Sherlock waits for Olive outside the front doors, but she doesn't go outside for nearly ten minutes after the bell rings. Sherlock grows annoyed quickly. He knows he's annoyed because Olive is taking forever, but he's also a little bit annoyed because he doesn't know what she's doing.

She finally gets out to him, and he makes it known that he's annoyed.

"Finally," he says in greeting, marching down the stairs as soon as he sees her.

"What's your problem?" she questions, following him.

"Nothing," he lies, hoping to bother her.

"Sorry that I have a social life."

He snorts. "With who?"

"What does it matter? You jealous?"

He stops and turns to her. "Of?"

"I've seen the way you act when Watson talks to other people. You're treating me the same way."

Sherlock rolls his eyes. "Hardly."

"Actually, you are treating me differently."

He lifts an eyebrow. "How?"

"You always try to spare Watson's feelings and you try not to let him see that you're jealous. You wait until later to tell him in private because you don't want him to drop all the others to talk to you. You feel guilty. I've seen it. But me…you don't feel guilty. You want me to know that you're annoyed, obviously by my lateness but also because I was with someone else, because you said 'With who?,' a cheap shot at my lack of friends."

He crosses his arms. "I don't—"

"You do." She eyes him, stepping up to him and crossing her arms like he is. "Why does it bother you so much that people have friends other than you?"

"It doesn't."

"It does, you wrinkly eyebrow liar."

Sherlock relaxes his face and looks at the ground. "I'm not lying."

"I'm not going to argue. John's not going to replace you, stop worrying about it."

He looks up at her, giving her a questioning look.

Olive rolls her eyes. "I'm not going to either," she says, sounding like he's making her say it.

"God, Olive," he says, walking away. "Control your emotions."

She follows and kicks him in the back of the thigh. "Butthead."

"Ow!" he laughs, pushing her.

She laughs, too, and shoves him back.

Their plan is to walk to Sherlock's house to ask Clement to drive them the ten extra minutes to Lexus's house, so the entire walk they bicker about nothing.

"You're really not going to tell me who you were with?" he asks as they arrive at his house.

"No."

"Why not?"

"It's none of your business."

He eyes her. "Was it Wyatt?"

"Ha!" she laughs loudly. "No way!"

"He likes you!"

"And where are you getting that from?"

"From…from anytime I see him near you! Laser tag, my house, this morning in the hall—"

"I can so easily explain that. Wyatt is straight and lonely, and I am the only single girl you guys hang out with. If he was gay, he'd give Duke equal attention."

"But—"

"No 'buts'. That's it. He stares at Lily, too, but he's obviously afraid of Harvey. And he's not interested in Ellery, even though she is quite beautiful and really nice."

Sherlock sighs. "So it wasn't Wyatt?"

"Nope."

"Was it a boy?"

"Why? Is that going to make you even more jealous, Holmes?"

He scowls. "Of course not."

Olive laughs. "Relax. I'm kidding."

Sherlock nods.

"Now," she heads for the front door. "Let's get to Lex's house."

Clement gladly drives them to Lexus's house after making them eat a snack before. Sherlock complains, of course, but Olive challenges him to stuff as many grapes into his mouth as possible because she knows he will and that means he's eating. When they finish, Clement takes them.

Lexus excitedly opens the door, attacking Sherlock with a hug as soon as they door's open.

"Sherlock! Thanks so much for coming!"

Sherlock winces at the sudden very loud noise. "Uh, hi, Lex," he says, unwrapping her from his body. "You know Olive?"

Lexus lets Sherlock go, then looks Olive up and down, clearly judging her about something. "Olive, right," she mutters, then smiles at Sherlock. "Come in!"

Sherlock and Olive follow.

"So where did this happen?" Sherlock asks.

Lexus heads for the stairs. "Up in my mum's bathroom, I guess. My brother found my cat, but I think he killed it."

"What makes you say that?"

Lexus pushes her mother's bedroom door open and motions for them to follow. "He hated my cat, first of all. Always talked about what a waste of space my poor baby was. It just seems like something he'd do."

"How old is your brother?" Olive asks.

"Fourteen."

"Has he ever killed animals?"

Lexus nods. "Once, that I know of, he killed a rat. And he deliberately starved a fish three summers ago to see how long it'd take to die."

They get into the bathroom and Lexus tells them he wasn't very specific on where the cat died, he just said 'In the bathroom'. Sherlock takes out his pocket magnifying glass and starts looking around.

"What color was your cat?"

"Black. And he was about this big," Lexus holds her arms up to show the size of the cat.

"It was still growing?"

Lexus nods.

Sherlock finds a lot of cat hair in the bathroom, but nowhere in particular has more than anywhere else. The carpet is grey, but there is slight discoloration on the ground near the sink, as if the carpet was bleached in those spots. He kneels and examines the spots, even sniffs the carpet, and sure enough it's bleach.

"See here?" he points to the spot, so Lexus quickly kneels next to him. "Bleach. Could've been used to clean up blood."

Lexus buries her face in her hands. "He killed my cat and there was blood!" she cries.

Sherlock turns around to look at Olive. Olive reaches behind herself and pats her own back, so Sherlock delicately pats Lexus's back.

Lexus throws herself at Sherlock, burying her face in his chest.

"Oh…" Sherlock sighs, clearly shocked. "Uhm, it's alright…"

Lexus cries, her tears wetting his shirt. "Why would he do such a thing?!"

"I, uh, I don't know…"

She shifts in his arms, moving her head to his shoulder and wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Oh, gosh," he mutters, dropping his arms to his sides. Olive laughs, so he glares at her.

A second later, they hear the front door open and slam shut, and Lexus sits up.

"That's my brother!" she wipes her eyes.

She quickly stands and rushes out of the room, so Olive and Sherlock follow her. Lexus leads them downstairs to the kitchen, where her brother is standing at the refrigerator.

Sherlock immediately notices scratch marks all over his hands and arms, obviously where the cat was struggling to get away. Sherlock looks at Olive and pats his arms, and she nods, noticing them too.

Lexus shoves her brother once he closes the refrigerator. "You arsehole! You killed my cat!"

Her brother steps back and looks defensive. "No, I didn't!"

"You did! Sherlock found blood spots in the loo!"

"Actually," Sherlock says, "I found bleach where you tried to clean it up. And your hands are covered in claw marks. If I went outside now, I'd probably find loose dirt where you buried the cat, am I right?"

"I…I…"

Lexus pushes him again. "How dare you!"

"That cat was a fucking menace!"

Lexus pushes him one last time, then runs out of the kitchen crying.

Sherlock and Olive follow her out to the front step, where she sits down and begins to cry into her arms. Sherlock sits to one side of her and Olive to the other, and Lexus buries herself in Sherlock's arms again.

Sherlock lets her hug him, but he doesn't make any effort to comfort her.

"Why would he do that?!" she asks over and over again.

After nearly ten minutes of listening to Lexus cry, Sherlock and Olive lock eyes and nod at the same time.

"Well," Sherlock says, standing. "We'd better go."

Lexus looks up at him with tears in her eyes. "You're leaving?"

"Yeah, we need to—"

Lexus quickly stands and wraps her arms around him. "Thank you so much, Sherlock!"

"Uh, you're welcome," he pats her back.

Lexus pulls away and wipes her eyes. "Thank you, Sherlock. Will you go out with me?"

Olive chokes on her own spit and laughs loudly. Sherlock just stares at Lexus.

"Uhm…"

"What?" Lexus questions, still kind of crying. "Are you two—"

"God, no!" Olive yells.

Sherlock glares at her. "What's that supposed to mean?!"

"So you're almost—"

Sherlock directs his attention back at Lexus. "I'm gay," he says, then frowns, surprised at himself for saying that so quickly.

Lexus frowns. "Oh."

Sherlock steps back, away from her, and pats her shoulders. "See you around."

He takes off down the drive, and Olive follows.

"Sorry about your cat!" Olive calls back to her.

Sherlock and Olive walk a block down the street before Sherlock calls Clement. He says he's on his way, so Sherlock and Olive sit on the curb to wait for him.

"Well, that was unfortunate," Olive says, clicking her feet together in front of them.

Sherlock watches her feet. "Yeah, I can't believe that kid kills animals and Lex's mum doesn't do anything about it."

"My dad had a case last summer where a thirteen year old killed his neighbor's dog, and a month later killed his neighbor."

Sherlock looks at her with wide eyes. "Really?"

"No," Olive says. "He was twenty. But still."

Sherlock nods, tucking his knees to his chest.

After a long silence, Olive says, "Sorry about the, 'God no!' earlier. That came out wrong."

"Is there a right way to deny a relationship?"

"I just…it could have come out nicer."

Sherlock nods in understanding. "So, who you were with earlier," he starts, "Was it a boy?"

Olive licks her lips and nods. "It was a male, yes."

"And you're hiding your relationship with him because…"

"Because…relationship is a small word. It's very specific."

"Relationship can mean many things; friendship, romance, even colleagues."

"Hmm," she sounds.

"You don't want to talk about it?"

"Nope."

"Why not?"

"Because of how you reacted when you thought Wyatt liked me."

"It's just—"

"You're protective of things that are yours, I know."

"I don't…I don't think you're mine."

"I'm your friend. You're just as protective of Duke."

"What makes you say that?"

"You suddenly don't like Dane because he's mean to Duke. I know you don't like Kennedy because she yelled at Declan. I bet you even felt bad because Vince got Perry kicked off the lacrosse team. Before Perry punched you, that is."

Sherlock nods. "I guess you're right."

"Why do you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Get so protective."

Sherlock shrugs. "I don't like seeing people hurt."

"All kinds of people. John. Your brother with Lestrade. Lestrade with your brother. Your dad. Duke. Declan. Me. Even kids you've never spoken to at school. I bet you're hoping Lex's brother doesn't hurt her."

Sherlock shrugs again.

"You don't have to worry about me. I'm not going to get hurt."

"How do you know?"

"I'm made of stone."

Sherlock chuckles.

"And I'm fine, ok? I'll tell you about him when I'm ready."

"You know I'm not going to like him, right?"

"I'd be honored if you didn't."

Sherlock smiles.

Olive smiles back, elbowing him in the arm. "You big, squishy romantic."

"There's a way to be friend romantic?"

"I'm afraid so, Holmes."

Sherlock nods in acceptance, and right then Clement pulls up. Sherlock and Olive climb into the car and proceed to tell Clement all about the case the entire way to Olive's house. Clement is shocked by the actions of Lexus's brother, but he tells the kids he's proud of them.

Sherlock asks Clement to pick John up on their way home, and John is so happy to see Sherlock. They go back to the Holmes residence for dinner, Sherlock retelling John the events of the afternoon (including Lexus asking him out, not including the conversations he and Olive had).

After dinner, Clement leaves the boys alone in the sitting room while he works in his office. Sherlock and John don't bother turning the television on, they just sit on the sofa to talk.

"So," Sherlock starts, "Has…anything happened?"

"With my dad? No."

"That's good."

"My mum's so paranoid about him coming to my house, though. She just bought an alarm system and even sets it when I'm in the house."

"If it was up to me," Sherlock says, "You'd have police protection."

John shakes his head. "It'll be fine."

"John. He thought hard enough to find your number over Facebook."

John shrugs. "I guess you're right. Anyway, my mum's talking about me staying somewhere else for a while, you know? Harry's already tired of this. She wants to leave."

"Stay here."

John looks at Sherlock. "What?"

"Just ask your mum if you can stay here when she has to work. As a matter of fact, I'll tell my dad and he'll insist you stay here."

"I can't do that, love."

"Of course you can. I'm not taking no for an answer."

John sighs. "Alright. If you insist."

"I do. Is your mum at work tonight?"

John shakes his head. "She's home. She works tomorrow night, though."

"Ok. I'll be right back."

Sherlock stands before John can stop him, and then he rushes to the study.

Sherlock knocks on the door and enters before Clement can tell him to. "Dad? Can we talk a second?"

Clement sets down his pen and looks up at Sherlock. "Sure, son. What is it?"

"Well," Sherlock sits in a chair across from Clement and takes a deep breath. "John's dad is out of jail. And he's already contacted John once."

"Oh no."

"Yeah. He found John's number and called, he told John he's already seen him and that he will see him again."

Clement shakes his head in disbelief.

"Harry's been here to keep an eye on John, but she's got to get back soon. And Dawn's just been moved to evening shifts, when John is home."

"Well, John can't be alone."

"Of course not."

Clement purses his lips. "John can stay here. Just on the nights Dawn isn't home. He can't be alone."

Sherlock nods, trying not to smile.

"Get John, please?"

Sherlock jumps out of his seat and practically runs out of the room.

"My dad wants you!" he shouts as he gets back to the sitting room.

John jumps, startled by Sherlock's yelling. "Uh, ok."

John gets to the den and Clement asks Sherlock to wait outside. John squirms uncomfortably.

"John, Sherlock's just told me everything that's happened."

"Oh…has he…"

"I can't stand for that, John. You know I've always thought of you as one of my own. I can't let you get hurt. I'm going to ask your mum about you staying here while she's at work."

John shakes his head. "I couldn't do that, sir, I—"

"John," Clement stops him. "That wasn't a question. I'm going to call her right now, ok?"

John sits back in his seat and nods.

Clement calls Dawn and puts his phone on speaker when she answers.

"Dawn, hello! I've got John here!"

"Is he alright?" she frantically asks.

"Of course, of course. Listen, Dawn, the boys have told me about the situation at hand now. And I don't want John to get hurt."

"Of course," Dawn agrees.

"I'm extending an offer to let John stay here while you're at work. I only want what's best for John, and I can assure you he'd be perfectly safe here."

"Oh, Clement, I couldn't ask you to do that."

"You're not asking. I am requesting. I insist, Dawn."

"John?" Dawn asks. "How do you feel about this?"

"Uhm…I honestly would not mind," he says.

Dawn sighs. "Clement, are you sure?"

"Of course, Dawn."

"Alright. Thank you so much, Clement."

"It's no problem at all, Dawn. Just email me list of days you'll be working and I'll be sure to pick the boys up from school those days."

"I will. Thank you."

Clement says goodbye, then hangs up.

"Sherlock!" he calls, and Sherlock enters the room not even a second later.

"Yes?"

Clement motions to the chair next to John. "Come here."

Sherlock moves quickly and sits down.

"Here are a few rules, alright? You can sleep together, but your bedroom door remains unlocked."

Sherlock nods. "Ok."

"And…" Clement takes a deep breath. "If you two wake up…too tired…you'll be separated, got it?"

Sherlock eyes his dad. "Too tired?"

John elbows him. "Sherlock."

"Just…" Clement bites his lip, clearly uncomfortable with something. "Learn time management."

"Dad?"

Clement opens his mouth to speak, but John stops him.

"I'll explain it later, Sherlock."

Sherlock looks at John. "Oh," he sighs in realization.

"Everyone on the same page?" Clement asks.

The boys nod.

"Good. Also, John, please don't pretend you're not hungry because you feel bad about eating our food. I've seen you eat. What Sherlock eats is not enough for you."

John laughs. "Okay."

"Anything else?"

The boys shake their heads.

"Alright. I've got a bit more work to do, then I'll take you home, ok John?"

John nods, then the boys stand. Clement follows them up, stepping around his desk to hug them both.

"I love you both," he says. "I want you both safe."

"Thanks, Dad."

"Thank you, sir."

Clement pats their backs. "Alright. I'll be out soon."

The boys leave and return to the sofa, practically jumping on each other once they get there.

"I'm so excited!" Sherlock cries, hugging John tight.

"Me too, babe," John says, excited but less so than Sherlock.

Sherlock grabs his head and kisses his cheek. He wraps his arms around John's neck again. "I love you so much!"

John smiles into Sherlock's shoulder, starting to feel as excited as Sherlock is. "I love you too, Sherlock."

Clement drives John home a while later, and John and Sherlock leave each other without a fight because they know they get to spend the next night together.