Sherlock: The Next Generation

Chapter 67

Chapter 67

"So I can stay here, right?"

"Of course you can, Mish," John replied to his son with a smile from where he was sitting.

"Our plan is to only stay in 221b until Molly has left school," Sherlock began, glancing at John who nodded. "Though we are retiring, in a way, and handing over the reins to you we will continue to take residence here for another year. Then we will move out of the city into a big house where we will keep bees and having plenty of rooms for visitors. Then you will get 221b."

"Sounds acceptable enough," Hamish nodded. John gave a slightly sad smile. It was the end of an era, in the way. No more Sherlock Holmes the consulting detective and John Watson his army doctor. John was beginning to age physically and running was getting hard even though he had kept his fitness levels up. He was over sixty. Though Sherlock wasn't showing the signs of aging so much, beyond the grey strands of hair that had eventually showed up in those dark curls and the few that began to fall out, his brain was beginning to slow. He was still brilliant, just not as much as he had been before. It was time for them to let Hamish take over. They would move out into a nice country house and keep bees. They had always planned to retire by the time they got to this age. They just hadn't necessarily thought they would have a son to take over.

"I'll still be able to help with cases, right?" Molly asked her question from where she was, for some reason, hanging upside from the couch with her legs hooked against the back and head at the floor while she read a book.

"I'll have to think about it," Hamish smirked teasingly.

"Hamish!" John gave his son a glare.

"Fine, fine, you'll be able to."

"Good, because remember I will be living here the next year and I can make your life a living hell." Molly spoke in a relatively cheery tone, not even looking up from her book.

Sherlock laughed lightly. Molly really was like in John, in ways. Especially when it came to threatening. Hamish gave out a small huff.

"So Ollie is staying at Cambridge for a bit longer?" John asked Hamish, deciding to change the topic.

"Yep. He's going on to do a PhD in Chemical Engineering. I don't really know why, he could get a job already if he wanted to. I guess he wants to become a doctor." Hamish bit his lip. Though they were on speaking terms him and Ollie hadn't quite made up yet. He wasn't sure what their relationship status was. He hadn't told his dad and papa, though. Just Martin.

Sherlock and John shared a glance, eyes twinkling. It would certainly be interesting if Ollie became a doctor. Then Hamish would have his own doctor even if it wasn't a medical one.

"So, when do I start?"

"Whenever the next case comes in."

"Good," Hamish grinned. He was looking forward to it. Even though Lestrade had long ago retired from his job as Detective Inspector it was still through him that they got all the cases. He had, after all, pretty much trained the current Detective Inspector. It was also the line of work that Myc was planning on going into. Keeping it in the family, much like Arianna going into the government as soon as she finished at Oxford. "I can't wait."

"Already revelling in your new title of Consulting Detective then?"

Hamish gaze flickered to the tall young man who stood in the doorway having just arrived, suitcase resting against his leg. "Of course I am. Hamish Watson-Holmes, Consulting Detective. It has a ring to it doesn't it? I'll need to get a card."

Martin just rolled his eyes, moving over to sit next to Molly on the sofa. He didn't even comment on the fact that she was lying upside down on the couch. There had been stranger things in the Watson-Holmes household.

"Yes, a card is exactly what you need," Sherlock shook his head at his son as he, and John, stood up. "Nice as family gatherings are we promised Molly that we could go for lunch with her." He made a slight face. John shot him a withering look.

"Ignore your dad. Martin, sorry we didn't have time to talk. We'll catch up later." He smiled warmly at the slightly younger twin. "And please make sure Hamish doesn't wreck the place."

"I'm twenty, papa!"

"And still no more mature than you ever were," John grinned as he steered Sherlock out of the door, disappearing down the stairs. Hamish flopped into Sherlock's chair with a pout. Thinking about the chair, he wondered if his dad and papa would take them with them wherever they went. If so he would have to buy another one. The chair worked well for questioning clients.

"What Papa says is true," Martin commented, watching his twin with a light smirk.

"Huh?"

"You are still immature."

"Shut up." Hamish scowled.

They ended up just lazing around in the flat for the afternoon, even though it was a beautiful summer's day outside. With no rain at all. Which was quite something for England considering it did normally, well, rain. Molly ended up heading out after lunch to meet with Finn and play with football with him and some friends. Dinner was the normal affair with talking, Molly stuffing her face and John forcing the three others to eat. Hamish found himself, for some reason, quite pleased that he and Martin had decided to share a bedroom like old times even though they were both twenty (rather than one sleeping on the couch). It took him back, conjured some memories. And it helped him sleep.

Because, although he wouldn't admit it, Hamish missed Ollie more than anything.