"A child?" When Lestrade had asked him to come down to the station, John Watson had not been expecting this.

"An actual child?" Hearing the incredulity colour the doctor's voice, Lestrade merely grimaced and nodded. Just one more problem to dump on top of this already crap day, though maybe not how the kid saw it. To him this day would be the day his parents died. And Lestrade couldn't do a damn thing about it, apart from one.

"It's terrible. But we need Sherlock. The boys are baying for blood, and they don't care who brings it. Even Anderson wants Sherlock on this. Why isn't he here?" He looked around, half expecting the consulting detective to pop out from somewhere and start deducing what he had for breakfast from his left knuckle.

"He's in Brighton for a case, but he'll be back later today. Is there anything I can do in the mean time? I know I'm not a consulting detective, but I might be of some use." John chuckled weakly before sighing and adding more sugar to his tea. Of all the times for Sherlock to take one of Mycroft's cases, it had to be now. Sod's law he supposed.

"Well there is something you can do…" Lestrade hesitated, was this going too far?

"Anything."

"Could you take the kid in for a little while? No care home will take him and all his relatives are gone except for an Uncle Max somewhere. But apparently he had some falling out with the family and refuses to acknowledge the child. And besides, it might give Sherlock more time with the kid and to crack this case." He eyed John nervously, this was his last resort but he had to give it a go. No matter how many nightmares the words "Sherlock" and "child" in the same sentence conjured up. If it helped solve this case he would do anything. Even risk traumatising the kid further.

"Of course! We'd be happy to. Well… I am." They both winced as they imagined what hell would break loose. Still, that was a problem for tomorrow.

"So, can I see him? Calvin, I mean." John should probably work out what he was getting himself into before promising anything. And yet he knew it was too late. No matter what Sherlock said, they were going to help Calvin.

"Sure, he's in my office. He had to be sedated when they got him out of… there. Hopefully woken up now." Both men got up, leaving the lukewarm tea for more important matters. John prayed that he could help the poor thing. He must be so upset and scared. What a horrible crime. Disgusting what people can do. Lestrade however was considering all the possible locations this killer could be. He may not have a homeless network, but he did have a few contacts. This guy was going to get what was coming to him. For what he did, not just to the victims but to their son.

"Let's see if we can't wake him up. Easy does it." Speaking in hushed tones to the man beside him, Lestrade eased open the door, expecting to see a lonely child curled up on a chair.

What he was not expecting was that same child to be pointing a gun at him.

"BANG! BANG! Spaceman Spiff shoots the strange aliens with their primitive technology! Evading capture in enemy territory he defeats the creatures with ease, destroying hundreds of them with a single bound! You'll never take me alive! NEVER! Take cover Hobbes!" The blonde child and his stuffed tiger hid behind a filing cabinet, occasionally checking on the two shell-shocked men before ducking back in.

There was a lengthy silence, the only sound of Calvin's heavy breathing.

"Where did he get a gun?"

"Top drawer. Should've locked it."

"Oh."

"This is Calvin."

"I gathered."

"We may have to get a psychiatrist in."

"NO! NO MORE SHRINKS!" Calvin finally left his spot behind the cabinet, instead racing out the door, his tiger trailing behind him as various members of the police department watched in confusion. And still the men could do no more than watch him.

"Should we go after him?"

"Yeah, probably."

And off they ran too.

But it turns out the stamina of a six year-old child is far higher than that of two middle aged men. Until said six year-old takes a break to get a snack from the staff room.

"Hey!" He panted "Stop!" Lestrade called out to the kid as he finally spotted him in front of the vending machine. Calvin got ready to run again before John appeared on his other side, just as out of breath.

"Don't worry! We're not going to hurt you! We just want to talk." Lestrade and John crept closer, getting ready to tackle the blonde missile.

"The aliens are closing in! WHAT WILL SPACEMAN SPIFF DO?! DUN DUN DUN!" And with that, Calvin dived through Lestrade's legs and sprinted off, laughing all the way.

"Is it wise to put him and Sherlock in the same room?"

"Is it wise to put anyone and Sherlock in the same room?"

"Fair enough."

And they resumed the chase.

A longer chapter, because you've been so good :)

Hey! Sorry I haven't posted in a while. Too busy procrastinating...

But I'm back for good now.

Enjoy!

Bx