Sixteen: A Flash Of The Past
So, as I said, you now get to know what happened with the case of the five missing people… Sherlock was sitting on the couch with his fingers steepled under his chin and John wondered if he had anything new. Aveen was sitting beside him with wet hair, as it was around her bedtime. As a matter of fact, it was all their bedtimes...
"Aveen, come on," he ushered her upstairs and to her room as she smiled. She loved it when Sherlock was thinking, it meant she would hear something about results soon. And she loved listening to how he had deduced who had done what.
But she settled in bed and John tucked her in, and she tried to sleep. As John closed the door and was down the stairs again, she did eventually doze off. "Sherlock," John tried. Sherlock hummed in response, "come to bed, even if you can't stop thinking about that stupid case," he said.
"Yeah," he sighed and followed John to their room where John had fallen asleep, but Sherlock was up a good while after. He couldn't sleep, as John was right, and he couldn't stop thinking about the case. But he cuddled into John, as it did actually help a little to think.
He temporarily decided he didn't need sleep, as after all, he only needed human things sometimes, and sleep was a human need. But he laid there, thinking of all the locations the kidnapper could have taken them, and then an idea made a light bulb go off in his head.
He had heightened senses, yes? Absolutely, so why is he thinking about it, when he could be literally be sniffing out the villain? He didn't know, and he glanced at the clock, deciding he had enough time to get at least three hours of sleep in.
Only when he closed his eyes and listened to the shallow breathing of his fiancé did he realize how tired he really was. And he fell into a deep sleep easily…
o0o
John woke first this time, to Sherlock snoring lightly above his head and he chuckled, kissing the underside of his jaw. And then an idea rushed to meet his brain, and he smirked as he rolled on top of Sherlock. He sat up and straddled him lightly.
He placed kisses all over Sherlock's face and part of his neck as Sherlock groaned. Was he still dreaming? No, he could feel John on his hips and his lips, and the smell of John himself was overwhelming as he opened his eyes. "John," he sighed.
John let out a manly giggle as he kissed Sherlock's lips and hummed. They separated loudly as John said, "We need to get up. Plus, you have a case to finish, mister," he scolded lightly.
Sherlock pouted, "I don't want to get up. Besides, I already figured out where the kidnapper is," not really, but if he swung it right, he will within at least two hours.
"Oh?" John said, placing a kiss to Sherlock's fingers and pulling him from bed.
"Well, we need to go to the Yard briefly but yes, I'll be able to find them afterwards. I have a theory I want to test as well," he explained and John mumbled an, 'Uh-huh' and led him to the kitchen where Aveen also was walking into, grabbing her favourite cereal and settling at the table.
John grabbed the milk after she was done with it and made coffee and the milk was finally in the fridge. But not before he gave up and chugged a bit of it, straight from the jug. Aveen smirked, as she does the same all the time.
It didn't really matter anymore, as Sherlock and John exchange germs all the friggin' time and Aveen was their daughter. Yup, definitely a family. Very fucked up, but still a family. John smiled as he handed Sherlock coffee and he sat at the table and the sound of muffled crunching filled the silence.
"Did the big bad detective find the kidnapped people yet?" Aveen ask before her voice was shut off by more crunching.
"Slightly," he admitted and she smiled, knowing she'd get to hear the rest later. "As a matter of fact, we need to go. I want to solve this before dinner. I plan on eating tonight, and I want it to be with everyone," he explained as he looked to the watch on his wrist that he hadn't worn in a while.
"You're going to eat dinner?" John scoffed. Sherlock nodded and John then asked, "with 'everyone' as in us as a family?"
"If that's what you call this little group of ours, yes," Sherlock admitted as John smiled in amazement. Aveen just finished her cereal in silence and almost laughed at John's surprise. But she contained herself, as she didn't want to choke and when she dumped her bowl in the sink, she hugged Sherlock's slumped shoulders.
"I knew you would find them," she beamed and John smiled wider. The sight of Sherlock leaning into her small arms and even kissing her forearm was adorable.
"Thanks for the confidence, but I haven't found them just yet," he chuckled and she let go. "We should get dressed," he gestured to all three of them, as Aveen was still in her night gown, and the men were still in their robes. Sherlock wasn't even wearing trousers.
But they all left to their rooms as they dressed hurriedly. "You plan on taking Aveen?" John asked.
"Yes," Sherlock said as he pulled his shirt over his shoulders. "If anyone can relate to a nine year old, she can. Plus, you know how much she loves the cases." Sherlock finished with his shirt and tucked it in his trousers.
"Almost as much as you do," John chuckled as his trousers were buttoned over his flannel. John smirked when Sherlock had left one button more than usual open again. John could have sworn he did it on purpose, but he buttoned it for him anyway.
As they slipped on their shoes and walked to the kitchen, Aveen was humming. Sherlock dismissed the tune as John recognized it, and great. Now that song is stuck in his head. Fantastic, he thought as they descended the stairs with Aveen bounced merrily before them.
John loved that he was the only one who didn't think this was more fun than sitting in flat with family. Aveen was adorable when she was excited and Sherlock was sexy when he was thinking. It made John seem so ordinarily human compared to them, but he knew he definitely was not ordinary.
Sherlock hailed a cab as John grabbed Aveen's hand. She was too close to the curb for his liking. She gladly curled her small fingers around his hand and smiled…
o0o
The Yard was especially quiet today. Even as Sherlock sought out Lestrade's office, they paid no attention to Sherlock, his daughter, and his fiancé. "Lestrade, I need to talk to one of the family members of the kidnapped," he demanded.
"Which one?" Gregory asked, looking from the monitor to Sherlock.
"Anyone will do, but preferably the soldier," he said. John knew why he liked soldiers. And I swear, Sherlock has a military kink. Especially with the way John can order him around and he just obeys, it's quite sexy as well. Anyway…
Lestrade pulled out his mobile and typed a text to someone, and not soon enough after, the short haired ginger was walking through the door of Lestrade's office. "Yes?" she asked as she looked to Sherlock. "Ah, Mr. Holmes, nice to see you again," she smiled sadly as she took his hand and he shook once. "I'm guessing you have questions to ask me? Again?" she asked.
Sherlock nodded as he told the rest of them to stay here as she was lead from the room and somewhere 'private', but not exactly. It was just outside of Lestrade's office and it was so John couldn't see what he was about to do. he didn't want to, but he was sure that he would have to.
"It was your father that went missing, right?" he asked and she nodded, wondering what this man could have in mind. "Okay, this may be awkward, but it needs to be done, and don't take it personally, yeah?"
She nodded again in confusion as he stepped closer, taking in her scent. But he need more than just that. "What?!" and she couldn't get anymore out before he grabbed her by the back of her head and crushed their lips together.
That wasn't enough, either. Dammit! His tongue slipped through her mouth and tasted her. Okay, that should work, then. Smell if a part of taste, so yeah. And this bothered him none as she pulled away. "What the hell was that?!" she yelled at him.
"I needed your scent, I can find the kidnapped people now. Thank you," he nodded. And something in her eyes flashed and her lips were on his again. This one surprised him, though. His brows lifted as she separated again and said it was her pleasure to help.
"Right, now go find my father you git," and he was shoved back in Lestrade's office. Sherlock nodded which was followed by a shake of his head. She disappeared and Sherlock stored the scent and taste of her so he could use it to pinpoint their location.
"Sherlock, what did you do?" John noticed that his cheeks were just a hint of pink, and he better not have… "You kissed her, didn't you?" he asked instead. he knew that was the kind of pink that appears no matter what when someone kisses you.
Sherlock didn't answer at the moment and Gregory was confused as Aveen and John were pulled out of his office and out to the streets in front of the building. John's anger built with every step as he gripped Sherlock's hand tighter.
Sherlock finally answered saying, "Don't be jealous, she doesn't taste as good as you do. But I needed to, yes," he admitted.
"You sodding arse! What is wrong with you?!" he let go of Sherlock's hand and his anger made his body slightly writhe as he face Sherlock. Aveen just stood, waiting for Sherlock to get the punch to the face he deserved.
"Did you not hear a word I just said!?" Sherlock asked, irritated. "I had to! I needed her scent, and it wasn't enough so I needed more! Now I can find her father with the rest of the kidnapped! God damn it, why don't you listen to me!?" he threw his hands in the air as John's anger didn't disappear, but it shrunk a little as he heard Sherlock yelling at him.
"Fine! We'll settle this later," he said as they climbed into the cab Sherlock had remembered he had called. John slammed the door as Aveen sat between the two idiots. She didn't understand why John was so pissed. It was just a kiss, and it was needed.
But Sherlock was also irritated as he managed to swallow it and focus on the case. He muttered an address that the cabbie barely caught as he had figured he could probably sniff them out from there. They sped off as Aveen leaned into John.
She knew it would calm him a little, and John simply petted her hair as he sighed. They shouldn't fight in front of her. she's probably seen enough of that already. He flattened his lips in concern at this and decided he would wait to 'talk' to Sherlock about boundaries…
o0o
When they stopped, John didn't recognize the place, but Sherlock did, and he liked it. But only because this is where he meets most of his homeless network. But he didn't speak to them as he sniffed the air. He took in huge gulps of it as he turned on his heels and John followed and Aveen was in between them still.
Sherlock didn't know how, but they were extremely close. He picked this spot out of random, and yet they were about six feet away. But how is that possible, there's only sidewalk and… Sherlock lifted the lid to the manhole and sniffed the air about him.
Yup, definitely there. John didn't want to go underground, but Sherlock jumped in before he could argue, and soon after Aveen and John followed. Brilliant, this is, John thought. The lid crashed closed as they were plunged into darkness.
Luckily, Sherlock and John had brought their torches and Sherlock can slightly see in the dark, so that was always a plus. But John's torch illuminated a lot as Sherlock's was a bit smaller. But combine that and you have brilliant light shining before them. Aveen was drug by her hand as John followed Sherlock and hearing him sniff the air was awkward.
But John guessed it worked as they turned the last corner and there was a door with a light under it. There was murmuring behind said door and Sherlock listened as he didn't even have to press his ear to the door.
"He's a nutter," she whispered.
"Yeah, how would you feel if you were being ordered around by your own head?" he contradicted. Sherlock thought this was interesting, as they thought this man could be crazy. But that was when he heard a louder voice.
"Why don't you two share your whispers with the rest of the group?" he asked, loud and they all shut up. And just before Sherlock was about to kick the door down, there were screams heard within the room.
Yup, that was good enough for him as he kicked at the lock. It gave with the first try and he heard it break off as the door hit the wall behind it. The light was enough that Sherlock and John didn't need their own as they were switched off and Aveen stood stock still, staring at the woman on the table.
There were the five of them, and the man who had taken them. Then who was that on the table? And why were they all cowering in fear because of her? Sherlock couldn't see anything wrong with her. She was just a woman in a dress, standing barefoot on the table.
What was so scary about that? And that was when he realized she was different. As her eyes were vacant and she flicked from the table to the floor beside the man who was trembling so hard he almost fell out of his chair.
She smiled as she whispered something in his ear and he fainted. Sherlock laughed lightly as he realized what she was. They were scared of something that could only insert thoughts into your head, that was about it. Oh, and wave her hand in front of your face and say, "Boo!" Although, that was only when she was in this form, but still.
Sherlock laughed as John was confused. He was a bit scared as well when she had disappeared from the table top and on the floor beside the man. John rushed to him when he fainted and he was fine, just scared out of his wits. And then she was behind John, whispering things in his ear and he shivered as suddenly there was someone else behind him.
Sherlock had stopped laughing as his eyes went wide with the man who had his hand on John's shoulder, "Don't bother with taking them," he sneered and John looked to this maniac.
"And why not?" Sherlock asked for the both of them.
"Because," he pulled out a gun from his trousers, "you die if you take my family," and he was deranged for sure.
"What makes them your family?" Sherlock gestured to the four others who had huddled together in fear.
"Because I said so, and so did Maggie," he pointed to the cackling woman behind him. Oh, his, hm, sister? Yes, as she was just standing there. His wife would have reached out for his shoulder, this was his 'dead' sister.
Or so he thought she was dead. She really wasn't, but she might as well be. "And how did Maggie die?" Sherlock asked as the gun was pointed to the tall brunette's chest, a little ways away from his heart.
"Like this," and he shot, letting the bullet fly. Sherlock fell back and John lashed out, grabbing the man by his hand, but he still pulled the trigger a second time and this bullet landed in John's thigh as he screamed and disabled the man as best he could.
No, not here, not now. John knew he wouldn't be hurt, but these people may think he's crazy like the man and Maggie, if he heals here. But he had no choice as he collapsed with the man beside him that had passed out from the blow to his head John had landed.
Oh God, it glowed pink as John remembered Sherlock and Aveen was already on him, making him stay awake. John pulled out his mobile and tried to phone someone, but no dice, as there was no signal. "Fucking, fuck you!" he screamed at his phone.
He shoved in his pocket again as he crawled to Sherlock. The pink was burning into a red as he could already feel the head ache coming along with it. Shit! Aveen was staring at John's leg as the bullet fell to the floor.
Her mouth was open and in what seemed to be a smile as she recognized the magic that was healing him. She knew what that was. But she couldn't say a thing as she smacked at Sherlock's face. "Stay awake, you good for nothing git!" she yelled and his vision was fading as she did it again.
"Fuck!" John yelled as he knew this was a bad idea, but he needed to get Sherlock to a hospital and this wouldn't do. as the red faded back to pink, he lifted the man in his arms and carried him through the doorway, telling the five (the man had woken up in all the excitement) to follow him if they wanted out.
He left the crazy arse on the floor passed out and hoped he bled out for this. John fought the burning head ache as he reached the darkness. Aveen dug in his pocket and brought out his torch and flicked it on, knowing John would be struggling already with the pain and carrying his lover.
The rest of the group followed as they had no idea what else to do. They also had no idea what was going on as John's leg was glowing a faint pink and Aveen was smirking as they lifted the lid and John pushed Sherlock out first.
The motion kept him awake, but just barely as he was shoved out back into the daylight. "John," he croaked and John told him to shush as the head ache was catching up.
Why did it have to be now that this happens? Why can't John just be completely normal? No, he has to look like a fucking Martian as he glows red/pink, which is now fading by the way, and he heals. Everyone else filed out as they tried to help John keep Sherlock awake and alive.
Someone had dialed for an ambulance and for that John was glad as Sherlock was fading in and out. But John couldn't help it anymore as his own pain made him scream and clutch his temples. Aveen rubbed his back and looked over Sherlock as there was an emergency vehicle rushing for them.
But the sirens only made John's head ache worse and he was getting angry that they wouldn't shut it off. But he knew they had to keep them on as they took Sherlock onto a gurney and wheeled him in as Aveen followed.
But not before she said to the group of five, "I suggest you go off to your family," and she sat beside John who had the worst of migraines.
"Is he alright?" one of them asked as they tended to Sherlock as best they could.
"Yeah," he managed as it was starting to fade, very slowly. "I'm," he exhaled deeply, "I'm fine, just a huge head ache," he admitted. They offered him some pain killers, but he declined, knowing that wouldn't stop whatever gave him that head ache every time he healed like that.
And Aveen whispered o him as he took Sherlock's hand, "I know what causes that," he gave her an exasperated look and she simply smiled. His head ache had turned down to just a throbbing and he could deal as they sped off to the closest hospital. He just held tighter to Sherlock's hand as his heartbeat was extremely slow…
o0o
The doctors were confused as Sherlock seemed to be stable, but his heartbeat was still too slow for him to possibly be awake and asking for John. Which he was and John ripped through the crowd of idiots when the doctor had said that Sherlock was asking for him.
Aveen followed, wanting to see her father, to make sure he hadn't died. Before he entered they warned him of Sherlock's condition, but John knew better and scoffed at them as he pushed the door open slowly.
"Sherlock," he exhaled in relief as he took a seat beside his bed. Aveen sat in his lap as she looked over the detective.
"John," he lifted a hand from the bed to try to stroke his cheek, but ended up grabbing John's and they both held fast. Sherlock then chuckled softly, "I heard them complaining about my unusual heartbeat. It was rather funny," he said and John smiled.
"It was, wasn't it? 'Oh my God, he should be dead asleep,'" he mocked the nurses. And they both laughed as Aveen grinned and slid from John's lap. And the door behind them opened to reveal a very tall Holmes brother with a certain DI attached to his side. Well, not literally, but you what I mean.
Sherlock rolled his eyes, "Hello brother," he greeted and John stood, simply staring from Sherlock to Mycroft and smiling.
"What shall we tell the doctors about your 'condition'?" he asked as he swung his umbrella once and Gregory stared. He had almost nothing to say as he examined Sherlock after Mycroft swinging that umbrella.
"I don't know, and I don't care. I want to go home now. I hate hospitals," he pouted and John smirked. Sherlock demanded too much already.
"Brother dear, you must stay for at least a night before they let you go anywhere," he pointed out and Gregory finally piped up.
"How the hell did this happen anyway?" he asked.
"He shot me," Sherlock said, "that's painfully obvious. And the kidnapped were freed. No idea where they went, though," he admitted as John took his chair again and ignored everything as he stared at Sherlock. John wasn't sure where the victims went, either.
"Bloody brilliant, we needed them for questioning," Gregory complained and Mycroft gave him a look that said for him to just shut up.
Besides, "They'll most likely return to their families, ask the five family members," Mycroft suggested. Gregory blushed lightly at how stupid he had been. And John simply rose Sherlock's hand to his lips and Mycroft decided, "I'll see you a bit later. John will sign you out tomorrow morning if you wish," he nodded and was gone.
Gregory stared a little longer, and eventually left behind his lover. Mycroft swung that umbrella over and over, round and round and it was hard for Gregory not to stare. But Sherlock sighed as Aveen simply curled up in the chair she had taken. She knew John wasn't going anywhere tonight, and neither was she…
Mary received a call in the middle of the day, and John was lucky it was lunch time for her. sSe figured it was probably late at night for him. But she answered, "Yes, dear?"
"Mary, um, I have a question," he said.
"Which would be?" she asked in return.
"How long do you think it would take Sherlock to heal from a bullet wound to the chest?" and she almost choked.
"What?" she managed.
"He got shot, and I don't know how long it would take for him to heal. Tell me?" he asked.
"Well, he is a Vamp, and he was a fast healer to begin with so about for to five days , why would it matter?" she asked.
"Like I said, he was shot, and I know he'll try to go back to cases as soon as possible. So I was just wondering how long I would have to deal with his whining about being bored," she heard a door close behind John and his footsteps.
"Oh," she said simply, expecting him to hang up now.
But instead he asked, "How are you?"
John could hear Mary pause at the fact that he had asked how she was. "You know with the baby and all," he added to help her give an answer.
"Well, I have a job, and Eve is still here, so I'm um. I'm good," she said, and he could hear the confusion in her voice. "Why would you care? Just curious," she asked.
"Because, despite what you think, I do have a sentimental level of care for you. I just…" he didn't know how to say it without hurting her, so he didn't. He simply left it hanging. But then he asked, "A job? Like, at a hospital?"
"Nope," she said and John was confused. "As a college professor," she explained. "Which reminds me, I should get back to that. It's almost time for another class. Talk with you later, hopefully," she added and hung up.
John was surprised that she was working as a professor, and he closed his phone and walked back into the room with Sherlock and Aveen. She had curled up into his side and John smiled, knowing Sherlock couldn't be comfortable like that.
And he took the chair as Sherlock stare at him, those blue green eyes boring into the very recesses of his soul. John rose a brow at this, but Sherlock patted the bed beside him, telling John to join him. "I don't want to-"
"Shut up and sleep with me," Sherlock smirked at how dirty that sounded, but John rolled his eyes and toes off his shoes, joining Sherlock in the bed…
The man woke to have Maggie sobbing over him. And when he woke, she looked to him, "Oh, brother," she said. "I thought you were dead," and she embraced him. Wait, she's solid? She's supposed to be dead, a ghost come back to haunt him.
"Maggie?" he asked as she held him tighter.
"I have something to tell you," she admitted.
"Damn right, you do!" he yelled and she flinched.
"I am a ghost, but not like humans always like to think," she admitted. "I had to stage my death so that you wouldn't question when I changed forms. Please, don't hate me," she begged and held even tighter.
He soothed her, "I don't hate you, and he picked up the gun from the ground. "But you will join me in Hell," and he put it to her temple and new tears of hers formed.
"No, please don't," she begged. But the bullet soared through her brain as the blood sprayed across the floor and a bit on the floor and the last little silver friend was left.
"Stupid," he insulted himself before raising the gun to his own temple and pulling the trigger for the last time, finalizing everything. He was finally rid of that stupid body and he was finally rid of the orphaned pain.
He was finally done, and Maggie was his to drag to Hell with him, as he knew that was where he was destined to go. And the bullet only made everything final…
John stirred and rubbed his face on Sherlock's chest as Aveen had pushed him. Sherlock chuckled, "John," he purred.
"Mmmnm," he snuggled closer, determined to stay asleep. Though, it was useless now. He gave up, peeking before he sat up slowly. Sherlock was looking to him and he smiled, kissing those beautiful lips. "Don't think I've forgotten," he said suddenly, referring to the incident outside of Lestrade's office as Sherlock rolled his eyes.
"I know you haven't. But can you please get me out of here?" he begged and Aveen slipped from the bed and her shoes were on again as John did the same.
"Are you sure you feel up to walking?" John asked.
"I do. If I can escape this boring place, yes," he nodded and John shook his head, walking to the front desk to ask for the papers to sign Sherlock out.
At first she said he wasn't allowed, but he contradicted, "Okay, first of all, I am a doctor myself and second of all, do you really want Sherlock Holmes complaining about being bored?" he asked.
She gave up and handed him a clipboard and a pen and he sighed. He stood signing every stupid paper he had to. Sherlock would star complaining right about now to the nurse who had to check up on him in the morning. but as he wrote, Aveen said she knew about the magic. "I'm sorry?"
"I know what was healing you," she said as he leaned down for her to whisper, "it was in the poison," to him. And finally he understood. But as he made this realization, he continued signing the papers to the last dotted line. This could wait until they got home.
And afterwards was when he actually walked through the door of the room. Sherlock was whining about the nurse's cold hands and the male nurse was getting annoyed. "Sherlock, shut up," John said as he pushed the nurse aside. "I'll take care of the stupid git, go away," he waved his hand at the door.
Aveen piped up, "You heard him," and the nurse scoffed, leaving in a huff. It seemed as thought that whole family was annoying, he thought as he closed the door.
John disconnected everything as he pulled Sherlock from the bed and to the bathroom where he had a change of clothes for the idiot from Mycroft. Sherlock forced himself to stand while John stripped him and redressed him in a suit, like he always wears.
Aveen smiled as Sherlock convinced John he could walk and almost fell over anyway. John pulled Sherlock's arm over his shoulders and they made it out and John called a cab. One wouldn't take them and he chuckled a bit as the second one did.
"221B Baker Street, please," John said as he pulled Sherlock into his lap. Sherlock complained about being bored already, but John simply put a finger to his lips. "Shut up, don't you listen?" he asked.
Sherlock pouted and crossed his arms as best as he could, but it hurt too much still and he simply wrapped himself around John, refusing to move. John sighed heavily as he carried Sherlock up the stairs and to the couch. Now it was time to question Aveen about poison, and how she knew.
She said simply that it was a new type of potion that would knock you out for a little, and then later it would heal your wounds. It won't save you from dying, but it heals. And the head aches are a side effect that were never worked out. And how does she know?
She is a Wicken, after all, and they deal with a lot of magic. Even her mum helped her with a few spells. She never used them, of course, but she knew them...
Which brings me back to now, when Sherlock was poking at his scar under his robe and John was listening to Mary over the phone. She was excited as she announced that she had the baby. "Oh my God, really?!" John was practically vibrating as Sherlock could hear Mary on the other end.
John almost cried when he heard the name and that Eve had afterwards proposed. That was completely unexpected and John did cry. It was only one tear, but Sherlock rolled his eyes. Yes, he knew what Mary was saying and it was news, but not any he was interested in.
John hung up, finally and turned to Sherlock, grinning like an idiot. Aveen was like Sherlock was, she didn't much care, because Mary wasn't here with the baby herself. What did it matter if she was in America?
But John cared and he was shaking in excitement. "Yes, John, it's exciting, but don't get yourself all worked up," Sherlock said as he had that bored tone about his voice.
"You just love ruining moments, don't you?" he furrowed his brows at Sherlock.
"I didn't ruin our wedding, as much as it bored me," he admitted. And John just rolled his eyes and tackled Sherlock to the couch, giving him surprisingly fervour kisses. Sherlock accepted as Aveen faked a couch and Mrs. Hudson was in the doorway when they sat up…
Couldn't help it, I had to write another... So, reviews?