Chapter 4: Where is Mr. Bee?

John made them tea, while William sat on the sofa waiting for him. As the doctor offered the milky drink the child took it with a mumbled thanks and that was the first time John noticed what was missing: Mr. Bee. He wasn't sure how to bring up the topic, worried that the boy could have a similar meltdown like the one time they had forgotten the toy at Mycroft´s. Worst night of his life and that said it all considering he had been shot and lived in a hospital for months in agonizing pain.

When William had finished his tea he placed the cup on the table in front of him. "William, where is Mr. Bee?" The boy flinched but got control over his body in no time.

"Don't need him. He is just a stuffed toy. It´s childish to walk around with something stupid like that. I´m not a baby anymore." John could read his little friend well and there was so much guilt in those beautiful bluish eyes. Shocked by this words John needed a second to understand the meaning behind them.

"Mr. Bee is your friend. And it´s not childish to have something like him. He offers comfort and companionship when you need him." John offered a smile but William ignored him. Someone, most likely children at school, had teased him about the little stuffed animal the younger William had been inseparable from.

"Don't need it. Only babies have toys like that." William didn't seem to get his point.

"Would you like to watch a movie or we could read a story together?" William shook his head.

"I will go read in my room." With that William got up, placed his cup in the sink in the kitchen, took a book out of a bag and returned to Sherlock´s room that seemed to be William´s from now on.

This wasn't his William, John though as he watched the child disappear in the room at the end of the hall. Worried he took out his phone and waited until the door of Sherlock´s room was closed before calling Mycroft.

The man seemed to expect his call, at least he didn't sound surprised about receiving a call not an hour after leaving his brother with him. "Hello John."

"Mycroft, where is Mr. Bee?" The line was silent for a few seconds.

"I put him into one of the boxes I left in the hall, with William´s clothes, books and other things." That didn't sound right.

"And why does your brother tell me stuffed toys are for babies and he doesn't want it anymore?" John hadn't wanted to sound angry be he was. Someone had hurt his… child. Wow that was fast, William was already his child. It had taken him less than an hour to commit completely to the guardianship-thing.

He heard Mycroft sigh. "Our sister, she did something to him. We aren't really sure what because he never talked about it. But he changed after the fire. It didn't help that school wasn't his place to shine. He attended nearly two years earlier than any of the other children. They didn't take his genius positively. He got bullied, for taking his bee to school even more until he didn't go anymore. Combined with whatever she did to him and the problems with our parents he rejected not only Mr. Bee but also cuddles, hugs, kisses or any other form of comfort, love and affection." Mycroft sounded sad but it didn't change the fact that John was still without any idea how to fix it.

"Thank you Mycroft. I will see what I can do." The man had been a child himself at the time this had all happened, it wasn't his fault.

"No John. Thank you, for being there for him." John ended the call and put the phone back in his pocket. He made his way over to the boxes and bag that had been ignored by everyone when Mycroft had arrived. John opened the first two until he found the black and yellow bee in the third one.

"Hey Mr. Bee, long time no see." The stuffed bee was looking at him without answering. Only his sweet William could hear his voice. "Would you like me to make William happy again?" John nearly hoped the bee would nod but it was enough for him that he was still listening.

John Watson had a new goal in life: to make William Sherlock Scott Holmes the happiest child in this world. And he would start by helping him create his own room.

"William, stop reading and help me with your things so that we can start decorating your room. All your clothes have to go into the wardrobe as well." He didn't shout and a minute later William walked out of the room. Looking up at John, with this tiny spark of hope in his eyes. Yes, Mr. Bee was ignored but William helped with the room. They took away everything dangerous put the existing books and clothes away, put William's things in their right places until the room looked a bit more like a child's one.

John would create a home for William. For his child.