Chapter 16: The Man at the Door~
"SHERLOCK, DEAR!"Mrs. Hudson cried, cheerily from the door. "Did you have a nice visit with John and Mary! Don't be cross, but while you were out, I got you some things. And a Christmas tree!; it's high time we put one up, will you help me? And I made biscuits, those one's with figs, I know you love them!"
Nigel swaggered,and coughed, suprised to find that an old woman had left the apartment unlocked at night, in this part of town. So,she was expecting someone? But the fact that she greeted him with his son's name, and that she was talking to said supposed son, as if he was her own, suggested that the boy certainly did live here with this kindly old woman, that...
Mrs. Hudson stepped around the corner, suprised to find her Sherlock age -progressed to being around her own age.
"Clever disguise,Sherlock..." she gasped suprised, and slightly embarassed to find the older incarnation of her favorite tennant attractive (not that the boy version wasn't nice, but it would be improper for her to be attracted to him ,she thought).
"Ah, so my son does live here, then?"
"Your son?"
Nigel stood up, trying to hide that he was injured. Now that she was looking into his face more directly, Mrs Hudson could clearly see this was NOT Sherlock. In fact the eyes were more like...almost exactly like...Mary's?
"But ...you're..?His father and mother...are...?"Mrs. Hudson shook her head.
"Sherlock has never told you he was adopted at a young age?"
Mrs. Hudson laughed, "Sherlock isn't one to share alot of personal things..."
Nigel swallowed, near panic. Even though he was a man used to danger, no one becomes used to danger involving their child. Least of all a child he very nearly lost already once to violent crime.
"Please listen,miss.."
"Hudson's the name, or well, actually one of my given names ,the one I prefer, is Violet."
"Please, Violet, there has been a serious misunderstanding for lack of a better term. I have information that may mean Sherlock's life or death, but I need to deliver it to Sherlock himself..."
Mrs. Hudson nodded gravely, "Oh, you're one of those agents- Sherlock and Mycroft work for those people. Well, he was at his best mate-what used to live in the room upstairs, John's house, him and his wife's house, rather..."
John Watson, the man that he had traced Sherrinford back to,as being her husband.
"My children are in danger, Violet. John Watson, I know, from Afghanistan, though he may not remember me...If any man can help me, if any man can be trusted with confidential information concerning my son, it would be him.I'm certain... Do you have his number?"
"Oh, I can't remember the new one, here let me go get my mobile. Would you like to come in for a cuppa? I was making some for Sherlock and I, but he cleary isn't coming home tonight..."
Nigel drew a shaky breath. He may never be coming home again...
"Alright, sure." he said with a smile, trying to avoid alarming the dear lady...
Who by the way, was very pretty considering her age...