A Wife for Sherlock Holmes
Chapter 20 – Gunpowder, Treason, and Plot
November 4th 2013
Marion was sitting working on mending some of Sherlock's shirts. She had turned the worse ones to rags. He would normally just buy more. She knew some of the smaller holes she could repair. He had a funny way of his buttons would stretch.
Sherlock was standing looking out the window. She smiled at him as he stood in his suit jacket, watching the people and traffic outside.
"What is it?"
"Molly is here." He said.
"Oh?"
"Yes. I texted her."
The door opened and there were light footfalls on the steps. Molly came into view. She stepped into the room and smiled at Marion.
"You wanted to see me?"
Sherlock turned to face her. "Yes." He walked toward her. "Molly?"
"Yes?"
"Would you ..." Sherlock stopped a second looking at his wife. He then continued. "Would you like to ..."
"... have dinner?" she asked softly.
Sherlock looked up and said at the same time. "... solve crimes?"
"Ooh." Molly said a little awkwardly. She looked at Marion. "I am sorry that just came out."
Marion smiled. "Well if you are with him for the day, feel free to go to dinner. I have to work late at the museum."
"You really don't mind." Molly asked.
"Why would I?" Marion asked levering herself to her feet. "He trusts you. I trust you. He wants someone who can keep up with him and I am a little too round…" She smiled looking down. She smiled. "Now if you excuse me…" She went to the door. "Sherlock. Lizzy will be up in a couple hours. There is some lunch for her ready." She smiled at Molly. "Thank you, Molly."
Molly was stunned and then took off her coat and sat down looking at Sherlock who was smiling at her. "Welcome to the fun, my dear."
ZzZ
Sherlock looked up realizing he was deep in thought as he spoke. "... monkey glands."He was looking at the wall, while Molly sat on a dining chair beside Sherlock's armchair. She bit back a smile as Sherlock turned toward the two clients in the room. A woman was sitting in what was John's chair and a man stood beside her. "But enough about Professor Presbury. Tell us more about your case, Mr. Harcourt."
Molly looked up as Sherlock moved closer. She spoke softly. "Are you sure about this?" She looked down and saw Lizzy who was drawing on the floor again oblivious of the adult action about her.
"Absolutely." Sherlock said.
"Should I be making notes?"
"If it makes you feel better."
"It's just that that's what John says he does, so if I'm being John ..."
Sherlock shook his head as he dropped into his chair. "You're not being John. You're being yourself."
Molly smiled a little at him.
The man standing then spoke. "Well, absolutely no one should have been able to empty that bank account other than myself and Helen."
Sherlock cocked his head looking at him. He rose to his feet, walking closer to look at him. "Why didn't you assume it was your wife?"
"Because I've always had total faith in her."
"Lizzy, sweetheart, what do you think of this man?" Sherlock asked.
She looked up. Her large eyes narrowed. "No good." She said and looked back.
"Why?" Her father pressed.
"He…He look funny…" She said, this time not looking up.
Sherlock smiled. "Amazing perceptive creatures, children."
"What? Someone took the money. You must find them, Mr. Holmes. To save my marriage…" He looked at his wife who was sitting stiffly.
Sherlock shook his head. "No, it's because you emptied it." He then pointed at the man. " Weight loss, hair dye, Botox; affair." He pulled out his wallet and whipped out a business card. He held it out to Mrs. Harcourt. " Lawyer. Next!" He barked.
The pair looked at each other and then started to argue as Sherlock herded them to the door and out. Once there, the woman slapped her husband hard and then walked down the stairs with her husband, begging for mercy and forgiveness, right behind.
Sherlock looked back at Molly. "Having fun yet?"
"Yes, daddy." Answered the little girl without looking up.
Molly had opened her mouth to speak and then clapped it shut looking at the girl in amusement.
ZzZ
Sherlock sat on a stool close to a woman who is sitting on the sofa. He is clasping her hands and patting them sympathetically while he talks softly to her. "And your pen pal's emails just stopped, did they?" He asked softly.
The woman nodded, whimpering as she cried. Molly looked across to her but then continued writing notes at the dining table. An older man sat beside the woman.
Sherlock spoke softly. "And you really thought he was the one, didn't you? The love of your life?" As the woman took off her glasses, she started to cry harder, Sherlock turned and looked at Molly for a moment, then stood and walked across to her. Keeping his back to the clients, he spoke quietly to her. "Stepfather posing as online boyfriend."
Molly looked up startled. "What?!"
"Breaks it off, breaks her heart. She swears off relationships, stays at home he still has her wage coming in." He turned back to the two on his couch. "Mr. Windibank, you have been a complete and utter ..." He broke off seeing his daughter coming into the room, rubbing her eyes and waking up. He moved and scooped her up in his arms before looking back. "You have been completely unfair to your daughter sir." He said. "I suggest you explain it to her…Now!"
The man looked at his daughter who looked up at him. "Well, I…"
Sherlock then went to the kitchen. "Want a biscuit, little duck?" He asked lifting a cookie to his daughter. He then carried her back and set her on John's chair, standing up as she ate the cookie, holding it in her small hands. He moved and lifted a hair tie. Holding it in his teeth, he brushed out her hair, and then he deftly French braided her hair to Molly's surprise. He then wrapped the tie around the end and smiled. "Off you go then." He said patting her rear gently and turning back as the man and young woman were speaking softly.
The young woman rose to her feet and nearly ran out. The man swallowed and followed looking back at Sherlock. "What would you done?" He nodded to Lizzy who was looking at her father's experiments on the counter, looking down into the microscope.
"Oooo. What is this daddy? It is pretty."
Sherlock smiled. "Bone marrow sample."
"You are going to let her just…" Molly looked over.
Sherlock shrugged, ignoring Molly and looking at the man at the door. "She is her own person and I won't let her date until forty, Next!"
ZzZ
Sherlock with Molly at his side pushed the doorbell to a flat. Instead of the bell ringing or buzzing, it played a recording of an Underground announcement of a male voice saying, "Mind the gap. Mind the gap."
Molly giggled quietly as a young man answers the door. Sherlock immediately held out the bobble hat towards him.
"Oh. Thanks for hanging on to it." The man inside side. He was young maybe twenty-five. He looked at Molly. "I'm Howard."
"Molly." She said taking his hand
"No problem." Sherlock said.
The man took his hat. "I'm Howard, by the way."
"Hello." Molly said cheerfully.
"So, what's this all about, Mr. Shilcott?" Sherlock asked.
They went into a room, which is mostly taken up by a train set with Tube trains running round it. On the wall was a photo of Howard, wearing his bobble hat, grinning happily and doing a thumbs-up to the camera while he stands in front of a train which doesn't seem to be in Britain. Molly looked at the other train memorabilia about the room. Sherlock stood, hands behind him, watching.
"My girlfriend's a big fan of yours." Howard said cheerfully to Sherlock.
Sherlock looked up surprised. "Girlfriend?!" Howard turned to give him a rather indignant look and Molly also cast him a look. "Sorry. Do go on." Sherlock said dipping his head a little a small apology.
"I like trains." The young man said brightly.
" Yyyes." Sherlock said looking about.
"I work on the Tube, on the District Line, and part of my job is to wipe the security footage after it's been cleared." Howard said as he sat down at his computer. "I was just whizzing through and, er, I found something a bit bizarre." He turned towards the computer again and pressed some keys. Sherlock threw Molly a silent, "Ooh!" before rolling his eyes. Molly smiled. Howard pulled up the relevant footage and the other two walked to either side of him to look at the screen, which showed the platform of a station. A stationary train and its doors wide open. There was only one man on the platform. He looked like a business man, every bit one. "Now, this was a week ago. The last train on the Friday night, Westminster station, and this man gets into the last car." Howard continued looking up at them.
""Car"?" Molly asked.
Howard sighed. "They're cars, not carriages. It's a legacy of the early American involvement in the Tube system." He said. "Not that many people know that…"
Molly looked at Sherlock who shrugged. "He said he liked trains." He said.
"Hmm!" Molly said smiling.
Howard continued. "And the next stop ..." He showed the footage, "... St James's Park station ... and ..." The doors opened and no one is on the train. Sherlock leaned forward becoming interested suddenly." I thought you'd like it." Howard said looking up at him. He played the footage again. "He gets into the last car at Westminster, the only passenger ..."He changed the footage. " ... and the car is empty at St James's Park station. Explain that, Mr. Holmes."
"Couldn't he have just jumped off?" Molly asked.
Sherlock shook his head.
"There's a safety mechanism that prevents the doors from opening in transit. But there's something else. The driver of that train hasn't been to work since. According to his flatmate, he's on holiday. Came into some money."
Sherlock looked at Molly. "Bought off?"
Molly looked at him curiously. "Hmm?"
Sherlock looked at her for a moment, then turned to Howard. Molly looked suddenly embarrassed. "So if the driver of the train was in on it, then the passenger did get off."
"There's nowhere he could go. It's a straight run on the District Line between the two stations. There's no side tunnels, no maintenance tunnel… nothing on any map. Nothing. The train never stops, and the man vanishes. Good, innit?!"
Sherlock closed his eyes. He remembered the face of the man. "I know that face." He retreated into his Mind Palace for a time, reviewing what he knew about the Tube. He then opened his eyes, finding himself on the landing. He frowned a little not remembering coming out of the flat. He then dismissed it. He concentrated a bit more.
Molly looked up the stairs and slowly walked up them towards Sherlock as he stood there with his eyes closed. After a moment, hearing her, his eyes opened. "The journey between those stations usually takes five minutes. That journey took ten minutes…ten minutes to get from Westminster to St James's Park." He looked down at Molly. "So I'm going to need maps… lots of maps, older maps, all the maps."
Molly smiled a little. "Right."
Sherlock walked passed her moving down the stairs. "Fancy some chips?"
"What?" Molly asked.
Sherlock smiled looking at her a moment before continuing. "I know a fantastic fish shop just off the Marylebone Road. The owner always gives me extra portions."
She followed him. "Did you get him off a murder charge?"
This time he did not stop. "No… I helped him put up some shelves."
She giggled a little and smiled. "Sherlock?"
"Hmm?" He asked looking up from the bottom of the stairs.
"What was today about?"
"Saying thank you."
"For what?"
"Everything you did for me."
"It's okay. It was my pleasure." Molly said reaching the bottom of the stairs. She started for the door, but his voice brought her back to face him.
"No, I mean it." He said softly.
"I don't mean pleasure. I mean, I didn't mind. I wanted to." She stammered a little.
Sherlock stepped closer to her, his eyes and voice soft and intense." Moriarty slipped up. He made a mistake. Because the one person he thought didn't matter at all to me was the one person that mattered the most. You made it all possible. Marion is the only other person I trust so much, Molly. Remember that." He drew in a long breath and put his hands behind his back. "But you can't do this again, can you?"
She smiled and her voice choked a little "I had a lovely day. I'd love to… I just ... um ..."Her gaze dropped.
Sherlock smiled following her gaze. "Oh, congratulations, by the way." He chuckled. "Have you told Marion?"
"Of course." Molly looked at her diamond band. "He's not from work."
Sherlock smiled at that.
"We met through friends, the old-fashioned way. He's nice. We ... he's got a dog ... we-we go to the pub on weekends and he ... I've met his mum and dad and his friends and all his family and I've no idea why I'm telling you this." She said looking down awkwardly.
"I hope you'll be very happy, Molly Hooper. You deserve it. After all, not all the men you fall for can turn out to be sociopaths." He said softly watching her.
"No?"
"No." Sherlock said softly. His eyes were intense as he watched her. ""Marriage is a beautiful thing. I hope you find it as inspiring and invigorating as I do." He stepped closer, flashing a beautiful smile, he leaned down and kissed her cheek softly. She closed her eyes and kept them closed as he turned and walked out the front door.
Molly sighed softly. "Maybe it's just my type." She said after his retreating form.
Outside it was starting to snow. Sherlock walked down the path, sighing a little, he pulled his coat around him. He turned to the right and walked off down the road. Molly followed down the path, pulling out her gloves as she put them on. She stopped at the pavement and watched Sherlock walk away. She then walked the other way around.
Are you still working? SH Marion looked down as her phone chimed. She cocked her head and smiled. She wasn't really able to see well and so she smiled looking outside at the snow.
Not really. How was your day with Molly? Was she a good substitute? I know that I have been lacking in that department lately. My belly is too round.
Suburb, but she can't do it anymore. Her fiancé my object. Also you are beautiful. Stop thinking you are not. Fancy some chips? SH
Oh! That lovely restaurant on Marylebone Road? Dear lord, I am starving.
When was the last time you ate? SH
Five hours or so…
Naughty. Extra fish for you, my love. The protein will be good for you and the baby. SH
And the chips are just tasty.
LOL. I am only four blocks from the museum. I will meet you there. SH
ZzZ
Marion only had to wait a few minutes. With the museum closed for the day she had set everything right for the weekend and then walked outside to wait, bundled against the snow. She was again trying to catch the snow on her tongue. Giving up, she sighed and waited. Her husband came around the corner and she stood holding her helmet under her arm and the extra in her hand. He smiled and took the helmet from her as he ducked for a kiss.
She then moved and sat down and started the engine as her husband climbed on behind her, his hands going about her body as he perched behind her allowing her to drive. She made her way through the traffic on the fastest routes, routes she had learned from him. Well, well, he mused. Someone had been paying attention in class.
He pressed his helmet to hers at a stoplight. "Did I tell you, I love you?" His hand rested on her thigh a moment as she balanced the bike. She really was a most excellent driver, even pregnant. Though he was still having issues with her driving so.
"I never tire of hearing it."
"I love you."
She smiled and drove to the restaurant, pulling up in front. Sherlock got off. Thankfully the shop was only five minutes from their home and both of them were starving. They walked in together, his hand on the small of her back.
"Sherlock!" The owner said looking up.
"Marty." Sherlock said taking his hand.
Marion smiled. "You really do know everyone."
"Ah, Mrs. Holmes. A pleasure also."
"Doctor." Sherlock and Marion said together out of reflex.
"Sorry?"Marty asked.
"Call me Mari." Marion said taking his hand.
He kissed her knuckles. "Come what is your pleasure this evening."
Marion smiled and put her hands together as she licked her lips in anticipation.
ZzZ
Marion and Sherlock arrived home with their piping hot food and retreated upstairs to eat. Mrs. Hudson was there and smiled. "I got Lizzy to sleep an hour ago."
"She sleeps like the dead." Sherlock said smiling as he held the bag of chips and started to eat. Marion was eating a piece of fish in delight.
Mrs. Hudson smiled and left the pair, though they were not even getting out any dishware, just eating out of the bag. The pair of young tenants never ceased to amaze her. The evolution of Sherlock in her mind to not understanding what he was exactly, to him helping her, to thinking him gay, bi-sexual, and now clearly he straight, though he was a straight ally. She had been convinced John and Sherlock were together, but then Marion had come pregnant into their lives. It had taken Mrs. Hudson a bit to realize that the girl wasn't lying. Sherlock really was the father.
A knock came at the door and Mrs. Hudson answered the door as Sherlock looked at his wife and then to the stairway listening.
"Oh, Mrs. Hudson." A female voice said. "Sorry… I-I think someone's got John…John Watson."
Mrs. Hudson looked at her indignantly and followed her. "Hang on! Who are you?"
Mary stopped halfway up the first flight of stairs. "Oh, I'm his fiancée."
Mrs. Hudson then smiled. "Ah!"
Sherlock came to the landing and looked at Mary as she came up to join him. "Mary? What's wrong?"
"Mary?" Marion asked coming out. She blinked when she saw the woman there. "Hello." She offered her hand. "I'm Marion." There was something that crossed in her eyes. A flicker and then it was gone.
"Mary." The other woman looked at Sherlock who was holding a half eaten chip in his hand. Mary pulled out her phone. "Someone sent me this. At first I thought it was just a Bible thing, you know, spam, but it's not. It's a skip-code."
Sherlock looked at her closely a moment before reading the message.
Save souls now!
John or James Watson?
Sherlock looked at it. "First word, then every third. Save ... John ... Watson."
Mary pulled up the rest of the message.
Saint or Sinner?
James or John?
The more is Less?
Sherlock's mind made the useless words fade leaving - Saint James The Less
Sherlock gasped. "Now!" He dropped the chips to the floor and moved to the stairs, racing down them.
"Where are we going?" Mary asked.
"St James the Less. It's a church. Twenty minutes by car." He ran to the street. "Did you drive here?"
"Er, yes."
"It's too slow. It's too slow." He said pacing in the street.
He is oblivious of the oncoming car what narrowly misses him and blared the horn.
"Sherlock!" Marion said coming out, a little out of breath. He turned to her.
"Sherlock, what are we waiting for?" Mary asked desperately.
Marion tossed keys into the air. "Go!" She said nodding to her motorbike. "I will follow with the car!"
Sherlock caught the keys and looked at his wife and nodded. He mouthed a thank you and she smiled at him and nodded. "Come on!" He told Mary going to the bike and putting on the helmet and handing her one. Marion was already moving to her own car as she pulled out her phone to call Mrs. Hudson to inform her that there was danger and what was going on. She watched Sherlock and Mary race off toward the church.
ZzZ
Sherlock used his mind to calculate the route. Ten minutes on their current way. Mary looked at her phone. She looked at the message.
Getting warmer Mr. Holmes
You have about ten minutes
Sherlock looked at the message.
They drove on.
"What does it mean? What are they going to do to him?" Mary asked.
"I don't know." Sherlock said.
They drove for a while, weaving in traffic as Sherlock expertly drove. Another message came. Mary held it up for Sherlock who looked over.
8 minutes
and counting...
Sherlock turned his attention back to the road and accelerated, but shortly afterwards they approached a roadblock. The road ahead was cordoned off with police tape, and two police officers were explaining the situation to stopped cars.
"Damn!" Sherlock said as he slammed on the breaks. Looking to his left he closed his eyes a moment. The old route would have been eight minutes. The new one that he can use is five. He abruptly turned the bike and headed down some pavement.
The office watched startled. "Oi! You can't go down there!" He called as they retreated. They went down a long flight of stairs, standing up to keep from being jarred too much. Once at the bottom Sherlock went onto the road that is The Mall. They race toward the Palace.
Another message flashed and Mary showed Sherlock whose eyes flicked to it.
Better hurry
things are
heating up here...
They continued onwards but their speed was impeded as they cross a bridge and are blocked by a slow-moving lorry.
Sherlock managed to dodge around the lorry and move faster. The new message Mary showed him gave him pause.
Stay of execution.
You've got two
more minutes
Sherlock checked his mental map, which shows that if he continued by road, their ETA is three minutes. However, if he went in a straight line it will only take one minute. He swerved the bike and headed straight down into a pedestrian underpass. The motorcycle charged on through the underpass. Sherlock forced the bike up a steep flight of steps and out onto the street again. They were finally driving along beside the fence surrounding the park with the church behind.
Mary received another text.
What a shame
Mr. Holmes.
John is quite a Guy!
She held the phone over Sherlock's shoulder to show him.
"What does it mean?" Mary asked.
Sherlock read and then his head whipped back to the park as a bonfire caught fire and onlookers cheered loudly. "Oh my God." He gasped. He accelerated looking for a break in the fence.
He found one, directing the bike to it. He hurled himself off and yelled to Mary."Jump off!"Sherlock moved people, none to gently out of the way. John can be heard crying for help. The onlookers look in concern hearing the cries. "Move! Move! Move! Move! Move!" He reached the bonfire and cried out. "John!"
Mary was right behind him. "John! Get out, John!"
Sherlock looked in the flames trying to see where John was. Mary continued to call his name. John heard them.
"Help!" He cried.
Sherlock had a location and reached his arms into the inferno. He pulled parks of the fire out of the way and then ducked grabbing John's arms. He pulled his friend clear of the bonfire even as people gasped in horror and watched.
A safe distance away, Sherlock laid John on his back and gently tapped his face with his hands as John looked up dazed.
"John? John!"
Mary was weeping and covered her mouth as she stood beside them. "John." She whimpered.
Sherlock smiled. "Hey, John." He said softly.
"Paramedics are on their way." A new female voice said. Mary looked up and saw Marion standing there, wearing her own long overcoat, watching them. "They will be here very soon. I called on my way over. She sighed. "Is he all right?"
"He will be." Sherlock said looking up at her.
Mary turned to Marion and hugged her as she started to sob in relief.
Below them John looked up at them, dazed as their faces faded in and out. He blinked trying to get his vision to work. He tried to move a hand to his head, but Sherlock intercepted it.
"Be easy. You are safe now." Sherlock told him. He smiled and looked at the two women. Mary was sobbing against Marion's shoulder. Marion looked at her husband and took a deep breath in relief. Her head lifted hearing the wail of a siren on the way. Sherlock sat back on his heels and sighed rubbing his hand over his face.
That had been too close…
ZzZ
November 5th 2013
After the adventurous evening and John being checked out, the Holmes' were able to retire for the night. Sherlock practically had to carry his wife to their bedroom she was so tired. She barely made it to the bed before falling asleep after he pulled her jacket from her and directed her down the hall. She was asleep before her head hit the pillow. He looked at her, fully dressed, sprawled on the bed. He had came to her and undressed and gently moved her. She protested softly in her sleep and he crawled in beside her, tenderly caressing her hair and then snuggling against her body. She was cool to the touch and he let his own body heat warm her.
The next morning, Marion's phone went off. It was still in her pocket. Sherlock felt it vibrating against his leg. Marion stirred even as her husband pushed the blanket away and searched her clothing. She looked at him startled as his warm hands felt about for it.
"Good morning." She said giving him a look.
He smiled as he found it and answered it. "Sherlock Holmes."
"Oh hello mother…" He said. "She is here. Yes, I will give her to you…" Sherlock handed the phone off as Marion rubbed sleep from her eyes.
"Hello, Mum." She said stifling a yawn. "No, I was asleep. Oh it isn't a problem. I needed to get up anyway." She said looking at the time.
Sherlock rolled his eyes. He dipped his head pressing a kiss to her mouth and then her belly as he leaned over her, bracing his one hand on the other side of her. He then lifted to go to the washroom.
"When are you coming then?" Marion asked, loud enough for Sherlock to hear through the open door. He walked back and cast her a look. She rolled her eyes and then smiled. "Good see you then." She hung up and looked at her husband. "They will be here in two hours."
"Hummm I can take a bath."
"Mummy!" Lizzy called from the kitchen.
Marion got up and noticed she was still dressed as Sherlock closed the door. She rolled her eyes and then came in. "Hello, baby, what are you doing?"
"Mrs. Hudson made me pancakes." She smiled. She was sticky from her forehead to her small hands.
Marion laughed. "Well, we will need to shoo your father into a short bath so we can get you read for Nana and Papa coming."
The girl had a huge bite in her mouth, but grinned around it excitedly.
When she was done, Marion lifted her against her hip. The girl was still so small for her age, very bright, but small. She walked to the washroom. "You need to hurry or I will throw Lizzy in there with you."
"What?" Came the muffled voice. "Why?"
"She is covered in syrup."
Sherlock chuckled. She could hear water splashing and figured he was washing his hair. Moments later he opened the door in his dressing gown, hair straight from washing it. "All yours." He smiled at her and stole a kiss before retreating to the bedroom.
Marion shook her head playfully and walked into the bathroom. She needed a shower as well and so she stripped herself and her toddler and stepped into the shower. Lizzy giggled as she sat. She was going to be able to shower like a big person!
Marion washed her daughter and herself with baby shampoo. Lizzy giggled as she played under the water before Marion turned it off and stepped out. She then wrapped a towel around the little girl who was giggling and chattering about the water. Marion paid little mind as she smiled and rubbed her hair dry.
Marion then turned to drying herself as the door opened to reveal Sherlock, his hair drier and becoming curly once more as he stood in a light blue shirt with black slacks and a dark suit jacket. He looked amazingly handsome as he looked at the pair of them.
Lizzy giggled and ran between his legs tugging the large bath towel around her. Sherlock blinked and whirled as she moved like a shot. He shook his head and stepped firmly on the towel. It didn't stop her. She ran into the bedroom. She giggled the whole time.
He looked at his wife and rolled his eyes before moving to catch the tiny bombshell he had sired. He went to the door and frowned looking for her. He then saw her on the far side, using the bedside table to pull herself up. From there she landed on the bed as she jumped fearlessly to the pillows. He blinked. Well, well, his little duck was also a monkey and a genius monkey at that. He was pretty sure he would not have worked that out on the fly.
He smiled and plopped onto the bed looking up at her. She crawled to him and giggled. "Daddy!"
"Oh, hello, little duck." He smiled.
She giggled and tried to hide in the blankets. He moved too quickly for her and pulled her up and held her. He looked at her and grinned. "Got you!"
She giggled as he fastened a nappy on her with the ease of an experienced father. He then lifted her up and blew on her belly as Lizzy filled the house with her loud, high pitched screams of delight. Marion came into the room and moved about dressing as she watched Sherlock with his daughter. Lizzy. She was still so small, weighing only thirty pounds and she was the height of most two year olds, but she had time to grow and she clearly didn't have problems with her mental agility.
Sherlock moved to a small plastic set of drawers. Lizzy perched on his arm as he squatted down with her to pick out some clothing. There was a lovely purple set inside and the little girl pulled the set out and began to pull it over her head. Sherlock smiled, setting her down and helped her. Once she was dressed her then sent her on her way.
She scampered into the common room to find her coloring. Sherlock looked after her a moment before he turned to his wife. Marion was sitting on the bed and amused look on her face as she watched her daughter go.
"Hi." He said softly coming to her. She was crying her hair. Though not as long as it had been when they first met, it was lovely and his fingers itched to touch it even as she dried it looking off into space.
"Hi." She smiled up at him. She was wearing loose clothing that accommodated her expanding belly. He pressed a hand to her belly as he leaned down, gently kissing her. She smiled and looked up into his eyes. "Good morning Mr. Holmes."
"Hummm." He said smiling and pressed a final kiss to the edge of her mouth before turning to go to the common room.
ZzZ
It was only an hour later when there was a knock at the door below.
Marion levered herself up from the chair she was in as her husband gave her a look and rolled his eyes as he remained where he was looking down fondly at his daughter who was drawing something with a rainbow.
Marion smiled as she opened the door to her in-laws. "Elizabeth, George. Come in." She said.
"Hello, dear. You look beautiful as ever." George said kissing her cheek.
Marion laughed. "I am a house."
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "Hardly." She embraced Marion and then looked up. "Is Sherlock here?"
"Of course. Lizzy is doing art."
"Such a creative mind." Elizabeth the elder said smiling.
"Go on. He is expecting you. Marion said waving them on.
"What about you?"
"I am too fat to move fast. I will catch you up."
The pair nodded and walked upstairs and Marion smiled at the delighted cry from her daughter. Marion made it up the stairs and went to make tea. Sherlock's parents dropped onto the couch and Lizzy climbed into her grandfather's lap. He always had a sweet thing got her and she sat patiently waiting for it to appear.
Marion moved about the kitchen preparing tea for them. Marion listened with half an ear as she walked about. She smirked watching her husband's reaction. Sherlock found his family tedious to deal with while his wife loved them.
Sherlock sat in his armchair with his eyes closed, sighing quietly and occasionally drumming his fingers on the arms of the chair. Marion came in with the tea setting and she placed it on her chair side table looking at her husband. His eyes opened hearing her and he narrowed them at her.
"…which wasn't the way I'd put it at all. Silly woman. Anyway, it was then that I first noticed it was missing. I said, 'Have you checked down the back of the sofa'" Elizabeth was saying. Lizzy was sitting, her head on her grandfather's shoulder.
Sherlock screwed his face up at his wife who was watching him as she waited for the kettle to boil, then tilted his head forward a little, almost nodding off to sleep until his head jerked back up again. He steepled his fingers in front of his face as the Elizabeth looked round at her husband.
"He's always losing things down the back of the sofa, aren't you, dear?"
"'Fraid so." George said.
Sherlock glared toward his wife who met his gaze, smiling in amusement.
"Keys, small change, sweeties. Especially his glasses." Elizabeth continued.
"Glasses." George nodded.
"Blooming things. I said, 'Why don't you get a chain to wear 'em round your neck?' And he says, 'What and look like Larry Grayson?'
George smiled and said almost at the same moment. "Larry Grayson."
Sherlock rose quickly to his feet, buttoning his jacket as he walked toward his parents. Lizzy had migrated to her grandmother's lap and was lying there looking up at the ceiling. "So did you find it eventually, your lottery ticket?" Sherlock asked a little short.
Marion walked out with the tea and smiled as he stepped onto the coffee table and then onto the sofa between the pair. Elizabeth leaned to the side, getting out of his way, while the man stared up at him as Sherlock started idly flicking through the paperwork stuck to the wall. Marion shooed her daughter o her coloring and offered the pair some tea. They took it gratefully and smiled thank yous.
"Sherlock?" Marion asked since his back was turned.
He looked back at her a moment. "Hummm?"
"Tea?"
"Yes, but in a moment." He said.
She nodded.
Elizabeth took a sip of the tea and continued. "Well, yes, thank goodness. We caught the coach on time after all. We managed to see, er, St Paul's, the Tower ... but they weren't letting anyone in to Parliament."
Sherlock cocked his head and looked down at her frowning slightly.
"Some big debate going on." Elizabeth shrugged.
The common room door opened to reveal John standing there. Marion smiled. "John. Can I get you some tea?" She asked as Sherlock whipped about to look at him.
"John!"
"Sorry…you're busy." John said softly. His face still bore the marks from his ordeal, but Marion smiled handing him a cup of tea and he smiled at her. "Thanks Marion."
Sherlock stepped from the couch and pulled the woman to her feet. " Er, no-no-no, they were just leaving." He said.
"Oh, were we?" Elizabeth asked.
"They are?" Marion asked.
"Yes." Sherlock said.
John lifted a hand. "No, no, if you've got a case ..."
"No, not a case, no-no-no."Sherlock said. He then looked at his mother. "Go...Bye."
Marion smiled.
"Yeah, well, we're here 'til Saturday, remember." Elizabeth said. "Marion I want to have lunch soon."
"Of course!" She said.
"Yes, great, wonderful. Just get out." Sherlock said herding the pair out.
"Well, give us a ring." Elizabeth said.
"Very nice, yes, good. Get out." He got them out the door and onto the landing. He tried to close the door but his mother turns and stuck her heavy shoe into the doorway to stop the door from shutting. Sherlock pulled the door open a little, staring down at her foot in surprise and annoyance.
Elizabeth looked up at him and said softly. "I can't tell you how glad we are, Sherlock. All that time people thinking the worst of you." Sherlock looked behind him at John who was looking outside. We're just so pleased it's all over."
Grimacing Sherlock tried to slam the door shut, but his mother's shoe was still in the way.
"Ring up more often, won't you?" Georg said.
Sherlock nodded a little. "Mm-hmm."
Marion waved at her in-laws and lifted her hand to her ear like a phone mouthing she would call. Elizabeth nodded.
"She worries." George said
"Promise?" Elizabeth asked.
Again Sherlock glanced round towards John as if to ascertain that he can't hear him, then he leaned close to the woman. "Promise." He said softly.
Smiling she reached up to stroke his cheek affectionately, but he was done.
"Oh, for God..." Sherlock hissed. He shoved the door closed and let out a deep sigh. John looked at Lizzy's drawings.
"Those are good."
"Thank you." The girl said without looking up. She rubbed her eyes a little and yawned.
Marion smiled. "It is time for someone to have a nap."
"But I napped yesterday." Lizzy protested even as Marion ducked down and lifted her up and put her on her hip.
Sherlock smiled. He came and kissed Lizzy's brow. "Go to sleep." He said softly.
"Okay, daddy." She said.
Marion smiled and turned and walked up the stairs to the little girl's room.
"Sorry about that." Sherlock said
"No, it's fine. Clients?" John asked.
Sherlock shook his head. "... Just my parents."
"Your parents?"
"In town for a few days." Sherlock said.
"Your parents?"
" Mycroft promised to take them to a matinee of Cats. Tried to talk me into doing it."
"Those were your parents?" John went to the window and looked out.
"Yes."
"Well ..." He chuckled a little. "That is not what I…" He looked back at his friend and then back out again.
"What?" Sherlock asked.
"I-I mean they're just ... so ..." He looked back at Sherlock who was looking at him intently. " ...ordinary." He smiled even as Sherlock rolled his eyes.
"It's a cross I have to bear." Sherlock said.
"Oh yeah, like it is such a hardship. I am the one you both weasel into going for you." Marion said returning to the room.
Sherlock looked at her. "They like you. You give them grandchildren."
"Diverts the attention off you. One afternoon won't kill you."
"Oh?"
"No, it wouldn't Sherlock." Marion said.
John chuckled and then turned to face them.
"Did they know, too?"
Sherlock could not meet his gaze. "Hmm?" Marion became very interested in her tea set suddenly.
"That you spent the last two years playing hide and seek."
Sherlock lifted something from his suit jacket, fuzz perhaps. "Maybe."
John growled. "Ah! So that's why they weren't at the funeral."
Sherlock looked up and spread his hands. "Sorry. Sorry again."
" Mm." John took a breath and moved toward the door. Marion moved and laid a hand on his arm. He looked up and met his gaze. She didn't have to say a word he read the pain there. She hated not being able to tell him. He read it in her eyes.
"Sorry." Came soft word behind them.
John met Marion's sincere gaze and then patted her hand. He leaned and kissed her cheek, forgiving her for everything in that moment and forgiving Sherlock as well. They had had their reasons. He knew it, but it was no less painful. He then realized, reading in Marion's eyes, how hard it had been on her to keep everything secret.
He drew in a deep breath and let Sherlock's gaze a moment as he turned back to him. He looked down and let his breath out.
"See you've shaved it off, then." Sherlock said trying an attempt at humor.
"Yeah. Wasn't working for me." John said.
"Mm, I'm glad."
"What, you didn't like it?"
Sherlock smiled. "No. I prefer my doctors clean-shaven."
"That's not a sentence you hear every day!"
"He is right though. I never liked it either." Marion said.
John walked to his chair and sat down in it looking up at his friend. Marion dropped into Sherlock's chair, ignoring Sherlock's look.
"How are you feeling?" Sherlock asked moving and placing a hand on his wife's shoulder.
"Yeah, not bad. Bit ... smoked." John said smiling a little.
"Right."
John suddenly looked at him. "Last night... who did that? And why did they target me?"
"I don't know."
"Is it someone trying to get to you through me? Is it something to do with this terrorist thing you talked about?"
"I don't know. I can't see the pattern. It's too nebulous." Sherlock said moving to his wall of pictures. "Why would an agent give his life to tell us something incredibly insignificant? That's what's strange."
"'Give his life?'" John repeated.
"According to Mycroft. There's an underground network planning an attack on London… that's all we know." He sighed and looked back a moment at John. "These are my rats, John."
"Rats?"
"My markers: agents, low-lifes, people who might find themselves arrested or their diplomatic immunity suddenly rescinded. If one of them starts acting suspiciously, we know something's up. Five of them are behaving perfectly normally, but the sixth ..." He pointed at the photograph in the middle.
"I know him, don't I?" John asked sitting up.
"Lord Moran, peer of the realm, Minister for Overseas Development. Pillar of the establishment." Sherlock said turning back.
"Yes!"
"He's been working for North Korea since 1996."
"What?" John asked.
"Russia before that." Marion said her eyes narrowed as if she were squinting.
"What?" Sherlock asked looking back at her.
She opened her eyes. "Nothing…must have been something Mycroft said…"
"He's the Big Rat. Rat Number One. And he's just done something very suspicious indeed." Sherlock continued after looking at her a moment longer.
Sherlock went to his laptop and pulled up the footage of the train for Marion and John. They watched and blinked.
"Yeah, that's ... odd. There's nowhere he could have got off?" John asked.
"Not according to the maps."
"Mm."
Sherlock began to pace. "There's something…something, something I'm missing, something staring me in the face." He growled and rubbed his eyes. Sherlock's phone beeped and he lifted it even as Marion leaned over John's shoulder watching the recorded film.
John moved and sat down before the computer. "Any idea who they are 'this underground network?'" Sherlock looked at his phone. His network of spies had located Lord Moran. He was walking out of the Tube station at Westminster. "Intelligence must have a-a list of the most obvious ones."
"Our rat's just come out of his den." Sherlock said quietly.
"Al-Qaeda; the IRA have been getting restless again maybe they're gonna make an appearance ..."
"IRA would not be planning something this big. They do not have the resources or the reason to do it." Marion said looking up.
John looked at her. "Pardon."
She blinked. "Sorry…"
"You seem to know a lot about them…"
"Reading…" She said and coughed looking down at a magazine in her lap.
Sherlock then grinned. "Yes, yes, yes, yes, YES! I've been an idiot a blind idiot!" He turned.
"What?" Marion and he said together.
Sherlock began to pace the room. "Oh, that's good. That could be brilliant."
"What are you on about?" John asked casting a look at Marion who shrugged.
"Mycroft's intelligence it's not nebulous at all. It's specific incredibly specific."
John's eyebrow rose up. "What do you mean?"
"Not an underground network, John. It's an Underground network."
"Right. ... What?"
"Sometimes a deception is so audacious, so outrageous that you can't see it even when it's staring you in the face." He leaned over and clicked keys to replay the footage on the computer screen. "Look… seven carriages leave Westminster ..." He then clicked the other footage. "... but only six carriages arrive at St James's Park."
"Aren't they cars?" Marion asked. "I remember reading…"
"But that's ... I ... it's-it's impossible."
"Moran didn't disappear… the entire Tube compartment did. The driver must have diverted the train and then detached the last carriage."
"Detached it where?! You said there was nothing between those stations."
"Not on the maps, but once you eliminate all the other factors, the only thing remaining must be the truth." Sherlock pointed to the screen. "That carriage vanished, so it must be somewhere."
"But why, though? Why detach it in the first place?" John asked.
Sherlock started to pace again. "It vanishes between St James's Park and Westminster. Lord Moran vanishes. You're kidnapped and nearly burned to death at a fireworks par..." He paused and looked back.
"What's the date, John today's date?"
"Hmm? November the ... My God."
Sherlock looked at his information. "Lord Moran he's a peer of the realm. Normally he'd sit in the House. Tonight there's an all-night sitting to vote on the new anti-terrorism Bill." He came to the couch and stopped smiling a little. "But he won't be there. Not tonight." He looked back at John. "Not the fifth of November."
"'Remember, remember.'"
"'Gunpowder, treason and plot.'" Sherlock said.
"'I know of no reason why the Gunpowder treason should ever be forgot!'" Marion finished looking at them
ZzZ
It was an hour later when Sherlock was looking down at all the maps of the Tube before him. On the computer via WiFi was Howard Shilcott.
"There's nothing down there, Mr. Holmes, I told you. No sidings, no ghost stations." Howard said.
Sherlock hissed and turned the screen to John. Marion was on the floor looking at the maps she had. "There has to be. Check again."
Howard reached for something.
John was looking in a book. "Look…this whole area is a big mess of old and new stuff. Charing Cross is made up of bits of older stations like Trafalgar Square, Strand ..."
Sherlock looked at him and shook his head. "No, it's none of those. We've accounted for those."
Sherlock looked down and older map near his wife's knee. "St Margaret's Street, Bridge Street, Sumatra Road, Parliament Street ..."
Howard had been chewing on the bobble of his hat and looked at something. "Hang on, hang on. Sumatra Road. You mentioned Sumatra Road, Mr. Holmes." He leaned and grabbed something off screen. "There is something. I knew it rang a bell." He sighed and muttered. "Where is it?" He came back into view. "There was a station down there."
"Well, why isn't it on the maps?" John said.
"'Cause it was closed before it ever opened." Howard said.
"What?"
Howard held up a book showing the page he was looking at. "They built the platforms, even the staircases, but it all got tied up in legal disputes, so they never built the station on the surface."
Sherlock looked at his wife. He straightened from the map. "It's right underneath the Palace of Westminster."
"And so what's down there? A bomb?" John asked.
Sherlock walked away and John gasped grabbing his coat to follow. Marion rose to her feet and followed them.
Sherlock turned to her as she came to them. "You aren't going."
"But there is a bomb and…"
"No. You are not going." He said firmly. "You are pregnant." He said.
"You are going to be a father again. Why are you going?" She retorted.
"Stay here!" He said. "I cannot have there when I am trying to think. I cannot have your life in danger."
"Oh, but by all means, put yours in the line of fire." She said folding her arms.
He sighed. "I really do not have time for this, my love. Trust me…please."
She narrowed her eyes at him. He sighed and kissed her mouth loudly. "Thank you. We will be fine. I love you. Stay safe."
"You too. I will summon you when it is clear." He promised as he moved quickly toward the Tube stations at the end of the street.
ZzZ
Marion sighed and turned on the television as she stood. "With many commentators saying the vote on the terrorism Bill will be too close to call, MPs are now making their way into the Chamber for what the government is calling the most important vote of this parliament. Over now to our ..." She changed the channel. "What freedoms exactly are we protecting if we start spying on our own people? This is an Orwellian measure on a scale unprecedented ..."
Growling she sat looking down as a text came. Send Lestrade and the police to the Subway. Westminster station – back part of the system. There will be a bomb. Forgive me. I cannot have you here. Tell Lestrade. Love you. SH She rolled her eyes. "Of course because you can defuse it, you bloody idiot." She sighed and lifted her phone.
Mycroft. I need some of your best men. I have a bomb to defuse. Sis
You know where it is? Where should I meet you? Mycroft Holmes
Westminster Station. I am on my way now! I will give you details when I get there. Sis
She moved and grabbed her coat and moved down the stairs. "Mrs. Hudson!"