I was going to make this chapter and the next one all one chapter, but it got a bit out of hand and huge, so I split them. But, lucky for you, that means I've already got the next one written and you won't have to wait for me to write more. So hopefully another update soon. Thanks all for reading, if there's anyone still out there, lol.

Chapter 20

Gregory Lestrade had no idea how he got relegated to the position of babysitter, but he supposed he often did things for Sherlock and had no idea why he did them. He didn't exactly mind it, really. Addie was well-behaved, self-entertaining, and quite frankly, adorable. Truth be told, he liked having her around.

John and Sherlock were off in Wales for the day questioning witnesses and following all sorts of random clues. Sherlock and Addie's older brother, Myron…or something, was also not able to watch her, and the housekeeper, or landlady, also had some excuse or another for not being available. This left Lestrade and the team at Scotland Yard to watch over the four-year-old for the day. Addie was dropped off at Lestrade's office early that morning looking sleepy and clutching her game controller thing and a small Union Jack pillow. She slept for another hour or so, enough time for Lestrade to get some work done, before she was up and asking questions.

"What does this do?" "Who is that?" "Why does this stack of papers say con-fi-den-tee-al?" "When is lunch time, I'm hungry?" "Where does this paper go when you push the buttons on the machine with the phone?" "Can I call Sherlock and Mr. John on the phone machine?"

Lestrade enjoyed having the kid come around, but sometimes she was too much like Sherlock that it drove him nuts. He knew kids were curious and he knew they tended to ask a lot of questions, but the constant asking was really getting to him. Not only the questions, but the deductions as well. She was incredibly perceptive for a four-year-old, but really, that shouldn't have surprised him.

"That man at the table over there, he has a lady friend who's not his wife, and that lady getting coffee, her son is in trouble wif the law. Then the janitor man, he's got no money so he's gotta go to a big building to stand in line and get stuff for his family. And that lady on the phone, she's-"

"Ok, Addie. I get it. That's enough now, kiddo. I have some work to do, so can you be really quiet for me and let me get some stuff done?" he asked. "Then we'll go get some lunch, ok? Anywhere you want."

"Anywhere…?" Addie asked.

"Anywhere," Lestrade confirmed.

"Pinky swear?" she held out her pinky.

He chuckled and hooked his pinky with hers, "pinky swear."

"Ok," she smiled and turned on her puzzle game.

Addie was doing well with blending into the background and being quiet. Which was good because Lestrade had a trainee coming in to learn the ropes. The trainee, Mark Rogers, walked in and shook Lestrade's hand before sitting in one of the armchairs. Soon the man felt a tap on his shoulder.

"What's your name?" a small voice said from behind him.

Lestrade sighed, "Addie, sweetheart…"

"No, it's alright," Rogers said, turning around to greet her. "My name is Mark Rogers."

"Hello Mr. Rogers, my name is Adelaide Holmes. Pleased to meet'cha."

"Well, pleased to meet you too, Miss Holmes. You're a very polite young lady."

Addie blushed at the praise and became shy.

"Addie will be here while we run through some things, but she will be very quiet and promised to stay out of the way," Lestrade said, giving Addie a pointed look.

Addie pouted and looked put-out since the man was much more interesting than her game at the moment, but she obeyed and went back to her armchair.

Eventually, Lestrade got lucky because Addie fell asleep on the chair and he was able to continue the training session with Rogers. But halfway through explaining the process of filing reports, Addie woke up from her nap.

Addie yawned and stretched before settling back onto her flag pillow. She looked around the room and saw that the kind man from earlier was still there and he and Lestrade were still being boring. Addie was suddenly very thirsty and hungry and she hoped the stuff Lestrade had to do would be over soon.

Addie carefully approached Lestrade and tugged on his jacket.

"So, it's extremely important that we file under the correct category, or else we-" Lestrade stopped and looked to her.

"Mr. 'Strade. I'm hungry. Are you finished yet?" she asked.

"Um…not quite yet, dear. Can you wait just a bit longer?" he asked.

"Yeah, ok. But I'm firsty too, can you get me some water?"

Lestrade shot Rogers an apologetic look and turned to address Addie. "Look, Addie. How about you go find Donovan and have her get you some water and some crisps, and I promise I'll be done in about 20 minutes ok?"

Addie stuck out her pinky for him to take and Lestrade returned the gesture. She walked into the hallway and wandered around the desks looking for the one labeled 'S. Donovan.' Finally she spotted her sitting at her computer.

"Hi, Miss Sally," Addie said, coming to stand at her side.

Sally was a bit startled but turned towards the girl and smiled. "Hello, Addie. How are you, sweetheart?"

"Hungry," she said with a slight frown.

Sally laughed. "Well then, we can't have that now, can we? How can I help?"

"Mr. 'Strade sent me out here to ask you to please get me some water and come crisps because he's still working wif Mr. Rogers. Can you take me?"

"Of course, hun. Let's go find something."

Sally led Addie to the vending machine and asked her what type of crisps she'd like. Addie proceeded to talk her ear off.

"I like the cheese kind. Sherlock likes the plain kind, but he won't say that because he doesn't want people to know he likes crisps but he does. Miss Molly bought me cheese crisps one time. That was very nice of her. Have you met Miss Molly before, Miss Sally?" Addie asked.

"No, I don't think I have," Sally answered.

"You should meet her. She's really nice! You could be her friend. I don't think Miss Molly has too many friends. "

"Well, maybe I'll meet her one day," Sally said as she got Addie a cup of water and led her back to her desk.

"Where's Mr. Annerson? I wanna say hi," Addie asked as she sat on the edge of Donovan's desk swinging her legs back and forth.

"Can't I'm afraid. He's on a case. But I'll tell him you said hello. Do you want more water?" she asked, snacking on her own crisps.

"Yes please, Miss Sally. Thank you."

Sally got up just as Lestrade came out of his office, shaking Rogers' hand and walking over to them. "Sally," he nodded at her. "Addie being good for you?" he asked.

"Perfect angel," Sally replied, winking.

"I'm sure," Lestrade laughed.

"Want a crisp Mr. 'Strade?" Addie asked.

"No thanks, kiddo. I was planning on getting some lunch actually," he looked at his watch. "Well, more like an early dinner by now. But if you don't want to join me, then that's fine. I'll ju-"

Addie jumped off Donovan's desk and Sally barely caught her before she landed on her face.

"Wait! I'm coming!" Addie said rushing after Lestrade. "Bye Miss Sally! Thanks for the crisps!"