Back at Baker Street

Adelaide hoisted Mirabella in her carrier up and rested the handle in her elbow, getting out of the cab and walking as quickly as she could to the 221 Baker Street door, shoving her key into the lock and letting herself in in time to shut the door behind her and scurried up to the nursery. Sherlock followed close behind, having thrust a large bank note into the cabbie's hand and failing to disguise his foul mood. Apparently we can't even go a month now without hers and Mirabella's lives being endangered. And now she's made the trouble.

He stomped up the stairs and into the living room with a huff, "Adelaide..?"

"I'm going to put Mirabella down in her cot and then we can talk, just wait a minute, will you?" She answered, feeling the rush of adrenaline that had been coursing through her for hours, begin to ebb. After tucking her baby girl in in her nursery Adelaide hurried to their bedroom and threw off her heavy coat and shoes, trading them for her dressing gown and house slippers before she took a deep breath and returned to the living room. Sherlock was finishing putting his coat and scarf away as she walked in; shoulders squared up and stiff for how tense his body was. He didn't bother taking off his blazer before turning around to face her.

"Now, explain what exactly happened today when you went to Tesco? Gary said you saved several other customers and were largely responsible for the apprehending of those thugs who were, as I recall, threatening you when we were leaving the Yard."

His icy blue eyes were staring into hers in a way that he hadn't in months. And not in a good way. Adelaide shivered and crossed her arms, going on the defensive; "We were at the Tesco, just going to pick up some groceries. I didn't seek out any trouble and didn't realize there was any until I heard the store go nearly silent. It put me on guard and I saw the reflection of the intruders in one of the large mirrors- they had come in and taken several customers hostage already and were pilfering the tills and breaking into the offices to search for more money. I told Tara to take Mirabella into the bathroom and lock the door. My body was on autopilot, Sherlock! I just knew that I could take action and that if I didn't that innocent people would be hurt and that the culprits would likely make off scot-free."

He had his hands pressed together under his chin now, digesting the information. After a few seconds he responded sternly, "You still should have gone and hidden with our daughter and Tara-"

"Sherlock, just let me finish before you lecture me!!" He looked a little stunned at her outburst, enough for Adelaide to continue, "In that moment I was doing what I knew I could. I knew that I could hide with Mirabella in the restroom, not try to help at all and risk being found anyways, or I could send them to hide and do whatever I could to prevent the thugs from harming our baby girl and anyone else. I instinctively chose the latter, Sherlock. I went into a zone. I was focused on protecting everyone I could. I gathered as many goods that I deemed useful and called the police. Unfortunately, that was when one of the thieves walked to the back of the store, saw me on the phone and that was that. He crushed my phone and had me sit down on the floor so he could secure the other remaining customers, so I waited until the opportunity came..."

She went on to recount as many details of her escapade as she could remember, right up to her struggle with the thug who had inflicted her bruises and scrapes as the Yard arrived. Sherlock listened silently, barely moving, until her story had concluded and he had processed the minutia. He still looked quite irritated but his shoulders relaxed ever so slightly and his steely gaze softened.

After a minute of silence he spoke; "So you risked your own safety to be a hero..?"

"I hadn't intended to be a hero, Sherlock. I was just wanting to protect whomever I could by whatever means. I didn't want to have to physically fight any of them. You and I both know I'm not a very good hand fighter. I wouldn't have lasted very long if that had been my only plan." She replied, staring at the rug as she shuffled her feet, wanting desperately to have this over with.

The Detective leveled a stern gaze at her when she glanced back up, "Adelaide, you know as I do that your body is still fragile."

She sighed, "Yeah..."

"Yet you still decided to take the matter into your own hands, foolishly taking the risk that you might sustain severe injuries in your efforts to save everyone in that store. And just after being cleared by Doctor Coburn, no less! You could have been shot or stabbed! Or if the force hadn't shown up in time, they might have beaten you to get you to submit!" Sherlock scolded and grasped her shoulders, "It could have been me getting a phone call today or a personal visit from Lestrade to inform me that you had been injured in a robbery or that you had been killed- or forbid that it would've been Mirabella or both of you!! I could have lost you for good!!"

Sherlock's voice cracked as his voice lowered back down and he gently cupped her face, angling her head so her eyes were aligned with his; "Adelaide, if I had lost you or Mirabella today, it would have broken me permanently. I can't take any more of these close calls from you!!"

He found himself having to hold back the continuation of his rant, knowing that if he didn't control his volume that it could very well awaken Mirabella and upset Adelaide even more. The Detective also knew that she didn't need more reminders or lectures- her face told him everything he needed.

Adelaide, meanwhile, had dropped her gaze to the floor and was on the verge of tears. The adrenaline was rushing out of her system and albeit it was delayed, she was feeling all the fear and anxiety that had been buried during the ordeal. She had been scared to death, and still was considering the threats she'd been dealt at the Yard. Before Sherlock could say anything more, she leaned forward into him, burying her head in his chest and letting out a shaky breath; "I-I'm sorry, Sherlock..."

He wrapped his arms around her and stroked her hair, shaking his head, "No,.. As much as I hate that you put yourself in danger... Your actions were the only reason why the other hostages were unharmed and that the perpetrators were successfully caught. I'm certain the people you helped would not want to hear you apologising for saving them."

She almost snorted in response but was sniffling too much to make a distinguishable noise. They stayed in that position for several minutes before he stood her back up and cupped her bruised cheek once more, "You really are a Holmes now, my Love."

"What do you mean..?"

"It means that you are reckless and that you like to find creative means of action to address problems. I'm sure Mycroft will be calling later to analyse everything you did."

She smiled gently, shaking her head, "As Tara said, you've really started to rub off on me. I suppose that it was inevitable, wasn't it?"

"I would be inclined to agree," Sherlock responded and leaned down to press a kiss to her lips, "And for that, I am proud. But in the future, Angel, I must request that you at least inform me before you do battle with any more dragons."

"Dragons..?"

"Mmm."

Adelaide chuckled meekly; "I'll do my best, Darling, but I can slay more dragons than you think I can."

His lips twitched into a smile and he answered, "I know you can... Just from now on, leave the ones of the criminal persuasion to myself, Mycroft and John? I don't want to hear any more threats against you and I absolutely don't want you or Mirabella getting hurt."

"Alright, alright!" Adelaide replied. He caught her gaze again.

"Promise?"

She nodded, "I promise, Sherlock. I'll try to be more careful about which dragons I do battle with."

"Excellent," They shared another kiss and then Sherlock hummed, caressing her injured cheek; "Now, allow me to see to your bruises?"

"Of course."

He led her into the kitchen and retrieved a fresh cold compress and some pain medicine for her, then put on some tea while he whipped out the first aid kit Adelaide had stored in the cupboard. He cleaned the wound sites on her face and upper body, leaving kisses over each area as he found it and providing as much comfort as he could to his beloved wife.

Meanwhile, his mental commentary was focused on designing the perfect method of justice for the ones responsible. And once he'd gotten Adelaide in bed to rest, he retrieved his mobile and called his brother.

"I suppose you're wanting to discuss Adelaide's heroism?"

"No. Would you be interested in seeing to the criminals responsible? As that is, of course, your area of expertise?"

He heard his brother's smirk on the other side of the phone.

"Say no more, brother mine."

Sorry for the wait, but I hope you enjoyed it!! 😘❤ 

Stay tuned!! Much Love!!