A Look Through Time // Sheriarty Short AU

bittersweet

It only takes a maximum of 10 minutes before James comes sprinting through the opened front door, dodging the police officers and doctors for Mrs Hudson. His face wore a look of despair and anguish, and his cheeks were flushed bright red with obvious stains lining his cheeks.

He's been crying

He's wearing the same outfit as he did for the date. I forgot it was the same day. That happy time we shared together seems so far away into the past, because nothing this awful could happen on the same day as something so happy. He spots me sitting on the staircase, not having moved for almost an hour. My beige coat is lying on the floor of the hallway and my grey jumper sleeves were rolled up past my elbows. It's so hot. I need fresh air but I can't move from this spot. I'm stuck.

James' eyes turn soft and saddened, as he sees the state that I am in. He has never seen me vulnerable. I have never seen him vulnerable. In its own way, it's an intimate moment seeing each other so vulnerable. The thought only makes me feel guilty. He walks slowly towards me, but is stopped by the same police officer who asked me questions.

"Sir you're not allowed to be on the premises..."

"Officer it's fine." I say loudly, catching me off guard at how loudly my voice went. She turned to look at my sad eyes and nodded, letting James through. He walks slowly up the stairs, and sits delicately on the step next to me. We are in silence for a few seconds, but I couldn't stand it. In one swift motion, I wrapped my arms around his waist and buried my face into the crook of his neck. I couldn't cry. I've cried enough as it is that no water refused to leave my eyes. He wrapped his arms around my own waist and rested his chin upon the top of my head. His heavy uneven breathing was slightly calming, but I knew that he was trying to hold back the tears. For my sake. I unravelled my arms from his waist and sat up straight on the step. Tears were flowing down James' cheeks, but he did not make a noise. He didn't sob. He didn't whine.

For my sake.

I wiped the tears from his cheeks with my thumb. He closed his eyes at the action, and bit back a sob.

"I'm so sorry Sherlock. I'm so so sorry." He reopened his eyes, and tears threatened to spill. I sigh aloud shakily, trying to hold in my own sob that threatened to return.

"Don't apologise. Please don't. It's not your fault. It's mine." James looked at me strangely.

"This is not your fault sherlock. Hey, why would you even say that?" He wraps his hand around my wrist.

"Because if I didn't go on that date with you I would have been there for her. I could have fought them off and she would be protected and safe." I shout frustratedly and angrily at myself. James' face grows red and hot.

"Stop dwelling on what ifs sherlock. It happened. The police are out looking for her and they will find her. Do not blame yourself for this. This wasn't your fault so stop it." He speaks with a stern voice, his grip tightening on my wrist, but not too much to hurt.

"I feel so guilty."

"That's normal. I feel guilty. But you can't change the past and neither can I. If I could, a lot of things would be different. But this is life sherlock. And it's shit, yes, but you get through it. Molly will return to you. I will make it my personal mission to find her. I won't give up on her. I won't give up on you.

I love you both too much."

I gasp shakily at his confession. His face is so certain and stern that I believe he will search to the ends of the earth to find her. I believe him. And he loves us. Molly and I. That was the thing I wanted most in the world. I grab his cheeks and I plant a soft kiss onto his lips, tears flowing down my cheeks once again. I break the kiss, and I am dazed at what he just said to me. He loves molly. He loves me.

We love him.

"Mr Holmes. They found her."

________________________________________

The police took James and I down to the station in one of their police cars. My heart was thumping in my chest. They found her. They found my molly safe and sound. I grab hold of James' hand, my body full of anticipation. He gives it a gentle squeeze.

When James and I heard what the police officer said, we were over the moon and relived. We both let the tears spill freely as we ran down the stairs and towards the police car to go to the station.

The police car slows down in the car park of the station to park, but I throw open the door and I jump out of the slow moving car, not being able to wait any longer to see my little girl. I run through the double doors to the police station, my eyes blown wide and my breathing heavy and rapid. I go towards the man behind the desk, who stares at me with a strange expression upon his face. I rest my hands on the desk and lean forward towards the receptionist. He leaned back.

"My daughter. Molly Holmes. Where is she?" I ramble rapidly in anticipation, but I soft hand on my shoulder calms me down slightly. James. The police officers who arrived appear from behind James and speak to the receptionist so I can see my daughter.

"Follow me Mr Holmes. You can come see your daughter. I'm afraid Mr Moriarty will have to wait here." One of the police officers says, but I grab hold of James' hand.

"He's coming with me. He's family." James looks at me shocked at my statement,  but I keep my stern focus on the police officer. He sighs aloud, not happy at my behaviour.

"Alright he can come. Follow me gentlemen."

We follow the police officer hand in hand through a secured door and down through many corridors. My hand shakes, and James gives it a soft squeeze, calming me down.

"You didn't have to do that sherlock. I could've waited." I turn to look at James, walking down a long, plain corridor. I scrunch my eyebrows.

"I didn't want you to wait. You're part of our family now. Your my family." I squeeze his hand gently and a soft smile appears on his face. I smile in return.

The police officer stops outside of a grey door and opens it with a key card. An alarm is raised and we follow him through.

"She's been waiting with a therapist in that room there." He points us towards a door opposite us in a small corridor, filled with different doors. James and I look at each other and we pace down the corridor and push forcefully on the door.

"Molly." I gasp as I see my little girl sitting patiently on a chair that is much too large for her. Her attention turns towards me and her eyes brighten as she sprints towards me.

"Daddy!" I crouch down to her level and open my arms. She jumps into them and I begin to let tears spill down my cheeks again. She's here. My little girl is here. She's safe. She's safe with me. She releases the hug and smiles sadly at me, as she notices that I'm crying. She wipes the tears with her thumb from my cheeks.

"James!" James crouches and takes her into a hug as well. The look of the two most important people in my life hugging makes me well up and I choke back a sob. I'm so happy. I've got my little girl. She's back.  They release the hug and we all look at each other.

We smile.

Hey guys! Just one more chapter left and then that's the end! It's gonna so sad to leave this fanfiction behind :(

Hope you enjoyed the update!

-darcie