Chapter 20
Sherlock and Laura...had a plan. A well calculated diagrammed plan. Step one, put as much distance between Molly and Irene as possible...without actually having to leave the country.
Mycroft, of course, helped with that.
It was surprisingly easy, thanks to Anthea. After the Holmes brothers discarded one property after another as being unsuitable, she came into the room, without looking up from her phone, and placed a thick file on the table in front of them.
"Sorry, sir. Just thought it might be faster and easier to go through your own properties. "
"What properties? " Mycroft and Sherlock asked at the same time.
Anthea sighed and finally looked up from her phone.
"Holmes properties. Ones belonging to your family. Investment properties."
Mycroft grabbed the dusty file and opened it.
"My God. I forgot about these. "
"What are these? " Sherlock asked, picking up some of the photos and papers inside.
"Not long after World War I, our great great grandfather Lionel Holmes, who had made a not so small fortune in...shall we say, less than ethical means, decided to profit from the war. Many business's went under, as well as many very old aristocratic families. He figured he would resell them. But he lost much of his fortune. We aren't exactly sure how. At any rate, there were still some properties he owned, but never got to fixing them for resale. Most are smaller residences, but with a lot of land. I'd forgotten all about it. It would have required...farming. " He said with a decided shiver.
"Farming. Which means a acreage. Anthea, Mycroft doesn't pay you enough. " Sherlock said, smiling.
Anthea merely smiled back.
Out of the choices, they selected 5 that would suit. They needed the least fixing up, and provided ample opportunity for security. They called to Molly and Laura to make the final choice.
In the end, they picked on that was on the smaller side. Molly didn't feel comfortable in a really large house. Mycroft went about arranging the renovations.
6 weeks later...
Laura was sleeping normally. Of course, she had no contact with anyone but a small group selected by Sherlock.
They were moving into the new house in two weeks, and were finishing up selecting paint and furniture for it.
"Many of my things will remain here. This will be my office, so to speak. Only my clothes and such will be going, so it won't take me long to pack my things. " Sherlock commented, watching the irritated Molly loading things into boxes, suggesting he needs to help.
"I'm doing the manly work, and you are picking out color schemes. What's wrong with this picture? "
Sherlock gave an eye roll and quirk of his brow to show what he thought of what he thought was rather close to an inappropriately sexist remark.
2 weeks later...
John and Mary showed up early to help with any last minute packing. They walked through the door at 221B to hear an arguement. One that anyone else would think was a joke, unless you knew the people arguing.
"You have to bring more than your clothes you lazy sot! " Molly was hollering from the bedroom. "
"Everything else I need to have here! "
"Not ALL of it. Like all these costumes! "
"They are for cases. "
"Don't have to be. Not all of them. Rather like the fireman coat... "
"What use is a fireman's coat outside of work? " Sherlock asked, truly dumbfounded.
John laughed at Sherlock. " Maybe she fancies asking to handle your hose? " he remarked in a tone he hoped provided his friend with a clue.
It wasn't John's tone, but Mary's blush that provided it to him.
"Fine. Pick ...six...no seven of your favorites. The rest stay here! "
"Yes, dear. But still Sherlock, there has to be more...you... in the house. Its all our home. We have to have all of us represented. "
"You said I couldn't bring my skull... " He said at the hallway, with a small pout.
Laura came in the door, after her breakfast with Mrs Hudson followed closely behind by Lestrade and Donovan.
And Anderson.
Sherlock lost it.
"What the hell is HE doing here? " He shouted.
"Easy on, Sherlock. He wanted to help. He feels bad about...his part... " Lestrade said.
Just as Anderson stepped two feet into the room, Gabriel went up to him, sniffed about then started growling.
Sherlock chuckled. " Knew that dog was a canine genius. "
Anderson was backing towards the door. " Tell him Im friendly! "
Laura walked up to Gabriel and grabbed his collar. The dog sat down immediately, but kept his eyes on Anderson.
"Sir, I don't think Gabriel likes the way you smell. "
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
When the movers arrived at the new house, the men started grabbing boxes. Except John. He pulled out a camcorder.
"Here Molly, we need to pass this around a bit. "
"What's this about? " Sherlock asked looking funny at the small machine.
"Housewarming present. From me and Mary. We thought, well, since all your pictures or...video...of Laura's growing up so far are mostly from the bad part of her life, we thought it might be nice to record the good. Memories. Someday, you will want them. "
Sherlock was surprisingly touched by the gesture. He leaned down and placed a kiss on Mary's cheek and shook John's hand.
"That...that was very thoughtful. Thank you, John. "
Shrugging off the emotion, Sherlock watched as Molly got used to the recorder. She recorded Sherlock and John arguing, Laura running in the front with Gabriel. Normal life. She turned the camera just in time to see Sherlock bending to pick up a box, and Laura jumping onto his back. After Sherlock's initial oomph, he chuckled and grabbed her legs, holding them tight against his waist. Her arms went about his neck. In a very unSherlock move, he started turning, spinning them both faster and faster in tight circles. Laura squealed with delight...then laughed. A bold gusty sound. Her father's laugh.
Sherlock stopped the spinning and set Laura down as carefully as he could. Everyone was laughing hysterically watching the pair amble around as if drunk as lords, then tumble to the ground. Laura recovered first and got up to make her own circles. Sherlock lay on his side on the grass and watched her, the biggest smile anyone had ever seen on his face. Molly knelt down beside him and he looked up at her. She put her hand on the side of his face. His eyes were wet and wide.
"She laughed, Molly. REALLY laughed. Her first laugh and I made her do it! " He said, his voice coming through almost in part laughter.
"Yes, you did, didn't you? " She smiled back, dangerously close to tears herself.
Sherlock placed his head in Molly's lap as they watched Laura play. It was the most content Sherlock had ever been. Soon, upon observation, Sherlock discovered three things.
First, Laura had Lestrade, John and Donovan completely wrapped around her finger.
Second, Gabriel was never...ever... going to like Anderson. Who could blame him?
And third...home wasn't a building or land. It was the people who came in and out of it. His wife and child, his best friend...
That was home. He considered having the guest cottage fixed up to have Mrs Hudson over from time to time.
He got up from his place and held his hand out to Molly.
"Come. I have something to show you. A little present from me and Laura. "
Molly smiled and let him help her up. He led her towards the back of the house. Upon rounding the side, Molly stopped short and put her hand to her mouth.
Surrounded by a pretty little white fence, led into by a lovely white arbor, was a fully blooming garden with a variety of flowers. In the center of the garden was a two person gazebo, with two comfy cushioned chairs and small table.
"Thought it might be good for you to be able to relax. Take in some beauty after all the death you work with. " He said coming up behind her, wrapping his arm around her waist and kissing her cheek.
"Its perfect! How old is it? "
"New. I asked Mycroft to have all of it put in. You ask so little for yourself. We wanted to do something for you. "
Molly was saved from crying by the entrance of the others of thier party. Laura came up and slinked between the couple. She put her hand in Sherlocks then the other hand in Molly's.
"Did we do good? " She asked, looking up at Molly. " I got to pick the flowers. I didn't know what kind you liked, so I picked lots of them. "
"You did perfect, sweetie. " Molly looked down at her.
"Well, as lovely as the garden is, " John interrupted " Lets hope there aren't any edible flowers in there. We're all famished. "
Molly blinked. " We didn't buy groceries yet. Take away? "
"Take away will be cold by the time we get it to the house. " Sherlock supplied.
"Its such nice weather. I see Mycroft, or should I say Anthea, was good enough to get you guys a pretty great grill. How about if we make a run to the market and pick up some things for a barbeque? "
Two hours later, fully fed, Laura sat on a blanket on the grass sleeping beside Gabriel as the adults talked and laughed.
Normal...could be nice. Sherlock decided.
Headlights in the distance broke his thoughts though. All heads turned as the car pulled up the drive. They rose from the patio table and went around the house.
Out of the car stepped a woman. About 30 years of age. She had severely pulled back hair in a bun, and deep brown eyes.
"Hello. I am Erica Downing. I am to be miss Holmes tutor. Mr. Mycroft Holmes hired me. "
At the name of Mycroft, everyone went at ease.
"Miss Downing, welcome. " Molly said, shaking her hand. " This is my husband, Mycroft's brother Sherlock. "
Sherlock refused her outstretched hand and simply nodded at her. She had invaded his space. She also was concealing an accent. He couldn't quite place it.
"Miss Downing, where are you from. I can't place your accent. Sounds...muddled. "
Erica's smile faltered, so fast that no one but Sherlock would have noticed it.
"My father was in the Army. I moved about a lot. "
"I don't think it is appropriate to come here at this hour. "
" I know. I apologize. But I was out of the country until today. I can give you my credentials. "
"I Don't need them. I have my own way of surmising your qualifications. "
"Yes, yes of course. I was told you do that. "
"You may return tomorrow afternoon. If you don't mind. We are in the middle of a private party. "
"Yes. Of course. But perhaps we could talk for just few moments longer. "
"Why? Anything you have to say will keep. "
"I understand Mr. Holmes. But... "
"Sherlock... " John interjected. When Sherlock didn't respond, he whispered something to Lestrade. Lestrade nodded and went to the back of the house.
"You don't want to start your new position already testing my patience now do you? " Sherlock said through his teeth. Something about this woman bothered him.
"Sir, I really must insist... "
"SHER...LOCK. " John said more insistently. Sherlock looked at his friend and saw the look in his eyes.
Sherlock walked over to John who held his phone up to Sherlock's face.
It was a text from Mycroft.
I don't know any Miss Downing. Keep her there. - MH
John and Sherlock took uniform steps forward and grabbed the woman by the arms.
"You are quite right, miss Downing. We really MUST talk. "
She was calm as they started towards the house.
Lestrade came running from the side of the house, visibly shaking.
"Sherlock...Laura's gone! "