The Unknown Child (A Sherlock FanFiction)

XXIII: "Oh Clara, My Clara."

He stepped aside and let me into my room, the tears evident on his face. I felt small droplets of salty water stream down my cheek.

“Clara, my Clara…” He began. “I have always known you were fragile.”

“You wanted the truth, now you have it.”

“But I now understand why you are the way you are. You don’t really know who you are…you’re so lost Clara and I want to help you get there.” He walks towards me and grabs my hands and held them, like he is never going to let go.

“James, I have been raped and had my dignity taken from me. I have been probably locked in a dark, grimy room, drugged up and assaulted day in and day out… But that’s not all.” I wail. I take off my tie and tights. I strip my shirt and skirt off, only leaving my underwear and bra on. “I still have the evidence.”

James’s jaw drops. He stumbles back and sits on the edge of my bed, just staring. I look down at myself, seeing all the bruises had started to fade but were still visible. Some were yellow and some were still an ugly purple. I look up to see James cradling his head in his hands, his elbows resting on his thighs. I wander over to him, not caring what I looked like, even in this state. I kneel at his feet, and grab his hands, his large ones covering mine.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” He cried. “Why did you hide yourself from me?” He said.

“Because…” I began, but I couldn’t finish. I just cried, the tears never ending.

“Please don’t cry Clara.” James whispered. He released one hand and began stroking my hair. “Please Clara, I hate seeing you like this.” He pleaded. He hauled me up and pulled me into his chest. He tangled one hand in my hair and the other he wrapped the other around my bare waist. I had placed my arms around his neck, standing on my toes.

“Please don’t leave me.” I beg.

“Oh Clara…my Clara…never” He whispered. He kisses my forehead, lingering for just a second, making my stomach do backflips and my heart flutter. I didn’t want this moment to end.

“I think I should get dressed.” I say, letting go of his neck. He nodded and looked down at his feet. I wander over to my clothes on the floor and pulled them on. James stared the whole time, and I didn’t mind. I had stripped in front of him less then three minutes ago, but I knew that wasn’t the only reason he was looking at me.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

The room was now cold and darkness had taken over the walls. James and I had studied for biology for the past hour, and begun our assignment. Mrs. Hudson bought up some dinner. Roast chicken with steamed vegetables and mash potato, which was divine. It was nearing six o’clock, and James needed to be home by seven. He had actually had a change of clothes in his bag, from when he was at his grand-parents house the night before. I finished the last equation before I headed off into my room to change into my warmer clothes and boots. I told James he could get dressed in the bathroom, which he did silently. Ever since he found out about who I really was, he has barely spoken a word to me. I walked out of my bedroom, walking straight past the bathroom with my head down and hands by my side. I grab my scarf and gloves of the couch and shoved my hands into them. I stood behind the door and reached for my coat, only to be beaten to the hook by James. He took it down for me and handed it to me.

“Thank you…” I mumble. He doesn’t say a word. I give Mrs. Hudson a yell, telling her we are leaving. She says to be back by seven. We stepped out into the street in silence. James led the way to his house, darting through people. I speed my pace to keep up with his long legs. “Slow down James.” I say, trying not to yell. I grab the sleeve of his coat, dragging him back towards me. “I shouldn’t have told you.” I say, looking down, avoiding his gaze. He grabs my hand and squeezes it tight. He leads me into a side street, where there was barely any people walking. “Clara, I need to tell you something.” I only nod, but look down, trying to not look at him for the fear of crying. “Hey, don’t do that, please look at me.” He pleads.

“It’s hard too James.” I cry. “You have known me only a few months and you know think that this has all been a lie, that I am not the Clara you know.” I say. I stare at the ground, finding my boots more interesting.

“That’s not true.” He said. He looks at his watch and gasps at the time. “We better get going, it is 6:30pm.” He said. He grabs my hand and leads me back onto the main road, back into the sea of people. He lets go and wraps his arm around my shoulder, pulling me into him.

We walked in silence until we got to his home. He stopped me just before we got to his door.

“I didn’t get to finish before. So here it is, you are still you Clara. You are still the same girl I have been friends with since day one. It doesn’t matter that if you have been through all of that, so long as you stay the same as you are now.” He said. I say nothing, not wanting to make the situation any worse than it is. “I care about you so much Clara, can’t you see that?”

“Show me.” I say

“What?”

“Show me that you care.” I say, looking up from my boots. His eyes were staring directly at mine, not shifting at all. Before I could say anything, his hands were cradling my face and his lips were on mine. He broke off after a moment, leaving me stunned.

“Is that enough to so that I care?” He said, smiling. I smiled, trying not to ruin the moment.

“See you tomorrow?” I say.

“Defiantly.” He said. He turned to face his front door. “Goodnight Clara Eloise.”