Chapter 55

Familial Worries

John follows Sherlock, Mary and Greg as he carries the young Jim through the halls of power after leaving Mycroft's office. 'I want to grow.' Jim whispers into John's ear. John smiles warmly. 'I don't want to be small anymore.'

'Do you mean you want to be sedated?' John chuckles quietly. Jim nods against the blonde's neck.

'You're old enough now.'

'Not really Jim. Last time I was twenty I had only just started my second year of medical school.'

'But-'

'No Jim. I'm not doing it.' John glances over to the other three and sees that they are waiting for him and Jim. He quickens his pace ignoring the consulting criminal's pout. Jim reaches out for Mary to take him off John. Sherlock smirks. John rolls his eyes at Sherlock's expression.

'Care to explain?' Greg asks the elder of his sons.

'Nope. He just asked something I wasn't comfortable with.' Greg understands immediately and hooks his arm around John's shoulders.

'Captain!' Heivan runs up to them. John turns.

'Corporal.'

'We were going to give you something when the… you know… was finished.' John nods to indicates he understands. Heivan digs an envelope out of his pocket and hands it over to the Young Captain. John accepts the letter and stuffs it into his pocket.

'I need to run.' He murmurs.

'Run where?' Greg asks.

'I'll meet you at your house.' John starts moving away.

'Meet me at the yard.' John nods, turns on his heel and begins to run away from the group.

'Where's he going?' Jim asks his face is still buried in Mary's neck.

'He needs to blow some steam.' Greg replies carefully. 'Sudden growing must take a toll. Mentally and physically.'

'But I haven't been affected.' Sherlock protests.

'Really?' Greg asks.

'Stop arguing you two.' Mary says tiredly. 'Greg, Get over to the yard and wait for John. Sherlock come home with me and help with dinner. No buts-' Mary points a warning finger at Sherlock. She switches it to Greg's face. 'Either of you.' Greg smiles in acquiescence and nods.

'I will Mary. Don't you worry about a thing.' He kisses her face and hails a cab for her. He opens the door and holds it open for his wife, younger of his two sons and his three-year-old charge to climb in. He closes the door after Sherlock settles himself into his seat. Mary opens the window and sticks her head out.

'Talk to him.'

'I will Mary, stop worrying.' Greg bangs gently on the top of the cab. 'Off you go.' Sherlock slumps in his seat as the cab drives away from the building that houses Mycroft's office. Greg sighs as the cab turns the corner leans against the door jamb.

'Stressed?' Anthea asks surprising him from behind.

'Am I heck? Sherlock's stropping because John's grown, Jim's pouting because he hasn't grown. John's stressed because he's sick of the sudden growths and the constant interruptions to his life.' Anthea grimaces. 'Yeah, I know. I'm the one who has to deal with it all.'

'You are doing brilliantly.' Anthea lays a calming hand on Greg's arm as she hails a cab for him. 'I assume you are going to Scotland Yard?'

'Yeah. Told John to head there. He and I need to talk about things.' A cab pulls up and Greg climbs in. Anthea closes the door behind him and watches as the cab drives away from where she is standing. She sees Greg wearily lean his head on the window of the cab just before it takes him out of her view.

Greg walks through the floor of the homicide department and he ignores everyone was he places one foot in front of the other. Anderson watches him with an amused expression on his face. Sally glares at him. 'Don't.' She says pointing a warning finger at him as he opens his mouth. 'Don't even think about it.' Anderson snaps his mouth shut with a snap and glares at his former girlfriend.

'I wasn't going to say that.' He retorts.

'Good.' Greg sticks his head out of his office effectively silencing the argument.

'Send John in as soon as he comes please Sally.'

'Yes sir.' Anderson looks between the door to Greg's office and Sally Donovan curiously. 'Parker, get him a good coffee, he needs caffeine.' Parker smiles and leaves the department to fetch the coffee. The door swings shut behind her only to be opened again by John. Sally raises her eyebrows at the sheen of sweat coating the twenty-year-old's forehead.

'Good run?' She enquires. John shrugs noncommittally.

'Did what I needed it to do.' John glances at Anderson and lowers his voice so the forensic scientist can't hear him. 'If he keep his mouth open much longer flies might make it a home.' Sally snorts. A couple of other officer snigger.

'What?' Anderson asks loudly. No one answers him

'Nothing Anderson.' John says drily.

'How old?' Sally asks John softly.

'Twenty. Sherlock's still fifteen and Jim's three.' John mutters.

'Ow, they must be smarting.' Sally giggles.

'Yep.' John joins in with the giggling. Parker re-enters the department carrying a steaming mug of coffee for Greg and a hot chocolate for John.

'Hot Chocolate for you.' She raises the correct mug. 'Coffee for him.' she pushes both mugs into his hands and spins John around by the shoulders to face the office

'He in the office?' He asks facetiously.

'Yeah, he's expecting you.' Sally replies. John nods and enters the office, closing the door behind him. 'Really you should have gone in straight away but you can say you waited so you could take his coffee in to him.' She gives him a gentle nudge in the direction of the office. 'And do you know what Mary is planning?' John glances over his shoulder at her.

'Yes but I'm not allowed to tell.' Sally's face drops into a pout. 'Won't work on me Sally. Remember, I live with Sherlock.' Sally grins.

'I could ask him.'

'Yeah, you could.' John grins back. 'He'll lord it over you that he knows and you don't. In fact, he's probably helping our Aunt Mary.' Sally sighs heavily in defeat.

'Get in that office.' John gives her a smirk

'Yes boss.' He kicks the door to his father's office open and walks in without spilling a drop from either cup. He knocks the door shut with his heel and places the cup of coffee in front of Greg while patiently waiting for him to finish on the phone.

'John.' Greg says as he replaces the handset. 'We need to talk.' John nods.