Fracture: A BBC Sherlock Fanfiction

Chapter 2

Chapter 2: The Devil’s Children Attend Public School.

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“Dad?” I called out, taking the stairs two at a time. I’d moved into one of the second floor bedrooms after my leg had healed. “Where are you?”

“Living room,” was his gruff reply. Still angry then, I gathered.

I stuck my head around the door that opened into the spacious room. We were still in the process of unpacking bits and bobs, so it was pretty bare. Well, except for the mantelpiece. That was the first thing to have excess items placed on it; pictures and a violin, to be precise.

Dad was in his favorite armchair, watching a football game on the television. A steaming mug of tea was on the coffee table in front of him. He looked up when I walked in.

“I’m going to Sadie’s house. Is that alright?” I fetched my school bag from where I’d dumped it earlier that afternoon.

“Sort of late, isn’t it?” His voice was so void of emotion, it almost made me sick.

I shrugged. “It’s only seven-thirty. I won’t stay long.”

“Okay,” he said simply, before turning his attention back to the game.

“Uh… bye, then?” I offered. He ignored me. Shaking my head, I retrieved my shoes and jacket from the entryway, and I left, taking care to lock the door behind me. God knows Dad wouldn’t bother to lock it himself.

The Hooper’s house was only four houses down from ours, which caused Sadie to figure that any time she needed me, it was perfectly acceptable to call, no matter the hour. “Well, it’s not like it’s a hassle for you to come over,” she had said in her defense when she’d knocked on our door at two in the morning once.

I’d shut the door in her annoying face after that, and from then on, I made sure to lock every door and window in the house before bed to at least try and prevent her from getting in.

The sun was mid-way through setting as I scurried up her front steps and rang the doorbell. On cue, her two cats, Toby, Sr. and Toby, Jr. began to howl at me through the glass. I gave them each a little wave, which they returned with several hisses, snarls, and bared teeth.

“Anyone going to get the door?” Mr. Hooper yelled from inside. There was only silence in response. “Fine! I guess I’ll get it, again.”

This was the routine that occurred every time I came over since the beginning.

There was the sound of muffled stomps traipsing down the stairs, and the door flung open to reveal a very-annoyed Mr. Hooper, clad in his usual blue dressing gown and pajamas.

“Oh,” he grumbled. “You again.” He opened the door wider, turned back around, and stomped back up to the main floor, muttering, “Might as well get you your own key, since you’re over here all the time…”

I crossed the threshold and closed the door with my elbow. I didn’t wait for an invitation to come up; I was pretty certain that I could appear in their home at any time of day, and not a single one of them would even notice until I spoke up.

Mr. Hooper had retired to the sofa, and was now laying on his back with his palms together as if in prayer. I’d been over often enough to know that that was his thinking position. Toby, Jr. began to weave himself between my legs. To anyone else, it might look like a symbol of affection, but I knew that it was really an attempt to trip me and hopefully crack my skull. I really think he was starting to like me.

“I’m in the kitchen, William,” I heard Sadie call.

“Not today, Toby,” I muttered, picking up the giant cat and depositing him on the armchair nearest me. He growled unhappily.