Chapter 38

Six months later...

'Liam' lay down for the night. In his hand was the letter he received on the mail barge this morning. He was anxious to read it. It had been weeks since he heard from her.

For the past six months, he had corresponded with Sarah. She was smart, funny, and strong. But she had a softness to her that he found grounding.

Twice since his initial trip, he'd landed in Georgia, and was always comforted to see him.

Until the last time.

Over the course of the months, they had grown closer. A friendship that he relied on. She was definitely good at deduction. When he brought up seeing the town was called Rosewell, something fired off in his mind. He wasn't sure from where. But it was like words and images flashing in front of him. She sensed this. With a smirk, she told him " Wrong Rosewell. That one's in New Mexico."

Sarah would tell him of her progress, and he was duly impressed. He thought it would have been far fetched for her to come up with a new fabric. But that first night at Barrington Hall, he had been amazed that her family had already done such. The branch of the family that owned these properties originally was by the name of King. They created a unique fabric betwen wool and cotton. Warming in the winter, but airing in the sweltering heat of a southern summer. It was called Rosewell Gray, and it was selected as uniform material for the confederacy.

She entertained him with tales of her family, who were apparently big fan's of irony. Distant cousins of hers, during the war decided they didn't want the northern armies to comfiscate thier valuables. So they hid the silver, jewelry and such in these spaces in the alcoves in the attic. To keep track, they coded the West side hiding spot of the house Augusta. The East, Savannah. When the Union did come, and couldn't find any of the riches they expected to, the family was questioned. The family informed them promptly told that thier valuables were all tucked away in Augusta and Savannah.

Most of all, she made him laugh. It was a strange sound to his own ears. A release he sorely needed.

But he didn't need to be a genius to see something else was happening. Subtle brushes of fingers while passing dinner plates. Long glances over glasses of wine. But it hadn't been acted upon.

Then, the last night he was there, he and Sarah had taken a walk. It was a cool night, and it they walked without speaking. He was absently rubbing his freshly shaved face ( a suggestion from Sarah ) when Sarah suddenly caught a chill. He felt her shiver and placed an arm around her for warmth.

Slowly, they looked at each other. His other arm came around her and his head lowered, to brush his lips against hers. It didn't take long for the spark to turn to flame. Months of longing went into that kiss. Sarah's hands came around his neck, her fingers tugging at his dark curls. His hands ran along her sides. One large hand covering her breast as the kiss deepened. The other hand on her backside, pushing her closer to his hardening crotch. She pulled away to nip at his ear with a sigh of concent. He kissed her jaw and whispered hotly in her ear.

She suddenly drew back. She looked at him in the eye, searching for something.

"Its late. You best get back to your ship. You leave early. "

"Sarah...what's wrong? "

"Im fine... this just... I can't, Liam. I just can't. " She walked quickly back to the house leaving him confused and frustrated.

Now, he had the first letter since that night. He was hoping she would explain. It had been two weeks.

Determined to fix whatever went wrong, he opened the letter and began to read.

My dearest Liam,

I am sorry for the way I reacted that night. But I do not regret it. Please understand, that night, I wanted to make love to you more than I wished air in my lungs. It killed me to walk away from you.

But I had to.

You don't belong to me.

You belong to another.

When you whispered into my ear it was not my name. It was not me you were kissing. It was not me your body needed to touch.

That indent on your finger, it still stands for something. Its still imprinted on your heart. You need to find her. Please don't write me again, unless it is to inform me that you have resumed your life...and that you are happy. I want that for you.

As Always,

Sarah.

P.S. I believe your wife's name... is Molly.

His hands shook. This was the first real clue he'd had. Maybe he had grown too comfortable in his anonymity. Was this Molly what he was searching for across the sea?

Something sank deep inside him. A deep sense of guilt.

He got up and went to the captain.

"Can I use your computer? "

"Won't get no signal out here, Liam. Got to wait till we get to the coast tomorrow. Why? "

"I need to find something. "

"Can you be more vague? "

"Probably. "

"Boy, you look like a storm cloud. Here. You can't find anything tonight. Sit for a while. Have some whiskey. "

He sat across from him and accepted a glass. An hour later, he had to be carried back to his cabin.

"I don't want to sleep! " He slurred

"Ah, but you need it anyway. "

"No. "

"Don't make me force you. "

"Id like...to see you try, old man! " He said, putting a finger to Frank's nose.

Frank chuckled.

"This is for your own good, boy. " He said, before delivering a right hook. Sherlock fell back, landing sideways on his hammock and going right over the side.

"Ah, hell... " Frank groaned as he heard the sharp hit the unconscious man had taken.

He called for the ship doctor. A nasty concussion, but he had already done that and survived. It was suspected he would survive this too. But Frank felt guilty enough. He stayed to watch over the younger man as he slept. Couldn't be too careful with head injuries.

mmmmmmmmmm

Frank was asleep in his chair when he heard a groan. He sat up and looked blinking eyes at the lump in front of him. He was laying, looking at the ceiling, a hard look in his eyes.

"You ok? " Frank asked gripping the man's arm.

Suddenly he got up to call for the doctor again, as the patient's eyes were blinking rapidly, and he looked like he was seeing something no one else could.

"Liam? "

"Not...Liam. "

"What? "

He turned wide eyes at the old seaman.

"My name... Is Sherlock. Sherlock Holmes. "

mmmmmmmmmm

Everyone was gathered at Molly's getting things ready for Addison's second birthday. He was tall for his age, and as thin as a reed. Laura, also acquired her height from her father's side. She had been much calmed in the last few months. She spent a lot of time in her room listening to music. Molly tried to get her to play piano, but the sight of Sherlock's violin in its place atop ... was just still too much.

Mrs. Hudson sat beside Violet, talking. Mycroft and John sat with Lestrade and Sally toasting the last man down in Moriarty's network.

"So... " John asked, Addison on one hip, Maggie on the other. The two didn't like to be parted. " What are you going to do about Miss Adler? She must be half insane being locked up so long? "

"She may still prove useful in other ways. " Mycroft shrugged. "We have ensured she knows nothing of the progress we've made. But I don't think letting her go is wise for the present. She may still be a threat to Molly, especially since can't take any out on Sherlock. And, unfortunately, she's had plenty of time to formulate and perfect her plans. "

"You could just lock her up with Siger. " Lestrade provided. " Let them beat each other to death. " This earned him a collective groan.

Laura was staring out the window, when Violet caught the sadness in the child's face. She came to stand behind her, comforting hands on her shoulders.

"Are you excited about Addison's party tomorrow? Lots of goodies and games. "

Laura shrugged.

"And your own birthday, we still have to ... "

"I dont want one. "

"Darling... we must move on. Your father would want that. "

Laura looked over at Addison, who was trying to take the pacifier from Maggie's mouth.

"I won't let him forget daddy. I won't. "

"I know you won't, sweetheart. None of us will, I promise. Say, we need something to cheer us up. Mrs. Hudson says you play piano beautifully. Says its your long fingers. Molly said you sing lovely too. She can hear you singing along to songs in your room. "

"I guess. "

"But you haven't let your poor gramma hear you! That's not nice. Please, dearest... can you do a song for me? "

"Gramma... "

"How about for Addie? He needs exposure to music. Who knows what instrument he will pick up when his time comes. "

Laura was quiet for a long time. Finally she nodded.

"Listen everyone! Attention! " Violet said with a flourish.

Once she had everyone's attention, she turned to Laura.

"Our dear Laura has agreed to grace us with some musical entertainment for the evening! "

Everyone gave cheers and claps, but Laura's face remained serene.

Laura walked over to the piano. She poised her fingers over the keys, but suddenly turned to her friends and family.

"I've been listening a lot to songs from Lucy's CD's. One song made me feel different than the others. I listened to it over and over again. Its an American song... "

Molly walked closer, wondering where this was going.

Laura said quietly, barely heard.

"This is for my daddy. "

The voice that came out of her, was not what anyone expected. It was the voice of heartache and experience. Experience far too much for someone so young. It was deep and rich...and heartbreaking.

llllllllllllllllllllllllll

The greatest man I never knew

Lived just down the hall

And everyday we said hello

But never touched at all

He was in his paper

I was in my room

How was I to know he thought I hung the moon

The greatest man I never knew

Came home late every night

He never had too much to say

Too much was on his mind

I never really knew him

And now it seems so sad

Everything he gave to us took all he had

Then the days turned into years

And the memories to black and white

He grew cold like an old winter wind

Blowing across my life

The greatest words I never heard

I guess I'll never hear

The man I thought could never die

Has been dead almost a year

He was good at business

But there was business left to do

He never said he loved me

Guess he thought I knew.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Silence reigned in the room long after the last note ended. Everyone was stunned at how well the song completely captured Sherlock.

As did Laura. She really did understand him.

Addison pushed away from John and walked over to his sister. He looked at her then up. Laura stood and reached for Sherlock's violin. She held it carefully as Addison gently ran his little fingers over the strings.

"Daddy? "

"Yes, it was daddies. "

"Daddy play? "

Laura choked back.

"No, Addie. Daddy can't play. "

"Daddy...play. "

Everyone had been so caught up on Laura's grief, they didn't quiet know how to make Addison understand.

mmmmmmmmmm

" So, Mister Holmes... " Frank smiled at the man, now back in the coat and scarf he'd been found in. " We will soon be in sight of the coast. Tomorrow you will see your family agian. "

"Yes. " Sherlock smiled. " Perfect timing, for once. John is always going on about my timing. Got it right this time. "

"How so? "

"Tomorrow is my son's birthday. "

"Wonderful! You will make a great present for him, then? "

"I expect so. I thank you... for going out of your way to bring me here. "

"I'm glad to do it. You've been a great help to me. "

"Will you come with me? " Sherlock said suddenly. " This is going to be difficult enough to explain. I need someone who can fill in the blanks. "

"If you want. I would love to see the kind of family a man like you has. "

"They are the best. This is going to be a lot harder to explain than the last time I was raised from the dead. "

"Last time you...what? "

Sherlock laughed.

"Lets have a drink, and I'll tell you all about it. "

"I think you better, now! " Frank laughed and pushed Sherlock towards his cabin.