Sophia Holmes and the Duplicate Man (Sherlock's Daughter Fanfic) *Completed*

Chapter One - The Duplicate Man Part I

"You got a case?" I ask, seeing John standing over dad at the computer as I wheel my suitcase into the living room.

"Mm," dad says. "Dennis Parkinson was found murdered at his house in Croydon last night but turned up to work this morning."

"Does he have an alibi?" I ask, my eyes widening.

"Yes. On the other side of town."

"Are we sure the vic is him? This isn't another Emelia Ricolleti case, is it, where there's a whole group of people behind it?"

"Possibly," dad nods, then raises his head and frowns when he sees my suitcase. "Where're you going?"

"New York, as I said." I give a disbelieving shake of my head. "I did talk this through with you."

"Yeah," John agrees. "You said you'd found someone who could help you with your sight loss."

"Pretty much. He's going to help teach me how to fight without relying on my sight. I shouldn't be gone too long."

"Who is it?" dad asks.

"Matt Murdock," I tell him, but get two blank faces staring back at me. "Otherwise known as the Daredevil of Hell's Kitchen? He's been blind since childhood but almost at a match with Nat or Mary when it comes to hand-to-hand combat. If anyone can train me to fight using my other senses, it's him."

"Okay, just be careful, yeah?" dad says, returning to his computer screen. "Don't go getting wrapped up in anything over there again."

"What do you take me for?" I say, giving them both a small smile before heading out. 

***

It's almost six hours before I finally catch a flight from Gatwick. Due to a terrorist incident in Vienna, all flights have been grounded until they get given the all-clear which doesn't come until three o'clock. Even then, I only just manage to get a seat after a first-time flyer backs out last minute, though I can't say I blame them. I've had experience with being in a hi-jacked aircraft before, and last time I ended up being pushed out of a helicopter so I can't say I'm overly fond of flying either. But this is something that needs to be done sooner rather than later. I can't let my disability make me vulnerable again. 

It's late evening when the flight finally lands at JKF airport - too late to be thinking of travelling across Queen's to get to Manhattan, so I focus on finding a hotel to stay at as I work my way out of the airport. Being so caught up in my phone, I almost miss the teenage boy at the entrance.

He can't be much older than fifteen, with a floppy mop of brown hair and a wide smile as he waves at me, brandishing a placard with my name on it. 

Frowning slightly, I make my way over to him. Somebody must have called ahead, but who?

"Miss Holmes," he says, grinning at me and fumbling as he tucks the placard under his arm to shake my hand. "I can't tell you how much this means to me. It's so nice to meet you!"

I laugh a little, taking back my hand as he starts to over-shake it. "Thank you, but ... who exactly are you?"

"Oh, I'm Peter. Peter Parker. Mr Stark sent me." 

I study him curiously. While he seems intelligent, I can't work out what his relationship is to Tony. Is he one of the many illegitimate children that John hinted to him having? Or is he an Avenger? Surely Tony wouldn't recruit anyone as young as him. 

"Really?" I say, putting on a smile. "That makes a nice surprise. I wasn't expecting anyone to pick me up."

"Yeah, Mr Stark said you might need something to get your attention," he says, gesturing shyly to his placard. "Anyway, my Aunt May's in the car outside. She says you can stay at ours for as long as you like."

"Oh, okay, cool," I say, still slightly taken aback. Why didn't Tony just send a car? The last I heard, he converted his high-rise into a compound and accommodation for the Avengers, so I'm sure there would have been a room there for me to stay in. Why house me with a boy - who has apparently very little to do with the Avengers - and his aunt? "Thank you."

"Do you want me to take your suitcase?"

"No, that's fine thank you Peter." I refer back to his placard. "I think you've got enough to manage with."

"Oh yeah," he chuckles. "Fair point."