You Gotta Be Joking

Part 6

by Rondabunny

Girl in pajamas was lying on her stomach on a king size bed facing Ms. Adler who was also resting in her nightgown on the pillows. It was dark outside and the room was lit dimly only with light streaming from a night lamp standing on a bedside table.

"Now tell me, please, where have you been all this time?" the child asked.

"Curiosity killed the cat and little kittens it tears to pieces," the woman said teasingly.

"That's not fair! I told you everything!" the girl pouted.

"Because you're just a small kid, when you grow up you'll have your own little secrets."

"It's not rocket science, I already know that you're a former MI6,"her tone was a bit derogative.

"How did you know about it?" Irene Adler sounded surprised.

"I already have my little secrets," the girl grinned.

"Fine, still, I don't want you to grow up," she said softly.

"Why do you need two kids?"

"Two? Do you have a friend I don't know about?" the woman asked apprehensively.

"I'm sure you know him. Mr. Holmes is more childish than all children in the world put together," the kid said sincerely.

Irene smiled. It was the truth. Sherlock Holmes was a little boy in a form of an adult selfish as a child playing with his human toys in his palace of mind. Each case was an adventure, each puzzle was a pleasure to solve and then to get rid of it after experience was gained. She thought of that New Year's night they spent together dancing and talking. Sherlock was an excellent dancer and even better story teller. They spoke nearly till dawn about everything and nothing. Then he made best bow and went to sleep in the guest room. Yeah, Sherlock was a child. He lived in his dream land where he was a hero who could save damsels in distress but he would never make one of them stay and see his wounds. He didn't understand their love for him like a child can't definitely understand his role in life of his parents and why they love him. That was Sherlock himself. Irene solved that puzzle and went further. She couldn't allow this brilliant detective to take responsibility for Ms. Ashcroft. A child can't take care of another child. Sooner or later one will damage another or simply forget about his duties and an innocent life will be ruined.

A week later

The girl ran upstairs in the house at the Baker Street 221 B followed by the woman.

"Irene, don't forget your manners!" Ms. Adler reprimanded.

"I wanna drink!" she ran into Sherlock's cabinet nearly knocking down Dr. Watson.

"No, stop!" Mr. Holmes exclaimed but it was too late. The girl has already opened the fridge. Adults froze at their places. On the shelf of the fridge lay a dead human head in a plastic bag. The kid took a bottle of water from the door of the fridge, made a long gulp closing the door at the same time.

"Cool!" she pronounced. Adults were still looking at her stunned. "What? Ah, a real dead head in the fridge. Yes, I've noticed. So, what's a big deal?"

"Mr. Holmes, tell me, please, from your vast experience of a child prodigy should I be worried for the lack of any reaction?" Ms. Adler turned to the detective.

"I don't know. I didn't have any experience of that type." He responded in a low voice never taking his eyes off the girl.

"No, better explain me, what the hell a dead decapitated head is doing in the fridge?!" exclaimed Dr. Watson.

"I borrowed it from Molly for an experiment." The man retorted.

"Why do you fuss about it? In movies they show much worse things than this," the child said taking another huge gulp from the bottle.

"Maybe but they are fake and this is real," the woman sounded quite worried.

"I wouldn't worry much about the dead head in fridge. I would have worried about your own head, Ms. Adler," a tall man in a dark suit appeared in the doorway. Everyone turned to face Mr. Mycroft Holmes.

"Miss Adler, I told you to disappear. You were bold enough, though, to come back to London. For an intelligent woman you've disappointed me." Mr. Holmes senior explained in a very official tone. "Oh, Sherlock, why am I not surprised? I gave you a week to leave Britain while I was on a trip to the USA. Unfortunately, you ignored the hint I left you, Ms. Adler. Sorry, but now I'll take care of you." He stepped forward into the room.

Irene Adler ignored his comment, took the mobile phone from her purse and dialed the number: "Good afternoon, the most indispensable man in the country is here. This is for you," the woman gave the phone to Mr. Holmes Senior.

"Yes, your Majesty… Crystal clear, your Highness… She is under our protection. Very well, your Majesty…" He wanted to say something more but the person hang up on him. During this short conversation Mr. Holmes face turned from pinky red to ashen grey, his awesome stature grew lean and he seemed to be very uncomfortable if these words could characterize this man at all.

"Was it the Duchess of Cambridge?" the detective enquired curiously.

"No, it was the queen," pronounced Mycroft in a shock.

Everybody looked at the woman.

"It's none of your business where I was for last 4 months. Nevertheless, I retrieved my character. From now on I will live where I want and do what I want and nobody will decide the future of this girl but me," She placed a hand on the girl's shoulder. The child was hugging her.

"May I sometimes visit Mr. Holmes?" the kid asked.

"If he wants to…" Irene concluded.

"It will be my pleasure," the man nodded.

Mycroft Holmes left the house with wan and drawn face.

A week later

Sherlock Holmes and little Irene were sitting on the grass in Hyde Park eating ice-cream.

"Why did you stay with Ms. Adler?" the man asked.

"She is good," the child responded.

"Good? She beat you black and blue." He looked at the girl with an amazed gaze.

"Because she cared," the child concluded.

"And I didn't?!" jealous notes sounded in his deep voice.

"You did but not like her. You were curious, she was worried. For you everything is a game, for her everything is real," the kid explained.

"Yeah, she really likes to play dangerous games," the detective chuckled though he sounded more sad than merry.

"Will you keep an eye on her while I'm at school?"

"Do you think I should?" He spoke.

"You two complete each other even a child can see it. Maybe it's time to grow up and experience something knew?" She innocently licked her ice-cream staring in the sky at doves flying high above them.

"Like what?"

"Ask her for dinner."

The man nodded.

The end

Fine, now it's your turn to write what will happen next