A/N: AAAAHHHH! First of all I want to thank all you lovely people for reviewing and subscribing and adding this story to your favorites! I have to admit, when I first wrote Moriarty in the last chapter I was worried you guys wouldn't like how I wrote him but I'm really surprised to see that you all liked him so thanks! Every review I get puts an idiotic smile on my face and it makes me ridiculously happy and I love you all for making me smile with your reviews.
Second, I wasn't planning on updating until Wednesday because I have a history project to work on this week but since it's my birthday today, I thought I'd give you guys something to read.
TeamDallow Thank you so much for your review! I have to say, you are probably the only person who mentioned something about Camille and I'm pretty impressed. She does play a huge role in this story but I'm not going to say anything about that right now ;)
Several of you asked for more daddy!Sherlock and so I have written more to satisfy your whims. Hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer:I own nothing but the plot and Ariadne!
Chapter Seven
"Morning, Sherlock!" Lestrade greeted as the detective swept into the building. Lestrade raised an eyebrow as Ariadne toddled in after Sherlock, wearing a similar coat and scarf.
"Hi Unca Gweg." She said, looking up at him. Lestrade smiled and picked her up.
"Where's John?" He asked, noticing the doctor's absence from the detective's side. Ariadne pulled on her scarf and sucked the edge in absentmindedly.
"Unca Jawn at work." She said in a muffled tone. Lestrade set her down and she hurried over to Sherlock. "Dada, penshil." She cried, pointing at the cup of pens on Lestrade's desk. He grabbed a piece of paper and a pen and handed it to her. She grasped it in her small hands and sat down near the door. Her eyebrows were scrunched up in concentration as she drew lines vigorously across the page.
Lestrade looked at Sherlock, who was pacing around the room. "So, what brings you here today?" He asked. Sherlock stopped his pacing and looked at Lestrade with serious eyes.
"I had a visitor last night after the party." Sherlock said quietly. Lestrade frowned, not understanding.
"Visitor? What do you mean?" He jumped as Sherlock slammed his hand down on the table angrily. Ariadne looked up with a startled expression. Her lower lip trembled but she didn't cry. She looked at Sherlock worriedly.
"He's back. He's back and he's planning something. I don't know what it is but the only clue he left is on that wretched necklace he left for Ariadne." He hissed furiously. Lestrade had never seen Sherlock this angry. Even he felt a little scared of what Sherlock might do to the criminal mastermind once he gets caught.
"Hold on, what necklace?" Lestrade asked slowly. Sherlock glanced at Ariadne and Lestrade could see a silver crown dangling on a chain around her neck. Sherlock squatted down next to Ariadne and carefully took the chain off her. She frowned but continued scribbling away on her paper.
"He's taunting us." Sherlock growled. Lestrade flipped the crown over and frowned at the etchings on the back.
"This could just be nonsense." Lestrade said slowly. Sherlock was pacing once more, his coat flapping ominously behind him. He faced Lestrade.
"Can you find him? Try to keep tabs on him if you can?" He asked urgently.
"Sherlock, he's eluded us for ages. Its not that easy to-"
"Please. For her." Sherlock said softly. Lestrade looked at Ariadne and sighed.
"I'll do my best." He promised.
"Thank you." Sherlock said gratefully. Lestrade noted how Sherlock's voice became so vulnerable, so caring when he pleaded with him. Ariadne really was Sherlock's heart, pride and joy.
"So," Lestrade said, trying to change the subject. "There's only been one case lately. But I doubt you'll find it interesting."
"Any case is interesting now. I've been quite bored lately and Ariadne doesn't seem to be mature enough for me to play Cluedo with her." Sherlock mused, sounding like his old self again. Lestrade fought the urge to roll his eyes.
"Well, the case details are in this file." He said, handing a beige folder to the consulting detective. Sherlock scanned through the file quickly and closed the folder with a snap.
"Its obviously the wife's brother." Sherlock said boredly. Lestrade sighed.
"Of course. I should have known." He said sarcastically. Sherlock set the folder down on Lestrade's desk and checked the time.
"I should get going. I'm looking for a daycare for Ariadne to stay at when I'm at crime scenes. John insisted it." He said sourly. Lestrade smirked.
"I'll call you if anything comes up about Moriarty." He said. Sherlock looked grim as he picked Ariadne up.
"Thank you." He said as he left the room. Ariadne waved over Sherlock's shoulder.
"Bye Unca Gweg!" She said happily. Lestrade smiled to himself and returned to his desk. He picked up his phone and dialed a number.
"Hello? Yes. I need you to bring me the file for James Moriarty."
/
Sherlock looked disapprovingly at the bright door in front of him. This was the nearest day care to Baker Street and even though he hated the ridiculous pictures and colours all over the doors and walls, he knew it was the most convenient for him and Ariadne. He pushed the door open and stepped inside.
"Wow." Ariadne said as they looked around. Sherlock gagged at the bright yellow of the walls. He regained his cool expression and walked to the lady sitting at the front desk. She looked bored and was tapping a pen on her chin impatiently as she pored over a crossword puzzle.
"Good morning. I wish to speak with Ms. Clarke? I had a tour scheduled for my daughter and I." Sherlock said smoothly. The receptionist looked up at the sound of Sherlock's voice and glanced up to look at him. Her eyes widened as she took Sherlock in and flashed him a brilliant smile.
"Of course. Right this way." She said, still smiling. Ariadne frowned at her, shrinking away and pressing herself against Sherlock nervously.
"No like her." She said. Sherlock smirked as the receptionist heard Ariadne's words. She visibly stiffened, obviously fighting the urge to glare at Ariadne.
When they reached the door at the end of the hallway, the receptionist stopped and knocked on the door.
"Ms. Clarke? There's someone here to meet you." She called. The door opened and an uptight looking woman stood in the doorway. Her dark hair was piled up in a bun on her head and she was dressed in a rather uncomfortable looking dress. She looked at Sherlock and Ariadne snootily and sniffed.
"You must be Mr. Holmes." She said in a nasally voice. Sherlock eyed the woman up and down.
"Ms. Clarke." He said cooly, extending a hand out. She shook it lightly before giving a nod to the receptionist.
"You are dismissed." She said. She turned back to Sherlock and smiled tightly. "Let us begin the tour."
For the next half hour, Sherlock was forced to listen to Ms. Clarke's endless drone as she rambled on and on about the facility. Sherlock really didn't like the sound of this daycare. It sounded terribly boring and strict. Ariadne was also looking bored. She started fidgeting and speaking loudly about the daycare.
"Ugly." She screamed at one point, her finger pointing imperiously at one of the rooms. Ms. Clarke shot her a glare and Ariadne shrank back, burrowing her face in Sherlock's shoulder. Sherlock fought the urge to speak and frowned at her as she turned away, acting like nothing had happened.
"Sowy dada." Ariadne's muffled voice said. Sherlock felt a bit angry with this woman for snapping at Ariadne and he held out his arm as she was about to show them another room.
"I think I've seen enough of this place." He said. Ms. Clarke looked surprised but smiled a little.
"Well. I expect I'll be seeing more of-"
"This place is an prison for these poor children. I'm surprised you still have any clients considering you don't seem to handle children very well." Sherlock continued coldly. Ms. Clarke looked outraged.
"How dare you! This-"
"I don't care what you have to say. I'm leaving. Good day to you, Ms. Clarke." Sherlock said curtly before stepping away and walking off. Ms. Clarke was left gaping after him in fury before she snapped her jaw shut and stormed off.
Outside, Sherlock was standing on the side of the road waiting for a cab. His phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out and looked at the caller ID.
"How did the daycare go?" John's voice asked from the phone. Sherlock grimaced.
"The place was terrible. Terrible facility." He said vaguely. He smiled a little as he heard John sigh on the other end of the line.
"What? Did you piss off whoever was in charge, Sherlock?" He asked.
"She glared at Ariadne. I don't want Ariadne to be near anyone like her. She obviously hates children as well." Sherlock said huffily. John groaned.
"I knew this would happen. I've got the numbers of the other daycares and we'll talk about this when I get home, alright?" Sherlock sighed.
"Must we? I can take care of Ariadne. She doesn't need a daycare." He insisted.
"Look, Sherlock-"
"I'll talk to you later John. Goodbye." He said curtly, hanging up the call. He slid his phone back into his pocket and adjusted his grip on Ariadne.
"Come on, let's go home."
/
When John arrived home that afternoon, he was amused to see Sherlock sitting on the couch reading a book aloud to Ariadne. John took off his coat and listened as Sherlock read the book.
"And the little pig said, "Not by the hair on my chinny chin chin! You can't fool us with that old sheepskin!" The wolf huffed and puffed and blew the house down." He read. Ariadne squealed excitedly and clapped.
"More! More dada more!" She demanded. John laughed loudly and Sherlock's gaze landed on him.
"John!" He said, clearly relieved. He set the book aside and heaved Ariadne off his lap. "Let Uncle John read to you now." He handed the book to Ariadne and nudged her gently towards John.
"Hey there." He said, picking her up as she walked towards him. She hugged him and pushed the book to him.
"Read?" She questioned. John shrugged.
"Sure." He carried her to the couch and set her down on his lap. He opened the book to the page where Sherlock left off and continued reading.
"The three little pigs waited for the wolf to come in but nothing happened! They peeked out the window and saw the wolf looking very tired. No matter how hard he tried, he simply couldn't blow the house down!" John read. Ariadne smiled and leaned forwards, pointing at the pictures happily.
After John finished reading, he looked down and saw Ariadne sleeping. "Did you feed her just now?" He asked Sherlock.
"Hmm? Oh, yes I gave her some bread and jam." Sherlock answered. John picked Ariadne up carefully and brought her to Sherlock's room. As he set her down on the bed, a pink slip of paper caught his eye. It was folded in the shape of a heart and it rested on Sherlock's pillow.
John frowned and leaned over Ariadne to pick up the paper heart. He flipped it over but there was nothing but a single word written on the back.
Soon.
This was sort of a filler chapter so if it was boring, I'm sorry! The robbery and break ins and all the lovely Moriarty drama will begin soon so watch out for it!