Chapter Text
It was Sunday afternoon, and Sherlock went round to John and Mary's. John had called him up on the Friday to ask him, which surprised Sherlock as he thought Mary and John appreciated time together at the weekend. Although Sherlock wasn't going to say no to seeing his friends or God-daughter Lilly. So here he was. As he walked up the drive he could see John on the floor playing with Lilly, whilst Mary sat across the sofa, looking fast asleep. Of-course his first instinct had been right, his friends didn't have time for him; the phone call would have been made out of duty, nothing more. He'd leave, phone later and make excuses; something about having a cold and not wanting to pass it on to the baby. But as he turned John spotted him, and called out through an open window, in his usual cheerful manner.
“Sherlock, where are you going? Come in.”
Mary was rousing now, and came to the door.
A few minutes later they were all sat down to afternoon tea, it was nearly a week since Sherlock had had a mug of tea, he really should remember to get milk on the way home. And home-made sponge cake, another rarity in his life.
“So Sherlock, why did you nearly leave before?” Mary asked
“Because you were asleep on the sofa, and John was obviously preoccupied with Lily. It's ok that you don't always have time for me. I understand that, and I'm more than capable of spending the weekend on my own. I actually wish my friends didn't think they had to invite me round just out of pity.”
“But that's just it. We asked you here because you're our friend and we wanted to see you. Yes, our weekends are a lot busier, and sometimes we need the time together or to just relax. But that doesn't mean we never want to see our friends. And when we invite you, it's because we really want to catch up with you. You are an idiot sometimes” John was chuckling, he was probably the only person Sherlock let call him an idiot, because he was the only person who knew how true it was. When it came to this emotional stuff anyway. And the only one or put up with him when he was an idiot.
“It is good to get out of the house. And the coffee and cake are tasty enough. You know I'm not used to having friends though, sometimes I get these things wrong. I will never be a burden to the pair of you.”
Mary leaned across the sofa and put her hand on his “Sherlock, you wouldn't know how to be a burden, really. As John says, you're our friend, and we want to see more of you; you should just come over in the evening. I'd like to know you were getting a few decent meals at least, and I can usually supply some sort of cake.”
“Also we're never out of milk.” John interjected.
They all laughed, inside Sherlock felt hurt, it wasn't his fault there wasn't room in his mind palace for silly little things like grocery shopping. But he mustn't let his feelings show, that was weak.
“Anyway, how is the case going?” Mary asked.
“Oh you don't want to know about that, boring. How's my little God-daughter?”
“Lily's fine, growing more every day; she can roll over on her own now. Show Uncle Sherlock your rolling gorgeous.” John said, he sat the the left of his daughter and held his arms out to her, but she didn't move.
“Oh well, not today; either she's tired, or just stubborn like her Mummy. But Mary and I genuinely do want to know about the Moriarty case, you know these things interest us, nearly as much as they do you.”
John finished speaking, and they both looked at Sherlock.
“There really isn't anything to tell. I'm no closer to finding where Moriarty is. No information at all, just that video. I'm starting to wonder if he is really back. Maybe it was a hoax, either by someone trying to save me, from my six month exile, or by somebody working for Moriarty. But then I would have found them by now. I've been looking through all the newspapers, and all the stupid network websites, every day. I'll admit I don't have the talent of my blogger for this work, but I would have found something.”
Sherlock saw Mary and John exchange glances, then John said hesitantly.
“Well, you just said that the computer side was more what I was good at, my role in helping you. Maybe you need a new partner, or someone assisting you at-least.” He hurried the last part because he knew that referring to the person helping Sherlock as his 'partner' would infuriate him.
He was the Consulting Detective, the one person the government had asked to catch Moriarty. Although Mycroft had suggested Sherlock should get someone to help him when he had called on Thursday. And now John was suggesting it, after asking Sherlock to visit on late notice. Sherlock didn't believe in coincidences, the Holmes boys hadn't brought up to think the universe was so lazy. As he looked up he saw John and Mary were both staring at him. He got up from the sofa, “Did you think I'd be stupid enough to fall for this. My brother has been in contact, he only suggested the helper idea a few days ago. You needed to leave it longer, if I wasn't to notice when I was being coerced. I do not need anyone assisting me, the only reason I have found so little information on Moriarty, is because there is none.” His yelling was disturbing Lilly, who had been happy all afternoon, and was now bawling her eyes out.
“I think she needs a nap anyway, I'll take her up upstairs, don't leave the house till I get back. We are still going to talk about this.” John said quietly but Sherlock could hear the firmness in his voice.
As her husband left the room Mary sighed. “Would it really be such a bad idea to have someone helping out. Doing the work that you find boring, it might free up your mind enough to find that small bit of information that brings you closer to Moriarty. And it would be company, something else I know you don't need, but we all work better with someone to bounce ideas off sometimes. Please just think about it Sherlock.”
John re-entered the room, and very quietly shut the door. “Yes, think about it Sherlock, we're suggesting it because, well with your brother paying for the extra person, what do you have to lose? And it should help you, let you be the detective while someone else does the paperwork. By the sounds of things Mycroft will just employ someone of his own choosing if you don't find someone. You're better off having some say in who you work alongside. Mary and I just want to help you come to the right decision, and actually, we do have a plan. But whatever happens, can you not yell at us again. You're really irritating when you start doing that mate.”
“Yes, well I didn't mean to disturb the baby, but Mycroft frustrates me so much when he tries to take over my life. Why shouldn't I be able to continue working on my own if I want to, I got on fine before John came along.”
“Were you dealing with cases as complicated as the Consulting Criminal coming back from the dead? And more importantly, didn't you prefer it when I was helping you. Anyway, just hear our, well Mary's, suggestion.” John said.
“I thought when I was pregnant with Lily, that I wanted to be a stay and home mum, and with John's wage we can afford that. But the truth us, I'm getting very bored just sitting round the house, as much as I love my daughter. I need some sort of life of my own as-well, and I always thought with my skills, I'd be quite suitable for your sort of adventures; but I'm great at, and used to, paperwork too. And the money I'll be earning will help us to be able to put Lilly into nursery, or pay someone to look after her.”
Sherlock was quiet for a moment, his fingers pressed against his lips, the pause of deep concentration that John knew so well. Then he moved his hands away and spoke “This could work, you have the skills need to accompany me into the crime scenes, and when we were doing all the wedding stuff, you were good on the computer. It would suit me better than letting my brother put some government spy in, to check I'm behaving myself. That's what he really wants. But I'll get one over him.” Sherlock was smiling, John and Mary just exchanged a glance rolling their eyes at each other.