The Game is On

School Bells Ring

John awoke the next morning to an annoying beeping sound. It rang in his ears, reminding him of a warning bell of sorts. He snapped open his eyes to see large red numbers in front of his face reading "7:41".

The doctor sat up, suspending himself by pressing his palms into the mattress. When his vision cleared, he realized it was his alarm going off. Clearly Sherlock hadn't noticed it yet.

John reached up and rubbed his eyes, exhaling. He tiredly lifted his hand and pushed Sherlock's sleepy head until the tall man stirred.

"What...Time...Is it?" Sherlock mumbled.

John smacked the alarm clock so it shut off, "Quarter to 8. We have to get the girls up."

"Pffff..." Sherlock exhaled loudly as he sat up, brushing his shaggy curls out of his face.

"You go wake them up. I'll make breakfast," John shoved his pajama-clad partner out of bed.

Sherlock pulled himself up and grabbed some clothes. He wore a regular white blouse and suit, without the tie, as always.

Sherlock rustled his hair with his hand to give it life, so it wasn't flattened on one side, and strode out the door.

He knocked twice on the girls' door before entering. They were just beginning to stir from the knocking, shielding their eyes as Sherlock turned on the light.

"Up and at 'em," he said, "Get dressed and come eat. Quickly, we don't want to be late."

John was just beginning to make eggs as Sherlock shuffled into the room. He shoved his ebony curls out of his eyes and sat at the table, waiting for the girls.

Finally, two sets of footsteps echoed through the hall and Gina and Amanda stepped through the door to the sitting room.

They both wore pants, Gina sporting a sky-blue shirt and Amanda wearing a salmon jumper.

"Alright, sit up here and eat," John scooped the eggs onto two plates.

"Hey, where's mine?" Sherlock pouted.

"We can have a proper breakfast later."

"Hmf."

The girls took their places at the table and dug in, gulping down orange juice to finish.

"Who's gonna take them to school, Sherlock?"

"We both should. First day."

"Okay, let's go."

John shoved the last of the contents into lunch bags and filled their backpacks with the necessary supplies.

Sherlock helped a gray backpack over the shoulders of Amanda, and John passed Gina a rusty-red one.

"Off we go then."

Outside, they were surprised to find Lestrade leaning against a police car parked on the curb. It'd just began to snow, and small snowflakes clung to his coat, dissolving from his warmth.

"Lestrade, what's this?"

"Get in. I'll drive you. I figure you'll need a chauffeur until you get your own car. There's no cabbing to school, certainly not in this weather."

"Alright," Sherlock moved forward and opened the door, letting the girls in before climbing in himself, "Thanks."

John got in the passenger side while Lestrade got behind the wheel.

Lestrade drove them off to Sir Arthur Elementary School, about 5 miles away from Baker Street.

Arriving in a police car already brought enough attention from the other kids in the playground, but when they saw the men who emerged, they began to talk.