Sophia Holmes and the Inexplicable Matchbox (Sherlock/Marvel Fanfic) *Completed*

Chapter Eight

"No!" I look over at Ward in a mix of anger and disbelief. "You killed her!"

Ward shrugged. "More of a mercy killing, really." He looks around. "Who wants to go next?"

Before any of us can answer, there's a loud sound from above - like another aircraft - and we all turn to the front as it passes over the top of the helicopter and turns, the Quinjet and helicopter now nose to nose. The back of the Quinjet drops open, and someone in blue jumps out, seemingly without a parachute.

Distracted, Ward looks out the door. "What the -" but he's cut off as someone pushes him backwards with their feet, and he falls to the floor of the helicopter. Black Widow lets go of the top of the door and lands just in front of Ward.

"Hey kid," she says, not looking over. "Wanna help out?"

"Have you tried fighting in a clown costume?!"

"Yeah," she nods. "Actually I have."

I raise an eyebrow. Fair enough. I swing my head back and hit the man behind me. He lets me go, and I spin around and knee him in the groin. He crumples to the floor.

Dad and John's captor's reach for their guns, but dad knocks the gun out of the hand of his agent with his elbow, while John uses his strength to turn him around and hold him in a headlock.

"Nice one," Nat calls over. "Now you boys stay down," she says, kicking Ward back down as he tries to get back up, before turning to us and throwing over a couple bracelets each.

"What are these?" John asks, studying them.

"Gravity bracelets," she replies. "Helps slow you down, works a bit like a parachute."

"And here I was hoping we could catch a lift," I grimace, indicating to the Quinjet which had just started to fly away again.

"You'll be fine," Nat replies. "Come on, it'll be fun."

I smile sceptically back, but dad places a hand on my shoulder. "I'm here, I won't let anything happen."

Nat looks expectantly towards the door and I nod, slowly moving forwards towards it as I slip on my bracelets. "Cap should be down the bottom with your landlady. I'll see you down there, good luck." I smile back at her, then jump.

I feel the air rushing against my face immediately, and I hold my arms and legs out to slow myself down. The bracelets must click in at a certain altitude, because at the moment I'm still hurtling downwards.

A few seconds later, dad comes down in front of me and signals to ask me how I'm feeling. I give him a shaky thumbs up and we reach out, grabbing hold of each other's hands. We must look truly comical - two clowns holding hands as they fall through the air at 125mph. I feel slightly thankful that he isn't wearing his Belstaff. I don't think I could have coped if I saw that one flapping out as he fell again.

John joins us moments later, shortly followed by Nat who sails past us, arms flat to her side and going head-first to pick up speed.

Thirty seconds later, we reach 1000ft and the bracelets glow bright blue. The sudden change in velocity hits me hard, but I allow my feet to drop beneath me so that I'm almost standing in thin air as I slowly drop to the ground.

My landing area is within a large forest, but I'm able to navigate around the trees and land easily on the ground.

"That was a lot nicer than a parachute," John says, landing beside me. "The army really ought to invest in these."

"They're for S.H.I.E.L.D use only," Nat says, walking over as dad finally lands. "Pretty cool, huh?"

"Not bad," I smile back.

"Took me some getting used to," Captain America says, emerging though the trees, carrying an unconscious Mrs Hudson.

John's eyes widen in awe, slightly starstruck "Captain," he says, saluting the red, white and blue soldier. Cap salutes back. "Is she -?"

"She's alive," he confirms, setting her down on the grass. "I could hardly let my best girl's sister die."

It's my turn to be surprised. "Sorry?"

"Martha," he says, indicating to Mrs Hudson. "Maiden name Carter. I knew her older sister in the fourties." I'm momentarily speechless. "She can't stay here, Theta Protocol's been called - this is going to be a battlefield in five minutes."

"What's Theta Protocol?" dad asks.

"They're calling in the Avengers," John answers. "Sherlock, take Mrs Hudson back to Baker Street."

Dad frowns. "And what are you going to do?" he asks. "Stay here and fight?"

"If I'm needed," he replies, looking around at Cap, who nods.

"It would be good to have you, Captain," he says and John looks pointedly back to dad.

"Sophie?" dad asks, and I shake my head.

"I'm practically an Avenger," I say. "Seeing as I'm here, I might as well. It's not like I'll be fighting aliens this time."

Dad looks at me for a moment, then pulls me in tight. "Stay safe," he says in a low voice in my ear.

"I'll be back," I promise, smiling as the Quinjet comes down beside us. I look back at Nat. "You don't happen to have a change of clothes on board do you? And a gun?"

"Sure thing," she replies, leading me over as dad picks up Mrs Hudson. The back door opens, and Clint rolls a Land Rover down the ramp as the other Avengers walk down beside.

"Sophie," Stark says, walking down and offering his hand. "Good to see you made it alright."

"Thanks Tony," I reply. For a moment, I consider telling him about Coulson, but then think better of it. Coulson is what inspired us to fight in New York and is part of the reason we're called 'the Avengers'.

"Bike's in the back, Cap," Clint says, bringing the car to a stop and getting out. "Sophie, hey!" He goes in for a high five and I oblige. "I see we've got a new recruit."

I smile. "Yeah, guys this my friend Captain John Watson, and my father Sherlock Holmes."

"Mr Holmes, your daughter is a top kid," Clint says to dad. "Saved my ass last year."

"Sophie," Thor says, coming over giving me a hug. "Nice clothes. How are you?"

"Not bad," I reply. "Been back to Asgard?"

"Yes. Father says I can remain on Earth for the foreseeable future."

"And Jane?"

"No longer together," he replies. "It was a mutual thing, a mutual dumping." I smile understandingly, but I can tell from his voice that it was far from mutual.

"So where's Bruce?" I ask Nat as we climb the ramp.

"He's in the back in case of a Code Green."

"Ah, so that's what we're calling it now," I smile and Nat nods, sharing it.

"Yeah, they've come to an understanding. Hey Bruce, Sophie's here."

Bruce sits up. "Oh, hey Soph." He frowns as he sees my clothes. "What are you wearing?"

"Don't ask," I say, following Nat past him into the back to change.