So, I didn't have to work a double today! Yay! That means two chapters!
Like I mentioned in my last update, the next few chapters will be dialogue heavy to get the boys through time quickly while still growing and learning. I hope that you enjoy.
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"Do you have any questions for me?" The woman asked.
Sherlock rolled his eyes and slumped further down into the chair.
"This is a completely new environment for you, Sherlock. You've been here less than a month." She continued. "It's understandable that you may be anxious or have questions. Feel free to ask me anything at all."
Sherlock continued his resolute silence. He refused to play into this therapy bullshit. He just wanted to get the hell out of here. Get out and find John and fix this.
"I understand, you know." She said.
Sherlock let out a loud scoff before affixing his gaze out the window once more.
"One year." She continued. "You're stuck here for one year, Sherlock. And please feel free to try to 'deduce' a way out of here."
He whipped his head around at the phrasing she'd used.
"That's right." She smiled. "Your father told us all about your astounding intellect and your attention to detail. But escaping won't get you what you want. Even if you manage to leave, your countdown will reset once you are escorted by the police back here. You will serve one consecutive year here. It's up to you how long that actually is."
Sherlock scowled daggers at his therapist. He hadn't even bothered to catch her name.
"So, while you're here," She continued. "The progress of your treatment is in your hands. You can spend that time refusing to participate in therapy and group and not interacting with your peers during your free time or you can use your time constructively and earn privileges that will make your stay much more amenable. It's totally up to you."
"I don't have peers." He grunted angrily.
"Pardon?" She asked.
"I said I don't have peers." He repeated. "No one in this dull prison is my equal in intelligence and deductive abilities."
"So who do you consider your peers, then?" She asked. "Your friends?"
Sherlock felt a pang of sadness at the thought of John but squashed it and returned his gaze to the window. After five more minutes of silence, she closed her writing pad and sighed.
"I think we're done for the day." She said. "But you've lost phone privileges due to the fact that you refused to cooperate in therapy."
He stomped out of the office and back to his room throwing himself onto his bed and burying his face into his pillow. He spent most of the morning lying there dejectedly running through every possible way to murder his brother for getting him into this mess. If he'd just kept what happened with Jim a secret, he wouldn't be here and John would be with him. This was all Mycroft's fault. He was working out the exact amount of cement required when his roommate walked in.
"Hey, Holmes." Sebastian said happily. "Some of the other lads want to see that little party trick of yours. Wanna stop by my table at lunch?"
"Absolutely not." Sherlock growled. He'd gotten pissed at Sebastian two days before and had tore him to shreds by deducing that his mother took his sister when she left ten years ago leaving him alone with his neglectful father. Instead of punching him in the face, the kid had proceeded to tell everyone else on the ward about his "party trick" and he was forced to interact with his cellmates on a daily basis. It was torture.
"Ya know." Sebastian chuckled. "I've been here a long time. I know the ins and outs of the system."
"You must be so proud." Sherlock drawled into his pillow.
"I figure that makes me useful." Sebastian continued undeterred. "If you were to be willing to procure some items for me, then I might be able to help you acquire some much valued items as well."
"How could my vastly superior intelligence help you at all?" Sherlock asked.
"Sorry freak, but your intelligence means very little to me." Sebastian snorted. "But you're right about one thing, Sherls."
"Don't call me that." Sherlock growled.
"It gets incredibly boring here sometimes." Sebastian said ignoring Sherlock. "It would be so much easier to have some rich bloke, that's you, get his folks to send him some much needed amenities."
"Why don't you just ask your father?" Sherlock growled.
"That little shit cut me off." Sebastian said angrily. "No, I need a new revenue stream. That's where you come in."
"And what exactly do I get in return?" Sherlock asked.
"Who's John?" Sebastian said smarmily.
"Fuck off." Sherlock said feeling his anger rising.
"You talk about him in your sleep." Sebastian smiled.
"Get to the point or I will wipe the floor with you." Sherlock growled.
"I can get you access to a phone with the internet." Sebastian said smugly. "You can email your boyfriend to your heart's content."
Sherlock felt his entire body fizzle with excitement. He'd be able to get in contact with John. Explain everything. Make him understand.
Sebastian smirked at the obvious delight on Sherlock's features, "Do we have a deal?"
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"I must say," Debbie Miller said taking a seat beside John in his teacher's office. "I was little concerned when I received your call."
"Don't worry." He said with a smile. "It's nothing serious, but John did transfer halfway through his high school career and I just wanted to have a short conference after his first couple weeks."
John kept his head down trying to blend into the surroundings. He wished he could just disappear. He knew exactly why Mr. Walker had called this meeting and he knew that this evening would involve several phone calls back and forth between his aunt and his mother.
"Alright." Debbie said hesitantly. Let's get started then."
"Before I go into anything," Mr. Walker began. "I just want to say that John is an exceptionally bright student. He works hard and understands any concept presented in his classes. It is very impressive."
"Well, that's good." Debbie said ruffling John's hair lightly.
"Yes," Mr. Walker said. "His academic achievements are spectacular. It's more his social interactions that are of concern."
"Oh?" Debbie said glancing at John.
"He hasn't made any friends." Mr. Walker said honestly. "He sits alone at lunch, doesn't interact with anyone during free time, doesn't pair up with anyone for group work. It's not conducive to healthy, well-rounded development."
Debbie rested her hand on the nape of his neck before continuing. "John's had a rough couple of months."
"Alright." Mr. Walker nodded. "But don't you think that forming healthy, peer connections would help him deal with his issues?"
"I'm sure it would." Debbie agreed. "But he's experienced a bit of…well…betrayal by people he's cared about lately. It's probably hard for him to open up to anyone new."
"Do you keep in contact with any friends from home, John?" Mr. Walker asked him.
"My mate, Greg." John answered not taking his eyes off the floor.
"And what did you and Greg do for fun?" He continued.
"I don't know." John said. "Played rugby, watched telly."
"Well, why don't you try out for the intramural Rugby team?" Mr. Walker asked. "I'm the faculty advisor. We could get you signed up."
"I don't want to play Rugby." John said firmly.
Debbie chimed in, "He's still adjusting to his new surroundings. It might take him awhile before he decides what extracurricular activities he wants to sign up for."
"I don't doubt that," Mr. Walker said. "But I am going to stress that John get involved soon. He's ostracizing himself as it is now. What about academic clubs? What's your favorite subject?"
"I like science." He said trying to be cooperative.
"Alright." Mr. Walker said with a smile. "What about the Biology or Chemistry club?"
"Does he have to decide right now?" Debbie asked.
"I want John to pick at least one social club or team to join tonight." Mr. Walker said firmly.
Debbie frowned a bit, but turned to John with a smile. "What do you think?"
"I don't know." John said. "I guess…Biology club."
"Good," Mr. Walker said making a note. "I'll let Mrs. Gogel tomorrow."
"Is there anything else you wanted to discuss?" Debbie asked.
"Not really no." Mr. Walker said. "But I do want to stress that if you ever need someone to talk to John, I'm here."
John nodded dumbly before getting up and walking toward the door. The cab ride back to Debbie's flat was quiet. They picked up Thai for dinner and were settled on the couch comfortably before his aunt brought up the meeting.
"Do you want to tell me what's going on?" She said pushing his leg lightly with her foot.
"What do you mean?" He asked picking at his cast absently.
"Why didn't you tell me that you're not making any friends?" She asked.
"Are you going to call my mother?" He asked sadly.
"John," She sighed. "I'm not keeping tabs on you for your mother. I just want what's best for you."
"I'm…I don't know…I just don't' feel…ready." John fumbled. "I know I promised my mum, but…"
"John," She said with a sigh. "I'm not worried so much about a promise you made to your mum. I'm worried about you."
"I'm fine." He said. "Truly."
"You'd tell me though if you weren't, right?" She asked.
"Yes." He said.
"You're such a liar." She said. "This whole thing only works if we can communicate and you tell me when you need something."
"Okay." He said.
"Do you want it to?" She asked curiously.
"What?" John asked confused.
"Do you want to stay here?" She asked. "I know that your mum didn't give you a lot of choice and it must have been awful leaving all your friends behind."
"I do." He said firmly. "There's not much left for me at home. I know that Mum wants me here and everything I had…well…I thought I had…it didn't really work out."
"Oh, sweetie." She said.
John swallowed past the lump in his throat before continuing. "I promise to try harder. I just…yeah, I'll try harder."
"John," She said. "The only thing I want you to try hard at is being happy."
"Thanks, Debbie." He said. "I'm going to go to bed."
"Alright." She said. "Give me a hug."
He gave her a quick hug before walking to his room. He'd been here almost a month now and he still felt uncomfortable most nights before he went to sleep. He crawled into the unfamiliar sheets and stared out the unfamiliar windows sighing. He was determined to adjust to this new place. He'd work hard. He'd try harder. Because what else did he honestly have? A dead father. A drunk sister. A mother who, for his own good, sent him off. And a boyfriend who was never really a boyfriend who cheated on him. No. He wasn't anyone to anybody except a charity case to his aunt. He'd make this work. Carve out a life for himself here. He could do this. He had to do this.
He sighed heavily one more time before curling up against the wall and drifting off to sleep.
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Mrs. Holmes walked hesitantly to the front door feeling a bit anxious. She hadn't heard from John in a month and just wanted to check on him. It was different around the manor without the boys. She didn't really prefer it. She steeled herself and knocked on the door hesitantly. She shifted back and forth jumping when the door was wrenched open a young woman glanced out.
"Can I help you?" She asked politely.
"Yes," Mrs. Holmes said. "I was wondering if your mother or John were home."
The girl quirked her eyebrow and gave the woman an appraising look. "Who are you?"
"Anna Holmes." She smiled.
"Oh." The girl's face dropped its pleasant expression. She went to close the door, but Mrs. Holmes almost shouted.
"Wait!" She said. "Please! I just wanted to see how he was. We miss him at the manor."
"John doesn't live here anymore." The girl bit out sharply.
"What?" Mrs. Holmes asked confused.
"He's living in London with his aunt." She continued.
"Why?" Mrs. Holmes replied.
"That's really none of your business." She said. "Now, please go away."
She jerked when the door slammed closed and turned to walk slowly back to her car. She sat there for a while before pulling out her cell phone.
"Hello, Mummy." Mycroft said amiably. "What can I do for you?"
"John was sent to London to live with his aunt." She said without preamble.
"I'm aware." He said. "I did some minor research when I returned and found that Mrs. Watson was making several trips to London over the summer. She attended several meetings at a variety of schools and spent several nights with her sister-in-law, Debbie Walker."
"Oh my god." Mrs. Holmes sighed.
"It does seem that, for his own good, she was planning on sending him to London to live." Mycroft said quietly.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner, Mycroft?" She asked.
"It wasn't my place." He said simply. "I wasn't going to volunteer information that might cause you pain and I didn't want to intrude upon John's privacy."
"Will you…" She began.
"I've had some of my people keep an eye on him since he moved." He said competently. "I'll watch over him."
"Thank you, honey." She said.
"Get some rest, Mummy." Mycroft said. "I know that this hasn't been easy on you."
"I'm fine, Mycroft." She said. "But thank you."
"Anytime." He replied. "Talk to you soon."
"I love you." She said before hanging up.
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To all of my wonderful reviewers:
THANK YOU! I hope to have time in the next few days to respond personally and answer the questions posed. Sorry, it is taking me so long! Thanks again for taking the time to review and I hope that you continue to enjoy the story!