A Wife for Sherlock Holmes

by tavingtonsbeauty

Seems impossible, but the man known as Sherlock Holmes is easily bored. That boredom drove him to the arms of a highly intelligent woman who could keep up with him both physically and mentally. However, when a child is thrown into the mix, Sherlock steps up, to the chagrin of the woman, and they marry. With so much baggage on both sides will it work or be a match made in hell.

23. A Change in Plans

A Wife for Sherlock Holmes

Chapter 23 – Changes to Plans

March 22 2014

Marion took a breath as she rose to her feet at the bridal shower location. She had been feeling twinges all morning and been able to hide them, but it was becoming harder. These were getting worse unlike her Braxton-Hicks contractions, these were starting to become more frequent.

She ignored them and sighed as she smiled and joined the other four women as they were introduced to the massage therapists there. Marion smiled as they were told to go get into swimming suits and get into the mineralized pools for a while. The warm water and minerals would relax them and open pours.

Marion was the first out and she stepped into the water and sighed. She sat on the stair and relaxed, letting the water sooth her. Mary came out and touched her hand.

"Are you all right?"

"Just twinges." Marion said.

"You let me know if it gets worse."

"This is your day, Mary."

"I mean it. If you go into labor, Sherlock will want to know. He missed the last birth and he is not about to miss this one."

Marion laughed. "He told you that?"

"Yes."

Marion nodded as the other women came and the group all relaxed in the water. They were treated to sweets and fruits. Jesse, Marion's massage therapist had her sit in a chair as he worked softly on her shoulders and upper back.

As she sat in the shade with Mary. She gasped a little and looked at Mary. Mary had been watching the other three in the mineral pool as they laughed and joked around. She then turned to Marion who was bent over.

"Marion?"

"I think I need to go to the hospital now."

"Why?"

"I think my water just broke."

Mary gasped. "Oh!" She saw Jesse nearby and called him over. "Can you call an ambulance?"

Jesse blinked. "Of course. Why?"

"I'm in labor." Marion said.

He nodded and moved to go do as he was asked. Mary helped her friend to her feet and then walked her inside. Jesse had her sit down in a chair. A siren was heard after a time and Marion watched as they loaded her onto the stretcher.

"I'm coming too."

"No." Marion said.

"But…"

"No. Remember Prague. Enjoy your day. See you on the other side." Marion smiled. "You have better come to see me."

"I will."

"Your godson and I will be waiting."

Mary giggled. "I knew it!"

Marion glared and then a contraction hit and she groaned as the doors shut. She let the paramedics take her arm as lifted her phone. Mary had grabbed her purse and brought it to her before they left.

Hey handsome are you around where you can talk?

A moment later. Naturally. What is going on? Enjoying the spa? SH

Are you busy?

Just doing experiments. Lizzy is watching me rehydrate a finger with detergent. SH

I'm in labor.

You are sure? SH

Yes, I am sure. My water broke ten minutes ago.

You are a week and a half early. Sure if is really labor? I need to get the buttoners ordered. SH

You can't really tell the thing to stay put a few more days. Once your water breaks it is fairly imminent.

Where are you now? SH

On my way to the hospital.

Which one? I will meet you there. SH

Marion looked up as they drove. "Excuse me. Where are you taking me?"

"St. Vincent's. It is the closest and the best for obstetrics." The man said looking at her and smiling. "You telling the father where to meet you?"

"Yes." Marion said. St. Vincent's. North London. You aren't going to miss this one are you?

Not on your life. Love you. Just breathe. I will be there soon. I will bring John since he is here. SH

I know, God this hurts.

ZzZ

She arrived and was taken into the ER. It was a short visit there when they realized she needed the women's wing. She was ushered upstairs and to a birthing room. St. Vincent's was a smaller hospital, but the women's clinic was one of the best in the country.

The birth room had a bed, monitors, lots of floor space for walking, a plasma TV, a ball to relax on, a mat to be on, and a rocking chair. Marion smiled as the nurse helped her get undressed and into a hospital gown. She sighed. She could feel the fluid running down her leg. The nurse had helped her with the first bit, but the woman told her it was normal.

She led Marion to the ball and Marion found lying on it was comfortable as she waited for her husband. The doctor, Dr. Phillips had come to see her and told her she was making good progress, but was only at seven centimeters and 50% effaced.

ZzZ

Sherlock left Lizzy with Mrs. Hudson. He was not sure if this was false labor or not so he had them stay at the house for now as he gathered John and they took a taxi to St. Vincent's. He sent out a text to Molly, Lestrade, his parents, and Mycroft. Baby Holmes #2 on the way. St. Vincent's. SH

There was a pause of a few moments when then he got responses.

Already? Too late for cigars? Greg

Where? From his mother.

I will be there when I can. Mycroft

On my way. Molly

Sherlock smiled a little. Of course Molly would come. He bent his head down and texted his mother. North London. John thinks it will be a while, but you should come. With her water broken apparently this is not false labor. SH

On our way!

The taxi arrived at St. Vincent's only thirty minutes later. Sherlock paid the cab driver and then he and John walked into the reception area. "Hello. I am Sherlock Holmes. My wife was brought here a short time ago. She is in labor."

"Labor and delivery is up two levels. What is her name?"

"Marion Holmes." Sherlock said.

"314." She smiled. "Take the elevator and then go to the nurse's station. They will bring you to her."

Sherlock turned even as she was still talking. John nodded. "Thank you." He smiled.

Sherlock shook his head and went to the stairway. He ran up them, two at a time, with John on his heels. Once at the third floor he walked out and looked about. He went to the nurse's station and looked at the board. Marion's name was in blue in room 314.

John stepped to the desk. "Excuse me, can you tell me where room, 314 is?"

"Sure. It is down at the end of the hall. And you are…?"

"I'm Dr. Watson and this…" He blinked and realized Sherlock was already on the move. "He is an idiot. Thank you."

Sherlock moved down to a hallway, but John grabbed his arm. "This hallway, Sherlock."

"Oh."

They walked together, hearing cries of women in pain. Sherlock winced and they came to the door. He took a breath.

John looked at him. "Just remember. She is in a great deal of pain and if she says something offensive she likely doesn't mean it and won't remember it."

"Right."

"Seriously, Sherlock. Women get nasty as the pains progress. You should have heard what she said the last time."

"I wasn't there last time." Sherlock burst into the door and looked about. "Where are we at?" He asked taking in the scene of his wife with a nurse beside her, fighting a contraction as she bent forward on the ball.

John paused behind Sherlock and looked about. "Marion. Hey don't push yet, sweetheart." He said removing his jacket and then walking toward the women.

Sherlock removed his gloves, scarf, and over coat as he looked at his wife. Their eyes met as her head snapped up at John's words. The pain there made him wince a little as he stepped forward.

"Who are you two?" The nurse asked.

"You must be Kelly, Marion's nurse." Sherlock said. "I am Sherlock, this is John."

"The Sherlock? The man with the hat who solves crimes."

Sherlock rolled his eyes. "Yes. Now. How has she progressed?" He asked.

"She is a little over seven centimeters and only half effaced." Kelly said.

Sherlock squatted down as the pain eased and looked at his wife. "Hey. How are you?" He asked lifted a hand to her arm and taking her pulse.

John snapped on a glove. "Marion, do you mind?"

She shook her head. "No." She looked at Sherlock as John knelt and reached up to check her. The nurse looked at him.

"What are you doing?" Kelly asked.

"Checking her." John said as he checked with the ease and experience of a doctor.

"How would you know about…"

"I delivered her first child." John said. "I am a doctor. I am just making sure my patient is well is all. I have complete faith in you lot here. I am here to help her as a Lamaze coach." He said pulling the glove off.

Sherlock stiffened seeing the blood on it. Marion took a breath. "Stay, Sherlock. Please."

"I'm not leaving." He said unbuttoning his suit jacket and sitting in the floor before her.

John touched her shoulder. "No. You have been in labor a lot longer than an hour." He said.

She lifted her chin a little defiantly and Sherlock looked at her with narrowed eyes. "You said you were fine this morning."

"I was."

"This started this morning, didn't it?" John said.

"I wasn't going to ruin it for Mary." She said.

"This hardly qualifies." John looked at her. "Mary would have understood you ducking out to…"

Sherlock sighed. "The pains I saw, they weren't Braxton-Hicks were they?"

"I thought they were." She said. She sighed. "It didn't get bad until about two hours ago."

John nodded. "Still the baby won't be here before evening."

Sherlock looked at him. "What is your guess?" He looked at his watch. It was a quarter after four.

"Seven, eight, nine… somewhere in there."

Sherlock nodded. His friend had experience in this regard and he tended to believe him. He had hardly any knowledge on such things and he sat there looking at his wife as she rocked a little on the ball without even knowing she was doing it.

ZzZ

It was nearing six.

John had made himself comfortable as he watched TV and sat in the chair. Molly was seated nearby watching Sherlock was the consulting detective sat before his wife who lay on a mat. She was too far along for an epidural. Every contraction was getting closer together. Sherlock was sitting timing them, writing them down, and checking her pulse. The doctor had come in twice to check on her. She was making progress, but not too quickly. John was watching as well, but he was not as fussy as Sherlock was, knowing there was some time to go. Molly was in her calm collected way.

John felt his phone buzz and texted Mary. Molly looked at the clock as Marion whimpered and curled into a ball as a contraction started. Sherlock caressed her side softly. "Breathe." He said gently.

"I am." She growled.

"No you're not."

She looked up at him. She had been rolled toward him as he sat beside her watching her keenly. "I swear you are having the next one." She said through gritted teeth.

He smiled as the contraction calmed and she panted. She sat up and looked at him. Her hair was sweat fouled and she ached. He shifted to hold her as she started to cry softly. He caressed her hair as he spoke. "I'm not sure I can, but if I can I will. To save you this…" He kissed her hair and hummed a little. "Is this worse than the last?"

"No…Not that I remember."

"Women do not remember much of their labors." John said softly near them. "There is a drug the woman's body makes that helps them forget."

Sherlock looked up at him. "Thank you for being here."

Molly had left the room and returned with water and ice chips. She gave the water to Sherlock who took it gratefully as Marion lay against his shoulder breathing heavily as her body calmed. After a moment she moved and curled around the ball that was nearby, hugging it, rocking slowly. He sighed looking at her and then he looked up at Molly.

"Need a break?" She asked.

He took a breath and nodded. He went to the loo quickly and returned in a matter of moments. She then nodded as he repositioned himself. He reached for his phone.

Molly then turned to John. "Do you need one too John?"

"Now that you mention it, yeah. I need the loo."

She smiled. "Go ahead. I will stay with them."

He nodded and left the room. He took a breath and stretched a little before walking down the hall. He looked out the doors and saw Mycroft there. He took a breath and walked out and smiled. There was actually quite the crowd. Mr. and Mrs. Holmes, Lestrade, Mrs. Hudson, Lizzy, and Mary were all there.

Mycroft stood and walked to him leaning on his umbrella. "How is she? Mother won't stop texting Sherlock and he keeps leaving rather cryptic answers about Marion's progress."

John nodded. "Progressing." He smiled. "Excuse me a moment. I will be right back." He went to the loo and returned to the group. Lestrade was pacing a little, Lizzy was coloring, and the others were standing waiting for him.

He took a breath. "She is moving along nicely, but it will be evening before the baby comes."

Lestrade nodded. "She is doing well though?"

"Yeah. She is holding up better than the last one." John looked meaningfully at Mycroft. "At least her husband is with her this time."

"He was in the building last time."

"Solving your terrorist plot. Her cries as I recall were a distraction to you." John said a little bit with contempt.

"Oh John leave it. We need to be supportive." Mary said.

He nodded.

Lestrade sighed. "Anyone fancy some coffee or tea?"

"Yes please." Mrs. Hudson and Mrs. Holmes said almost together.

Mycroft nodded.

Greg disappeared.

John spotted the doctor as he made his way back. "Oh Dr. Watson." Dr. Phillips said.

"Hello."

"Buzz you in?"

"Thanks."

They walked into the hallway together. "Your girl is lucky. Sherlock Holmes three doctors, several nurses…"

"Great support. Everyone in there is for her as well."

"Indeed. I wish all my women had so many."

John chuckled. "The last one she was in a bunker and I delivered her. That little bombshell in there coloring was the first."

The doctor smiled and nodded.

They walked in together and spotted Sherlock feeding his wife ice chips as she rolled on the ball with Molly pressing a cold towel to her brow to wipe away the sweat. The room was cool, and yet she still was sweating.

It was another hour before the doctor came back. John had become concerned that Marion wasn't progressing and the fetus's heart rate was elevated. The doctor knelt to check her after Sherlock moved her to the bed. She was exhausted already and had not even started hard pushing yet. He stood beside her looking down.

The doctor looked up at John and then nodded to his nurses. "Prep the OR." He said.

"What?" John asked. "What's wrong?"

"Baby is breech." The doctor said. "It is stuck most likely. I am not going to take a chance. Going to pull it now."

"Can't you turn it?" Sherlock asked looking at his wife who was looking at him with fear.

"Why stress the mother and child? I can pull the baby in five minutes when I get her in there."

Sherlock nodded and looked at his wife who had taken his hand in a vice like grip. "Sherlock…what? What are they going to do?"

"C-section." He said. A nurse came and shifted the bed and he stepped back. He freed his hand.

The doctor nodded to John and Sherlock. "Go get gowned up with Emily there." He said nodding to a nurse.

"Sherlock!" Marion cried out.

"It's okay. I will be right there." He said almost in a daze.

Molly came to him and touched his arm. "Go." She said pushing him after John. Marion was crying a little as she was pushed toward the operating room and her doctor moved to scrub in with several nurses. Emily helped Sherlock dress in scrubs and pull on a gown. She showed him how to scrub in. John, a medical surgeon was already waiting at the door.

Marion looked up. They had put up a screen at her chest to keep her from seeing what was going on. The doctor nodded to Sherlock and John to move to her head. Sherlock took his wife's hand as she started to cry in relief.

John touched her cheek softly. "It's okay. This will be quick, Marion. Then we will get you all sewn up and the baby will be here."

Sherlock knelt by his wife and touched her face and kissed her hand. He watched the doctors moving about. Marion felt a pulling sensation, but nothing more. The nurse stood beside Sherlock and smiled. "Baby is out."

Another nurse laughed. "It's a boy momma!"

There was a squall and Marion started laughing as tears fell down. A second nurse lifted the quite large baby over the curtain for them to see. It was a boy and he was angry. Sherlock laughed and kissed his wife. "Quite a set of lung on him."

John laughed and clapped a hand on his friend's shoulder. "What are you going to call him?"

Sherlock blinked. "Ummm."

"Kerrin. Kerrin William George Holmes."

Sherlock narrowed his eyes at her. "You knew you carried a boy."

"Yes."

"And you kept it from me?"

She smiled happily. The doctor sewed and bandaged her up before he sent her, the baby, whom Sherlock held to him with the experience of a father, and John with him to the room. Marion was sore, exhausted, and was put on pain medication to help her.

The baby slept in his father's arms after Sherlock had gotten out of his gown. He was not allowed to take the baby out, but John went to go fetch the group after Marion was settled.

She looked up at Sherlock happily. "I love you."

He smiled and bent to kiss her. "Thank you for my son." He looked at the reddish hair on his son's head. The baby had blue eyes for now after the silver nitrate was put in his eyes. He now slept. The labor process was just as exhausting on infants as it was their mothers.

He bounced the baby softly as he stood beside his wife, holding her hand in his as the door opened to reveal Molly and the rest. They all greeted the new arrival and congratulated Sherlock and Marion. Lizzy was very curious about her sibling and Sherlock bent down so she could see her little brother. She thought he looked funny which amused the adults.

Marion was nearly asleep when Sherlock shooed everyone out to let her rest. He continued to hold his son as he dropped into the rocking chair smiling. Marion soon slept in her drug induced sleep as he looked at his son. He looked like Marion, though his high cheek bones were Sherlock's. The boy was perfect from his tiny feet to his fluff of red brown hair. He was larger than his sister was, nearly nine pounds.

Sherlock looked back at his wife. He had changed so in four years. He had gone from having little experience with women to being married with a child on the way to now being the father of two. So many changes and he was happy, content, and could only grow.

ZzZ

March 29th 2014

Marion had been sent home with the healthy baby boy after three days. She still moved about with hesitation due to her surgery. She was not allowed to lift anything and Sherlock fluttered around the flat planning and making sure she was well. She had been home nearly a week and was yet to lift a finger, though she was able to, after a couple days of sleeping, come and help plan, though her husband made sure she stayed seated.

For now the baby and Lizzy were down for naps. Lizzy had protested a bit, but Sherlock had made sure she went to bed. He promised plugged in his Ipad so she could listen to him playing his violin, a recording he had done to make sure she slept for her uncle when she was staying with him for a couple days after Kerrin was born.

Sherlock stood in the living room of 221B looking at his information wall behind the sofa. He turned to where Mary was sitting at the dining table and John was sitting in his armchair and looking at his phone. Marion was in the chair next to Mary looking over her own notes. She was still a little pale and was still on pain medication, but her husband had sworn to see her right again.

"Need to work on your half of the church, Mary. Looking a bit thin." Sherlock said softly.

Mary smiled. "Ah, orphan's lot. Friends that's all I have. Lots of friends.

Sherlock looked at his list. Sherlock was truly organizing the whole affair. The wall was divided into items labeled Transport, Catering, Rehearsal, Wine, Venue, and Church. Items were ticked off and Sherlock sighed looking over the notes again.

On the table before Mary and Marion was a cardboard 3D model of the reception venue. Sherlock had crafted it using a cereal box and some items from a craft store. Lizzy had helped him and had even made the stage for him.

"Schedule the organ music to begin at precisely 11.48…"

Marion looked up. "Sherlock…"

"But the rehearsal's not for another two weeks. Just calm down." Mary said.

Sherlock frowned. "Calm? I am calm. I'm extremely calm."

"Let's get back to the reception, come on."

He walked over to the table and stood beside Mary. He looked at his wife who shifted and winced a little. "Are you well?"

"Fine." She smiled. "Just pulled the stitches a little." She had been forced to walk bent over a little and sighed as she wrote something down.

Mary handed Sherlock a RSVP card. "John's cousin. Top table?"

Sherlock looked at the card. "Hmm. Hates you. Can't even bear to think about you."

Mary looked at him. "Seriously?"

"Second class post, cheap card ..." He sniffed the card and grimaced. " ... bought at a petrol station. Look at the stamp: three attempts at licking. She's obviously unconsciously retaining saliva."

"Ah…" She looked back at John. "Let's stick her by the bogs."

Marion smiled a little.

"Oh yes." Sherlock said.

He sat down and Mary leaned toward him.

"Who else hates me?"

Instantly, Sherlock hands her a list without looking up. There are quite a few names on it.

"Oh great thanks!"

"Priceless painting nicked. Looks interesting." Sherlock said from his chair.

Mary looked at Marion. "Table four ..."

"Done." Sherlock answered.

John chuckled as he looked at his phone. "'My husband is three people.'"

"Table five." Mary said.

Marion nodded. "All, but Major Sholto." She passed the paper to her husband.

Sherlock looked at a list. "Major James Sholto. Who he?"

"Oh, John's old commanding officer. I don't think he's coming." Mary said.

"He'll be there." John said.

"Well, he needs to RSVP, then." Mary said.

"He'll be there." John said firmly.

"Mmm ..." Mary said.

"'My husband is three people.' It's interesting. Says he has three distinct patterns of moles on his skin." John continued as he read.

Sherlock stood up and turned to the coffee table. "Identical triplets…one in half a million births. Solved it without leaving the flat. Now, serviettes." He said looking at Mary. He squatted down and pulled out a tray with two different shaped napkins on it. He looked up at Mary. "Swan, or Sydney Opera House?"

Mary laughed. "Where'd you learn to do that?"

Marion smirked. "Seriously. With as bored as he gets."

Sherlock looked at them. "Many unexpected skills required in the field of criminal investigation ..."

"Fibbing, Sherlock." Mary said.

"Napkin folding in criminal investigation…" Marion said looking over.

"I once broke an alibi by demonstrating the exact severity of ..." Sherlock said gesturing.

"I'm not John. I can tell when you're fibbing."

Sherlock looked down and looked exasperated. "Okay… I learned it on Youtube."

Marion laughed and then winced. "He learned to braid Lizzy's hair there too."

Mary smiled. "Opera House, please." She leaned to one side and pulled out her phone. "Ooh, hang on. I'm buzzing." She lifted it to her ear. "Hello?" She listened a moment then stood up. "Oh, hi, Beth!"

John's eyes lifted from his phone as Mary went into the kitchen,

"Yeah, yeah, don't see why not." Mary said into her phone.

John stood up and looked at Sherlock. "Actually, if that's Beth, it's probably for me too. Hang on." He headed for the kitchen, while Sherlock sat down on the floor cross-legged and facing the coffee table.

Marion sighed. "I need to get a pain pill and check on Kerrin. "I will be back." Sherlock looked up a moment as she grunted rising to her feet. She waved him off and moved toward the kitchen. She said walking passed Mary and John into the bathroom, a little hesitantly. She smiled a little at Mary as she passed and Mary nodded.

John waited for the bathroom door to shut before he spoke quietly to Mary. "He knows we don't have a friend called Beth. He's gonna figure out that its code."

"He's Youtubeing serviettes."

"He's thorough."

"He's terrified."

"'Course he's not.

"Right, you know when you're scared of something, you start wishing it sooner just to get it all going? That's what he's doing."

"Why would he be scared that weâ ™re getting married? It's not gonna change anything… we'll still do stuff."

"Well, you need to prove it to him. I told you to find him a new case."

"I'm trying."

"You need to run him, okay? Show him it's still the good old days."

He didn't immediately respond so she nodded again and gestured to the living room. He looked around and turns slowly toward the room. He walked and Mary put her hands on his back and shoved him forward as Marion came out of the bathroom and smirked a little at Mary who looked back at her and put a finger to her lips as she spoke into her phone. Marion checked on the baby and then walked back to her friend smiling.

Sherlock was still sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of the coffee table, his head propped up on one hand. He briefly looked round at John, then turned back and gestured at what's in front of him. There are at least seven serviettes folded in Sydney Opera House shapes on the table, and sixteen or so more on the floor.

"That just sort of ... happened." He said.

He looked around at John again who frowned a little and then smiled. Glancing back at the kitchen he can see the women together as Mary still fakes talking to Beth.

He walked toward his friend. "Sherlock, um ..." Sherlock stood up. "... mate ..." He paused thinking perhaps that was a little thick. "I-I've ..."

He walked to the table and sat down. Sherlock glanced toward the kitchen where Mary could be heard talking. Sherlock dropped into a seat as well.

"I've smelled eighteen different perfumes; I've sampled ..." He paused to recall. "... nine different slices of cake which all tasted identical; I like the bridesmaids in purple ..."

"Lilac." Sherlock corrected.

"... lilac. Um, there are no more decisions left to make. I don't even understand the decisions that we have made. I'm faking opinions and it's exhausting, so please, before she comes back ..." He glanced at the kitchen and activated his phone. He cleared his throat and held the phone across the table. The screen was of Sherlock's website, The Science of Deduction. "... pick something." Sherlock's eyes flicked to the phone and back to his friend. "Anything. Pick one."

Sherlock asked. "Pick what?"

John blinked at him and then laughed. "A case. Your Inbox is bursting. Just ... get me out of here."

Sherlock leaned closer. "You want to go out on a case? N-now?"

"Please, Sherlock, for me."

Sherlock took the phone realizing his friend was going crazy. Sherlock took a breath and then said quietly. "Don't you worry about a thing. I'll get you out of this." He flicked through the messages and found one. "Oh." He read more of the email and smiled. "Uniform fetishist. 'All the nice girls like a soldier.'"

"It's sailor." He paused as Sherlock quietly read him the email. "And Bainbridge thinks his stalker is a bloke."

Sherlock looked back at the phone.

"Let's go and investigate. Please?

"'Elite Guard.'"

"Forty enlisted men and officers."

"Why this particular Grenadier? Curious."

"Now you're talking."

"Okay."

They stood up and Mary returned with the phone to her ear. "Bye." She smiled.

"Er, we're just going to ... I need, um, Sherlock to help me choose some, er, socks."

Sherlock spoke his last word at the same time "... ties."

Mary looked from one to the other. "Why don't we go with socks?"

"Yeah."

"I mean, you've got to get the right ones."

"Exactly…to go with my ..."

" ... tie." Sherlock said.

"... outfit." John said giving Sherlock a look. He looked down.

Mary looked at John. "That'll take a while, right?"

John pointed to the kitchen. "My coat in there?"

"Yes!"

He walked to the kitchen and found Marion breast feeding little Kerrin. He smiled at her. She wasn't wearing a cover as she looked at a bridal magazine. He dipped his head to her and kissed her cheek.

"I'm going to go get him out of here for a bit. You will be okay?" He asked softly.

"Oh course." She said softly to him. She patted his arm as he looked down at his godson.

Sherlock stepped to Mary. "Just going to take him out for a bit…run him." He said softly. "

Mary smiled. "I know."

Sherlock smiled at her. "Tell Marion we are…"

"I will." Mary smiled happily. "You said you'd find him a case!"

"Mm."

John came to the kitchen doorway. "Come on, Sherlock."

"Coming." Sherlock said. He went to the living room door and turned to face Mary. Unseen by the other male in the room. Sherlock gave her a double thumbs-up and gave her a grin. John beamed at Mary and she held up her thumbs to them both and grinned.

The pair then disappeared and Sherlock went outside. "Taxi!" He called.

Mary looked in at Marion. "Well now we are safe for a couple hours. Think we can take Kerrin shopping?"

"The piglet will just rest. I will have Mrs. Hudson be with Lizzy."

Mary nodded and reached for her coat.

ZzZ

Sherlock and John walked to the parade sergeant and spoke to him. "We're here to see Private Stephen Bainbridge."

"He's on duty right now, sir …" He handed John's wallet back. "... but I'll certainly let him know when he's free."

"And when will that be?" Sherlock asked.

"Another hour."

The pair walked across the street to a park bench. Bainbridge, with another Foot Guard, was on duty outside the gates of the barracks. He stood fixed in position and tourists took photographs.

"Do you think they give them classes?" Sherlock mused.

"Classes?"

"How to resist the temptation to scratch their behinds?"

"Afferent neurons in the peripheral nervous system." Sherlock turned his head a little to John. "Bum itch."

"Oh!" They sat in silence a moment before Sherlock spoke again. "So why don't you see him anymore?"

"Who?"

"Your previous commander, Sholto."

"'Previous commander'"

Sherlock closed his eyes a moment. "I meant 'ex'."

"'Previous' suggests that I currently have a commander."

"Which you don't."

"Which I don't."

"'Course you don't. He was decorated, wasn't he? A war hero."

"Not to everyone. He led a team of crows into battle."

"'Crows'?"

"New recruits. It's standard procedure; break the new boys in…but it went wrong. They all died; he was the only survivor. The press and the families gave him hell. He gets more death threats than you."

"Oh, I wouldn't count on that."

"Why have you suddenly taken an interest in another human being?"

"I'm ... chatting." John's eyebrows raised and he looked at his friend. Sherlock half turned and looked at him out of the corner of his eye. "Won't be trying that again."

"Changing the subject completely ..." He took a deep breath throw his nose. "... you know it won't alter anything, right, me and Mary, getting married? We'll still be doing all this."

"Oh, good."

"If you were worrying."

"Wasn't worried."

John looked down and chuckled thoughtfully. "See, the thing about Mary…she has completely turned my life around; changed everything. But, for the record, over the last few years there are two people who have done that ... and the other one is ..." He looked around and realized Sherlock was no longer there. "... a complete dickhead."

He looked about. Sherlock was gone.

ZzZ

In an office nearby, an officer called Major Reed was sitting behind his desk and looking at John's military ID card. He looked up at John who is sitting opposite him.

"Can I ask what this is in connection with?"

"Private Bainbridge contacted us about a personal matter, sir."

"Nothing's personal when it concerns my troops. What do you really want?"

"I'm here on a legitimate enquiry."

"Press? Digging for some bloody Royal story or something?"

John pointed to his card. "No, sir, I'm Captain John Watson, Fifth Northumberland Fusiliers."

"Retired. You could be a used car salesman now, for all I know." Reed looked closely at John. "I know you, don't I?"

"Hmm?"

"I've seen you in the papers." John shifted uncomfortably. "Hang around with that detective…the one with the silly hat. What the hell does Bainbridge want with a detective?"

"I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to say."

"You're not at liberty to say?! He's a soldier in my regiment…I'll be damned if he's going to get up to cloak and dagger nonsense like this."

The sergeant came to the room. "Sir ..."He paused seeing Reed wasn't alone. "Sir."

"What's going on?" Reed demanded.

"It's Bainbridge, sir. He's dead."

Reed looked at him horrified and ran toward the shower room with the sergeant and John behind him.

In the shower room, Bainbridge was now lying face down on the floor on top of a great deal of broken glass. There was a lot of blood on his lower back. The duty sergeant led the others in, and Reed hurried over to the body staring at it in shock.

"My God!"

John tried to go to the body. "Ah, no, let me take a look, sir. I'm a doctor."

"What? Sergeant, arrest this man." Reed said.

The sergeant went behind John and held his arms behind him.

John started to protest. "What? No-no! I'm a..I'm a doctor."

"Oh, you're a doctor now, too. Sergeant ..." Reed jerked his head at the door.

"Let me examine him, please!" John said as the sergeant tried to pull him from the room.

Another sergeant came into the room with Sherlock standing with his arms behind him. "Sir, caught this one snooping around."

Reed looked at John. "Is that what this was all about? Distracting me so that this man could get in here and kill Bainbridge?"

John looked at him shocked. "Don't be ..."

Sherlock pulled free of the sergeant to look at the body. The sergeant grabbed him again and Sherlock looked up at Reed. "Kill him with what? Where's the weapon?

"What?"

"Where's the weapon? Go on, search me." He held his arms wide. "No weapon."

John spoke. "Bainbridge was on parade. He came off duty five minutes ago. When's this supposed to have happened?"

Reed looked at Sherlock. "You obviously stabbed him before he got into the shower."

"No." Sherlock said.

"No?!"

"He's soaking wet and there's still shampoo in his hair. He got into the shower and then someone stabbed him."

The first sergeant spoke up. "The cubicle was locked from the inside, sir. I had to break it open."

"You must have climbed over the top." Reed said.

"Well then I'd be soaking wet too, wouldn't I?"

John had had enough. "Major, please. I'm John Watson, Fifth Northumberland Fusiliers. Three years in Afghanistan, a veteran of Kandahar, Helmand, and Bart's bloody Hospital." He looked at the major. "Let me examine this body." He said firmly.

Reed looked at the body and back and nodded sharply. The sergeant released him.

John took off his jacket. "Thank you."

John walked forward and put his coat on the bench and crouched by the body. The sergeant looked at Sherlock and spoke quietly. "Suicide?"

Sherlock shook his head. "No. The weapon again…no knife." He walked to the front of the shower cubicle and bent down to look all around it, then squatted down at Bainbridge's head. John was examining Bainbridge's lower back. The wound was on his back.

"Hmm. There is a wound to the abdomen… incredibly fine."

"Man stabbed to death. No murder weapon. Door locked from the inside. Only one way in or out of here." Sherlock said.

John moved to Bainbridge's head and peeled one of his eyes open. "Sherlock."

"Mmm?"

"He's still breathing." John said.

The sergeant gasped. "Oh my God."

Sherlock looked at John as he shifted to the side. "What do we do?"

"Give me your scarf." John said.

"What?"

"Quickly, now."

While Sherlock unwrapped his scarf from his neck, John looked up at Reed and the others who were stunned.

"Call an ambulance."

"What?" the sergeant asked.

John barked louder. "Call an ambulance now." He pointed to the door. "DO IT!"

Both of the sergeants turned and hurried from the room. John pressed the scarf against the wound in Bainbridge's back. He reached over to the squatting Sherlock and took his hand and put it on top of the scarf, positioning his fingers where he wanted them. Sherlock's large hands would be of good use here.

"Nurse, press here…hard." John said.

Sherlock's nose wrinkled in distaste. "'Nurse'?"

"Yeah, I'm making do. Keep pressure on that wound."

Sherlock nodded and leaned closer so that he could press harder. John moved to Bainbridge's head.

" Stephen. Stephen, stay with me."

ZzZ

The pair came home after giving their statements. Sherlock and John washed the blood off and Sherlock demanded they go find another scarf since his had been used to save the life.

Sherlock lifted his phone. Fancy some dinner? Are you two even home? SH

We are home. Where are you? Came Marion's reply.

We just saved a life. John saved a man who was stabbed. I think he deserves a nice dinner. SH

Where?

Ask Mary. SH

She wants Chinese.

Done. We will be there shortly. Do you think Kerrin will survive that long without his mother? SH

Yes. I pumped for Mrs. Hudson, but I can have Molly come over.

Do it. I will see you in a few minutes. SH

He took a breath and looked at John. "Well that certainly made up for you being bored didn't it?"

"Yes, yes indeed." John smiled.