Little Consulting Detective

Part 21

Moriarty stood in front of Molly's high chair, holding a spoonful of porridge to Molly's lips, trying to get her to eat. She just looked down at her high chair tray, pouting.

"What's the matter, poppet? Your brother is coming home today, aren't you excited to see him?" Moriarty said, smiling at molly. She winced, turning her head to the side to avoid the spoon in front of her lips.

"Baby girl, you can either eat your dinner, or get a bottle and go straight to bed." Irene said, appearing next to moriarty.

"No!" Molly yelled, lips wobbling. She didn't want this, she couldn't do it anymore.

Irene reached out to grab the girl, holding her close.

"I'll take her to bed, I think she's just fussy and in need of rest." Irene said, patting Molly's bum.

Molly sobbed as she was whisked away. She felt so powerless.

When Irene got upstairs, she changed molly and places her in a soft sleeper, laying her in her crib.

"Everything is okay, little one. Sherlock will be back before you know it, and we'll be a happy family again." Irene said. She placed a clean dummy in Molly's mouth, quieting her cries. "Goodnight, darling." Irene cooed, turning out e light and leaving the room, closing the door.

She returned to the kitchen to see moriarty typing on his phone, sending the message quickly.

"Alright, everything is set." He said, pocketing the phone.

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John sat on the couch, watching on sadly as lestrade rocked Sherlock. The poor kid was almost asleep, he'd cried so much.

"You have to be strong, John, for Sherlock." Lestrade reminded him, taking the seat to his right. John shook his head, rubbing his eyes tiredly.

"I know... it's just really difficult." John said. Lestrade patted his shoulder, giving him a reassuring smile.

"I know it is. Let's just enjoy the time we have with him." Lestrade said. He said, rubbing sherlocks back. "I'm gonna go change him, I'll be back." He added, walking off to sherlock's room.

John laid down on the couch, rubbing his temples.

A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts, and he got up to answer it. There was mycroft on the other side of the door, supporting himself with his umbrella.

"Mycroft, what are you doing here?" John asked.

"I'm here to retrieve Sherlock. Is he ready?" Mycroft asked. John stared at him in disbelief, blinking several times.

"You're seriously going to hand your brother over to moriarty?" John asked. Mycroft sighed and met johns eyes.

"It has to be done." Mycroft replied, eyes glimmering. John shook his head but stepped aside to let mycroft into the flat.

Lestrade returned with Sherlock in tow, the regressed detective asleep, dummy bobbing in his mouth.

Mycroft felt a tear slip down his cheek, unfazed. This was it. He took Sherlock into his arms, rubbing his back.

As he turned to leave the flat, he caught a glimpse of John and Lestrade. They looked sad, but each put on a brave face. Mycroft left the flat and shut the door, exiting the building. He stepped out to the cab and sat in the back seat with Sherlock, off to irenes house in the dark night.

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Molly was tossing and turning all night. She needed to make sure that Sherlock wouldn't be brought back here.