CHAPTER 57. HOMECOMING
John felt a chill run up his spine when the car pulled up to the drive of the Holmes estate. He almost expected a curly haired young boy to be running under the shade of the large oak trees just at the far end of the property. That boy would dash between the trees peeking out to see if the coast was clear, then he would signal from behind to a blond kid in a brown hoodie. The two would battle imaginary foes for buried treasure. A smile crossed his face, somewhere out there was a buried treasure. Long forgotten by a pirate king and his first mate.
The car came up to a halt, Sherlock grumbled as he climbed out. "When's the last time you've been home Sherlock?"
"Christmas of –no wait. Actually I haven't been home since UNI."
"Sherlock that's-"
"I know, but I hate this place John. And I hated what it represents. It's a piece of a long since dead era, archaic, hidden in the tall trees almost frozen in time. Father will more than likely leave the house to my brother Mycroft, knowing I would have this place torn down if I had my way." John shook his head.
"We had some good times here. It wasn't all bad." John reminded him.
"Leave your bags John it's the drivers job." Sherlock snapped climbing out of the car. John never got used to that part of visiting the Holmes estate, having people picking up after you it was always uncomfortable. He hurried after Sherlock was making unusually slow progress along the cobblestone path leading to the house, finally he came to an abrupt stop just half way there.
"I can't do it. It's going to be so boring in there, even this fresh country air is stifling." The tall dark haired man shoved his hands in the pockets of his beloved bellstaff coat.
"Oh, no you don't." John grabbed Sherlock by the arm marching him up the drive to the door, he knocked while Sherlock grumbled about John not recognizing personal space. The door opened the old butler looked at both men and John couldn't help but smile at his startled expression.
"Uh, I think I found something that belongs to you." John couldn't help it, he was feeling sentimental. Behind him he heard Sherlock start to grumble loudly.
"Unlikely." Royce stated hoarsely. The old butler had hardly aged, except his hair had grayed, but he hadn't lost his lean figure. Somehow John remembered him being taller.
"Move Royce, come along John. Might as well come in." The older man moved aside he watched the two young men stalk towards the stairs. For a moment he could see the men as the boys they once were, before shutting the heavy door.
John found that his bag had been neatly unpacked in the room that was a guest room adjoining another room. Surprisingly, Sherlock opted for the second room instead of visiting his old room. John wondered if it was because he probably had some lingering science experiments laying about, maybe stinking up the place.
"Mycroft said father is resting. I think he expects us to greet him after he wakes."
"Us?" John stiffened.
"Of course John. Us. You don't expect me to sit in my father's presence by myself. I can't wait to see his face when he sees that I'm still acquainted with a commoner. This is better than Christmas. Mycroft hasn't told the man that we've arrived just yet. Didn't want to break his fragile heart I suppose if I didn't show up. That would have been worth seeing his face- John what's wrong? "
"Sherlock that's not even close to funny." John gave the scolding look the you are saying inappropriate things look, the be nice to Molly look.
"John I wasn't joking. Why would I joke about something like that? Besides why are you so surprised?"
"I thought I was here for support. You know, of the moral kind. Of the sit out of the way kind. Of the enjoy the food and soft bed kind of support."
"And you said to quit joking."
Lunch was a bit more food than John was used to, but apparently Sylvie was so excited that she had people to cook for she didn't hold back. John noticed Mycroft was making an effort to steer clear of the cakes and scones. He sat quietly at the end of the table reading a paper, John sat at the opposite end of Mycroft with Sherlock on his left. A quick glance revealed the younger Holmes hadn't touched his lunch. John coughed holding back a laugh, it was all so familiar. Sherlock only continued to glare at John then his untouched plate of food, and Mycroft ruffled his paper.
"Sherlock, I think it's getting late you should allow your prisoner his relief." This broke the tension but not by much.
"He's right I should get going. Harry is probably wondering if I'm going to show at all."
"Alright John I'll go-"Sherlock started to push his chair back.
"Sherlock let John have some privacy." Mycroft scowled pointedly from over the day's newspaper.
"It's fine."
"It's settled John! Royce! The car!" John was nearly pulled out of his seat.
John and Sherlock traveled in silence something John barely acknowledged. The Doctor was busy watching the flash of scenery along the side of the road leading to town. He thought he saw a kid in a blue and white stripped shirt hauling behind him a dark haired six year old in a gray blazer and shorts.
Once they arrived, Royce opened the car door and John climbed out with Sherlock. "Take your time Doctor Watson." Royce gave a short nod.
"Sherlock can you please be civil to Harry? Or I'll make you wait in the car."
"I will make no promises John. However I shall try my best."
"Fair enough." John turned and opened the old gate, someone had painted maybe to make the house look more appealing. John saw a rental car parked by the old shed Harry was probably inside. Why did he feel sick standing here, like he was eight all over again? The creak of the steps the squeak of the door, he almost expected his father to be passed out on the raggedy blue sofa.
Sherlock observed the flash of emotions cross his friends face, anger, sadness, panic, and all over again. The doctor cleared his voice and called out
"Harry? You here?" No answer John didn't want to go any further.
Sherlock understood his friends hesitation, he found it difficult to go any further himself. The memory of his friend bruised and beaten left alone to deal with the damage, it was still fresh and he wished he could delete it. Maybe he should have Mycroft buy the house and let John burn it to the ground.
John slowly made his way up the stairs Sherlock shrugged and followed, the whole time he'd known the Doctor he'd never been in John's room. Curiously was pushing him forward. The hall was small and narrow just two bedrooms, John went to his door, the white paint had been touched up. Sherlock half expected to see a boy in grass stained jeans on his stomach playing with plastic soldiers, when the door opened. Instead the room was dim, looking around John's room it was as he imagined,a typical boy's room. There were old rugby posters still on the wall, a neatly made bed that looked as if someone had just sat in it, when in reality by the judge of the dust no one had been in there for years.
John frowned looking around. "Lets go she's probably out back."
They found harry sitting in the garden on an old wooden stool, John remembered his aunt used to sit and drink looking out over the field beyond the fence.
"The buyer backed out. Sorry you made the trip." Harry sighed.
Sherlock thought he saw something interesting around the side of the house and left the two alone.
"I was wrong Johnny." Harry didn't turn to look his way she continued to stare out across the yard over the fence and the fields beyond. "The kid I paid to paint the fence and mow the law. Found these. Among other things, I could make a killing on recycling the glass bottles." John's eyes fell on the keys, John took them from his sister. He had to laugh.
"I was wrong Johnny." She was wearing a blue skirt suit and white blouse. Her hair in a tight bun.
"You said that Harry."
"No. I was wrong. You were not him John, you didn't become him at all. I did." John pulled the turned over apple crate and he sat next to his sister, holding the keys in his hands.
"You weren't a coward John, I know you were scared but you never stood down. I remember the beating you got for tossing those keys out here."
"Great use it did he found another way to get the car going." Harry laughed. "So hows it going?"
"If your asking if I've been sober. Then the answer is yes." Her reply was sharp, John winced. Well that lasted for a minute.
"I'll see you around Harry." he started to stand up.
"You forgave him." again back to the casual tone.
"Sherlock and I had a falling out. He isnt the reason I joined the army I thought I could just run away from everything. And I don't regret my decision."
"Oh, I knew you forgave him the moment you told me you had a falling out. I mean him. Dad, you forgave him didn't you?"
"Yeah. I guess." John bit the inside of his cheek realizing he had.
"I was a coward John."
"You were a confused teenager. Who lost her mother and had a violent drunk for a father." John stated easily.
"Clara wanted children. And I told her no. Then I started drinking. I didn't want to tell her why. What if I was like him?"
"Harry. You are making the effort to stay sober. He always went to rehab and staid a day or was kicked out. You are trying. And I think we learn from our parents mistakes."
"That's why you don't drink? Why you told the nurses you didn't want pain killers at the hospital?"
"Yeah. I'm terrified I would would be like him, unable to say no."
"No, John you wont ever be like us. You are so much like mum. You never got to know her, but I had ten years with her." John had never heard Harry speak about their mother so he sat and listened.
"She always new what to say. I remember how fast she could calm father down, he had a temper even then, just not as bad. Grams once told me that mum could turn a thunder storm into a rain cloud. She was fearless always stood her ground. She always said; Harry don't let people push you around there's a difference between nice and being walked on." John tried to imagine the stranger he had one picture of, and it was her holding his hand at the park feeding ducks. "She loved you Johnny guess I was a bit jealous of that. I was an only child for ten years before you came along." she smiled sadly finely meeting his eyes, patting his knee she started to stand " Well I better get going. Clara invited me to Dinner tonight and it's a long drive."
"Clara?"
"Yes. Clara."
"You guys-"
"We are just talking for now."
"Harry I love you."
"I know Johnny. I love you too." She stood and ruffled his hair. "I still think your little buddy is a little twerp and a brat. But you have to admit they have been better to you than I have. So they can't be half bad. Honestly thought you would be bored with him after a while."
John walked towards the car where Royce and Sherlock were standing, Sherlock waved at Harry she flipped him off and peeled out of the drive way. John looked back at the old house, he could see himself dashing across the front yard his hoodie stretched at the neck he ran for the road a mile up a nice couple with a child asleep in his car seat picked him up and drop him off at the campus.
He sat in the back seat admiring the sleeping child, his rounded cheeks and dark hair. Lucky kid had parents that cared.
The couple had been so kind they gave him their information in case he was in any trouble. He almost forgot about the family, wondered what he did with that old card. What had the name been? Laundry? Lindstrom? That was it. And that was the last time he'd been home.
"Ready John?" Sherlock interrupted his thoughts.
"Yes. Yes I am." Your turn. John thought to himself.