Hey guys! Sorry about the wait. Things have been really crazy! Enjoy the chapter!
We finally managed to get a cab and headed to 221b. "I think you will like my flatmate." I said. Vinson allowed a large smile to appear on his face. "Who would want to share a flat with you?" He asked jokingly. "Dr John Watson." I said matter-of-factly. "Where are you staying?" "Kyra and I found a place not too far from here." He said. "It's cheap and it's only until I find work." I looked down at the small child on his right. "kaayara, mujhe apane baare mein batao." I said. So Kyra, tell me about yourself. Kyra, who was looking out the window, looked over at me nervously. "main jab main chaar thee aur kuchh maheene pahale amerika ke lie mila hai apane parivaar se liya gaya tha. yahee kaaran hai ki jab main vinasan se mulaakaat kee." She said. I was taken from my family when I was four and got to America a few months ago. That's when I met Vinson. "Samajha. Vaise, aap kaise vaayalin ke baare mein kya mahasoos karate hain?" I asked. I see. By the way, how do you feel about violin? Her face lit up at the mention of the instrument. "Mujhe har tareeke ka sangeet pasand hai! Kya aapako pata hai kaise khelana hai?" She asked. I love all kinds of music! Do you know how to play? I nodded. "Homs bhaiyon do upakaranon khelate hain. Main vaayalin khelate hain, Mychroft nibhaata baansuree, Vinasan gitaar bajaata hai aur ham sabhee ko piyaano khelate hain." I explained. All the Holmes brothers play two instruments. I play the violin, Mycroft plays the flute, Vinson plays the guitar and we all play the piano. Kyra looked up at Vincent, still smiling. "Tum mujhe kyon nahin bataaya?" She asked. Why didn't you tell me? He shrugged. "Yah mahatvapoorn nahin tha." He said simply. It wasn't important.
A moment later we arrived on Baker Street.
"Who was it, Sherlock?" John asked from the kitchen when we walked in. "John, can you please come out here?" I asked. "There's someone you should meet." "Um, okay." He said skeptically, coming into the living room. His face was full of confusion as he looked from me, to Vincent, to Kyra, who was hiding behind Vincent. "Hello. You must be John Watson." He said, extending a hand. John shook it. "Yes, I am." He said. "And you are?" "Vincent Holmes." Vincent replied. John's eyes widened as he looked back and forth between my brother and I. "So then you're- Do you mean to say that- Oh my God." He stammered. "Sherlock told me that you were gone a long time ago." "Well I'm back now." Vincent replied, laughing a bit at his reaction. "So who's the little girl?" John asked. "Her name is Kyra. She came with Vincent from America." I explained. "Don't try to talk to her; she doesn't speak English and you don't speak Hindi." Kyra slowly came out from behind Vincent, surprising both of us. She made her way over to John, looked up at him, and gave him a small smile. He returned the smile and she ran back to the safety of Vincent. "Did I do something wrong?" John asked. "No, not at all!" Vincent said. "I'm surprised she interacted with you at all!" He knelt down so he was eye level with Kyra again. "Yah Jon Vaatasan hai. Dont vorree; ham us par vishvaas kar sakate hain." He said gently. This is John Watson. Don't worry; we can trust him. She nodded in response. Why wouldn't they be able to trust John? I wondered. Could it have something to do with this "network" Vincent mentioned?
We all sat down and talked for most of the day. "Sherlock! Do you remember all dad's attempts at "bonding" with us?" Vincent asked me. "Yes, I remember." I said, rolling my eyes. "Each was worse than the last but you have to give him credit for trying so hard.
"My favorite trip was when he took us fishing." Vincent said.
"What happened?" John asked.
"Let's just say that by the time the day was over I had caught a fish and Mycroft had three fishing hooks stuck in his hands."
"And Sherlock?"
"He got startled by a fish our dad reeled in and fell off the dock."
The three of us stifled our laughter to avoid waking Kyra, who had fallen asleep with her head in Vincent's lap. "So Vincent, what is this 'network' you told me about?" I asked. Vincent stroked the girl's hair as if for reassurance. "It's an international network of people buying and selling children." He began. "Some children are put to work doing things adults wouldn't dare do. Others aren't so lucky..." His voice trailed off and he squeezed his eyes shut as if trying to erase a bad memory. "What did they do to you?"I asked softly. He took a deep breath before continuing. "Other children are abused and tortured for the fun of it." A long silence followed these words. I pictured my little brother, scared and alone, covered in bruises and scars and had to fight back the urge to shed a tear. "I take it you and Kyra went into the latter category?" I asked. He nodded and we were all silent for long time, the only noise in the room being Kyra's steady breathing.
"Well, I ought to be off." Vincent finally said, standing carefully so he didn't wake Kyra. "I'll get a cab." I said, walking down stairs. When I came back inside, having gotten a cab, I heard John and Vincent talking. "You know, he's been different since you came along." John said.
"In what way?" Vincent asked.
"Well for one thing he's not a machine. He's showing emotion a bit which is strange for him."
"Really? He wasn't machine-like at all when we were kids. I suppose he must have changed while I was gone."
"He must have." John agreed.
"Cab's here." I finally said. "If you come here in the morning we can meet with our dear brother before he goes to work." A sly smile grew on Vincent's face. "Sounds great." He said.
The next morning at 5:00 Vincent and Kyra came to Baker Street, Kyra yawning loudly. I had my usual scarf and coat on while John was still in bed. "Good morning, Hero." Vincent said brightly. "Please don't call me that." I said as I went downstairs. Vincent, looking slightly hurt, followed.
We were halfway to Mycroft's house before he spoke. "Why did you ask me not to call you 'Hero'?" He asked. "You didn't have a problem with it when we were kids." "Heroes don't exist and even if they did I wouldn't be one." I said. "Oh come on!" He exclaimed. "You were always a hero in my book, brainiac." I shook my head. "If I were a hero this wouldn't have happened." I said softly. We didn't talk the rest of the way.
When we got to Mycroft's house I picked the lock and we all went inside. "What's the plan, Sherlock?" Vincent asked quietly. "That depends. Did you tell Kyra about Mycroft?" I asked. He nodded. "Perfect." I knelt down so I was at eye level with Kyra. "um oopar jao, to aap ek soot mein laal baalon ke saath ek aadamee ko dekhenge. Daro mat, yah hai ki hamaare bhaee, mychroft hai. Main tum use neeche ka netrtv, ek chhod diya le, aur rasoee mein aana chaahate hain. kya aap yah kar sakate hain?" I asked. If you go upstairs you will see a man with red hair in a suit. Don't be scared, that's our brother, Mycroft. I want you to lead him downstairs, take a left, and come into the kitchen. Can you do that? She nodded and quietly went upstairs. I stood and turned to Vincent. "As for us, I suggest we take this opportunity to make coffee while we wait."
A few minuets later Kyra's running footsteps could be heard on the stairs. "Little girl, wait! Come back here!" Mycroft called, perusing her as planned. Kyra ran into the kitchen and ducked behind Vincent as usual. Mycroft then appeared in the doorway, slightly out of breath. He stopped in his tracks when he saw Vincent and I. "Good morning, Mycroft." Vincent said. "How's my archenemy?" Mycroft's eyes started to show signs of tears as he ran across the kitchen and embraced our brother. "I thought I told you not to call me that anymore." He murmured as Vincent hugged him back. "Since when do I listen to you?" Vincent replied. They separated and the four of us sat at the table. "Where have you been?" Mycroft asked, regaining his composure. "America most recently." Vincent answered. "That's where I met Kyra. You don't happen to speak Hindi, do you?" "No, why?" Mycroft asked. "It's the only language Kyra knows." Vincent explained. "Of course it is." Mycroft muttered.
Sorry again about the wait. I'll post again ASAP. Promise!