Continents Away

Hamish pt. 2

Hamish and Sherlock talked for several minutes.  The boy showed great interest in Sherlock’s deductions, and he made several of his own. Sherlock told him about the many adventures which he and John had taken part in, and the impossible cases they had solved.  Hamish listened with great intensity, taking in every detail. The boy was truly clever, more clever than most of the detectives whom Sherlock works with.  They sat and talked for several minutes, until a worried John called his cellphone, wanting to know what was taking Hamish so long.  The boy had to go, leaving Sherlock slightly discouraged, he enjoyed talking to the clever little boy. 

“Can I call you?” asked Hamish, eager to share more stories and deductions with the detective.

“Yea.” Replied Sherlock, a little uncomfortable with giving a child his telephone number.  He wrote it down on a small piece of note paper which he had kept in his pocket.  Then, he folded it and gave it to Hamish who was eagerly holding his hand out to accept it.   He stuffed the paper deep into his pocket, then threw himself into Sherlock’s arm to give him a hug. Before Sherlock could respond to the strange gesture, the boy released him and ran off to find John.

Sherlock did remain in the park to look for Cordell.  Instead, he made his way home. 

***

Later that night, around 11:00, Sherlock’s phone began to buzz.  He pressed ‘answer’.

            “Hello?” he said

            “Sherlock, it’s Hamish.” Said that same eager voice.

            “Why are you calling so late?” Sherlock complained, although to him it was not all that late.  He usually stays up until the early hours of the morning. 

            “It’s not like you are going to sleep, Mr. Holmes.” the child laughs. Sherlock did not know how the child managed to find out his sleeping habits.  Maybe John told him in a story once… Sherlock did not know, but the child had deduced more about the detective, than the detective had of him. 

“Right…” murmured Sherlock.

“So, tell me more about you and John.” Hamish insisted.

“More case stories?” asked Sherlock sarcastically, “I thought I told you enough earlier this afternoon.”

“No.” Hamish said bluntly, “About how you’re in love with each other.”

What.  The.  Bloody.  Hell. How did Hamish know? Sherlock struggled for words, but chose, “We aren’t ‘in love’.  Why would you suggest that.” After all, Sherlock knows John is happily married. 

“The way you talk about him, in your stories.” Hamish giggled, “Friends don’t talk about each other like that.”

“Each other?” Sherlock was genuinely curious now. 

Has John been talking about me lovingly?

“Well, since mum died…” Hamish trailed off, the quickly started again, “John has been extremely nostalgic.  He used to talk in his sleep, rather loudly too.  And he would always say ‘I love you’.  I used to think he meant my mum, but then one night he said ‘Sherlock’.”

“Your mother is dead?” Sherlock could not believe the words that had come from the child’s mouth.

“Yea,” Hamish said sadly, “She died in a car accident three years ago.”

Silence. Then a voice on Hamish’s line.  Sherlock could hear John calling Hamish’s name, asking him who he is talking to.

“Sherlock, meet me tomorrow at the Pret a Manger.  1:00 don’t be late.  I have a plan.”

Then, Hamish hung up the phone.