CHAPTER 54. RED
"It was just another false lead." John growled frustrated he plopped down into the closest chair near Mycroft's desk. Sherlock stood glaring out the window, his lips pursed, and eyes a million miles away.
"Indeed John it's frustrating but, until he's found-"
"We aren't going into hiding. No. I just got my life back. I wont run and hide. If he's coming let him. Up or security level do what you have to, but I wont be coddled. And I better not find any of those damn hidden camera's anywhere near the bedroom!" John was on his feet again.
"John we still don't know if Moran is alive or dead." Mycroft kept his voice casual, his eyes clear he watched John's reaction, ignoring the camera comment. That wasnt his idea, someone on his team had no doubt considered it a joke.
"He's dead. I shot him three times." John held up his fingers.
"Yes, but the body John. Moriarty could have had him put together again." Sherlock interjected turning on his heels.
"Or worshiping him as some mummified ugh-or a ice Popsicle." John shivered. Sherlock only nodded in agreement, with Moriarty no one knew what he was doing with the body of Sebastian Moran.
John's phone beeped another text from Harry, he'd ignored them because he was busy yelling at Mycroft, but now she was calling. "Sorry, it's my sister I have to take this." He took a step back to the furthest corner.
Sherlock heard John's quick intake of breath "Have you called the school-alright calm down Harry just calm down. He might have just got lost walking home-Why didn't you say anything? I'm on my way. With Sherlock." Sherlock could hear sobbing.
John looked sick "Johnny never made it home. Harry's beside herself."
"I'm sure he's just gone off on his home to the park or-"
"His father broke out of the rehabilitation center he was staying in. The police warned Harry he may know where Johnny resides. She thinks he's-"
"Who's leading the search for the boy. I assume she rang the police." John nodded.
"Reynolds." Sherlock made a face.
"I"ll call Lestrade."
"It's not his division." John shook his head but Sherlock was already on his mobile a few clipped words. "He'll meet us at your sister's." Mycroft watched the two men shaking his head he sent a text and the brunette passed Sherlock and John in the corridor.
"Sir, the cctv are being scanned for a likeness of one George Smith. And the boy fitting the description the mother gave the police."
"Very good. Keep me updated."
~0~
Johnny didn't try to run away, his father was taking him away but it was better than going home. If his father had gone there he would hurt mummy and mum and baby Clara.
"Good. I see you finally learned to listen. You know if you try to fight me I'm going to go to your new house and cut those two whores up like Christmas turkey." Johnny felt sick he didn't know why his father wanted him back so badly. It wasn't love, Johnny knew love from Harry and Clara. They were in the park now Johnny had a bad feeling and his father wasnt making sense. They passed a man sitting on a bench, Johnny could have sworn the man in the suit smiled and winked at him. Then the Lady who passed walking a tiny little dog did the same.
Was he going crazy, "Hey boy I need you to be real quiet. This guy I'm buying from is jumpy. He sounded twitchy on the phone. I need this score and then we're going home. And you're back to work as my own little delivery service. Except this time you aren't gonna flush the product. Yeah cost me you little shit" Johnny wasn't paying attention, because he could see the park was empty except a lady looking directly at him a grin on her face she had a baby carriage, and the man kicking a ball around, maybe even the bum they passed by the dumpster had given him a wave.
They arrived at the shady end of the park, out of view of anything, covered by trees, there was a man standing with his red cap low, Johnny stiffened. His father pulled him closer tugging on his arm just above the cast causing the boy to cry out. "I said keep it quiet! You're just determined to fuck this up for me." Johnny's father brought his hand up.
"Mister Smith. If you are through bullying the kid. Do you think we can get this done with." The man in the hat growled. Johnny hadn't even heard him come so close, he was almost between them. His father dropped his hand, and Johnny escaped a beating. Then the oddest thing, Johnny thought he recognized the very tall man. He was wearing a cap over his curls, and different clothes, a mustache. But mustaches could be fake. The gray eyes avoided his and Johnny figured he was just hoping like a baby.
"Oh, right. Right. Let's get on with it." They moved to a van were two more men stepped out.
"He came alone. He's not armed." The man in the cap sighed removing his red cap.
"Of course I did that was the deal." Johnny's father had released his arm he kept his eyes on the man in the cap. He was grinning now. "What's so funny?" Father growled.
"You, you predictable idiot." Johnny's mouth fell open it was uncle Sherlock pulling his mustache off, scrunching his nose. Johnny's father took a step back but there was Uncle John.
"Oh god please put up a fight. I'd love to break your arm. I'm a Doctor I would know just where to snap the bone." and then George Smith was thrown to the ground, someone had lifted Johnny up taking him away from what looked like his father being arrested.
Was this a dream? A policeman smiled at him and offered him sweets. He accepted the lolly and the spicy cinnamon sitting on the back of an ambulance, the whole place had cars with lights and sirens and men with guns. A lady was checking him over like a doctor would. "Lots of excitement huh?" a gray haired man was standing and talking Johnny didn't know what to say so he shrugged. For some reason his hand wouldn't stop shaking, the DI was kneeling now. Johnny just clutched his lolly not wanting to talk, because it felt like he was going to cry. And only baby's cried.
"You know you sure are someone very important if they send out secret agents, police and God knows what."
"What?" Johnny looked around again. There were quite a bit of people and all those people that smiled at him, they must have been agents. "Why?"
"DI Lestrade-" One of the men called him away before he could answer. Johnny tried not to fidget but the orange blanket was scratchy and he wasn't cold. Besides they'd think he was a baby if trying to hide and he wasn't. He wasn't.
"My brother never cared for them either." A tall man with an umbrella stated easily. Johnny shrugged it off his shoulders, then a question came to him.
"Are you a secret agent?"
"No. But close enough, he's the British Government." Uncle Sherlock and John were nearing, Uncle John's jeans were dirty and he was kneeling down and doing what the other lady had. "I'm fine." Johnny sighed. "They keep putting the scratchy blanket on me. Why is it orange?"
"Dreadful color I agree." Sherlock lifted an eyebrow quickly inspecting his nephew. "I take it you have it from here Mycroft. John has to get the boy home before his mum bursts into flames. Although that would be a sight to see." Sherlock grinned.
"Hey!" both John and Johnny objected.
"Not so fast you two!" The DI called them over.
"Oh what now! The kid-" Sherlock made a feeble motion.
"Johnny you sit tight, I'll be right back, Uncle John has to keep Uncle Sherlock from being punched in the face."
"You think he's joking but he's not." The man with the umbrella sighed just watching. Then the young boy offered the cinnamon candy to the man. He hesitated then nodded. "Thank you don't mind if I do." Soon after Mycroft was nudged and the young boy was holding out a red marker.
"You Watson's will be my end." He sighed heavily.
~o~
In the back seat of the cab Johnny couldn't stop trembling and to his surprise uncle Sherlock put a warm arm around him allowing him to nuzzle into the dark coat. Johnny smiled at the trick Uncle Lock pulled, it was a clever thing.
He couldn't wait to tell Levi at school, no way he would believe it.
Johnny returned home with a lolli in his mouth, a policeman had put his hat on Johnny's head. Another let him pet his dog, and then Uncle Lock made someone cry and Uncle John had to step between him and another man. The gray haired cop had yelled at all of them like the playground monitor at recess.
"He looks comfortable." He heard Uncle John say when the cab stopped and someone was lifting him up he wrapped his arms around the man's neck in response. The scent of coffee and mint, made him feel safe and the curls were tickling his nose.
Mummy was standing at the door her face red and blochy, mum was whipping her eyes, baby Emma was in bed. Johnny didn't understand the big deal. Mummy took him from Uncle Sherlock as if he were a baby, he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. Wondering where his policeman's hat went. "Harry he's fine." John was trying to calm his sister down. "He's absolutely fine."
"Are you sure did you look him over." Clara was embracing Sherlock and John, while Harry examined her son's face.
"I'll make tea." Clara sniffed. She kissed Johnny's head and squeezed him tight. He gave Uncle John a helpless look.
"Harry-he's fine."
"No! How do you know. Look," She pulled up Johnny's sleeve revealing the darkening hand mark. Someone had grabbed her baby hard enough to bruise him. He was so little and defenseless. Bastard she'd kill him herself if he'd had the balls to show up at the house. "He should have a scan what if it did damage?"
"Mummy I'm fine. I got to pet a police dog. They have dogs for everything, bombs, lost people, cad-cudovers" Johnny scrunched up his face.
"Cadavers." Sherlock corrected. Johnny nodded and both Watson's winced.
"Then I got a lolly but I didn't open it before dinner. And there were secret agents dressed like regular people one winked at me. And then uncle, um uncle Lock was amazing. He um had a disguise like in the spy movies and then he called George an idiot. And then Uncle John was BAM! Just out of no where and George was on the ground then then there was sirens. I told you about the dog. I got to wear a hat. I should give it back." Harry was just staring at the younger boy, who lowered his voice, sighing heavily he wrapped his arms around her neck. "I'm alright." He patted her back.
"Well of course you are. Us Watson's are made of hard stuff." John stood and ruffled the blond hair.
"Come now Johnny let's get you washed up." Clara took the boys hand. She picked him up and held him tight telling him how she loved him and how brave he was. And they were lucky to have a brave boy.
Harry whipped her face. "Thank you. Really. He's so tiny. And the world is so big." Harry knew all the bad things in it and she didn't want her son to know it. John hugged her, he agreed
"Family. Harry, family sticks together." Harry even went to embrace a very uncomfortable consulting detective. "That goes for you too." And then she lowered her voice "You're still a pig."
"And you a witch." The two stepped away and Harry shut the door behind them.
Later that night Clara pulled the blankets over Johnny's body. Harry stood in the doorway, she noticed he'd collected quite a few more pictures on his cast, Sherlock had done a pirate ship, John a smiley face and then there was a Union Jack right at Johnny's elbow. She wondered who had put that there.
"He certainly likes the color red." Clara whispered joining her wife in the doorway.
`THE END!`
