Chapter Two: The Crime Solving Couple
"I need your help, John." Sherlock announces, looking up at John.
"Alright, what can I do?" John asks with a smile, sitting down in his chair.
"Well, would you kill for someone you love?"
"Of course I would. I'd never let anyone hurt the people I love." John replies confidently.
"Thank you."
"Alright, so what was that about?"
"This latest case. A woman murdered her husband to protect her daughter."
"Wait, what happened to her daughter?"
"The bruises on the little girl's body suggest she was beaten repeatedly, over a course of four years."
"How … how old is she?" John stammers, trying not to get angry.
"Seven." Sherlock replies, not bothering to look up.
After a few minutes of silence, Sherlock looks over at John.
"Are you alright, John?"
"Mm, yeah, I'm fine." John replies distractedly, taking deep breaths.
"Cases involving children always get you upset. Is there anything I can do? Do you want to sit this one out?" Sherlock asks gently, walking over to John.
"No. No, I wanna stop this woman getting locked up for protecting her daughter." John says with a slight edge to his voice, looking up at Sherlock.
"Alright." Sherlock nods, resting his hand on John's shoulder before walking back to the desk.
"What can we do?"
"We can stop her getting thrown into prison for protecting her daughter." Sherlock replies, tapping away on his keyboard.
x..x
In the end, Sherlock and John manage to stop the mother from being locked up. As it turns out, it wasn't just a crime of passion, the mother was defending herself and her daughter. She hit him with a small stone statue a little harder than intended and killed him.
Thankfully, the prosecution found the mother innocent of murder and, taking into account the evidence of abuse to her and her daughter, let the woman go. It caused quite an uproar with the press that she didn't get a sentence but all in all, John was glad she wasn't sent to prison.
"The case turned out quite well, don't you think, John?" Sherlock beams, sitting down on the couch.
"Yeah, it did." John smiles back, truly elated that the mother and daughter will have a better life now.
"I'm surprised that the mother didn't get any jail time but really, I'm very glad. She didn't deserve to go to prison when there was a man like that around."
John looks up in surprise and smiles softly.
"What?"
"Just you. Being all human and caring about a family for once."
"Yes, well. I am capable of being sympathetic at times, John."
"I know, love. It's just nice to see it." John replies, walking over and sitting down next to Sherlock.
"I know it's unusual, John. But please, try not to sound so surprised."
"Shut up." John grins, leaning over to kiss Sherlock's cheek. "Anyway, I'm going to bed, love. I'll see you in the morning."
"Goodnight, John."
"Goodnight, Sherlock."
x..x
Two days pass and another case comes in, taking up three weeks of John and Sherlock's life. The two men settle into a routine of solving crimes; locking up murderers, rapists, drug dealers etc.
As two months come and go, John feels more alive than he has in a long time and it's all thanks to Sherlock.
"You love this, don't you?" Sherlock asks with a smirk, looking over the table at John.
"Would I sound mad if I said yes?" John grins, sipping his tea.
"Completely."
"Then yeah, I do." John chuckles, causing Sherlock to laugh along with him.
"I never thought there'd be any one I could share this with. And then a short, thrill-seeking army doctor walked into my life." Sherlock smirks at John.
"Oi, cheeky shit." John smirks back, kicking Sherlock under the table.
Sherlock laughs manically, picking up his cup and heading to the kitchen.
"Being short has it's advantages." He replies as he returns, "Mainly being that you make me look taller." He grins.
"Any more of that and I get Lestrade to give you some truly boring cases."
"Jawn." Sherlock whines, pouting at his friend.
"Then behave." John warns, standing up and disappearing to the bathroom.
Just as he turns on the shower, the doorbell rings loudly, "Sherlock, get the door! I'm having a shower."
After a few minutes of silence, John sighs and walks out the bathroom, "Never mind. I'll get it."
"Bloody Sherlock Holmes, can't even answer a door." John mutters as he opens the door.
"John Watson?" A man asks, looking at John with a wide smile.
"Yeah, that's me. Who are you?" John asks, looking at the stranger with a curious look.
"Ah, good. We need to talk."