The Science of Starting Again//Book Five

Chapter 27~ Appledore

Teddy's P.O.V

It was odd to be sitting in the same room as my father knowing that there was no bad blood between us now. After our hug he had asked me to stay a while instead of going out into the kitchen. He said he just wanted to read but it would be nice knowing that I was there too. I had smiled at that, thinking about past memories from when I was young. Back then father would have done anything to get me out of his study. This change was nice.

Now we were both reading our books in silence sitting across from one another, father drinking from my long forgotten punch (I had given it to him, unsure as to whether or not there was alcohol in it. I didn't want to run the risk if there was). Every now and again we would ask each other a question about our life, or comment on something that had just occurred in our books. Mostly though we just kept to ourselves, happy to just be in the same room as one another. I glanced up from my book and towards him, a hesitant look on my face. There was so much left for me to tell him, but whether or not it was the right time to do so I couldn't tell. Would what I had to tell him make him happy? Or would it just shatter the peace that had only just formed between us? Did I really want to run that risk? I looked away from him, letting out a small sigh. 

"Father? I, um... There's something else I'd like to tell you. Actually, there's lots of things I want to tell you and talk to you about, but we'll start with this one first. Is... Is that okay??"

I waited for his reply, unsure as to whether or not I wanted to look at him. Would he look worried? Annoyed? Happy to be of service? There was a tightening in my stomach and I could feel my heartbeat rising slowly. 

"Thea?"

"Father?" I repeated, putting my book down and looking at him. He was slumped over slightly and I watched as he dropped his glass onto the table, the rest of the punch spilling over its surface. "Jesus, father?! Are you all right?"

I stood up and hurried over to him, taking hold of his face softly in my hands before lying him down on the sofa. His eyes were closed now, his whole body slack in unconsciousness. I pressed two fingers against his throat, relieved when I felt a pulse but still afraid as to what had brought this on. Before I could shout for help the door opened and Sherlock came bursting in.

"Oh, or the punch," he called, before noticing my presence. "Wh- Teddy?! What are you doing up?"

"What am I-" I cut myself short, realization suddenly hitting me. I looked over at the punch before straightening, glaring at my brother who was currently checking our father. "What the hell did you do, Sherlock?!"

"If only he'd tell us," a voice came from the door. John stared at me then my father, his face pinched together in confusion. As Sherlock left the room I joined his side, fighting the urge not to smack his arm.

"So that's why you got Billy to give me that bloody punch?! To put me to sleep?! Do you realize just how dangerous that is, Sherlock?!" I snapped, eyes wide in sudden fright at what could've occurred had I drunk the punch.

"Wiggins knows what he's doing," Sherlock replied. This time I couldn't help but slap his arm, earning an annoyed whine from my brother. 

"This is like Baskerville all over again," I complained when we entered the kitchen. I was horrified to find mother and Mycroft in a similar unconscious state to that of our father.

"Sherlock? Did you just drug my pregnant wife?" John snapped, coming to stand by my side.

"Don't worry," my brother replied, checking over mother and Mycroft. "Wiggins is an excellent chemist."

"I calculated your wife's dose meself," Bill said to John, leaning against the kitchen counter. "Won't affect the little one. I'll keep an eye on 'er. Surprised 't see you up, though." That last part was directed at me.