Yeah...so...it's been a while. Sorry about that...I have no excuses either. Just my apologies. Anyways, here's Chapter 17!
Chapter 17
"It must have been the walking home in the rain," John said as he leaned against the table, rubbing his eyes.
"Well, bloody good idea that was! Walking home in the rain," Sherlock scoffed.
"Hang on! We wouldn't have gotten in that mess if you'd just gone to get the milk yourself!"
"So I would have been the one stuck in the rain then?"
"It would bloody serve you right! It's not like you do anything around here anyways," John yelled, annoyed.
"Oh, please, tell me how I never do anything for you. Enlighten me," Sherlock replied angrily.
"Shall I go get my list then? Well, for one thing-"
"Sherlock….?" A tiny voice said from the other room.
The two men stopped their arguing and Sherlock walked into the living room. Addie was lying on the couch looking absolutely miserable. Her face was pale and she was sweating. There was a small plastic bin next to her head on the floor and a thermometer on the table.
Sherlock crouched down next to Addie and felt her forehead. "The fever seems to be going down. That's good. Means the medicine is working."
"Sherlock, my throat hurts. Can I have some water, please?" Addie asked quietly.
"I'll get it," John replied walking back into the kitchen.
Sherlock pushed back her sweaty bangs and checked for fever once again. Addie looked up at him through hazy eyes glazed over from lack of sleep. She'd been throwing up practically every hour and her fever had just recently gone down.
"I'm sorry I always ruin your work, Sherlock," Addie said as her eyes watered slightly.
"What do you mean, Addie?" he asked.
"You never get to finish your cases and your 'vestergations cuz I always cause problems," She said. "Maybe you shouldn't take me wif you anymore. You could leave me wif Mrs. Hudson if you want."
"Addie…kiddo, I could never leave you with Mrs. Hudson," Sherlock told her.
"Oh. You're right. Mrs. Hudson wouldn't want me neither," she sniffled.
"No, no. That's not what I meant," Sherlock reassured her. He sat down on the sofa and Addie re-arranged herself so that her head was on his leg. She was fiddling with the strings on his dressing gown.
"I meant, I could never leave you with Mrs. Hudson because I don't like going to crime scenes without you," Sherlock explained.
"But, all I do is sit in the car and do nothing."
"Yes, but I like having you there. I like having you where I can see you and it makes me feel better that you're there and safe."
"Even though I cause problems a lot?"
"It makes things exciting," Sherlock chuckled. "And you don't cause problems. I'd never trade your interruptions for all the crime scenes in the world, Addie. I mean it."
Addie smiled and closed her eyes.
"I'd never trade my clever baby sister for anything," Sherlock whispered.
John returned to the room from his eavesdropping spot with a glass of water and some cough syrup.
"Order up!" he said.
Addie lifted her head from Sherlock and her nose wrinkled when she saw the medicine. "I didn't order any medicine."
"I threw it in free with the water," John joked.
"I don't wanna take it!" Addie said as she stubbornly pursed her lips shut and turned away.
"Addie…" Sherlock warned.
"I don't wanna!"
"It won't be as bad as you think. Just a quick swallow and chase it down with some water," John told her.
"But…but I don't wanna throw up again," Addie said tearfully.
John looked sympathetic and patted her head. "We have to try, kiddo. It will help your throat. And if you do get sick again, it will be ok. That's why there's a bin there. And Sherlock and I will be here the whole time."
Addie looked wary but she accepted the medicine and the water. She gagged slightly as it went down and John got the bin ready, but thankfully it stayed down.
"Alright. That will help your throat and your cough. Now try to sleep some more. And stay here! I don't want to see you off that couch, understood? You need rest," Sherlock said as he gently slipped out from under her and laid her head on the pillow.
Addie nodded at him and he left the room. John took the blanket from the couch and put it over her, tucking her in.
"Mr. John?" Addie asked sleepily.
"Yes?"
"Did I make you and Sherlock fight?"
John looked confused. "Of course not, Addie. Why would you think that?"
"You were yelling about me getting sick. You were mad at each other cuz of our gro-suh-ree store trip. I'm sorry I'm sick. And I'm sorry you and Sherlock were fighting cuz of me," Addie said looking dejected.
"Addie, sweetheart, we weren't fighting because of you. Sherlock and I were just frustrated. We're both tired and worried about you," he explained. "I'm sorry you had to hear us fighting. Don't worry about us, ok? Just get some sleep and feel better."
Addie nodded and closed her eyes. John ran his hand over her clammy head and smiled. "Sleep well, love," he whispered, then went to his chair to update his blog and keep watch over her.
About an hour later Addie woke up and was sick again. He fever had gone up and she threw up a couple more times. John's doctor instincts went into overdrive as he gave her some fever reducer and anti-nausea medication. The last thing they needed was for her to get dehydrated. Sherlock sat helplessly by and watched as John bustled about the room. He felt terrible that he couldn't help Addie and a little jealous that John was so good at comforting her. Finally, Addie was pumped full of medication and feeling drowsy again.
John walked over to Sherlock who was sitting in his armchair with his hands clasped under his chin, a concerned and hurt look on his face.
"Sherlock, she's asking for you," he said.
Sherlock looked up questioningly.
"I may be the doctor, Sherlock, but you're her big brother. I can offer her medicine to make her healthy again, but only you can make her comfortable and happy," John told him.
Sherlock nodded and got up from his chair. Addie was silently crying and rubbing her eyes. She looked absolutely miserable and Sherlock felt his heart clench when she looked at him with imploring eyes.
"S-S-Sherlock," she cried.
"Shhh, sweetheart, shhhh. It's alright. You're ok," He comforted as he pulled her into his arms.
"I r-r-really don't feel good, Lockie!"
"I know, Addie, I know," he rubbed her back.
"Can you sit wif me til I fall asleep?" she asked shyly.
"Don't you want John? He can help you feel better more than I can," Sherlock said.
"No! I want you, Lockie! You're my big brother! You make me feel better," she said latching onto his arm.
Sherlock smiled and hugged her closer to his side. John was right. Addie would always need him to make her feel better and it's something he'll always be proud of. She'll always make him feel important and special.
"Sherlock, please?" Addie asked again.
"Of course, love. Big brother is here. Go back to sleep now," Sherlock smiled fondly and Addie didn't waste any time drifting off to sleep.