Chapter 14
Sherlock signed for Laura to be checked out of school.
"Right, " The older lady, Mrs Oliver, from the name on the desk smiled at him from behind her desk. " I will just call ahead and have Miss Ashton bring Laura down to you. "
"That will be unnecessary, madam. I will be retrieving my daughter myself. "
"But... "
"Thank you " Sherlock said shortly heading for the door.
"Mister Holmes, you simply can't... " the woman said before Greg flashed his credentials in front of her face.
"I would strongly suggest you do not call ahead or you will risk being charged with interfering in a police investigation. "
"Here? Why we never... "
" Cross us just once and I will have to handcuffed and stuck in a room with Sargent Donovan. Trust me on this... nobody wants that. " Mrs. Oliver. "
As they strode down the hall, Sherlock looked at Lestrade.
"Donovan? Are you serious? She hates me. "
"Aye, she does. But she does have a good heart in there, especially when it comes to children. I've kept her in the loop so to speak on Laura. She's softened a bit towards you. Eating crow will do that. Once she found she was wrong. Laura's case might help her understand you for who you are, after all. Either way, she wants to help. Anyone who hurts a child has a target on their back with her. " Lestrade said, waiting for Sherlock to hit him.
Sherlock merely processed the information.
"Fine. Keep my child from Anderson though. Don't want him dumbing her down."
Greg chuckled and nodded.
Outside the door to Laura's classroom, they stopped.
"Ready? " John said, watching Sherlock carefully.
Sherlock nodded and reached for the handle. He quietly opened the door.
Miss Ashton was sitting at her desk talking on her cell phone. As soon as she saw the men stroll in, she snapped it shut and slipped into her pocket, and stood up.
"See here... this is highly improper, Mr Holmes... " She gruffed quietly, not to wake the children. One look from Sherlock and she sat back down. He wasn't a large man, but his presence in the room dominated. Seemed to fill the room. Greg showed his identification again, and the woman sat back in her chair, a glossy look covering her eyes.
Sherlock went to Laura and scooped down to pick her up. She didn't even stir.
" I wouldn't leave town if I were you. " was all he said as he left the room.
Miss Ashton watched them leave and swallowed. She reached for her phone, but slipped in back into her pocket. She grabbed her purse, clutching it to her chest and walked to the door, looking down the hall. They were gone. She saw no one. Calmly, she started down the hall towards the back doors leading to the school yard. She gripped the handle tightly and pushed the door open. Once the door closed silently behind her, she reached in her purse for her car keys. The walkway towards the parking lot was just round the corner. If she could just...
As soon as she turned the corner, she froze. Two rather large men in suits stood blocking her way. Between these two men, stood a third, smaller in stature. He was smiling pleasantly at her and leaning on an umbrella.
"Ah, Miss Ashton. How nice of you to join us. I do hope you weren't planning on leaving us too soon, now were you? " Mycroft said never blinking.
Miss Ashton slid her hand into her pocket and fingered her phone.
"Now now now, my dear. I think I will take that. " Mycroft said, holding out his hand. " If you please..."
"Wh...who are you? " Ashton stammered?
"Introductions are hardly necessary at this point, don't you think? Needless to say though... you have interfered with the WRONG family. "
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Laura was still asleep, as predicted, when they arrived at Barts. Molly had managed to secure the lab for privacy. Without a word, Sherlock sat down and held his child as Molly quickly started looking her over. Her eyes were dilated, her heartbeat mildly irregular. A little too slow. Not enough to worry her though. She checked Laura's mouth and swiped samples from her tongue.
"Molly... " Sherlock swallowed. " I've been thinking... "
"When are you not? " Molly tried to joke.
"Molly. " Sherlock said with a look straight in her eyes. " Check for puncture wounds. "
Molly's face fell.
" I think the sedative was given orally. I think whatever else she is given has to be put directly into the blood stream quickly. " he explained. Each word hurt.
It took what seemed like forever as Molly went over with her head scope every inch of skin she could. She didn't think the teacher would take the time to undress her. So it had to be somewhere hard to notice. Where would that be?
Finally she slipped off Laura's tiny shoes, and found a very small hole, right between her two smallest toes.
"That would explain why she was sedated. No matter how deep a sleeper someone is, a needle in such a sensitive part would cause one to wake. " Molly said, swiping a qtip over the already healing puncture.
"Right. Let me draw blood before she wakes up. " She said, and got to work.
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Laura woke up in Greg's police car just as they were leaving Barts. She was in John's lap, as they sat in the front seat beside Lestrade.
"Where's my father? " She asked, looking around but only seeing John and Greg.
"He has to work right now, little bit. Him and Molly. Aunt Mary said she misses you. How about if you come have supper with us? We could have lots of fun. "
Laura just looked out the window.
"Father needs me. "
"Yes. Yes he does. But right now, you have to learn he also needs to do what he does best. Your father has important work to do. Ok? " John said, trying to not hurt her feelings.
Laura blinked a few times. Then she looked at Greg, her eyes taking a doe like quality.
"Can we go to the park first? " She asked batting her lashes slowly with a tilt to her head.
"You little minx! " Greg laughed. " God help all of us when you start taking an interest in boys. "
Greg laughed harder at both the sneer that suddenly hit Laura's face, as well as the drop in Johns.
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Sherlock and Molly were busy haunched over microscopes.
"See? Sherlock... look! " Molly pulled at his shirt to bring him closer to hers.
"They seem to be... mutating. " Molly said breathlessly.
" Fresh sample. Always a good idea. But I can't seem to isolate what's causing it. "
"Well, we will stay at it all night if we have to. "
"I don't think it will do any good. This is outside my expertise, but I think I can spot ... "
"Spot what? "
"God... "
"What? "
" Given the evidence... I think we need more help. "
"Mycroft? "
"No. A REAL expert. How long before this starts disappearing? "
" A few days, going by last time. Why? "
"I need these carefully boxed up. I will contact Mycroft for a messenger who can be trusted. We should go home and go through the boxes some more. " He said, typing off a quick text to his brother.
Sherlock hated being unsure of himself. But this situation had disrupted the process of his mind palace. It was like there was a frat party going on in there, and he wasn't invited.
Less than five minutes later, Mycroft sauntered into the lab. With him, a man Sherlock recognized as the one of the men Mycroft sent to pick up him to take him to Buckingham palace.
"Good to see you again, Miles. " Sherlock said with an eye roll.
"Be nice, brother. "
"Im always nice. "
It was Molly's eyes turn.
Sherlock gave her mock wounded look.
"So what's this about, Sherlock? " Mycroft asked, keeping a deceptively calm expression of mild interest. In truth, it was good to see his baby brother's behavior with his wife. They just had a way with each other. " You didn't tell me where this package was being delivered. " He said, nodding to Miles to bring the small cooler in his hand forward.
" Wouldn't sent such information on a cell. Too risky. "
"And the recipient? They will be waiting. "
"I believe so, yes. This is beyond my capability or yours at the moment, Mycroft. We need a true expert in what I believe this equates to. "
Sherlock turned from his brother and pulled out his cell, punching digits and donning a smile while it rang.
"Mr Holmes. " A familiar voice came on the other end. " What can I do for you? "
Sherlock smiled.
"Doctor Stapleton! How's little Kirstie? "
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John and Greg were sitting on a bench, smiling as they watched Laura play when Sally came up.
"So, whats going on? " She said, sitting on the other side of Greg.
"Still don't know, really. She was injected with something while she slept. Sherlock and Molly are looking over samples. " Lestrade explained. "Any luck with the memory stick? "
Sally nodded slowly her chin wobbly.
"We were able to retrieve some files so far. "
"Who has seen them? "
"Just me. As ordered. And on my laptop, not Yard computers. "
"Good. "
"No. "
"No? "
" What I saw... "
"Donovan... its ok. "
"No. Its not. I can understand why fre...why Sherlock went off. Any decent human being would. "
"What? You called him Sherlock. " John said, wide eyed.
" Habit. One I don't think I will be continuing. Moriarty would call... "
"He called LAURA a freak? " John said, his hands fisting. Sally nodded.
"I think... with...Sherlock... it hurts him more than he admits, even to himself. " Sally looked pensive. " I meant it as like freak of nature. Which he is. But seeing that poor baby's face when that awful man...SCREAMED it at her... she looks so much like her father. Suddenly I saw him as a little boy, probably being similarly taunted when he was small. Some wounds don't heal so well, even when we grow up. I see that now. To see any child treated like that, especially your own... "
Sally closed her eyes to calm herself. She expelled a breath and looked over to Laura.
"He's changed a lot since she's come into his life. " John said quietly. " Although it may hamper his work a little. But the trade off is worth it. She's helping him discover his humanity."
"He's a good father. I could see that. The way he treats her. " Lestrade said, shaking his head with a fond smile.
"But he won't let her out of his sight. Not now. That isn't healthy either. " John sighed. " If we had some way to... " A smile spread across John's face. He quickly typed very long text to Sherlock.
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Greg and Sally joined John and Mary for supper. Laura barely ate. Sally took her off to find cartoons on the telly while the others filled Mary in on what was going on.
Mary looked ready to kill.
Good. All on the same page, then. John thought beaming at her.
"I was thinking, love. When this is all over, and Sherlock and Molly go on their trip... maybe we could keep Laura. Perhaps...practice, for later? "
Mary gave him a soft smile. Seems the child presence in their live woke parenta instincts in more than just Sherlock.
Sally glanced at Laura from time to time, torn between wanting to hold the child and wanting to throttle her.
"You don't like this program either, I take it? "
"Its silly. "
"John said you liked this one. "
"Its not the same. I usually watch it with father, and we make fun of it together. "
"Ah. You miss him. "
"Yes. Can I go home, now? "
Sally looked away.
"I...I'm sorry. I'm being rude again. I don't mean to, I promise. " Laura said, her eyes cast down at her hands.
Sally immediately softened.
" I think you can't help it. Its in the blood. Me and your dad don't get along well. But I DO know he's good inside. So I will try to do better. Can we do the same? "
Laura gave her a small smile and nodded.
John came into the room with a grin from ear to ear.
"Well, Laura? Dad just called. He and Molly are coming to get you. YOU...lucky girl, getting to go to the sweets shop! And after hours! Aren't YOU special? "
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Mr. Lipton unlocked the door as Sherlock, Molly and Laura arrived.
"Laura! We've missed you. " Mr. Lipton smiled and ruffled Laura's dark curls.
" Thank you. "
Sherlock looked down at his daughter who was trying to pull her hand from his.
"What kind of ice cream are you having? "
Sherlock cocked an eyebrow at her.
"Ice cream, at this time of night? I'd have to peel you off the walls. "
Laura pouted and doed up her eyes again.
"Nah uh. You can just unwind yourself from my finger this instant, young lady. "
Laura pursed her lips together.
"Then why are we here? "
"You won't be going back to school for a while. Thought you might get bored and need some company. Someone we can trust to keep you safe. "
Laura looked perplexed at her father for a moment, until she heard yapping.
A huge smile spread across her face as she turned around and ran for the familiar ball of fur.
Sherlock shook Mr. Lipton's hand.
"Thank you for this. "
"Not at all, Mr. Holmes. I told you anything you need. Besides, good to get him off my hands before he is old enough to sully my pure breeds. But I do tell you, I haven't seen that pup take to anyone by Laura. You know, they said people don't pick their pets. The animals pick them. And this little one definitely picked our little Laura. "
"I'm not an animal person. But if it makes her happy. Dogs are protective. That will come in handy. "
"Agreed. Especially breeds like his. "
"What exactly is he? " Molly said. Sherlock answered instead of Lipton.
"Mutt. But mutts generally seem to have fewer health problems than pure lines. Without the inbreeding. See the spots on his tongue. That's chow. His base look says lab. But his build says there is rottweiler in there somewhere. I wouldn't be surprised at a bit of german sheppard either. I would wager he's going to get very large very soon. " Sherlock summized as in the short time he'd been around the canine, he'd already more than doubled in size.
Molly chuckled. " We might want to think about finding a bigger place. Laura should have a yard to play in with the dog, anyway. "
Sherlock nodded, logical.
Mr. Lipton turned from Sherlock and looked at Laura.
"So, little miss Holmes. I could never find a name that fit this one. Do you think you can name him? "
Laura held the dogs snout in her hands and looked into its large brown eyes.
"I think I shall call him...Gabriel. "
"Gabriel? Unusual name for dog. " Sherlock said, without snideness.
"Gabriel is a an archangel. Always good to have one of those with your back, don't you think? He's also a messenger angel. So, Gabriel here will send a message to anyone who wants to hurt me. "
"And what message is that? "
"Try it and my daddy isn't the only one that will tear you apart. " Laura said with a wiggle of her head.
Sherlock smiled.
"Yes. I did hear somewhere it was a good thing to be on the side of the angels. "