Chapter 15
After Laura was properly tucked away in bed, Molly sat on the couch making two lists.
One was things they needed to purchase for their new furry flatmate. They picked up a small bag of food which was sitting now on the kitchen floor filling a bowl last used for salad.
The other list was one Mycroft asked her to make. She had texted him about the dog, mainly to warn him next time he came over. It was an affectionate creature, but was going to be trained to be not so friendly unless is was someone known to them. He remarked about the size of the pup with time. So Molly told him she had already mentioned to Sherlock they might want to look for a bigger place. So, Mycroft, thinking this was the most logical course, set her about making a list of what was required of a home.
Outside the city... for protection.
A building out a ways on the property for Sherlock's experiments.
A good deal of land for a child, or children...and at least one dog. But that property would have to have some kind of protective parimeter.
Molly at one time would only have thought a couple of bedrooms and a bathroom. Life as the wife of Sherlock Holmes certainly complicated things.
She glanced up at Sherlock to ply him for ideas. He simply shrugged. His mind was obviously going a mile a minute. Every couple of minutes, he glanced down at his phone, waiting for a message or call from Dr. Stapleton. It was, of course, a brilliant move on Sherlock's behalf to seek her help. Not only was she soundly familiar with genetic experimentation, but she was also the mother of a little girl. Sherlock had spoken to her of all the relevant information. She had tried to argue that she had her own work to do, and was too busy. Then, Sherlock sent her a picture of Laura with a message. It was his favorite picture. She was sleeping with her hands folded under her face. She looked content. Like she felt safe. She was in his coat.
This is my little girl, Dr. Stapleton. This is being done to her. Tell me, if there is anything you wouldn't do to save your daughter? I am only asking you to help save mine.
-SH
That did it. Even from just a picture of the tiny cherub face, sleeping, Laura won the heart of yet another person.
Molly sighed and placed her lists down, just to watch her husband.
Sherlock sat with his hands fisted on his legs. The more he thought on the possibilities...and implications... of what could have been done to Laura was eating him up. He hated being helpless. He felt a sudden soft weight land on his leg.
He slid a glance to see that Gabriel had decided he needed his attention. Sherlock looked from the dog to the dirt now on his pants and back up into the pups face.
"Down."
He said it in a soft but firm voice. Apparently, the dog didn't speak english.
Instead, Gabriel kept looking at him, tilting his head as if he was trying to deduce Sherlock, his huge wet chocolate colored eyes.
Sherlock reached for Gabriel's paws, promptly pushed them off his leg and exhaled.
"Did Laura teach you that? Well, sorry to disappoint, but it doesn't work for her and it won't work for you. " Sherlock said haughtily.
Sherlock looked away, thinking that...was that.
Until he felt a cold wet nose hit his hand. Gabriel nudged his snout under Sherlock's hand until his head was beneath it. With a purse to his lips, he gave in, and rubbed him between the ears.
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
Sherlock didn't know when he'd fallen asleep. But he woke with an ache in his neck. He painfully turned his head to see Molly fast asleep on the couch, her phone buzzing on the coffee table in front. He stood up and reached for the phone. It was a message from Mycroft.
Received lists. Will bring over possible choices by tomorrow night. If none of them suit you, we will keep looking. I will see to security.
- MH
Lists? Sherlock blinked a few times. Oh, yes. Homes. He looked down at the lists surrounding Molly. He vaguely remembered her asking him is imput, and felt sad now he had pretty much blown her off.
As he scanned them, he noticed that all the amenities she required were for him, Laura and any possible future pets and children. She asked nothing for herself. But that was Molly. She was a giver. No. Not precisely right. She had also proven a taker. She had taken abuse from him on a regular basis. He didn't deserve her loyalty or love. But he made a point to promise her in his mind to try to. He was learning he did have a heart, and that it could feel. He felt love for Laura. He was sure that's what that was. But wasn't that normal for blood relation? Parent to child. He had love/hate with Mycroft, but would die for him as he knew his brother would do the same. Both men would do that for Laura. He had no doubt of that.
Would he die for Molly? What if Moriarty had put her on his hit list as he had John and Mrs Hud...they weren't blood.
But they also weren't sleeping with him.
It was another puzzle.
One he was looking forward to solving. He punched a few extra instructions to Mycroft in response to the text, informed him who it was from, then deleted the sent message. He had a few surprises for his wife.
Sherlock bent to kiss her on the forehead before heading to check on Laura. Her door was ajar, as it usually was. He stepped into the dark room and froze.
Standing between him and Laura's bed was Gabriel. And he was growling menacingly. In the pale light coming through the window, Sherlock could see his teeth were bared.
"Gabriel, stand down. "
At the sound of his voice, his quiet command, Gabriel let out a small wine and went to him. Sherlock held out his hand for the dog to sniff, making a mental note to make sure to well aquaint the dog with his scent, so this didn't keep happening. Sherlock knelt down and scratched the dog along the sides of his face.
"Good job, boy. You will take good care of her, won't you? " John's idea was indeed a brilliant one. Outside, the sound of a backfire startled both of them. Gabriel yiped and looked at Laura. She still slept. The pup left Sherlock and went to the window, scratching at the curtains. Sherlock went over to the window and pushed the curtains to the side. There was a building there he hadn't really thought about. He turned to see Gabriel jump onto the bed, putting himself between the window and his young mistress. Sherlock's brows lowered as he realized Gabriel was telling him something. Even in their home, she was vulnerable. All those windows, direct access.
Sherlock scooped Laura up in his arms and placed her in his room. He lie next to her as she curled up against his side. Gabriel jumped up onto the bed on the opposite side and put his head on Sherlocks legs, his eyes going between the door and the window. The pet wouldn't sleep this night, Sherlock realized. He was on guard. He knew dogs had senses humans didn't possess. So sleep was just as unlikely for him.
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
The next morning, Molly awoke alone in the living room. She went to check on Laura, and panicked to find her gone. Then she checked the room she and Sherlock shared. All three were awake. Laura was playing with the dog, Sherlock was just watching.
"Did we wake you? " He asked an apologetic expression in his eyes.
"No. Not at all. Do you all want some breakfast? "
Laura bounced out of the room, Gabriel hot on her heels.
Molly sat on the bed and laid her hand against Sherlock's face.
"Did you sleep at all? "
"No. About an hour ago, I got a text from Dr. Stapleton. She has been unable to identify the samples, but has a few ideas. Its going to take time. "
"Im sorry. "
"Well, I realize worrying doesn't make things that are out of our control move forward more quickly. So I would rather reserve my emotions to the things I can. "
With that, he pulled her down for a sweet kiss.
Molly smiled.
"Mycroft will be over later to show us houses. "
"I know. I saw the text. "
"Are you going to help me choose. "
"I will. I promise. I've lived in many houses and flats. Didn't really care much about it other than that it has a place to eat, sleep, relieve myself, and my experiments. But you and Laura...I don't want to give you a house, but a home. And that's going to take more than ... "
"That too, will take time, Sherlock. " Molly said, understanding in her eyes.
Sherlock nodded and told her of the events of the previous night, with the windows, and his promises to himself about Laura and her.
"You admit you have love for Laura. That you love her. You may love me. And don't get me wrong, that makes me happier than you know. But ...right now, I think there is a little girl in the other room that needs to hear it more. Don't you? "
Sherlock smiled at her, his heart finally showing itself in his eyes. It took Molly's breath away.
"Go on, now. " She smiled through tears threatening.
Sherlock gave her one more quick kiss and started to leave the room to search out his daughter.
Until he heard a very loud growl.