Safe, Sound, Secure

Genre: Family; Drama

Pairings: Ensemble

Main characters: Baker Street Ensemble

When Greg, Sherlock, and John returned to Baker Street, it was with the greatest reluctance and utter exhaustion.

"No luck, Darling?" Molly asked quietly, as she glanced to their sleeping brood, crashed in the living room over an abandoned game of Pictionary.

"None, Love," Greg said, as he shoved his hand through his hair, already mussed and dishevelled from missed sleep and a missed shower. "We've no clue where she could have gotten to."

Upstairs, Alex brewed a cup of herbal tea for John, as Rosie stirred in her room from the sounds coming from the kitchen in 221A. Daniel also briefly stirred, and trying to go back to sleep, finally gave up.

"She can't be THAT far, she's only small, John," Alex said, hopefully. "Sherlock hasn't deduced at all from the evidence that this could be a stranger abduction, so clearly she simply got out and wandered off."

"Clearly, yes, sweetheart," John said, his dark multicoloured eyes bleary with exhaustion. "The problem is the time of year, Alexandra." John took a deep breath, letting it out in frustration. "London isn't exactly warm when the sun sets at at this time of the year…"

Upstairs, Sherlock stumbled in, finding himself in Sally's arms as she prepared to leave, continuing the search.

"So, Git. What can you tell me that I don't already know?" she asked gently, aware that her husband was short of patience and energy both.

"There's no evidence of abduction, at least not from her place of residence. The balance of probability suggests she simply got out and wandered off. I've followed… sorry, WE'VE followed the trail of clues as far as we can… still, she's nowhere to be found. I would focus my efforts, if I were you…" he trailed off.

"I'm not you, Git. Maybe that's going to be a problem, but I can pick up where you've left off," Sally replied, as she pulled her coat on.

"Fresh eyes, Old Plod," Sherlock said finally, as he smiled wearily at her. "Not being me may be the solution. Or at the very least it can't do any harm. Given her size, I would focus within a kilometre radius of her residence. Unfortunately this includes a bit of dense bush."

Sally didn't even blink. She'd been to Saskatchewan twice now, and recognized the phrasing. "So near a park then, with trees and shrubbery and such. Got it, Git," she said softly, as she brought a hand up to stroke her husband's tired face.

"Daddy?" Michael said softly, as he approached with Grace from behind. "Have you considered the possibility… I mean Gracie says it's SO OBVIOUS… but I think she's really right…"

"Oh Mikey, why aren't you in bed," Sally tsked, as she tried to usher their twins back into their bedroom. She was met with a multicoloured glare, courtesy of her daughter, with a shake of her dark curls for good measure.

"No… no, Sally… our children are really very clever," Sherlock pleaded. "At this point to be perfectly honest, I'm willing to listen to any suggestion…"

In the basement, Greer and the twins had stirred as well.

"Uncle Sherlock is probably right," Scott started. "Uncle Sherlock is ALWAYS right… well most of the time…"

"When it comes to things like this, Daddy, he is. But I think you grownups are missing something obvious…" Johnnie added.

Greg, too exhausted to resist further advice at this point, sunk himself down onto the couch, while Molly perched herself on the arm next to him.

"She's frightened, Daddy," Greer said calmly. "And there are a bunch of grownups looking for her. STRANGE grownups. She's not going to come out for any of you, wherever she is."

Molly smiled at Greg, the smile she gave him when she knew they were witnessing a childlike wisdom that they had both grown too old to see or appreciate until it slapped them both squarely upside the head.

In 221A, John had sat himself down in his easy chair, with Rosie and Daniel both perched on either side of him.

"You need US, Daddy. We're not grownups, we're KIDS, just like her," Rosie pleaded. "If she's anything like us, and Gracie and Michael, and Greer and Scott and Johnnie, she's been taught all about stranger danger. She'll not come out for any grown up, but she may stop hiding for a kid, like us. PLEASE, Daddy, can we help? She's so small…"

"And SO cold and probably SO afraid too. PLEASE, let us help?" Daniel pleaded.

In the ground floor landing at 221 Baker Street, six weary adults met, including one who was heading out for her shot at locating the missing girl.

"I can't believe we're considering this," Sally said softly. "But I just can't… I mean we've already tried everything else…"

"Agreed, Sergeant," Greg said, as he glanced to Molly. "I don't even care it's a school night anymore. If our children can coax this little girl out of hiding before it's too late to find her alive, well I don't know about you lot, but Molly and I are willing to let our three in on this."

"Hypothermia will act quickly on her little body," John agreed. "Rosie and Daniel are insisting. I'm not sure about Danny, but I'm willing to let Rosie go. She's the oldest of our kids, and a born caregiver. If anyone can talk her into coming out of hiding, it's our little lamb."

"Grace can follow a clue like nothing I've ever seen. Even Mycroft marvels at how clever his niece is, and Michael is determined." Sherlock laughed softly at this. "To be honest John, my children remind me of you and me. If they're like us in the least, they cannot fail. The balance of probability is firmly in favour of their success."

"Right then," Molly said, giving Greg's waist a squeeze. "I suggest we get on with it. Sally, you lead with Kieran, I'll be there as well, and Alex will accompany for medical assistance. That is, of course," Molly amended with a sheepish smile, "if it's agreeable to you, Sgt Donovan."

"Absolutely," Sally said, leading the charge out the door.

By the end of the night, one very frightened, very cold, and very small young girl had been located. Coaxed out of hiding by the youthful voices of the children of Baker Street, she found refuge in the arms of Sally Donovan, who wrapped the young girl in a blanket and held her close, as though their lives both depended upon it.

Molly, with a tired half smile to Alex, texted Greg to let him know that their missing child was no longer missing. Then, she texted Sherlock, to let him know his hunch and his deduction both were correct.

To John, Alex simply texted "Safe, sound, secure."

At Baker Street, three dads and one young boy, judged too young to venture out on such a mission, heaved a collective sigh of relief, before they all surrendered to exhaustion.

In memory of Ashley Krestianson, who went missing at the age of 8 near Tisdale, Saskatchewan, and was found several months later. Her cause of death was determined to be hypothermia.