. —Did you enjoy it knowing what happened and who the killer was?—

Nodding energetically, Sherlock answers, —Yes, because I knew what happened just by looking.—

—That's excellent,— he responds, happy for the younger man. This is an important improvement and a step in the right direction. It's intriguing that it happened the way it did. He never would have guessed that a crime scene would be where Sherlock would start speaking again. It's not the normal sort of way to get over mutism, but there isn't really a standard. Each person dealing with mutism, whether it is selective or traumatic, get past it in different manners. The key is just a matter of giving them time and a safe space to recover. He's happy to know they have successfully provided that.

-Have you told Mycroft yet?- he asks curiously.

Sherlock just shakes his head no.

—Do you have a plan for that or just want wait?— He queries after a moment of thinking about it.

—Not yet,— the teenager replies, —Not until I am constantly talking.—

—That makes sense.— He agrees with a nod.

He hopes this is the first sign of true recovery. So far Sherlock has been making excellent progress, but he sometimes worries about it being undone. That's a very easily done with someone who's dealing with depression and addiction.

—Spending some time visiting or just stopping to tell me the good news?— he inquires with an easy smile.

It takes the younger man a moment to think about it. —Just stopping by.— There's a pause, —Come to dinner tomorrow?—

—Sure,— he agrees, —I'd like that.—

—See you tomorrow!— Sherlock declares before leaving.

He just smiles as the teenager takes off. He better get his work done so he can spend some time with them tomorrow. Snickering, he wonders if Sherlock remembers the fact they're supposed to meet this evening. It wouldn't be the first time that the younger man had gotten distracted by something and Jim canceled for him, although it's not a common occurrence.

-o-O-o-

Mycroft's POV
He knows that his brother is out playing a game of tag with Moriarty. It makes him nervous, because his brother will be pretty much on his own. At the same time, he understands that Sherlock needs to feel secure in himself and that doesn't happen if there is always someone around.

Three hours into his work day, his computer screen clicks on even though he hadn't turned it on, a small video feed playing. Turning his attention to it, he frowns at first upon noticing the situation. That it's a group of spectators and a crime scene. However, he has to smile when he realizes that Sherlock is talking, and not just with sign language either but full out verbal words. It's the first time in nine months that his brother has spoken. The screen shuts off four minutes later as Sherlock and Moriarty leave, getting into a black car that he knows belongs to Five.

He spends a good five minutes pleased with that little bit of information, although he is stumped by the fact his brother's first words after such a long silence are at a crime scene.

"Sir, your next meeting is getting ready to begin," Ana tells him as she enters the office, eyes on her phone as she works.

"Excellent timing," he decides, "I'm on my way."

Technically, he'll be the first one in there, but he's now in a rather pleasant mood, and that's not going to be ruined by some bureaucrats who need to be guided to the correct answers without seeming to be guided. He'll think about the logistics, how to act towards his brother with this new development, and what effects it might have on Sherlock. He's under no illusions that this makes everything magically better, but it's definitely a step in the correct direction.

-o-O-o-

Jasper's POV
He doesn't have to alert his best friend to where Sherlock is at. Jim had been close behind, working through the logic of where the teen was heading during their little game while he kept track of both of them through the CCTV's scattered around the city, occasionally borrowing private ones as much as the public ones.

When Sherlock heads towards the scene of a crime, rather than away from it and the noise that normally goes with such a situation, his eyes narrow on the screen and he wonders if he should tell Jim. Instead he doesn't, smiling when the younger man starts talking aloud, rattling off details if he's not mistaken. Sometimes he really wishes there was sound on the CCTV, but it's not that hard for him to turn on the teenager's cell phone microphone so he can hear what's being said instead.

Jim appears just as the suspect tries to bolt. Stepping directly in the big man's path and smiling in that reptilian way that so many find eerie and frightening. Needless to say, the suspect doesn't go far. Actually, he's pretty sure that the idiot has decided that the cops are a safer bet. He wouldn't be wrong. Jim doesn't take idiocy very well.

As he watches, he comes up with an idea. What if Sherlock ran point between the network and the police? He knows most of the network would rather avoid authorities at all costs, even the ones who haven't actually broken any laws. He's quite certain that Sherlock could pull it off. It's something to consider discussing with his younger cousin, not tonight though, because he can see the strain on the teenager through the cameras. Later though, sometime in the near future, he'll bring it up.

He starts laughing softly when his phone beeps with a message from Sherlock,

=Dinner tomorrow night?=

=Sure= he agrees, smiling at the phone. He probably shouldn't have his phone on him, but their bosses learned early on that Jim gets very testy if he can't be reached, and decided that having such a force of chaos not pissy is probably a good idea. Besides, his phone is one of his design, he'd like to see another hacker get in. To date none have been successful although most of the branch has tried at least once.

He sends Mycroft the video clip. Accessing the politician's computer with almost ease as he turns on the screen and shows it. He'll have to improve the system so it's not as easy to access in the future. He doesn't appreciate when other idiots try to 'fix' his designs and make things worse rather than better. There have been a few times he has crash coworkers systems for the presumption. Maybe that's not nice, but he really doesn't care. As for now, well, he has some work to do before he goes home tonight. Or maybe he'll go out for some fun, it's been awhile since he's done that.

-o-O-o-

Jim's POV
He's surprised that the visit to the clinic is so short. Normally John and Sherlock will spend hours talking. It could be because it's the middle of the day however normally they come in during the evening. Speaking of which, there is an appointment later on, although, he's pretty sure it's going to be cancelled because the younger genius is on the high strung side right now.

Sure enough, as soon as they get back to the elder Holmes' flat, Sherlock heads to the bedroom and the sounds of the violin can be heard throughout the entire house. Well then.

A crime scene, now that's a very intriguing place for Sherlock to get his voice back. Of all the situations he had expected that wasn't even on the list. However it does open up a lot of possibilities for the teenager. Still, he had seen how only a few minutes of speaking had stressed the dark haired teen out. That's why he had used his MI5 card rather than talking his way out of it, and he definitely could have. None of them were even close to the same level as genius as he was.

Should he draw the detective to the flat? He wonders curiously as he toys with a knife he never seems to be without. It's not a bad idea. However, he decides, it'd be better to let Sherlock make that call, he can provide the number if need be. That detective was extremely interested in what the teen can do. The fact that Sherlock can read an entire situation with a glance.

"Ordinary people are so dull," he mutters as he heads to the library to do some reading. There has to be something interesting in there he hasn't read in the last few months. Actually, he changes direction, heading to his bedroom, he'll read the reports that Sebastian has for him, that should keep him occupied while allowing him to keep an ear out for Sherlock.

-o-O-o-

Greg's POV
Who the hell was that kid and how the hell did he know who the killer was and what happened? His forensics team hasn't even finished their sweep of the area. The officers do arrest the man who the kid pointed out after the man tried bolting. Not that the killer got too far, apparently the person with the kid belongs to MI5, and that makes him wonder if the kid is an asset or informant. Something tells him it's neither and there is some other sort of relationship, he just doesn't know what it is.

He shoves those thoughts and questions aside, determining he can focus on them more later. After he has his crime scene is cleared, the suspect booked, and the paperwork done. Of course he'll have to figure out what to call the kid in the paperwork since he didn't get a name for either of the dark haired men.

It's early the following morning when he gets a text message that involves an address and an offer to look at cold cases to tell him what happened. That startles him for a moment, until he remembers the MI5 card and it makes him wonder if the kid got his number from his contact in the agency. He really doesn't like playing with them, most of them act like they are better than anyone else, and that agent who gave him the card made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. There was definitely something off with him.

Well then, in the morning he'll get some of the cold cases together. Ones that his division says can't be solved for one reason or another, and see what the kid can say about them. If the kid can pull off that impressive trick, and solve them, he'll find a way to get the kid a consulting offer. There have been consultants in the past, although they tend towards a particular field rather than an open offer. Still, it all depends on how it goes later today.


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This is winding down, there is six chapters left (or so). There will be other stories in the series, I just won't start posting them until they are done, then I will post one chapter a week.