Thank you, thank you, thank you for all of the support and love you've shown this story! I'm so happy people are enjoying it :) This chapter is a bit short, sorry! The next one is longer though. I was going to combine them but it just got too long, so I split them up. Hope you enjoy this even though it's smaller than most of the chapters I post. Now, on to Chapter 5!
Chapter 5
When Addie woke up it was in an unfamiliar room, on an unfamiliar chair, with an unfamiliar person sitting next to her. She rubbed her eyes and opened them to get a better look at the person. She could barely see the hook of an umbrella against the arm of the chair and her eyes widened.
"Good morning Addie," the voice said. "Or should I say afternoon?"
Addie's face lit up and she launched herself into the man's arms. "Mycof! I missed you! Where were you? What are you doing here?" she asked.
"Sherlock called me," he said. Addie's face went pale and her eyes seemed to bulge out.
"He informed me that you have been very, very naughty," Mycroft told her.
"I'm sorry!" she yelled automatically, scared of getting swatted again.
"Throwing a fit, hitting Sherlock, kicking John, screaming. That is no way for a young lady to behave," he said, his voice still and firm.
Addie spoke up, her voice shaky and fearful, "I'm sorry, Mykie! I'm sorry I was naughty."
"I'm not the one you should be apologizing to Adelaide. You put on a revolting display and I expect you to apologize to Sherlock, John, and Detective Lestrade for the way you behaved in his office. Do you understand?"
"Yes," Addie replied, looking truly guilty and ashamed of herself. She didn't mean to make such a scene. She only wanted to go with Sherlock and John to catch the bad guys.
"I just wanted to stay wif Sherlock. He never lets me go and it's no fair," she said sticking her lip out.
"No more pouting. You're in enough trouble as it is young lady," Mycroft warned.
Somehow she found herself in Mycroft's lap playing with the buttons on his vest. "Mycof, you're not going to tell mummy, are you?"
Mycroft sighed and brought his arms around her. "No Addie, I don't think mummy needs to be told. We will deal with the situation and I'm sure it will never happen again."
"No it won't Mycof, I promise!"
"That's a good girl," he replied. "Now what's that you have there?" he asked, pointing to her game.
"It's my puzzle compooter. Mr. John bought it for me so I don't get bored all the time. It's like a game."
Mycroft took it in his hands and examined it.
"But now Sherlock's probably gonna take it away from me cuz I was bad."
"Don't you think it's an appropriate punishment for how you behaved?"
"Yeah…but I still don't like it," Addie replied.
Mycroft laughed. "Of course not. It wouldn't be a punishment otherwise."
"Can you play wif me until I have to give it to Sherlock?" she said using her puppy eyes on him.
"Yes dear, show me how it works," Mycroft said.
"I'm real good at it. I've got to level five already!"
"Well, you are a very smart girl," Mycroft praised, shifting her slightly on his lap to see her game better.
They sat and played until Addie fell asleep again clutching the game and Mycroft's hand.
Several hours later Sherlock and John returned, the case not fully solved, but progress was made. Mycroft put his finger to his lips when they entered Lestrade's office and pointed to the sleeping girl in his lap.
"Thank god, she's finally quiet!" Sherlock whispered. John and Lestrade seemed relieved as well.
Addie soon woke when Mycroft shifted to get out from under her. She blinked groggily but when her eyes landed on Sherlock she sat up so fast she nearly fell over.
"Sherlock?"
"Addie?"
She slid off the chair and came to a stop in front of him. She offered up her game with sad eyes and he took it from her silently.
Mycroft gave her a look and she shifted nervously. Addie stared up and Sherlock again then ducked her head in embarrassment. "I'm very sorry for my actions, Sherlock. I was very naughty and rude. I'm sorry I hit you and I screamed and I didn't listen. And it's ok if you take my game cuz it's a 'porpiate punishment for my behavior."
Sherlock almost laughed at the seriousness in her voice and on her face during her speech. She next turned to Lestrade and looked up at him.
"I'm sorry Mr. 'Strade for my horrible display of anger in your office. It was rude of me to act so poorly when you let me stay here," she apologized and hugged his leg.
He looked a bit uncomfortable, "Uhh...no harm done, kiddo. All's forgiven," he replied.
Lastly Addie turned to John, a look of utter despair and guilt washing over her face. "I'm sorry Mr. John for kicking you and pushing you! And I'm sorry for yelling at you. I hope you can forgive me."
She hugged his leg, the one she didn't hurt, and apologized again shakily. John smiled and patted her head. "I forgive you Addie and I accept your apology. I'm not angry anymore."
"Is your leg ok?" she asked.
"I think it will be ok. The doctor said I didn't need a new one so I should be fine," he winked at her.
She smiled back at him.
Then she turned to Sherlock again and tears came to her eyes. "Are you gonna send me away now Sherlock? I don't blame you if you do."
Sherlock looked confused and looked to Mycroft for an explanation. Mycroft shrugged.
"Addie, sweetheart, what are you talking about?" Sherlock asked, bending down to her level.
"You said you were gonna call Mycof to come deal wif me cuz I was bad. Then you said you were done wif me. So I thought you wanna send me away," she said.
Sherlock and John looked at each other recalling the conversation she must have overheard.
"Adelaide, listen to me very carefully. I will never, ever, send you away. Not even if you threw the biggest tantrum in the world. Nothing will take you away from me. Do you understand?" Sherlock said looking her straight in the eye.
Addie sniffled and wiped her eyes. Soon Sherlock found himself with an armful of four-year-old Addie burying her head in his scarf and clutching his coat collar.
Sherlock patted her back, "Hush now, Addie. It's alright. All's forgiven. What do you say we go get some food, eh?"
Addie peeked up at him from his scarf, "Can we get pizza?" she asked hopefully.
Sherlock chuckled, "We'll have to check with John. He's the one who usually picks where we eat." He looked at John and smirked.
"Mr. John, would you like to get pizza?" Addie asked.
"I think pizza sounds fantastic," John said.
"Yaay!" Addie cheered. "Are Mycof and Mr. 'Strade gonna have pizza wif us too?" she looked to them, eyes wide and questioning.
Lestrade hated to disappoint that adorable and innocent little face, but he had tons of work to catch up on that was piling up.
"I'm afraid I can't at the moment. Too much to do," he said.
Addie looked a little put-out so he added, "But maybe some other time."
That seemed to satisfy her and she turned her imploring eyes to Mycroft.
"I'm not sure Sherlock would like that very much. Probably not for the best," he smiled his fake little smile at them.
"That's not true Mycof. Sherlock loves you!" she said.
Mycroft and Sherlock looked at each other awkwardly. John smirked at them.
"Be that as it may, Addie. I can't do it today. I'm sorry," Mycroft declined.
Addie tried not to look too disappointed and accepted Mycroft's apology.
"Alright, shall we go then?" Sherlock asked, eager to get out of the awkward situation.
He began gathering up Addie's coat and his notes from the case, trying to hurry the process along.
Addie hugged Lestrade's leg again and said goodbye. He patted her head lightly and returned her goodbye. Next Addie ran to Mycroft and squeezed him around his middle.
"Bye Mykie! I love you!" she exclaimed. Mycroft hugged her back. "Can I come visit you at your job soon? I miss you!"
"We'll see what we can work out," he said, giving her a peck on the cheek.
They all left Lestrade's office to let him work in peace. John was helping Addie put on her coat and tie her shoes when Mycroft took his leave.
He nodded, "John." John nodded back. "Sherlock." Sherlock raised an eyebrow and walked away.
John shrugged at Mycroft and took off after Sherlock, Addie clinging to his hand as she waved bye to her brother.