As Above As Below
Chapter 2
Once Molly had managed to pry the boy-who-was-supposed-to-be-Sherlock's fingers away from her pajama bottoms and put on her dressing gown over her frankly hideous pink nightshirt, she sat down in front of the decidedly creepy elder Holmes, who was perched on her IKEA couch and glaring at it like it personally offended him by existing.
The moment she sat down, the dark haired boy immediately squished himself next to her, attempting to burrow into her side and muttering something like "Mycrwoft simple-toon." Molly automatically pulled him onto her lap, wrapping her arms around him. There was a momentary flare of anger when she felt the coarse grey shirt he was wearing. The material of his equally dismal shorts was rough and she could tell that it was put on him just to serve the purpose of clothing, not comfort.
"Well, he seems to be quite taken with you, Ms. Hooper. I would have taken him to Doctor Watson-" Molly felt the boy's grip on her tighten- "But regrettably John has already left for Africa. Haunted by memories, John is."
"You are avoiding the main question," Molly said, trying not to show how much she was panicking, "If this is Sherlock, I don't see how it could be Sherlock, can you really change someone into a child? No, that's not possible; of course it's not possible, I'm dreaming aren't I? I knew I shouldn't have drunk that wine…"
"Ms. Hooper, please, breathe. Now, I'm not at liberty to tell you everything that goes on in our labs, but for now, know that several bio-weapons have been created that can reduce a subject's mental and physical state by a few years. Unfortunately my ever curious brother, even in hiding, decided to go poking his nose around in one of my top-secret labs. And my employees, deeming him a threat, doused him in a quantitive supply of the prototype drug."
"So you," Molly said, pinching the bridge of her nose, trying to hold back the headache forming after Mycroft's word vomit, " Accidentally turned your younger brother into a three-year old?"
"It was an experiment!" Mycroft shouted defensively, causing both Molly and three-year old Sherlock to jump, "And he wasn't meant to be the one being doused! Those idiot lab-rats-" Here the British government paused and took a deep breath. Once he transitioned back into the ice-man façade, he continued, "Rest assured the guilty parties have been suitably punished. Now, Sherlock's intellectual prowess has enabled him to keep some of his mental faculties, but for all intents and purposes, he is now a child. The drug should wear off eventually, but I cannot be certain when. Sherlock could either grow slowly or instantaneously. Or he may not grow at all."
Molly squeaked, "What? No, he can't just stay three years old! There must be-"
Mycroft eyed her curiously, "My employees are, as we speak, working on a counter-drug. It might take a while, but we are fairly sure we can create a counter drug. All I ask of you, Ms. Hooper, is to take care of my brother. I cannot, there are attempts on my life nearly everyday. Also, Sherlock here likes to kick my shins once in a while in a fit of pique..." Sherlock giggled into Molly's chest, "-Now, you are a somewhat ordinary young woman. You can easily pass him off as your nephew. I'll pay you of course"
"I don't need payment. I'll look after Sherlock. I don't need any incentive."
"Then take it for Sherlock's expenses. The money will be deposited into your bank account by morning. I must be going now," Mycroft stood up and crossed to the door, picking up his umbrella from the stand, "If there are any inconveniences, just type 'Problem' on your blog, my PA will help you then. Goodnight Ms. Hooper and….little brother."
"I'm not little!" Sherlock spouted indignantly. Molly awkwardly patted him on the head, trying to keep him from running after Mycroft. Softly thumping him on the back as she knew calmed children down, she cooed, "It's alright, it's alright, you are still brilliant, Sherlock."
Sherlock's body soon relaxed and he burrowed closer to her. She tucked his head under her chin, feeling how bony and thin his body was. She looked over at Mycroft, who was throwing her an odd look.
"You know Ms. Hooper, I take that back. You are not at all ordinary. Then again, you wouldn't have gotten my brother's trust if you were utterly boring."
And with that, the British government swept from the flat.
A\N: here you go! The response to this fic really overwhelmed me!
Sorry if this is a short chapter, I'm in the hospital, waiting for the surgery which should start in an hour. And there's nothing like writing Kid Sherlock fluff to help you feel calm.
Thank you to all those who reviewed and made my day-MadAsAHatterJayy, lililoop, xvxv, Morbidbydefault (squee!), Emily, Cinnamon Pink, Zora Arian, fiction-from-my-mind, amirizar2003, whytejigsaw, IAmSherlocked123 and patemalah21!
As usual, thank you to NoverDeMedici for being my muse!
Review and make my day?
Adi x