Chapter 27 - I was made for you.
"Zephyr … Zephyr … Zephyr please," Sherlock frantically begged. Mycroft slowly turned back around.
"How is this even possible?" whispered Mycroft.
"She's a designer baby," said Eurus. Sherlock turned his head around slowly to give Eurus an icy, yet watery glare. He looked like he was going to kill her. Mycroft softly face palmed himself.
"I'm sorry, a what?" said John confused, but still reeling from what he just saw.
"Designer baby, Moriarty's dirty little secret," said Eurus. Mycroft sighed, removed his hand from his face and cleared his throat.
"They are … children … made in a lab, by a parent, only they want to pick and choose specific genetics in their DNA so they come out exactly the way … the parent wants, supposedly. It's highly illegal," Mycroft explained.
"Jesus," breathed John looking at Zephyr in Eurus' old cell.
"And somehow … he got Sherlock's DNA," finished Mycroft.
"Yes, he wanted to make sure she was his flesh and blood, and that she look dangerously similar to him … the raven curls, the steel-blue eyes, the high cheek bones," said Eurus. Sherlock looked back at Zephyr and really looked at her.
He started to remember things, conversations:
"I thought she was family. She looks just like you."
"Well, yes, she is currently dressed like me. For some reason."
"I mean the clothes do help, but she's got such lovely curls and eyes."
"Who is this?"
"Junior Detective."
"She's adopted."
"But she definitely looks like you, so, who is trying to cover up what?"
"She's … not mine."
Tears rolled down his face again.
'It was so obvious,' he thought coming back to reality. He turned his head back to Eurus.
"Why, why would he DO that?! WHY?!" demanded Sherlock.
"Why does anyone do anything," said a familiar, female voice from inside the cell. Sherlock placed both hands back on the glass. Zephyr kept the gun firmly pointed at her head. Tears were pouring down her face.
'Because they are bored,' Zephyr mouthed horrified. Sherlock took in a sharp inhale. He never felt so helpless.
"Zephyr … please take the gun away," he asked nervously.
"Why couldn't you figure it out?" Zephyr sobbed. His chest hurt. He thought his heart stopped.
"I'm sorry Zephyr, I'm really sorry," he whispered to her kindly. John stepped closer to the cell.
"If there is one thing Sherlock Holmes is not good at, it's matters about himself … I should know, I'm his best friend," said John to Zephyr calmly.
"He's an idiot!" Zephyr hissed glaring at Sherlock. He dropped his head.
"Yes, yes he is, but he's our idiot, Zephyr," said John calmly. Zephyr scoffed backing away from the glass. Sherlock looked up from the sound of her footsteps.
"Zephyr?!" Sherlock said worried.
"I am nothing more … than a science experiment!" Zephyr angrily spat. Tears came down her face again.
"No, no you are not!" said Sherlock quickly.
"Well technically, she is," Eurus added. They all turned to glare at Eurus, including Zephyr.
"What the HELL is WRONG WITH YOU?!" John hissed.
"Zephyr, you were Moriarty's beautiful failure," she continued. The room grew deathly silent. "His plan was to make, what you might call, his own version of Sherlock, one that would follow him around … do what he wanted … be his pet … and he wanted me to ensure it," said Eurus. Sherlock's eyes flickered wide with furry.
"At first he raised her, played house, while throwing little hints, puzzles, so she could be … like you with a splash of him. Even gave her a funny name … as a bad, JOKE," she said angrily with some vigor, "But she was too clever for that, no matter what he threw at her, she never conformed … she was … unique," she said.
"And you … went along with THIS?!" said Sherlock angrily through his teeth.
"In the beginning … I was curious, he brought me a treat," she said looking fondly at Zephyr. "But then I figured out what she actually was, who she actually WAS … he tried to break her down over and over again, but she always managed to put the pieces back together … she even put pieces back together that she didn't have to … and I helped her," said Eurus stepping closer to the glass, but John blocked her.
"Eurus, if she is really your friend, open this cell," said John quietly and seriously.
"I can't," she replied.
"Why?" he asked severely annoyed.
"The door can only open if Zephyr places the gun on that panel over there," said Eurus pointing to a square panel near the bed, "It's weighted."
John pinched the bridge of his nose. "Is everything, a GAME, to you?" he snarled.
"That's all she knows," said Zephyr sadly, but she still kept the gun to her head. John redirected his attention back to Zephyr.
"Zephyr, Zephyr look at me. Ignore what she said - "said John.
"No," said Sherlock slowly cutting him off. John had shock shot on his face by that response. He turned to Sherlock.
"I'm sorry, what?!" said John, now getting angry at Sherlock.
"No, she's right … you are unique, Zephyr," started Sherlock. Zephyr stared at Sherlock frozen with a blank face painted in tears.
"Moriarty failed … " said Sherlock.
"How?! Everything that I have done, everything that I have ever been was because of him!" exclaimed Zephyr.
"But you NEVER gave in! You became your own person! And what is so unique is that you shouldn't have been able to but you did! The odds were always stacked against you but you made it through every time. I mean you befriended Eurus for God's sakes and I think you changed her more than she changed you!" said Sherlock. A small, half smile crept on Eurus' face.
Zephyr listened.
"You are not Moriarty, or John, or Eurus … or even me," he said sadly at the end. Tears flowed from Zephyr's face. Sherlock took a deep breath. "You are you and only you … so please Zephyros … don't kill the flower," said Sherlock releasing tears he was desperately trying to keep from falling. John's mouth fell open. Zephyr held her breath. "Because I cannot bare to lose you forever," he finished closing his eyes. John teared up. There was a click. Sherlock's heart sank. He looked up. "Oh god," he breathed. The door had opened. The gun was on the panel. He ran into the cell to find Zephyr crumpled on the floor. He knelt down and picked her up. She sobbed. He hugged her tighter and gave a sigh of relief. "Oh my god," breathed John relieved. Zephyr hugged him back. She couldn't stop crying.
"It's alright, it's alright, I'm here," said Sherlock softly. Zephyr was trying to say something, but he couldn't hear her.
"Hmm? What, what was that?" he asked loosening his shaky embrace.
"I'm glad - "She choked.
"Yes, yes I am too," said Sherlock.
"I'm glad … it's you," said Zephyr. Sherlock froze. He thought his heart might burst.
"I'm glad it's you, and not him," she cried into his chest. He pulled her in protectively.
"Just promise me, one thing Zephyr … promise me … don't EVER, put a gun to your head again," he whispered to her. Zephyr nodded in his arms.