Elizabeth Watson (John Watson's daughter- Sherlock fan fiction)

Chapter 7- Quick Enough

For each second that the clock ticked, Elizabeth's urgency increased.

"So," said Mr Jones, "because the tides are influenced by both the moon and sun, it's easy to see that when the sun lines up with the moon and the earth, as during a new moon or full moon, the tidal effect is increased. These are known as spring tides."

Tick tick tick.

Elizabeth fiddled with her hearing aid, the way she always did when she was nervous. It was now 2 minutes, 35 seconds after the end of the school day and she had to leave.

At last the thankful words came.

"Please put you chairs on the tables and pick up any rubbish on the floor around you."

But Elizabeth wasn't hanging around. She was first out the door and dashing away down the corridor, bag slung over one shoulder.

She wasn't running away, she kept telling herself, just keeping out of trouble.

Then the school gates were there and she was through them and turning around the corner, she saw that the path ahead of her was clear.

Yes! She had done it. She had been quick enough. There was no one about. Looking over her shoulder, she saw a huddle of figures striding down the path, but she wasn't going to stick around and see if it was them.

She was heading for home.

*

"Good afternoon Eliza." said Mrs Hudson, as she bustled through the hallway. Elizabeth closed the front door behind her and sidled into the lounge.

"Hi Mrs Hudson."

"Afternoon Liz." said John, where he sat at the table with papers scattered all around him.

"Hey Dad."

"Nice day?"

Elizabeth shrugged. She supposed it sort of had been.

"Music lesson?"

Elizabeth shook her head.

"Chemistry?"

"Yes."

"Ah. Not that awful then."

Elizabeth shrugged again.

"What d'ya learn about?"

"Atoms and shells and electrons and stuff."

"Nonsense." muttered a voice from the corner.

Elizabeth turned to look at Sherlock.

"You always say that."

"Because it's true."

"What's wrong with a couple of electrons whizzing around a nucleus?"

"They teach you all wrong."

"Maybe you should teach us then."

"I don't like teenagers."

"I'm not that bad- teach me." said Elizabeth, scooping up her Chemistry text book and waltzing over to dump it beside him. He looked at the pile in disgust and picked it up like it was road kill. He flicked through the pages and stuck up his nose.

"This is the worst." he said, pointing at the page about electronic structure, "The configuration does not go 2.8.8. The rule is 2n2 where n is the number of shells, so the third shell can hold 18 and not 8. What nonsense. Brainwashing and nothing less." Then he slapped the book shut and threw it over his shoulder.

"Is that it?"

"Is that what?"

"I thought you were going to teach me."

"I never said that."

Then Sherlock turned around, picked up his violin and began to play. Elizabeth scowled at him but his eyes were shut and he turned to face the wall.

"Cadets tonight?" asked John, over the music.

Elizabeth nodded.

"We're doing rigging knots and morse code machines." she said, collecting her Chemistry book and grabbing her bag.

"I'll drop you off if you like."

"Thanks Dad." came the reply, as the girl swept out of the room, leaving John to his work, Sherlock to his violin and Mrs Hudson to her cooking on the stove.