CHAPER THIRTEEN

An elderly man sat by himself on the edge of the bed in a luxurious stateroom. His weathered hands were clasped together tightly, his forehead resting against them.

Slowly, he raised his head and opened his hands, revealing the pearl resting in the middle of his palm. He sighed deeply before rising to his feet. He walked across the room, nestling the pearl into a box.

There was a knock at the door. The man turned his head to the sound. "Yes?"

"House keeping," came the reply.

His brow furrowed, the man walked to the door, opening it up. His eyes widened.

Sherlock shrugged his shoulders, smiling tightly. "Okay. I fibbed. But you weren't going to open the door if I were truthful. You know who I am, don't you?"

The man nodded. "You're rather famous, Mister Holmes. How did you find out where I was?"

Sherlock moved the man aside, striding into the room. "I know a street urchin who is very adept at computer searches. It wasn't difficult to locate Jonathan Small." Cool blue eyes surveyed the silver-haired man. "Nor was it difficult to find the trail you left when you murdered Arthur Morstan."

Small flinched. "Have you told Mary yet?" He shook his head slowly. "You can't tell her. I'm trying to make it up to her. Thaddeus promised me he'd take care of her, but he kept the money to himself."

"And that's why you murdered him," Sherlock replied coldly. He shoved his hands into the pockets of his Belstaff. "I'm not exactly inclined to sympathize with you. It's not my natural state and even if it were what you've done is reprehensible."

Sherlock opened the door once again, revealing Mary standing on the other side.

Small took a staggering step towards her. "Mary- I-"

"Don't say anything," Mary hissed. She walked into the room, her hands shaking. John followed close behind her, taking her hand and holding it tightly. "How could you do this...?" She took a deep breath. "...Dad."

Small- Morstan- flinched. "It's hard to explain."

Sherlock hummed softly. "No, I actually think it's quite easy to explain. You illegally seized a home when you were in the military. Found a substantial fortune. Tired of a life split between the military and raising a teenaged daughter alone, you fake your death to enjoy your ill-gotten gains in a new life as Jonathan Small. The only person aware of your plan was your best friend and peer, Thaddeus Sholto. His own financial boon coincides with your disappearance. You left him with money to care for your daughter, as you at least wanted her to have monetary security..." Sherlock's lip curled. "Even if you did deny her the only thing she truly wanted, which was a family. You did not discover Sholto ignored your wishes until you read an article in the paper about me that mentioned my friend was marrying her. When you saw she was a poor teacher, you realized you had been betrayed. Then, you returned, murdered Sholto in revenge, and blackmailed his son to give Mary the inheritance you'd left for her..." Sherlock took a step towards Morstan. "Have I left anything out?"

"I had to leave," Morstan whispered. "I would have been found. The treasure... I wouldn't have been able to keep it."

Sherlock glared hard at him. "And with that you lose any right to speak to me. Mary, I suggest you say your piece while I retrieve Lestrade."

Sherlock strode towards the door while Morstan lurched after him. "Wait, Mister Holmes-"

Mary stepped in her father's path. "How could you do this? You murdered someone!"

"He was supposed to take care of you!" Morstan cried.

"NO!" Mary yelled back at him, her eyes welling with tears. "You were supposed to take care of me! I wanted you, not some stupid pearls or any treasure. All I ever wanted was a family and I thought that was taken from me..." She grimaced. "Now I find out that you just walked out."

"I couldn't take care of you," Morstan insisted. "They would have found me, found out what I did..."

"Then why did you do it?" Mary cried. "Stealing some treasure was more important than being with me! I'm your daughter!"

"That's why I killed Sholto. He said he would look after you and he didn't!" Morstan took hold of Mary's shoulders. "I wanted you taken care of."

Mary jerked away from him. "Maybe I would have been if you hadn't run away."

"If you would just let me explain..."

Mary shook her head. "I don't want to hear it." She leaned into John. He wrapped his arms around her, glaring daggers at Morstan.

Sherlock stepped back into the hotel suite, accompanied by Lestrade and Donovan.

Morstan's eyes widened as Lestrade showed his badge. "Mary, wait..."

Mary refused to meet her father's gaze, keeping herself close to John.

"Arthur Morstan," Lestrade said, pulling out his handcuffs. "You're under arrest for the murder of Thaddeus Sholto."

"MARY!" Morstan shouted as Lestrade led him away.

Sherlock held his head high, Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed hard. "Mary." He took a cautious step towards the married couple. "Normally, I very much enjoy solving a case, especially one that has been cold for as long as this one has. However... This time..."

Suddenly, Mary had pulled away from John and thrown her arms around Sherlock. He went still, eyes widening. "Wh-what's happening here?" He looked to John for explanation. John smiled and gave a small shrug.

"I'm glad this happened, Sherlock." Mary pulled away from Sherlock and he visibly relaxed. "I mean, I wish it had turned out differently, of course... But I've been wondering what happened to my father for years. You finally gave me an answer to that. I needed it. But I don't need him. Now I can move on."

"Yes... Well..." Sherlock smiled tightly. "All in a day's work. Now come. Lestrade will need statements."

Molly walked alongside Sherlock towards Angelo's, holding his hand tightly. "I just can't believe it. A father abandoning his daughter for treasure..."

Sherlock tightened his grasp on Molly's hand. "I can believe it. Morstan was a deeply selfish man. The treasure was more important to him than taking care of his daughter. He fooled himself into believing he was helping her by giving her financial stability, but he didn't bother finding out if Sholto had kept up his end of the bargain until he stumbled across an article mentioning Mary marrying John in the paper."

Molly leaned in against Sherlock. "I just still think it's horrible. He was her father."

"My father is a serial adulterer with at least four illegitimate children and very little interest in any of his offspring. Even before they died, John wasn't close with his parents. You are one of the few people I know who had a good relationship with their family." Sherlock let go of Molly's hand and draped his arm over her shoulders. "But it doesn't really matter. Not really."

"Oh, it doesn't?" Molly looked up at Sherlock.

Sherlock shook his head. "Being born into a family. It's nothing but genetic happenstance. There's no reason you should get along with them. Siger and Violet may have brought me into the world, but I'm not at all required to enjoy associating with them." He leaned down and pressed a kiss to Molly's forehead. "The family you choose... I find that much more important. I chose you. You're my family, Molly Holmes. I don't need anyone else."

Molly crinkled her nose, smiling up at him. "Well. Now that's a lie, isn't it?"

Sherlock's brow furrowed. "Why would I be lying about that?"

"You've got more family than just me." Molly insisted as she opened the door to Angelo's.

John and Mary stood up from the table, smiling as Sherlock helped Molly remove her coat.

"It's about time you got here," John said, clapping Sherlock on the shoulder. "What took you so long?"

"I was finding out about Mary's father's case from Lestrade," Sherlock replied. "Heard you had to give the pearls back, Mary."

Mary nodded. "I don't need them." She took John's hand. "It's not a treasure worth having."

"So what were you two talking about when you came it?" John asked. "You had your offended look on your face."

Sherlock studied John's face for a long moment. He then shifted his gaze towards Mary. Finally, he looked to Molly. He smiled. "Just about how my wife is right."

John nodded. "Spoken like a true husband."

Angelo bustled over to the table. "Four for dinner? I'll bring you a bottle of my best wine."

As he left the table, Mary nodded to Sherlock. "Surprised you were up for coming out. Double dates don't seem like your favourite thing."

Sherlock yawned. "I was too tired to argue with my wife. I've just solved quite a few cases in a row." He turned to look to Molly. "Or it could just be that marriage has horribly biased my judgment."

"I think you'll survive the ordeal," John replied wryly.

"Oh I don't know..." Sherlock teased. "Maybe I should forget the whole thing and get back to the way things were before."

"Sherlock..." Molly said warningly.

"Only kidding, Darling. For me-" Sherlock reached under the table, taking her hand. "I've got everything I need."

THE END