The Consulting Detective, the ex-Army Doctor, and the Child //BBC Sherlock

~CHAPTER 1~

  "What are you looking at?" Xavier asked, leaning over his father's shoulder to look at the computer screen.

  "Xavier, go to bed, it's almost nine,: John said, turning to face son.

  "Sherlock Holmes? Who's that?"

  "Go to bed."

  Xavier sighed and went to his room. Falling asleep that night he had no idea how much this Sherlock Holmes would affect his life.

--

  Xavier trailed shortly behind his father as they walked through the busy London streets.

  "Where are we going again?"

  "To look at a new flat. I think you'll like the guy we're meeting there."

  Xavier just hummed in response and adjusted the strap on his messenger bag.

  A few minutes later the father and son stopped in front of a building. It was only a few moments until a taxi pulled up and a dark-haired man got out, walking over to great John. 

  "Mr. Holmes," John said as they shook hands.

  "Call me Sherlock, please."

  "Is this the guy you were looking at online last night?" Xavier asked, looking up at his father. "I'm Xavier by the way," he added looking at the taller man. Sherlock shook his hand.

  "So, you researched me? Find anything interesting?"

  "Found your website, The Science of Deduction."

  "What did you think?" John glared at him as if to say 'are you kidding me' and Sherlock looked hurt.

  "You can identify a software designer by his tie and a pilot by his left thumb? Really?"

  "Yes. I read your military career in your leg and your drinking habits in your phone." John shoots him another look, this time to say 'sure you did'.

  "So nice place here. Must be expensive," John said, changing the subject.

  "The landlady, Mrs. Hudson owes me a favour, husband got himself sentenced to death a few years back and I was able to help out," Sherlock explained.

  "Sorry - you stopped her husband being executed?"

  "No, not at all, I ensured it."

  As he said that, the door opened revealing who Xavier assumed was Mrs. Hudson."Come in," she said, smiling warmly at them. "Who's this, Sherlock?"

  "Dr. John Watson, and his son, Xavier."

  "It's a pleasure to meet you two." 

  The group heads up the stairs and walk into the living room. It was cluttered, but still quite nice.

  "So I went straight ahead and moved in," Sherlock said, turning to face John, who had been saying something about getting the clutter out. He looked obviously embarrassed. "I can always straighten it up a bit though." As Sherlock picks up a few files from the ground Xavier grabbed a skull from atop the mantelpiece.

  "What's this for?"

  "He's my friend." Xavier opened his mouth but before he could reply Mrs. Hudson walked in.

  "What do you think? There's another two bedrooms upstairs, if you'll be needing the third." Xavier gave a small laugh at what she was implying as John quickly denied that he and Sherlock were in a relationship. "Have you hear about the suicides, Sherlock? Sounds right up your alley. Three of them, exactly the same."