Not Everyone Needs A Title

Chapter 4

Lyndsi came to school with small bruises on her arms and face. And she seems a lot more depressed too. Sherlock of course noticed immediately.

"What happened?" He asks

"Nothing. I'm fine." She says dismissively

"Okay then where were you?"

"Suspension. "

"Don't lie to me Lyndsi. Please?"

"I said I'm fine" she walks faster to the gym leaving a very confused Sherlock. He decides to ask Mycroft about it later.

When he gets to the gym himself Lyndsi is talking to a group of girls. This is unusual as Lyndsi doesn't have any friends other than Sherlock. Upon further deductions he sees that Lyndsi is actually being cornered. He steps closer to listen in and see what she does.

"We all know your parents beat you. It's not like they try to hide it."

"Do you know who beat the shit out of that Sally chick?"

"You do?" One asks sarcastically

Lyndsi leans forward so she can whisper and still be heard

"I did it."

They look at each other and run away practically screaming. Sherlock laughs to himself until he sees a girl run past her and hitting her bruised arm. Lyndsi flinches. Sherlock wonders if her parents really are so cruel. She spots him and turns away. She just gave away the truth. She thought he already knew but he didn't and she gave it away by thinking so. Sherlock catches up to her.

"Lyndsi I want you to stay with me at my house for the week okay?" He says

"I can't Sherlock." She says quietly

"You have to." He holds her face up by her chin forcing her to look at him

"Okay." She whispers

Sherlock pulls her into a comforting hug. She stiffens, unfamiliar with any sort of affection. She relaxes after a minute and hugs him back

"Thank you Sherlock." She says quietly

"It's what friends are for."

They let go of each other as the coach blows his whistle telling everybody to get dressed.

°°°

Lyndsi walks with Sherlock through the front door. All she has with her currently is the clothes she's wearing and her school things. She knows she has to go to her own home to get things and is nervous about it. Mrs Holmes is glad to see her son's only friend is with him.

"Hello darling how are you?" She asks kindly

"I'm fine. Thanks" she answers

"She's staying with us from now on." Sherlock says immediately

"Okay." She says. She knows Sherlock will explain later, perhaps when Lyndsi isn't around.

Lyndsi looks around for Mycroft. He is sitting by a window watching people pass by and, no doubt, deducing them. She goes to sit with him.

"What do you see Lyndsi? I have yet to see proof of your skills."

"That man is having an affair with three woman other than his wife. Two are about to find out. She is widowed and the crazy old cat lady you hear about in stories. She, over there is looking for a pet probably a cat seeing as she has fur on her shoulders and below the knees. He has left the oven on. His wife just went into labour and she is looking for a babysitter whom she won't find because nobody likes small children." She says talking about random people.

Mycroft is impressed. She was fast. She didn't hesitate. And she never took her eyes off her target. He stood up and offered his hand. He did like her. Not just because she was smart but because she didn't take anything from anyone. And she could be fun at times.

"I believe you need to gather some items from your previous residential area." He says

"Don't be like that. I'm not just someone I'm a friend you don't have to be so formal." She takes his hand.

He lets out a breath. She was right. She usually was. He was really formal around strangers. He liked to seem like he has power. But Lyndsi knew the truth. Mycroft walked her to her parents house and waited outside while she got her things.

After he's about to go in he hears shouting and a crash. He rushed inside to see Lyndsi's parents in the kitchen and Lyndsi is next to the door quietly crying. Her hand is bleeding too. Mycroft quickly picks up her small frame and carries her outside. He reaches in the door and grabs her bag as well. He slings it over his shoulder and carries Lyndsi back to his house half running. Sherlock had been talking to his mother about why Lyndsi had to stay until Mycroft pushes through the front door. He rushes in and sets Lyndsi on the table. Sherlock rushes his mother out, knowing Mycroft could handle it. He closes the door behind her and goes back to the table.

Lyndsi isn't crying anymore but her hand is still bleeding. She lets Mycroft inspect it and he asks what happened.

"Dad threw a lamp at me. I managed to get out of the way mostly but it smashed into my hand. And mother threw a glass."

Mycroft cleaned the cut across the bottom of her palm and wrapped it in gauze.

"Where did the glass hit you?" He asks

She hold up her other wrist which is discolored and swollen. Sherlock gets an icepack to help the swelling while Mycroft gets a wrist brace. It was quiet obviously sprained.

"Are you okay dear?" Mrs Holmes asks when she's let in

Lyndsi nods and picks up her bag. Sherlock takes her to a room she can use. It's his room. Sherlock demands she sleep there and he can have the couch. Lyndsi agrees but only because she knows how stubborn Sherlock can be.

"Thank you Sherlock. You've saved me again."