First Deductions

Expulsion

"Mother! We're home!" Mycroft called through the tiny family flat, as Sherlock raced around his legs holding aloft a paperweight replica of the skull he had been playing in the museum.

"In the office!" A woman s voice called from a room down the hallway. Both brothers went to greed the owner of the voice.

Entering the study the boys glanced over the wall to wall book shelves on either side of a solid oak desk. The room was also adorned with a comfortable looking reading chair.

They walked over to the desk chair where a thin woman with white blonde hair and the same blue green eyes as Sherlock sat with a book on her lap that was turned to page 394

She opened her arms in a welcoming embrace, which to boys gladly returned.

"So," Ms. Lillian Holmes said pulling her boys back to arms length. "How was the human history tour?"

Sherlock pulled out the miniature skull from behind his back and proudly stated, "I held the real thing while professor Moffat wasn't looking! They got every detail right on this replica, except from the fact that its made of plaster.’’

Mycroft flinched at ‘Moffat’ and touched his coat pocket where the letter of expulsion was.

He cleared his throat to get his mother's attention. She looked up from admiring Sherlocks trinket, Mycroft mouthed to her the word ‘Important’.

‘’Sherlock, dear, could you go make us some tea?’’ she asked innocently. he nodded and set of to the kitchen.

****************************************

A gasp escaped Mrs. Holmes mouth as she read the letter. 

‘’They can't do that!’’ she exclaimed beginning to sob. The tears rolled down her cheeks and dripped onto the last hope of a private school education for her youngest son.

Mycroft felt a twinge of guilt. He was the one who had gone to Xaviers before Sherlock, setting the expectation bar on nearly impossible for his little brother.

''Mother?'' Both Lillian and Mycroft looked up to see the concerned face of Sherlock, who was holding a tray with the tea his mum had ordered.

''What's wrong?''

''Sherlock!'' She said wiping her wet cheeks with her sweater sleeve.

''What are you doing here?''

He set the tea tray down and answered her question. ''Well, reason number one; I live here. And reason number two;'' He gestured to the tray of steaming mugs, ''you asked me to make tea, and I did.’’

Another wave of sobs bombarded Mrs. Holmes.

Sherlock didn't try to comfort her. He stood there analyzing the scene, like Mr. Moffat said he did in school. His took on a calculating look as he glanced at the crumpled, tear stained letter, and the look of grief on his mothers face. And in less then ten seconds he came to a conclusion.

''I got kicked out of Xavier's, didn't I?''

His mother nodded and reached out for a comforting hug.

A broad smile lit up Sherlock's face. He flew into his mom's hug, but not for the reason she had extended it.

''Thank you! Thank you, thank you! I never thought I would get out of that dreadfully dull school!" He beamed

Mrs. Holmes and Mycroft look astonished at Sherlocks words. "You didn't like Xavier's?" She inquired, wiping her tears.

"Not at all, the schools curriculum's were awful, as were their teachers." He said plainly, stepping out of his mother's arms. "Now, if you wouldn't mind making dinner, I would much appriciate it. The tuna sandwich wasn't all that appetizing"