Another Cinderella Story (Sherlock fanfiction)

Chapter 20

The two made their way back to Melody's home and continued on with their chores. By midnight, they just about finished everything. "You do all of this by yourself?" Sherlock puffed, relaxing on her bed. "I feel sorry for you. How long does it take?"
"About two or three days." Melody answered, sitting by his feet, drawing lazy patterns on his leg. "Sorry you were brought into this."
"It's nothing." Sherlock waved off. He quickly hopped out of her bed and quickly grabbed the files. "Come on, you promised we can look over these. You want this to be solved, do you not?"
"I do." she responded immediately, sitting beside him. The two read over the files, including her father's last notes that he had written.
   "There were signs of depression." Sherlock stated. "No signs of committing suicide though."
   "And he never bought a gun." Melody added. "See? I was right!"
   "We just need to figure out who did it and why." Sherlock stated, putting all the information back into the file. He glanced at the clock. It was late at night, he should be going. "You need some rest." he told her. "I'll be back to work more on the case and maybe help you with your chores."
   "I'll only allow you to help when I need it."
   "Sure." he shrugged, walking out of her room with with her. She led him to the door and smiled at him.
   "Thank you for doing all this for me." she told him. "This is a lot to ask for -"
   "It's okay." Sherlock interrupted her. "Besides, this case is interesting."
   "Yeah." she nodded slightly, a sad smile on her face. Not knowing much of human sentiment, he slowly brought her into a hug. She gladly returned the hug, burying her face in his chest. "I haven't received this much affection ever since my father died." she admitted quietly to him. "After his death, my step-mother and sisters revealed their true self and use me as a maid, while insulting me." Sherlock tightened his grip around her. "Thank you, Sherlock, for everything."
   "I don't mind." he murmured to her. "I don't mind at all."
***
The next day Sherlock came back to Melody's place and helped her more with the big chores, before focussing back on the case. He analysed her father's office, searching the history of her family - anything for Sherlock to go on from.
   Taking a break from her chores, Melody sat on a chair beside Sherlock in the dining room, watching him analyse the files given to him for the case. "You want something to eat or drink?" she asked softly.
   "Coffee. Black, two sugars." he answered absently.
   "What about food?"
   "Food slows down the thinking."
   "Oh, okay." Melody stood up and went to make their coffee.
   "How did they meet?"
   "Sorry?"
   "How did your father meet your step-mother?" Sherlock asked her curiously. Melody frowned down at the coffee with pursed lips.
   "He met her at a masquerade ball like we did." she revealed. "It was for noble people, the ball. Father was someone who raised charities and helped many people as well as being a lawyer. He was soon known around London."
   "And what is your step-mother's job?" Melody froze from giving him the coffee, paling quickly. "Melody?" he asked concerned. He knew her step-mother was a judge, why would it affect her that way?
   "She. . ." Melody glanced at him with tears in her eyes. "She's a judge, b-but, she has a side-job of weaponry -"
   "What?" Sherlock looked at her sharply. "How come I haven't heard this?"
   "I-I only remembered until now!" she stuttered, tears falling down her cheeks. "She has a small shop of weaponry. It used to be her father's - she knows how to use a gun because of her father." She looked at Sherlock with horror on her face. "I've been serving a murderer and her daughters! Oh my God -"
   "It might not be her." he attempted to assure her. But deep down, he knew it wouldn't work. Right now, Sarah was the main suspect.
   "But it makes sense!" Melody exclaimed. "W-when he died, she only 'mourned' for half the day, before moving on!" Sherlock then knew that he needed to speak with Sarah.
   "Do you know where she is now?" Sherlock asked her firmly. "She's a suspect now, I need to talk to her along with Scotland Yard."
   "Sh-she never told me." Melody whispered, staring down at her lap with a look of disbelief on her face. "She never tells me where her and her daughters go. She just says that she's on vacation."
   Sherlock didn't like the information given to him and started to pace around with his hands underneath his chin. "This is not good." he said out loud. "She's probably on the run."
   Sherlock remembered the time when he first came to Melody's place. "Now if you will you excuse us, I am going to escort her to her room, and investigate her father's murder."
   "Stupid me!" he hissed to himself, hitting his forehead. "Stupid, stupid me!"
   "What, what is it?"
   "It's my fault!" Sherlock moaned frustrated, sitting down again. "The time we went to your house the first time - I told her about me solving the case! God!"
   "All my fault again!" Melody groaned. "If you hadn't have been so concerned for me, you would have not revealed -"
   "Don't think like that." Sherlock gently scolded her. Melody didn't listen and scolded herself.
   "Why do I always do stuff wrong? Why do I always cause trouble? It's even my fault that my mother is dead! It's my fault that my father was depressed! It was my fault that he felt the need to get married again just so I could have a 'mother figure' in my life!"
   "STOP!" Sherlock said loudly, staring at her with wide eyes. She then broke down crying. Subconsciously, he went to her and brought her into his arms. He knew that she needed it. Almost his whole life did he not receive comfort. Most of her life was spent with child labour and abuse in her house, no one there to help her or give her affection. But Sherlock wanted to change that. He was there now. He was there to give her comfort. Despite him being completely clueless at emotions and sentiment, he was going to try.
   "I got you." he whispered to her crying form. "I promise you, Melody Rose, I will do anything to make you happy again. I will bring you peace from this. I will solve your father's case. I will get your step-mother arrested."