The Sacrifice

Chapter 3: The Startling Truth

*Sherlock’s POV*

I finally convinced John to go home for some rest last night because I knew that he needed to sleep, he had work after all. I also know that I had received multiples of text messages and phone calls from Mycroft, demanding to know what was going on but I did not have the patience to deal with him today, I decided to sit by Ashley as she slept. The doctors had to sedate her last night after she was finally stable to keep her from feeling any pain and to heal. We brought her in for several marks but after she had gone into cardiac arrest so they put the defibrillator on her to start her heart again, we knew that this had gone on for a long time. As soon as they got her heart working again, they said that she was moving about and screaming “Stop, Don’t hurt me! Daddy, I am sorry! Don’t hurt me!” was the first thing she said but what hurt us the most is what she said after that, “Daddy, Not Harlow…Please don’t daddy! Don’t hurt her…Run Harlow, Run!!!” John could not take it, he almost broke the glass that separated the outside air from the inside when he heard that sweet girl cry out as she relived subconscious fear that no one knows about.

I remember that John said that her biological Father, Oliver, had not seen Ashley since she was 12 because of some problems her parents had. I sit and think until I am greeted by the shadow of someone that I was not expecting. The shadow was tall but was casted on Ashley because of the lighting. I look up to see my brother, Mycroft, holding his umbrella and a bouquet of carnations, Ashley’s favorite flower. I see him put them in the vase by the bed and looks at Ashley. “So, this is the girl you both have grown to love?” He says before he tries to touch her hair until I see a hand grab his, not allowing him access to touch the sleeping girl’s head.

The hand that had stopped Mycroft was none other than my husband, John. He looked horrible and I could tell that he did not sleep at all last night. He looked like a shell of himself. “Please… do not touch her. I want her to sleep and wake up on her own accord” Is all that John voices before he hands me a cup of coffee and sits by her. Mycroft nods and looks at me, quite confused. “I am here, what did you need from me?” is all Mycroft says as John looks at me, asking with his eyes to talk about it outside the room so Ashley could sleep. I lead Mycroft out of the room and we sit in a private office to talk.

“I need a favor… John received a call saying that Ashley’s paperwork mysteriously disappeared from King’s College and then that she was no longer welcome to attend. Her visa is for studying and I need it to be changed…” Is all I manage to say until Mycroft holds a hand up to me and nods, knowing what I need before I even ask. “I will call and have her visa changed from a Student Visa to A Family Visit Visa and have all the paperwork over to you this afternoon.” He states and all I can do is feel a weight is lifted up from my chest. I know that John, my John will be happy but it is because we get to keep the girl he has loved as his own since she was a child and not risk her being deported.

As we stand up to leave, he tells me something I did not want to hear. “Sherlock, James Davidson has decided to come to England and he seems adamant on getting Ashley back. He was the one who gave Ashley those injuries but there is something deeper and darker you should know before you ask her what you and John want to ask her.” I freeze and suddenly have an image of Ashley crying and begging that… idiotic man that hurt her to stop and all I can do is punch the wall. “I refuse to let her be hurt anymore. Keep an eye on him for me and I will inform New Scotland Yard to keep an eye on Ashley when we are not near her. Please Mycroft… John loves her so much and I promised him that we would ask her together. Please do not let anything happen to her.” I cry silently. The only person that ever made me cry before Ashley was John and only John and now, it is John and Ashley.

“Brother, I can insure you, Ashley will be safe. I have already told the police to not allow him with 1000 feet of her and to notify me if anything changes.” Mycroft says but before he leaves, I grab his arm, wanting only one last favor. “Mycroft… please look up something on her biological father. I want to know what he did to her. She was crying last night and yelled for him to stop about something. Please notify me if you find anything.” I receive a nod and he leaves as I try to compose myself and walk back over to Ashley’s room only to see John crying and hugging our sweet niece who decided to open her eyes while I was away.