Gareth's Calling
Genre: Family; FUTURE FIC
Pairings: Julian and Rosie mentioned
Main characters: John, Gareth, Greg, and Sherlock
John Watson wasn't quite sure how to feel about all of it.
The baby he had held before his own son had arrived, before Alex had come into his midst in that way, was about to suddenly graduate.
It seemed quite impossible that his… son-in-law's brother? Was suddenly 18.
Gareth, who he had held and loved, at the time thinking he'd have no other little boy to help raise as his own (as Rosie and Julian were already thick as thieves by then, and clearly were going to be joined forever, and thus, the Bailey family joined to the Watsons without question, even then), was all of a sudden verging upon adulthood. Post-secondary school even!
The boys of Baker Street, and beyond, had come together in the tradition, with Sherlock and Greg egging them on.
At the gathering to celebrate Gareth's introduction into the next chapter of his young life, John stood by and listened as the voices of all of their boys came together. Julian in a not unexpected sweet Irish tenor, one that made the heart actually skip; John and Scott Lestrade with their twin harmony, that took on a different note, a bit reminiscent of Molly, to add to what they had inherited from Greg's quiet and unobtrusive vocal talent. Even Michael Holmes, younger than Gareth, joined in. Sherlock may not have been able to carry a tune had he held it in his back pocket, but Michael had Sally's genes in him to compensate.
"May your hands always be busy, may your feet always be swift, may you have a strong foundation when the winds of changes shift, may your heart always be joyful, may your song always be sung, and may you stay forever young…" **
"This is not an easy path, my boy," John advised, quietly but not without a strong dose of pride. "Are you absolutely SURE of this? It's going to change you, irrevocably change you. Once you begin there will be no turning back… and the perils you could face…" John paused, his voice becoming soft. He cleared his throat as his gaze averted to the corner, as was his habit. Blinking rapidly, he steeled himself, and raised his eyes to look his daughter's young brother-in-law in the eyes. "I just want to know you are fully aware of what you're getting yourself into."
"This just seems right, Mr. John," Gareth said. "Seems everyone has found their place up until me. My big brother is a copper, so is Greer. Rosie is a nurse, Johnnie and Scott are paramedics. Can't top any of that now can I Mr. John!" Gareth laughed heartily. He waited for John to finally let his expression of worry morph into a smile, before finishing. "They all have what I would say is a calling. This is mine. I know you're afraid for me, Mr. John, and I do appreciate that… it's just that… I feel compelled to do this. And in the end, think of the rewards! Think of what I plan to make of myself in the coming years…!"
John sighed heavily. The young man before him did have a point. Julian, Rosie, Greer, Johnnie, Scott… they all had callings of their own. And when John thought about it, that was the reason he had chosen the path that young Gareth Bailey was about to embark upon.
"Look, Mr. John… I know what I was to you as a baby, before Mrs. Alex and Daniel arrived… really you're like a second dad, so I want you to be proud of me… I want to serve King and Country… I want to serve like you did… well… God willing not exactly like you did… but I'm willing should duty call me to it. But in the meantime… I want to start studies."
John, a bit overwhelmed, stopped at this. Clearly this was a little lad, not so little anymore, who knew his place and his calling both.
"Studies? For what my little laddie?"
"Well, Mr. John… Rosie and Julian know about this, and Mum and Dad too of course… though it took a bit of convincing on the whole armed forces bit… but I'm to start pre-medical studies whilst in the military, to become a doctor. Like you. And hopefully NOT like you," Gareth chuckled softly. "What I meant to say is, I hope to undergo and complete my studies without having to carry out my calling on the battlefield."
"You are a wonder, my lad," John finally said, as Sherlock and Greg both approached. "Well, I'll accept that then, you're an Irishman and you can tell an Irishman, but you can't tell him much, I'd say," he chuckled. "Just promise me one thing. I'll take this bit of news without further protest under one simple condition."
Gareth, curious and amused at the same time, smiled brightly, his green eyes dancing. "What's that, Mr. John?"
"Well, I want to retire someday. Sooner rather than later, I reckon. So, you must promise that one day, when you're finished medical school and your residencies and such,that you'll take over my surgery."
"Oooooh, Garry, he drives a hard bargain," Greg said, as he glanced to Sherlock, the two men having arrived several minutes prior and stood listening to the exchange in amused silence.
"The balance of probability suggests that we shall have our next family physician sometime in the next several years," Sherlock casually observed. "And I'm quite certain we shall all be in capable hands. That is, of course, provided that John fully surrenders his surgery to young Dr. Gareth Bailey…"
** "Forever Young" as performed by The Canadian Tenors, and written by Bob Dylan, Kevin Savigar, Jim Cregan, and Steve Harley. No copyright infringement is intended.