*peeks head in* Uh...hey guys. If anyone's still here...So sorry! But my sister had her baby and I have a nephew and he's wonderful and gorgeous and I've been trying to help her out since she's a first time mom and my stories were a bit neglected...I'm so sorry! I'm terrible, I know! But the good news is I'm here and I'm back! Right? Right...ahem. Well, here's Chapter 16.

Chapter 16

The next day Lestrade called in a missing person's case turned murder investigation and they were on their way to the scene.

"Achoo!" Addie sneezed and sniffled.

"Bless you," John replied.

"Thanks Mr. Jo-o-o achoo!" she said and sniffled again. She started rubbing her eyes and wiping her nose on her sleeve.

"Addie, please don't use your sleeve as a tissue," Sherlock said as he stared out the cab window.

John seemed suspicious and concerned about Addie's sniffles and sneezes. She seemed a bit…off after breakfast and their unintentional soaking on the way home.

"Addie, are you feeling alright?" John asked.

Addie rubbed her head and her eyes a bit before answering, "Uh-huh. I just got a tickle in my nose. And my head hurts a little."

"The medicine should start working soon," Sherlock reassured her. John chalked it up to being tired and left it at that.

They arrived at the scene and once again Addie was relegated to the police car with strict orders to not leave at all, unless it was an actual emergency; not a kitty or a necklace charm.

Addie sat patiently and watched the cars and people passing by. Her head was bothering her and she couldn't seem to stop shivering even though she'd warmed up from the rain incident earlier. Her nose was runny and her throat felt scratchy. She really didn't feel well and she hoped Sherlock and John were almost done so she could go home and rest. Her stomach was now doing flip-flops and there was a dull ache in the pit of it. She started sweating and she knew she was really feeling unwell. She then felt an intense need to get out of the car and find them both so she could go home and feel better. Addie saw Lestrade lingering outside of the car and she wanted to get out and tell him to get Sherlock because she felt sick. However, John had said only an emergency, and this didn't necessarily qualify as such. She decided then to get his attention without getting out of the car, so she started knocking on the window.

Lestrade heard a faint knocking sound and he stood still to strain his ears for the source of it. He turned towards the car and saw Addie hitting her fist against the window. He walked over and unlocked the car, then opened the door for her.

"Yes?" he asked.

"Ummm, Mr. 'Strade…is Sherlock almost done?" she asked.

"I'm not sure Addie, why?"

"Oh, I just want him, that's all," she replied.

Lestrade was confused. Usually Addie sat nice and quiet, patiently waiting to be let out…well except that one time, but that was a fluke. He watched as Addie sniffled and brought her hand to her forehead and started rubbing it.

"Is your head bothering you?" he asked.

Addie nodded but said no more.

Lestrade also noticed she seemed to be very pale and sweating, with a glassy look in her eyes. He opened the door farther and beckoned her out of the car.

"But Mr. John said only emergencies," Addie said, worried about getting in trouble.

"It's alright, you're with me," he reassured her. "Plus, you look like you need some air."

"Mr. 'Strade? I really want Sherlock. I don't feel very good," Addie told him.

"What's the matter?"

"My head hurts and my tummy hurts and I feel really hot, but cold at the same time," she explained.

Lestrade took in her pale face, glassy eyes, and shaky hands. He brought his own hand to her forehead and pulled it back quickly when he felt the heat radiating off of her.

"Damn kid, I think you have a pretty nasty fever there. Let me go get Sherlock, alright? Will you be ok for a minute or so?"

Addie's face paled even more and she gave a short nod. She opened her mouth to say 'yes' but ended up vomiting all down her front and all over the ground. Lestrade was lucky enough to avoid the mess, but now had to deal with a hysterical and sick four-year-old.

"I w-w-want S-S-Sherlock!" she wailed.

Lestrade was desperately looking around for the consulting detective and awkwardly standing with his hand on her shoulder.

"I'm really sorry M-M-Mr. 'Strade! I'm sorry I throwed up! I just don't feel g-g-good!"

"It's alright," he tried to console her as he rubbed a hand up and down her heaving back. He was ready to run into the house and pull Sherlock out, but he knew he couldn't leave her alone outside.

Addie was now hiccupping and crying loudly while saying "I want Sherlock!" repeatedly. Lestrade worried she'd make herself sick again if she continued. Mercifully Sherlock and John walked out hurriedly, apparently hearing Addie's pleading for her brother.

They stopped short when they saw the vomit staining her clothes and the ground. It was clear Addie was feeling ill and was now beside herself. John, ever the doctor, immediately began checking her over and running his own diagnostics. He brought his hand to her forehead and pulled it off quickly when he felt how hot she was.

"Shit! High fever, glassy eyes, headache, vomiting," he muttered as if talking to himself. "Sounds like the flu."

"Anything else, Addie?" Sherlock asked.

"My throat and my nose are bugging me. And my tummy feels really funny. It hurts bad, Sherlock!"

"Alright sweetheart, you're going to be ok," Sherlock said as he ran his hands through her hair.

"I'm sorry I throwed up and made a mess! And I'm sorry I got out! But Mr. 'Strade said I could to get some air and I didn't wanna get sick in the car," Addie sniffled and rubbed the tears from her eyes.

"No Addie, it's ok. You aren't in trouble. It's good you got out. That's a good thing," John said.

"I made a big mess!" she hiccupped.

"Nothing we can't fix with a washing machine and fresh clothes," Sherlock told her. "Do you still feel bad? As if you might get sick again?" he asked.

"No, not right now. I just wanna go home!"

Sherlock and John knew a cab was out of the question so Lestrade offered one of the Yard's cars to take them back. Sherlock sat with Addie in the back and she leaned against him, careful not to get him messy from her vomit. John quickly briefed Lestrade on their theories and gave him their notes. They both returned to the car and smiled at the sight of Sherlock gently running his hands over Addie's head as in lay in his lap. John climbed in the front and left Sherlock to comfort his sister.

Lestrade walked around to the back window and leaned in a bit to see Addie. "I hope you feel better, kiddo. You kick this flu in the butt, ok?"

"Ok," she said faintly. "Fank you Mr. 'Stwade," she slurred, sleepy and feverish. He smiled and gave the car a pat as it took off towards Baker Street.