Chapter 24: Moving in.

"There is a place like no place on Earth. A land full of wonder, mystery, and danger. Some say to survive it, you need to be as mad as a hatter. Which luckily, I am."

-Linda Woolverton, Alice in Wonderland (2010 movie).

John got out of the car when Jim opened the door, staring around at the room full of cars, remembering the last time he had been in here. Jim took one of the suitcases and led the way down one of the aisles between the vehicles, and John hurried to keep up.

It had taken barely a week to prepare to leave. A simple cover story, about moving to Canada. Everyone believed him, probably thinking that he needed to escape the memories that London held, even so many months after Sherlock's death. There weren't many people to tell, really. Harry, Greg, Mrs. Hudson, Sarah, his therapist. Packing was even more dismal. Clothes, books. No photographs he cared to keep. Nothing personal, nothing important, no reminders of family, no cards from friends. Just the post-it notes from Jim, and Sherlock's old skull. Two suitcases; everything else provided.

It wasn't really sinking in. The fact that this place, this huge building called Brewer's, was now his home. That there was nothing outside these walls that mattered anymore. His world consisted of this space. His work, his Misfits, his coworker-partner-whatever Jim was, his home, it was all here. This was all there was. How very strange.

"Why is it called Brewer's? I've always wondered." Jim slowed to let John walk beside him, making conversation easier.

"Lots of reasons. It used to be a brewery, for one thing. Secondly, it's a Macbeth reference. Cauldron of trouble, bubble bubble, etcetera." He gestured widely at the people flowing around them in the hallway, each with their own job to do. "And lastly, I thought it was rather perfect. Brewer's to Baker street. Bread is such an honest meal, so staple and standard. And then you have alcohol, which is much more fun, you have to admit."

"Hm," John said noncommittally. "Curiosity assuaged. Thank you."

"Any time at all, Johnny boy."

They made their way through the building, up and over, through the twisting halls, until they came to a space where there were wooden doors that slid sideways. Jim pushed one open, and made a gesture.

"Your new home."

John waked into the dark room, and the lights flicked on. Almost immediately, something flew at him, arms wrapping around his middle painfully.

"Ouch!" he grunted, and then looked down. Sammy was grinning up at him, big eyes sparkling. John smiled back, then reached down and picked her up, giving her a proper hug. She laughed. Then he looked past Sammy, and saw the entire assembly waiting for him. Over 20 Misfits, all of which he knew by name. Sebastian, sitting behind them and looking out of place. Kathy, the red-haired woman who had helped him the first time he was in Brewer's, her hand on one of the children's shoulders. "Oh my god, what's going on?"

"It's a surprise party!" Lily shouted from the group of kids. Jim came around and stood where John could see him, his Cheshire grin telling John that he had organized this. His disbelief dropped away, as he stared at the smiles of all the people he had come to care about in the last few months. Yes, his life was now confined to inside this building, but it didn't matter, because everything he needed was right there with him.

"Let me guess. Any excuse for cake?" John said, turning to Jim without letting Sammy down. She was settled quite happily against his hip like a younger child.

"You've got me down, Johnny boy," Jim said, Cheshire grin unfaltering. John shook his head and turned back to the others.

"So, then. How about you guys show me around? And then I'll tell you a story. Have I told you the one about the Thief Lord?" Only Sammy had heard it; he had read her the book while she was unable to walk, and she assured him she would love to hear the story again.

So he was shown through the rooms, by a yelling parade of kids. The first room, the one they were in, was the hospital ward, where he would be working alongside Kathy, with two or three other assistants, and Leo as an apprentice. It held 20 beds, arranged in two rows. There were three doors leading off from the main room, not including the exit.

The first one led to a bathroom for the patients and staff, the second one to a storage room, and the final one led to John's flat.

He stepped through the door, and was suddenly in a home, rather than a workspace. The first room was a living room, with hardwood floors, pictures on the wall, a couch, a carpet, and chairs. Off to one side was a kitchen, over there was a bedroom, and the closed door, he was told by overlapping voices, was the bathroom.

It was like his flat back home, but it somehow had more personality. Apparently, the kids had pitched in, and their drawings and paintings adorned the walls that had been empty in his old flat. Jim had provided several pieces of art that John thought he recognized from the London museum. He stared at a Picasso for several long seconds, then turned to Jim with his eyebrows raised. Jim just grinned.

Eventually, they returned to the larger room, the living room being too crowded for such a big group. The kids made their homes on the beds and the floor, and Kathy pushed forwards a chair for him to sit on. So he told the story, and the children laughed, and Jim grinned, and Sebastian eventually became comfortable enough to sit, and Kathy shushed the kids every once in a while, and John thought that he could certainly get used to this.

A/N: Hello again! Doesn't it seem like this story is winding to a close? No, it's not even close yet. Around half-way done, I think. I COULD end the story around here, but there are so many things that John either doesn't know, or is ignoring, and I would feel like their relationship is a lie if I left it here. So we have a fair ways to go.

But look! I gave you two chapters in one day! Aren't I good to you? Do I not deserve a review? *Looks up at you with puppy dog eyes* Please? Let me know how I'm doing?

I got 3 reviews last chapter, and it made me very happy. Happy authors make for happy readers; review, pretty-please with a pocket!Jim on top! I love you all; have a good day.