So, I know I may not be spot on with charaters but I really believe that Sherlock has a sweet side that takes someone special to bring it out. Just wanted to get that out there :) thank you to everyone who has taken their time to read this and a special thank you to those who have also taken their time to write a review. It really means so much to me, you guys really are the best!
Sherlock stood off to the side watching Celeste sit at the table and talk to John, she had been out of the room for almost an hour now and he had yet to see her childish demur come back. She sat straighter and seemed to be less of the scared little girl she had been when he first met her, and was more of the woman he was trying to teach her to be. Lestrade came over and stood next to Sherlock not speaking for a few moments just stood watching Sherlock watching Celeste.
"You realize she isn't like a small puppy that you can just adopt and take home don't you?" Lestrade asked finally.
"I never thought she was someone I could just adopt and take home. We've been working towards making her realize she isn't a child haven't we? Well, here is the proof that she's learning right in front of us. Right before she left that room I saw something in her change, and that made up my mind for me." Sherlock turned towards Lestrade. "I want to take her home with me. Back to 221 B. She needs me." He looked back at Celeste and she looked up away from John and gave a small wave to let him know she was ok, not that he needed reassuring.
"What she needs is someone who is willing to take their time with her." Lestrade said.
"And I'm not?" Sherlock said getting a bit offensive. "I've done wonders with her this past week, got her to talk and everything. Why would that change just because I take her home with me?"
"Well, for one she will be there all the time, it won't be like it is here, you get tired and you go home and your all by yourself. She will be there."
"I think about her while I'm gone anyways." Sherlock retorted. As Lestrade opened his mouth Sherlock spoke again, "You can't tell me anything that will make me change my mind so there really isn't a point."
"You still need the police and a doctor to sign off on the living arrangments."
"John will sign off on them, I know he will because he knows. I saw the look in his face. And you won't find a single item that will cause her harm."
"You do realize you still have lots to teach her right? There is going to the bathroom, showering, I don't even want to think about you teaching her about having a period." Lestrade said, getting tired of this.
"Do you really think any of that bothers me? She already knows that she bleeds once a month anyways, it's just teaching her that something goes there to catch it and really Lestrade you act like I'm obilious to everything that doesn't have to do with me. It's an insult."
"Oh you're not? I thought the whole world revolved around Sherlock Holmes." Lestrade said not being able to help himself but grin at the idea of Sherlock teaching Celeste to wear pads. The thought was comical.
"If it once did, it doesn't anymore." Sherlock said leaning against the wall.
"You're really serious about this aren't you?" Lestrade asked.
"I just don't know what it is about her Lestrade. Something about her just clicks. Somehow I just know she and I are meant to go through this together." Lestrade just shook his head and walked away to answer a phone that was ringing. Sherlock watched him go and walked towards John and Celeste sitting down next to her at the table. She leaned backwards and nussled herself against his arm, he sighed at the warmth coming off of her body.
"I was just talking to Miss. Collins about taking a bath. How she would feel much better. Isn't that right Sherlock?" Celeste looked up at Sherlock, he could see in her eyes she wouldn't believe it unless he said so.
Looking down at her he smirked, "It's true. Baths always make me feel better. And new clothes. In fact." Sherlock reached underneath the table and pulled out a bag that John had seen him come in with earlier but didn't ask what was in it. "I have some that might just fit you." He placed the bag on the table and took out a pair of jeans and a dark green t-shirt. "Shall we get you cleaned off and get you into some new clothes?" Celeste looked at the shirt he had pulled out and ran her hands over the top of it.
"For me?" She asked looking at the clothes.
Sherlock nodded. "I hope they fit. They should," He looked down at her letting his eyes look a bit longer than what was needed. "You want to try taking a bath?" Celeste looked down at the clothes and back up at Sherlock again and nodded.
"It safe?" She asked.
"Very. I'll make sure someone is in there with you." John said bringing forth a female police officer who just smiled sweetly at her. Celeste looked from the woman back to Sherlock and shook her head.
"Sherlock." She turned and grabbed his arm.
"Sherlock can't Miss. Collins." John said leaning forward. Celeste back up towards Sherlock.
"John." Sherlock said in a warning tone.
"She needs to learn you can't go everywhere with her."
"John really, it's me." Sherlock said.
"To be honest I don't know what that means anymore Sherlock." John stood up. "I used to think I knew, but I don't."
"What do you think I'm going to do?" Sherlock ran a hand up and down one of her arms.
"I think you're getting too attached to someone who you don't even know. And I don't want to see you get bored, like you will, and just leave this poor girl more confused than she already is."
"I'm not going to just get bored and leave her!" Sherlock shouted, getting angry at the way John was acting. At the rasing of his voice Celeste shrunk away from both men throwing herself at the closest wall and sliding down it, her eyes wide with fear as she watched the two men suddenly stop yelling at look at her.
"Now look what you've done." John said turning away from Sherlock.
"What I did?" Sherlock asked, looking at John. "You're the one who started arguing. If you just let me do what I know is right I wouldn't have yelled and scared her." Sherlock said beating himself up inside for rising to anger so quickly.
"Why do you even care so much about her? What makes her so special?" John asked, still angry.
"She needs me John, why are you not able to see that?"
"Other people needed you too, she isn't the first." John said, Sherlock seemed to realize what this was about.
"John, I told you I was sorry for not being able to tell you. It was all part of the plan, I wasn't expecting to be gone for two years!"
"Yeah well you'd think you could have at least told me." John said still not looking at him.
"I wanted you to have plausible denyability. You act like I didn't think it out. I didn't go up there knowing I was going to do what I did. So stop acting like you were the one who had to pretend to be dead while watching your best friend fall in love with a woman and not be there to talk to him when you two fought! I saw all the times you went to my grave talking to me. I heard everything, you think it was so hard thinking I was dead you didn't have to listen to your best friend have problems and the only they want to do is talk to you and you can't help. Don't pretend you were the only person who had a hard time." Sherlock said with the calmist voice he could manage, he didn't want to scare Celeste anymore than she already was.
John wished he would yell again, listening to him talk so calmly made him feel worse. He knew it wasn't a cake walk for Sherlock either, but that still didn't mean he was going to forgive him so quickly.