Huge thanks for this chapter goes to my wonderful Mum and my brilliant sister, who both gave me so much support and fantastic ideas! :)

Also, sorry, I seem to have some editing issues there, I'm still new to editing on this site...

CHAPTER 4

Second time John goes out with Julie it's different. She's colder somehow, her smile not that bright, eyes not that shiny and she checkes the time few times too often. John realizes he slowly runs out of conversation topics, all about his work already told and Julie clearly not interested in listening about Hamish. He tells her about most interesting cases, but she showes no interest either, and she tells him she needs to be home early, in which he doesn't believe even for a second. He says he will call and she tells him not to. She's even irritated enough to mention John's visible affection when talking about Sherlock and suggests him to date his flatmate instead.

John comes home early, irritated and cold after long walk and all he dreams about is quiet evening behind the telly and cup of warm tea.

When passing through corridor, he hears Mrs. Hudson's footsteps in her flat, so, sure that he will find her with his son there, he comes in. To his surprise, John finds her alone.

"Hello, Mrs. Hudson, where's Hamish?"

She smiles at him, her sweet smile, and he thinks for a moment about how wonderful she is and that he should thank her more often for what help she is for him all the time.

"I just came here for a second, darling, to make him something to drink." She says. "Sherlock is with him upstairs. He is a dear and plays the violin for us."

"Let's come to them, then." Smiles John.

They come upstairs, but something's wrong. It's quiet, no sound to be heard. The flat is empty.

John feels like his hearts stops beating for a split second. He's feeling cold instantly, terified. All he can think of are thousand of possibilites what could've happen to his son, all caused by dangerous lifestyle he leads, high possibility of Hamish being attacked as his father's pressure point. Not even thinking about what is he doing he checks his mobile, but there's no sign of any message and no missed calls. As Mrs. Hudson bursts into tears he curses silently, and calls Sherlock, but his phone seems to be dead. Then he dials Lestrade's number, his voice trembling, when describing to DI what happened, or rather what he supposes happened.

Minutes passes counted on clock ticking too loud, Mrs. Hudson sobbes silently, apologising to John over and over again, but of course he isn't mad at her, he's scared to death, not only about Hamish, but also Sherlock, after all he's missing too, and the hell knows what really happened.

Lestrade comes and goes, police searching missing ones.

After what feels like a year and is in reality thirty minutes, doors downstairs opens and then shuts and then there's familiar baritone and John's poor heart starts beating again when he sees his son in his flatmate's arms, whos talking to him and smiling and acting like nothing happened and John is not sure if he should be relieved or angry, so he just stays there and stared in disbelief.

Apparently Sherlock thought that it'd be a great idea to take little Hamish for a walk, not telling anyone anyhing and meanwhile his phone's battery died and really, what's a big deal, they were out for only what was half of an hour and it's not like he has never took care of Hamish before.

And even though all John wants to do is punch his infuriating friend to the face just like after his "ressurection", all he does is hug his son and make everybody a tea – and call to say sorry to Lestrade for all this mess.

And he is silently content, cause it looks like every day Sherlock is even closer to his son, who seems to completely adore brilliant detective, and why John is not sure, but is he with his friendship and praises any different?

So he calls Sherlock an idiot, but can't hide affection in his tone, and he forget's that his date was a disaster – Sherlock having at least a little bit of empathy this time and not pointing it out – and sits with Hamish on his lap listening to new piece Sherlock composed and he can't believe he was lucky enough for this strange yet perfect family to belong to him.