The Unknown Child (A Sherlock FanFiction)

XXV: A Crack in the Foundation

Chapter Twenty-Five: A Crack in the Foundation

A/N: I know it has been over a year since I have updated, but 2015 wasn't the greatest year for me, and I couldn't focus on writing at all. I am currently on holidays until I start my final year of education (Yr. 12). I would like to apologise to you all for not updating throughout 2015, but would like to thank those who have decided to continue reading. I really appreciate it. It means more than you think.

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My feet collided heavily with the pavement beneath me, my lungs gasping for air as I made my way through the busy streets of London towards the Yard.

"You know, for someone who has been through Hell, you sure can run bloody fast." James gasped between breaths has he finally caught up to me. We ran across busy roads, cars and buses honking their horns as we ran recklessly in front of them. As the building came into view, I quickened my pace and ran straight through the doors.

"Hey! Get back here! You can't just run in!" A brooding policeman bellowed at James and I.

"I need to see Greg Lestrade, it is a matter of urgency." I say. The policeman looked at me in disbelief, like I was a crazy girl who was a pathological liar.

"Let me escort you to his office, what's so important that you two had to run in like raging bulls anyway?" The policeman said, getting up from his post and leading us towards the lift.

"He owes me 30 quid." I smirked.

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"Clara, what brings you to my office at 8:30 on a school night?" Lestrade says, sipping on his third coffee of the day.

"I figured out the anagram, I know who is behind all of this." I say, pulling the crinkled serviette out of my coat pocket. I passed to him across his desk. "He's back."

Lestrade gazed down upon the small napkin in disbelief. "Clara, you need to go home right now, and tell Sherlock exactly what you have found." Lestrade stood up out of his chair and guided James and myself out. "I need to go and tell the cryptographers this, they were nowhere near cracking it."

"Which reminds me, you owe me 30 quid." I giggled. Lestrade pulled his wallet out of his pocket and surrendered the money with a heavy hand. "I'll see you tomorrow morning. You two have a good evening." He said
"Will do." Lestrade parted ways with James and I, leaving us to see ourselves out.

"So are you going to tell me what the hell is going on?" James asked, staring at me intently. I took a deep breath before answering; knowing one slip-up could spell disaster for him.

"James... you know what happened to me, you know every detail. You know that I am still trying to discover myself and find out what happened to me while I wasn't conscious. I want to know what happened to my parents, my family..." I stop in the hallway, looking both ways to make sure no one was listening in. "This anagram holds the key to finding that all out, because Sherlock and I both believe that the same man who has killed these women, may be working for the man who is responsible for what happened me." I whispered. I grabbed James's hand and walked towards the lift, frantically pressing the button to go to the ground floor.

"Clara your hands..." James spoke softly. I looked down and noticed that even in his hand, mine was still trembling. The lift door opened and I pulled James in. "Breathe Clara... just relax, no one is going to hurt you." James whispered, pulling me into a gentle hug. He stroked my hair and held me close by the waist as the lift went slowly down.

"I need to go home..." I cried, slowly feeling myself letting go of James.

"Okay, we can do that." James whispered, his comforting voice soothing my sorrows and worries. We walked helplessly out of New Scotland Yard. I hailed a cab once we were on the main street, using half of my newly received money to pay the cabbie. During that woeful ride, I lay down; with my head in James's lap.

"Alright you two, out you get." The cabbie spoke, startling me from my doze. James helped me out of the back, thanking the driver before he sped off into the traffic. I opened the door to 221B, pushing the heavy door revealing Sherlock making his way down the stairs.

"Clara! Are you okay?" Sherlock spoke in a frantic tone. "What happened James?" He questioned. I staggered into the hallway, and leant up against the wall.

"He's back... Moriarty is back." I cried. I feel my legs starting to slowly give way to my frail and broken body. James and Sherlock grabbed an arm each, heaving me up the stairs up into the flat.

"Tell me everything Clara." Sherlock demanded. "I need to tell me what you know." As we slowly made it into the living room, James and Sherlock set me down onto the couch. "Come on Clara, you need to tell me" Sherlock asked again, standing in front of the coffee table with his hands together and the tips gentle touching his lips. I closed my eyes for a moment, imagining everything I had just discovered. The letters of the anagram floated in my imagination, and slowly formed the words of the infamous phrase. At this same point, James had knelt down next to me, and begun to unlace my shoes, proceeding to take them off and placing them by my bedroom door. I smiled and took a deep breath, knowing Sherlock is going to be very anxious in about three seconds.

"Did you miss me?" I spoke softly. I look up to see Sherlock's eyes widen in shock. He staggered back, almost losing his footing. He ran a hand through his hair; his breathing picking up it's pace at an alarming rate. "Dad, just calm down. I'm not hurt, I'm fine." I say, hoping he will settle. Sherlock looked me dead in the eye, and slowly sat down in his leather chair, sinking into the cushion.

"I think it's time for you to go James, thank you for returning Clara before curfew and safely." He said, not looking up at him, but instead choosing to stare blankly in his general direction.

"No problem Mr. Holmes. Thank you for letting me take her out." James responded. "It was nice to meet you Sir."

"Clara would you see him out please." Sherlock ordered. I looked up at James, who instantly held out his hands for me to grab. In a flash, he hoisted me up and onto my feet. I lead James through the door and towards the top of the stairs.

"Thank you for tonight, the small outing. Sorry I kind of ruined it." I said quietly as we made our way down the stairs.

"It's no problem at all, and you didn't ruin it. If anything you made it slightly more interesting and adventurous." He chuckled. I let out a small giggle in response.

"You best be off, before you get into trouble from your parents." I say, taking the final step of the last flight. I walk James towards the front door, opening it quietly so not to wake Mrs. Hudson. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow." He smiled, giving me a gentle kiss on the cheek before he walked out into the gloomy streets of Westminster. Once he was on his way, I closed the door and locked it. I turned the light off in the hallway and made my way back into the flat. I just wished Molly were here, she would know what to say. She always knows, despite what Sherlock thinks. I waltzed back in to see that Sherlock had migrated from his chair to his laptop, and was furiously typing away.

"What are you doing?" I say, closing the door behind me.

"Emailing Molly. But that's none of your business." Sherlock said, not looking up from the screen.

"It kind of is, since how she is my Mum." I say, placing myself at my desk across from him. "What are you emailing her about?" I inquire. He looks up at me, but doesn't respond. "Dad, I'm going to find out anyway so you may as well tell me."

"We are just discussing arrangements as to your living." He said.

"Where's my say in this?" I ask. "Do I get one?"

"Well what do you want?" He queered, the typing stopping as he looked up.

"I want to be here on weekdays, because it's closer to school. But on weekends I want to be at Mum's. So that she can work during the week, and start having the weekends off." I say.

"I will mention that for you then." He said, and began typing again.

I thought there were already arrangments?"

"Well there are going to be some changes then." He stated.

"You know it would be easier if you two would just move in together." I say, smirking a little to myself.


"You know that you should probably go have a shower and do some more of your homework before bed?" He says, smirking to himself like I did. I walk over towards my room and grab my pajamas, slowly dragging my feet along the floor towards the bathroom. I undress myself and look down at my body. The bruises are still there. No matter how many showers I take, I still feel dirty. I still feel worthless and like I'm wasting everyone's time. I often use my time in the shower to think, much like anyone else really. I think that's the only normal thing about me. Lord knows what I was like before all of this happened to me.
After some time I finally get out and get dressed, brush my teeth and hair. I put my dirty clothes in the hamper, and sluggishly make my way to my desk. I look at the small clock on my phone, 9:04pm. I have to be up at 7am. Since all I had to do was Maths, I yank my Bible of a textbook out of my school bag and aimlessly begin solving limits.

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I tap the home button on my phone. 10:13pm.

"I'm heading to bed Dad. Goodnight." I say, slamming my book shut and packing my bag for the next dreadful school day.

"Clara, before you go to bed, I need to have a quick talk with you." Sherlock said, shutting his laptop lid and standing in his seat swiftly. "Clara, you need to understand that you are putting yourself in a lot of danger living with me. Now that we know that Moriarty is after us, more specifically you, you are putting your life on the line again."

"I know, it's a risk I am willing to take." I reply, turning my stance towards him.

"But know that I am always looking out for you. I seem to have gotten very attached to you very quickly."

"I have noticed, and I have too, which is why I am going to be here weekdays." I walk up to him and wrap my arms around his lean frame. "Thank you for looking after me, I know you're trying." Sherlock didn't say anything, he just embraced me back.

"I think it's time for you to go to bed. I will wake you up at 7am." He said softly. "Goodnight Clara, sleep well."

"Goodnight Dad." I let go of him and slowly heaved my way towards my bed. Once in range of the mattress, I collapsed and fell into a deep and much needed slumber.