Chapter 6: Questions, Questions, Questions
The social worker looked through the documentation with a look of surprise,
"So... Mr Holmes, A child gets left on your doorstep only 4 weeks ago and... Now you wish to become a full time guardian to the said child?" she asked unbelievably and Sherlock gave a simple nod,
"I could not have summoned up the facts more appropriately myself Mrs Johnson" he praised causing her to smile thankfully,
"Well... Being as it may Mr Holmes. You cannot blame child services for having... Doubts" she began awkwardly,
"Giving your... Reputation and... the substances you have exposed to your system" she began explaining,
"I think you'll find I provided you with documentation from three separate General Practitioners stating that my body has been free of all substances since discovering little Lucy on my doorstep" he told her firmly as his eyes monitored the paperwork in front of her as well as her eyes,
"We're going round in circles. Preferably from your own design. You've gone through each document 5 times when it's only procedure to read through them at least 3. Giving the size of text and the information contained within them it takes 10 to 20 minuets to intake all the facts. Conclusion... You have deliberately extended this meeting with the intention of keeping me distracted" he said firmly causing the social worker to close her eyes defeatedly,
"Mr Holmes" she tried gently only to see the detective stand firmly and exit her office,
"Mr Holmes!" she called after him in vain.
Sherlock entered Baker Street to find Molly sobbing, She stood quickly when he entered,
"Sherlock, I'm sorry. I couldn't stop them" she babbled with a heart broken tone and Sherlock cupped her cheeks in a soothing manner,
"Shhhhhh Molly, it's alright." he assured before hugging her comfortingly,
"B... But... Sherlock, they took Lucy into social services. What are we going to do?" she asked desperately and Sherlock pressed a kiss to her forehead before pulling away reluctantly and retrieved his phone from the desk,
"The game is on" he growled firmly as he typed something into his phone before tossing it onto the couch before returning to Molly and hugged her tightly.
Mycroft was providing some government documents with his signature when one of his contacts entered the room,
"Message from your brother sir" he alerted him causing Mycroft to roll his eyes before looking at the man before him as he handed him the mobile phone and examined the screen,
"Well it seems that my brother is going to war with social services" Mycroft said with an amused smirk causing his contact to look curious,
"What did he say sir?" he asked and Mycroft smiled before standing and retrieved his signature umbrella,
"Two words" he murmured as he fixed his suit jacket in the mirror,
"Lucy Holmes" he said with a smile and went to leave but his contact was very confused,
"How does that tell you he's about to go to work Sir?" he asked and Mycroft continues to smirk as he faced him,
"My brother has opened his heart to a child and is intending to do everything he can to protect her. Those two words represent everything he wishes to provide the child with. He has given her a first name and now he is determined to provide her with his last so that she will feel whole knowing the fact when she's old enough to understand that someone cared so much about her that they gave her a first name but also a last name as well" he said with a trace of compassion and with that said he left for 221B Baker Street.
It didn't take long for Mycroft to set up a paternity hearing,
"Now remember what I taught you brother of mine. You are not to insult anyone in that courtroom, not me, not the judge. Not anyone. I cannot express this enough Sherlock" Mycroft told his brother firmly and Sherlock nodded,
"Yes for the thousandth time, Mycroft" he growled firmly and Molly placed a hand on Sherlock's arm gently,
"I know you can do this" she told him gently and he looked at her hopelessly,
"You're evidence?" he asked quietly and she smiled softly and shook her head,
"I don't need evidence Sherlock... Not this time because before I even have evidence there is always something I have had when it comes to you Mr Holmes" she told him softly and he looked curious,
"And what is that?" he asked and she slowly leaned up, closing her eyes and pressed a kiss to his cheek,
"Faith, Sherlock... I have always and always will have faith in you" she whispered before pulling away softly and went with John to sit in the stalls.
The Judge looked through the documentation,
"Despite your friends in high places Mr Holmes. I cannot see this court ruling in your favour" he told him and Sherlock looked around the room with a bored expression,
"Wrong" he said simply earning an unimpressed gaze from the judge,
"Excuse me?" he pressed and Sherlock seemed to be thinking for a moment before looking back at the judge as if realising,
"Oh yes. Mycroft is not my friend... He is my brother" he corrected causing the elder brother to hold a secret half smile at the rare trace of brotherly sentimentality.
The judge rolled his eyes,
"On to the matter at hand Mr Holmes. We are here today as you have requested the right for custody of one child who giving the circumstances has been given the name Jane Doe" The judge explained for the sake of the jury and Sherlock had to resist the urge to clench his fist,
"Her name is Lucy. That is the name I gave her" Sherlock told him but the Judge simply looked at him,
"The child in question has no birth certificate Mr Holmes due to the circumstances of her birth and so therefore the child has no identity and shall therefore be referred to as Jane Doe." he told him and Molly went to stand outraged but Mycroft placed a hand on her arm to prevent her,
"Patience will serve you well Miss Hooper" he told her quietly and Molly nodded after a moment.
The judge maintained an expression that was clear he did not see Sherlock as an appropriate candidate to take care of a child,
"You, Mr Holmes are a man known for putting those close to him in danger as well as a man of little emotion and a man who exposes himself to substances that might as well be toxic sewage so Please, If you can. Give this court one good reason why we should release a child into your full time custody?" the judge demanded firmly and Sherlock felt himself look downwards,
"I... You are correct. I am not a good man" he murmured and Molly went to stand again,
"I can't let them manipulate his guilt like this" she whispered to Mycroft but this time it was John who stopped her,
"Give him a chance" John told her gently and she sighed hopelessly as her gaze returned to Sherlock defeated expression,
"I have been... a difficult man to not only interact with but... I am also a hard man to have as an acquaintance but I am also a man of little emotion. It is very rare that I choose to interact with those around me" he murmured and when silent for a moment which seemed like hours,
"And yet... I do have a reason for why you should grant me custody" he said as he looked back at the judge who folded his arms,
"And what reason would that be, Mr Holmes?" he asked and Sherlock retrieved his phone from his pocket, opening the menu before handing it to the Judge whom accepted it curiously and looked at the displayed image and his expression turned soft,
"Because even though Lucy came into my path by accident... I... I love her as if she were my own. I want to give her everything she deserves that has been denied her since the moment she was born. I want to give her..." he tried and the judge tilted his head in a curious manner,
"You wish to give her what... Mr Holmes?" he pressed gently and Sherlock looked up, not hiding the tear that fell down his cheek for he was not usually one to show emotion even if he could turn it on well if a case required it,
"A home" he answered finally.
Will Sherlock get custody of Lucy? You'll have to review if you want to find out!
Kind Regards,
TheAuthor1996