The Unknown Child (A Sherlock FanFiction)

V: A Place to Call Home

I sat in the corridor outside the morgue for what seemed like hours. I felt disgusting, I tried to find a shower or a bathroom so that I could rid myself of the filth I felt crawling all over me. All I could do was sob, and that’s what I did.

“Clara?” John whispered, he squatted down in front of me, getting down to my level. I was still crying, head on knees and arms around my legs, hugging them. I didn’t care that I was hurting my bruises. I just wanted to hug someone, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

“Clara, I know it’s hard to understand what is going on, but we need you to hop up now and come back inside the morgue. Molly, Sherlock and I have had a chat and we would like to talk to you about what we have come up with, okay?” John says, helping me get up. Once I am standing on my own to feet, I walked back into the morgue, head down.

“About time…” Sherlock muttered, but I could still hear him.

“Shut up Sherlock” Molly snapped, guess she heard it to. Molly shot Sherlock a glance that was as sharp as a knife.

“Okay, now Clara, we have decided that since you have no where to go, you will go and live with Molly until we can arrange other accommodation for you. Are you okay with that?” John asked

I nod in approval, I would rather live with a woman than two men.

“Okay, but there is the issue of school, now for a few weeks, you will be home alone…” Molly began. I shudder at the thought of being home alone. “You can either stay home by yourself for 6 hours or go out with John and Sherlock for the day until I can find you a decent school okay?” I nod again, not wanting to speak.

“And once school starts, you will go to Sherlock and John’s flat after school until I come and get you. I might be late but Mrs. Hudson, their landlady, will be there with you and possibly Sherlock and John, I have heard Mrs. Hudson makes some pretty good biscuits and cakes” She said, small a little, hoping that she will cheer me up. I give the biggest smile I can. I finally find the words to say what I feel about it.

I think about what has been offered to me. They are so kind for taking me in. I stride over towards Molly and hug her tightly. I cry into shoulder “Thank you. Thank you so much.” I cried. “I will go with Sherlock and John, I don’t want to be home alone” I added.

“John, why can’t she just stay with me or at the police station… that would be the easiest option” Sherlock interjected.

“Because knowing you, you would probably experiment on her and inject her with God knows what, and plus, you would attention to yourself with the media following you around everywhere.” Molly said

“Also Molly is a woman, who is very capable of looking after Clara and she can provide her things that we can’t." 

“What about your wife John?” Molly said. I looked towards John’s left hand and see a gold band around his ring finger. It still looks brand new.

 “She will be able to help you as well Molly, don’t worry. She just needs to rest a up a bit due to her being pregnant.” John assured.

Wow, they must lead busy lives. “So what is going to happen now?” I pipe up.

“Well, Molly is going to leave work early and take you to her flat and John and I are going to our flat to discuss this decision with Mrs. Hudson.” Sherlock stated.

I nod, not wanting to say anything more. I quietly grab the blanket that lay on the floor of the morgue. It was still warm from me lying on it whilst I slept in Molly’s office. I wrap it around myself before I start shivering; this hospital gown was only thin. 

“Okay, it’s settled then, well almost.” Molly said. She walked over to her office and grabbed a small pile of folders of her desk. “I just need to go down to the locker room to hang my lab coat up and bag okay Clara. I will be back soon” She said, quickly walking out of the morgue barely 30 seconds later. It was quiet after that. The morgue was kind of a daunting place, bodies in the cold chambers that are built into the wall. If Death had a scent, this would be it. Molly kept is clean and tidy. I don’t how she does this job. She must have to be extremely smart. She did have a few certificates on her office wall. Probably her degrees. 

“Surprised you aren’t startled by the dead.” Sherlock said.

 I glance his way. “Not surprised that you are startled by the living.” I say, John chuckling at my smartass comment.

“She has you right there Sherlock” John giggled. 

“So what is that you do? Do said the police consult you, so are you like detectives?” I curiously ask.

“I’m a consulting detective, only one in the world and John is my friend and colleague. We solve crimes, from petty things to homicide”

My eyes widen at the word homicide. Thinking that it could have happened to me, I would have been like the bodies in the bags on the benches.”

 “You okay Clara?” John asked, seeing that I had scared myself.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” I say, shrugging off the thought that boggled my mind. Molly returned barely 5 minutes after she left.

“You ready to go sweetie?” She asks.

I nod, walking over towards the morgue door where she was standing. I was curious as to why she has decided to take me in. 

“I will text you how she is going John!” She says before the morgue door shut with a small click of the latch. We walk towards the elevator, getting in once it opened and Molly pressed the down button, her car must be in an underground car park. Once we get there, she led me to her car. It was only a small car, nothing flash, but it was clean. I got in the passenger side, getting a smell of lavender and vanilla throughout her car. It was soothing smell, not overpowering like the smell of bleach in the hospital.

“Alright, let’s get you home, I will pop out to grab some food for you and some clothes okay? The shops are only just down the road so I won’t be to far away.” She said, putting her keys in the ignition and starting her car. We slowly drive towards the dim light that shone at the entrance of the car park. It started to rain as we drove into traffic. “You can go to sleep Clara, we might be stuck in traffic for a bit.” She said, in her soft and calm voice. Without even thinking about it, I turn to face the window and shut me eyes. Sleep over came me within minutes of shutting me eyes, pulling me into darkness.