The Irregulars' Hideout

"Oi, there! Watch out!" Paul exclaimed as someone slammed into him from the side as he was about to enter the building. "Oh, it's you, Ian." he shook his head, a crooked smile on his pale face. The older boy loved to run into people at random, a thing Paul was determined to put out of him. "Let's get in.." he pulled himself up to the window and sneaked inside. Not that it was much warmer than outside, but at least it was protected from the cold and rain.
Leaning against the wall, he looked up and watched the other Irregular pull himself inside. "Where 'ave ya been, ey? Mr. 'olmes' got a new case for us?" he asked, his cockney accent clear in his words.

Ian's roaring laughter received some filthy looks from the people around them, but he really couldn't care less. He knew quite well how to behave himself, but only when in company deserving it, like when he visited Baker Street. Then again, if he wouldn't Mrs. Hudson would toss him out on his ear and that really hurt a lot.
"Don't whine, Paulie." he grinned at the younger lad and jumped into the house. "Nah, I saw 'im earlier, I did, but 'ee had nuthin' for us..." Ian said with a sigh. He really could use some money, so being employed by the detective would be awesome. "Nevermind, so what 'ave you been up ta then? Your sister's still ill?" he asked, concern colouring his voice. Paul's younger sister had a bad caugh for several days already and that never boded well with winter yet to come.

Paul shook his head at the other boy's loud laughter, why Ian always had to be so obvious about everything was quite beyond him, as he himself was much more quiet a person. Still, the laughter was somehow infecting him as well and he felt a smile tug at his lips as he bent down to pick up his bag. "It's a pity that Mr. 'olmes doesn't have any work for us." he muttered under his breath. "But I managed ta nick us some apples from the market." Paul grinned and threw one to Ian.
As Wiggins asked after his sister, Paul's smile dropped again. Lizzy was still coughing quite badly when he had left the house this moring and his mother was immensely worried about her. "She's still very sick... I just don't know what I can do ta help 'er. That's why a job from Mista Holmes would be great. We could buy something to help 'er." he said dejectedly.

Chewing on his apple, Ian thoughtfully looked out of the window to the road below where the busy people hurried along on their way. He would love to help his young friend by giving him some money. Hell! He would even steal the medicine, if he knew what the girl needed. Alas, he didn't and he knew that the Quangs didn't have enough money to pay a doctor.
A DOCTOR! That was it! "O' course! How could I be so stupid!" Ian exclaimed and slapped his forehead. "Paul, you must ask the Doctor." He jumped up and rushed over to his friend to pull him to the window. "Let's go right away. Dr. Watson will help us, no doubt. He always 'elps. Come, Paul!" With that, Ian jumped out of the window to the pavement below and grinned up at Paul, relieved that he had finally thought of the right idea.

Paul looked up as suddenly Ian jumped up and pulled him to the window, confused by the change in his mood. "What?..." he couldn't even ask a question when the other boy already talked right over him. But of course! Hoe come Paul didn't think of the Doctor before. "Do you really think Dr. Watson will have time to help my sister?" he asked hopefully after he landed next to Ian on the pavement. Lizzy was very ill and desperately needed a doctor and Paul knew that Mr. Holmes' friend was good at his job and always willing to help even if no money was involved. Still, he didn't dare to get his hopes up just yet, as they ran down the street towards 221B.

Pulling her jacket tighter around her small body, Lily raced through the crowded streets of London. How on a day like this, cold and wet, there could be so many people about, was quite beyond her. She wanted nothing more than to go back home to granny Aggie, but she had promised Linda to meet her by the barber shop in Brixton Road. After exchanging a quick hug, Linda, who was about three years older than Lily, had told her about the nice lad she had seen by the docks the day before and now wanted Lily to help her find him again. She snicked as she remembered the blush her friend had been trying so hard to hide. Lily really had no interest in boys at all, they were mostly just annoying anyway, but she had promised to help her friend.
Now, she was on her way back home when she almost ran into two of her fellow Irregulars. "Paul, Ian!" she called out and grinned at them, though her smile quickly dropped off her face at their expressions. "Is everything alright, mates?" she asked worry colouring her voice.

Coming to an abrupt stop, Paul tried to regain his balance to avoid crashing right into the red-head standing in front of them. "Lily!" he exclaimed. "We're on our way to Baker Street. I wanna ask the Doctor if 'e would take a look at me sister. Lizzy is still coughing so bad and me mum is quite worried." he told their friend, who knew his family well, too. "I hope he will have the time ta check on 'er." Paul looked worriedly at the younger girl to see if she thought it a good idea as well. He really did not want to bother the doctor who always was working so hard anyway, but he was also worried for his sister's life.

Lily's heart dropped at her friend's worried expression and she quickly jumped forward to hug him tightly, hoping that she could show him that she would be there for him. "I'm so sorry to hear that, Paul." her voice was very soft and soothing. "Of course the Doctor will help you! He and Mr. Holmes would always be there for us. He will be able to help her, I'm sure." she said, believing it from the bottom of her soul. "Let us go to them right away, guys." With that, she turned around and pulled Paul at his hand with her.