John sat down in his chair as he listened to Mycroft. Sherlock on the other hand was standing up, his violin in his hands ready to be played. Sherlock didn't bother to turn around to look at Mycroft as his elder brother spoke.

" I have a case for you, brother mine - that I think you would at least think interesting. " Mycroft said his umbrella twirled in his hand fluidly. John waited for Mycroft to continue as Sherlock paused at his brother's sentence.

" And what is it exactly? " Sherlock said not moving to turn around, though he did sound curious.

" There have been reports of strange energy pulses around London. An American extra-governmental counter-terrorism and intelligence agency called SHIELD had asked for permission to investigate these energy pulses but I had suggested that one of our own men investigate instead. And as you well know our own men, are you two. But the real question is that if you two will accept this case. If you do I will tell you everything you need to know about this case. " Mycroft informed the two flat mates.

John was ready to agree, it wasn't like anything else was happening exactly. Sure they had solved many cases already and there probably was more to come but still he was pretty sure cases weren't coming anytime soon. They had just finished the case about Irene Adler, the now decreased dominatrix.

" Fine, we'll take the case. Now what is it? " John said not waiting for Sherlock to speak. Sherlock turned around to look at John he was frowning but didn't disagree. John took that as a silent but reluctant yes.

" I am glad you accept. " Mycroft said smiling politely. Sherlock scoffed putting his violin away. Mycroft ignored his young brother. " What we know is that there has been a disappearance of a scientist, her name is Dr. Whitney, she had written a paper discussing a theoretical device that could create new sustaining energy for the world a few weeks before her disappearance. We suspect that a gang boss is behind this, her name or title is The Dragon. She is known for being a powerful influence in the underworld and she craves power and control beyond this country. And that is why we need to discover where she has taken Dr. Whitney. Because we need to find Dr. Whitney before she creates this device. Because if The Dragon has access to unlimited power, who knows of what she'll do next. " Mycroft finished gravely watching his younger brother.

Sherlock steepled his fingers together saying, " Ah an insane psychopath gang boss kidnapping a scientist to gain control to unlimited power, about ready to destroy the world. Finally things are getting interesting around here! It's Christmas. " Sherlock said his heart beating in anticipation, grinning like a child.

" So when do we start? " John asked Mycroft with a tilt of his head.

Mycroft looked at the two with a small smile on his face.

(SHIELD)

A man sat at a desk with a file in his hand. He opened the file looking at the gathered information in it. He resisted the urge to rub at his one good eye.

" Did you know that Sherlock Holmes was a canidate for the Avengers Initiative? " Nick Fury asked to the man sitting across from him. The man's name was Phil Coulson.

" Yes sir, I did. But isn't the Avengers Initiative shut down after the New Mexico incident, sir? " Phil asked his hands clasped together. His face was carefully blank but his voice showed he was slightly curious.

" The Avengers Initiative is shut down. What I'm talking about is that Sherlock Holmes is currently on a case involving a possible new energy source that could change the world. I'm saying that if this new energy source was put into the wrong hands it can prove dangerous, so we sent few agents over to London to help if anything goes wrong. I'm also thinking that this energy could prove very helpful to us. " Nick Fury said in a low voice once again looking at the file in his hands.

" So what do we do, sir? " Phil asked apprehensively.

" We wait. "

(London)

Sherlock had to go to several other gang meetings to figure out where The Dragon's gang were meeting. He had to ask several members of his homeless network to find out the location. He had tracked down several gang members and managed to quietly subdue each one of them without bringing any attention to himself. After a few days of searching Sherlock had gotten the location and time of where the gang were meeting.

Sherlock was going through his wardrobe looking for something that looked inconspicuous. He had gone and contacted some of his homeless network to gather as much information on The Dragon's gang. He learned where The Dragon's gang were meeting, he planned on blending in with the gang's crowd along with John.

He picked a rather dull looking brown jacket along with a dirty pair of trousers, and a hat to conceal his face.

" Let's go John. We don't want to be late. " Sherlock called already opening the door and walking down the stairs. John peeked his head from his room to see an empty flat. He ran out of the door calling, " Sherlock wait! "

As John caught up with Sherlock he asked, " So where are we going to exactly Sherlock?"

Sherlock began to inform John about his plan quickly as they walked to their destination. Apparently there was a some sort of meeting of The Dragon's gang which was happening in an isolated house, Dr. Whitney would of most likely of been there to show her energy device.

" We are going to stop them from using this - device. Once we get there I'll probably have to make a new plan. " Sherlock informed John as they finally arrived at their destination. Sherlock looked at the nighttime sky above him. The gang's meeting was about to begin.

They arrived at a very expensive house, which also had a guard at the doorway. The guard was a young man in his early twenties, Sherlock deduced. Sherlock also noticed how the young man held himself, obviously this man was new to the gang and was nervous. Sherlock further deduced that the man was shown his place by physical means, Sherlock could see the hidden bruising. The man also smoked and was a junkie, had a girlfriend but the relationship was rocky, he had no way for financal income so that's why he joined the gang.

" I need some identification before you enter. " The man sneered in faked confidence. Sherlock almost scoffed at how poorly the man was at concealing his weakness.

Sherlock's hand found itself gripping the man's collar viciously. John found it hard to barely conceal his surprise. What was Sherlock doing? Sherlock shoved the man into the wall snarling at the man.

" Talk to me like that and I'll make sure you won't even be able to open your eyes next morning. Is that enough identification for you? Or do you need someone to teach you another lesson? " Sherlock had a blank face on but knew the man would be scared into letting them in. Funny how fear works.

" Y-yes sir. Sorry s-sir. " The man stuttered before opening the door, letting them both in. The building filled with rough looking people, there was a sign that said no weapons allowed. Strange they didn't even check me or John for weapons, Sherlock thought. The building looked like a mansion from the inside.

Once they had walked inside the building John asked, " How did you know to do that? You know with that guy. " Sherlock scanned his surroundings and the people there before answering.

" Simple really. I noticed how he held himself, he was new to the gang but didn't want anyone else to know that. He hid the bruises that someone higher ranked gave him because he was scared that someone would hurt him again so all I had to do was exploit łthat weakness. He also has a girlfriend that hates him, he's a junkie and he smokes. How I could tell he smoked? He had a box of cigarettes in his left pocket. And- " Sherlock didn't get to finish as he and John stood at the back of a crowd. There was a stage in the middle of the room and a woman stood on it. Guards were surrounding the stage. The woman must've been The Dragon, Sherlock could tell by how the woman held everyone's attention. She practically demanded attention.

" Welcome everyone here. As you all know we are here to discuss this strange little energy device that this nice lady called Dr. Whitney graciously agreed to make for us. Just imagine what we could do with unlimited power. " The Dragon announced as she walked around on the stage as if she rehearsed this speech before. The Dragon continued smoothly talking.

Sherlock ignored The Dragon's speech instead looking for Dr. Whitney. There was a hallway a few feet away from behind the stage. Sherlock could tell the hallway was meant to go by unnoticed, because something important in the room it led to.

" John, Dr. Whitney is being held over there. Let's go. " Sherlock said walking over towards the hallway hoping to not attract any attention. John followed in suit.

" How do you Dr. Whitney is being held there? Do you even have a plan? " John said watching their backs for anyone. Sherlock simply smirked in response.

Dr. Whitney was trying to hide her sniffles. She was frightened and didn't know how she was going to survive this whole being kidnapped thing. Her jaw was bruised from a well aimed punch and her wrists hurt from being shackled all the time.

She was in a room waiting to be called out to show her energy device. But Dr. Whitney knew that the device was highly unstable and if so much as messed with, it would explode and probably kill everything in a two hundred feet radius.

Dr. Whitney eyes widened as she heard shouts and bangs from outside her room. She stared at the door as someone tried to open the door. She heard frustrated whispers as the person seemed to kick the door. Dr. Whitney stood up from her seat to hear the people on the other side of the door.

" This is ridiculous! Can't even open the door because the guards lost the keys! Idiots. We even spared their pathetic arses from the punishment they would've had when they needed to get Dr. Whitney out of the room. " A deep voice complained as the door shook. Whoever just spoke had to be strong enough to make the door shake making Dr. Whitney scared of the people on the other side.

" Sherlock, " A softer but frustrated voice said, " Stop trying to break the door down. No matter how strong you are you can't kick a door open. "

There was a pause as the owner of the deeper voice thought. " You're right John. I can't kick the door open. " The deeper voice admitted.

" Thank you. Now let's think of a- " The softer voice said before the deeper voice interrupted him.

" You think of a plan. " The deeper voice said, Dr. Whitney could tell there was snark in the voice.

" I was going to say that. " A sigh. The softer voice continued, " I'll just break the door down. " Dr. Whitney's eyes widened in realization at what the owner of the softer voice was going to do. She twisted the doorknob opening the door and as soon as she did a figure stumbled in. Laughter came from the other room.

" Don't you say anything. " The figure said as he straightened his clothes. A taller figure walked into the room.

The smaller figure turned to Dr. Whitney saying, " Hi my name is John Watson. His name," John pointed at the taller figure, " Is Sherlock Holmes. We are here to save you." The taller figure or Sherlock seemed to ignore her as he began to pace in the room. Dr. Whitney managed to stutter out her gratitude as she looked into the other room. The two guards were sprawled on the floor, their faces were bruised.

Sherlock quickly deduced the Doctor. She was timid, unsure of herself and was single. She wasn't used to excitement and owned a cat. She loved to drink coffee but mostly preferred tea, had an inside job and was only confident in her work. Her parents divorced which had scared her away from trying to have a relationship.

" Wait I don't understand why would they have a locked door from the outside and unlocked from the inside. That doesn't really make much sense. " John asked Dr. Whitney curiously.

" It was a precaution. They thought if anyone wanted to get in, they couldn't because it would be locked. But they wanted me to be able to escape without needing someone to unlock from the outside. The reason why they did all of that was because the energy device is here. " Dr. Whitney walked over to something that was being covered by a blanket. Dr. Whitney pulled the blanket off to show a medium sized sphere shaped device with handles on the sides of it. The device had several tubes coming in and out of it and a keyboard at the bottom of it.

Sherlock listened intently as Dr. Whitney began to explain how the device worked. His mind was racing as he made a plan for their escape. He eyed the guards who were still lying prone on the ground, the corners of Sherlock's mouth lifted slightly.

" The device is unstable why? " Sherlock asked when Dr. Whitney was almost finished explaining her device.

" Uh, because the device was only theoretical only a few weeks ago. I didn't have time to think of any stabilizers, or anything to make the device more efficient. " Dr. Whitney answered truthfully.

" But is there a way to somehow stop the device from working without it exploding? " Sherlock questioned Dr. Whitney.

" I could make some sort of virus in it so it would shut down. "

" Then do it. " Sherlock walked over to the unconscious guards. " John help me take these clothes off of these men. "

" That's a strange sentence to say. " John muttered under his breath before walking over to help the detective. As they began to slowly take the uniforms off of the guards Dr. Whitney began to type in the virus into her device. The guards were now only in their boxers as Sherlock and John shoved each of them into the closet.

Sherlock instructed John to begin to put the uniforms on as he himself began to trade his clothes for the guards. Once they were done John asked, " Wouldn't The Dragon notice that we aren't the same guards. We look nothing like them. "

" Please, these guards were low ranked, barely used and new to the gang. They weren't important enough for anyone to remember their faces or anything else about them. Now we will take advantage to their uselessness to finish this case. " Sherlock told John simply.

" So we pick up the device and present for the all the gangs to see and we then sneak Dr. Whitney out and inform Mycroft the location of all of the gangs? Seems easy but yet sounds hard to do. " John scratched the back of his head in nervousness or was it anticipation?

John and Sherlock had to test their strength as they picked the energy device up. They needed to carry the device to the stage eventually when The Dragon called them to stage so she could present the device. John breath in and out of his nose as he put the device back down. It was heavier then it looked and John wasn't prepared for its weight.

Sherlock heard The Dragon call for them to come out. He braced himself as he gripped one of the handles that were on the end of the device and picked it up along with John. Dr. Whitney walked quietly after them making sure they didn't seem suspicious.

As the detective and doctor made their way to the stage Dr. Whitney's heart was beating faster each second they got closer to the stage. Once they had gotten and put the device on a stand that was built for it The Dragon began examining the device. She didn't even glance towards Sherlock, John, or Dr. Whitney.

" You know what really ticks me off? " The Dragon said her voice still smooth. She suddenly pulled a gun out and pointed it at the back of Sherlock's head. " What really ticks me off is when people like Sherlock Holmes would think that I'm stupid enough to not notice them. " She was grinning triumphantly until she felt a gun on the back of her head. Almost everyone else in the room pulled their own gun and pointed them at John who had his gun pointed at the gang boss's head.

" Step away from him and stop aiming your gun at him. " John ordered through clenched teeth his arm not wavering. He tried to ignore the hundreds of gun pointed at him.

Then everything went downhill from there. John could see the whole world in slow motion as someone's gun shot off. John practically could see bullet head towards the energy device and embedding itself into the core of the device. He could see the energy device explode sending everyone around the device flying backwards?

John felt his whole body burning and he felt the impact of the floor as he landed on it. He screamed hoarsely in pain and he opened his eyes as much as he could. John suspected that his eyes were swollen. There was fire everywhere, the whole building was on fire and people were running around screaming and yelling. John could see that some people were on fire and were screaming for someone to help them. John wished he could block out the sounds of someone being burned alive.

John suddenly remembered he didn't come here alone and tried to call Sherlock but his voice came out as an almost inaudible groan. John could faintly hear the sound of fire burning a building. John's eyes rolled into the back of his head and he knew no more.

Sherlock was barely conscious and he felt like he was on fire. He wanted the burning to stop so he could think straight without his mind being so slow and he could finally breath. It seemed like time stretched into hours as Sherlock lay on the ground barely conscious and struggling to live.

A figure was walking towards him. The figure was seemingly unperturbed by all of the chaos happening around it. Beams and pieces of wood were falling down from the ceiling as the building started to collapsed on itself. Sherlock thought he saw one of the beams go through the figure but knew it would've been impossible. Everyone who was lucky enough to be far away from the device when it exploded were long gone. But Sherlock could faintly hear screaming and pleads for help through the ringing of his ears. Sherlock could tell the figure was male but that was all he could do in his severely injured state.

A face was suddenly in Sherlock's blurry line of vision. But Sherlock couldn't make the face out of his rescuer but only could tell that his rescuer had dark hair. Sherlock let out a whimper and a groan of pain as the figure rolled him onto his back.

Sherlock knew he had something urgent to say. He tried to speak tried to inform his rescuer of what was urgent. " J'hn 'elp h'm. " Sherlock managed to whisper out loud. He could see black dots dancing in front of him.

" Don't worry Sherlock. John's fine. Everything will be alright. I promise you. " Sherlock's rescuer reassured Sherlock with familiarity that Sherlock didn't expect. The voice was deep and sincere and calming. Sherlock let himself slip into unconsciousness.

" It's ok Sherlock don't worry. " Was the last thing Sherlock heard.

Archie didn't expect the building a few blocks down would suddenly burst into flames with people running out of it. He remembered hearing someone say that Sherlock Holmes was going to be there, so in curiosity he ran over to the burning building as quick as he could.

Once he got there he saw people running out of the building. He could feel the heat coming from the building and was fascinated by all of the chaos. When the number of people running out of the building was almost gone to nothing Archie saw a figure walking out of the building. The figure was carrying someone on his shoulder and saw that Archie was watching him. The figure put a finger to his lips as he walked away.

" Cool. " Archie managed to whisper out as his mother came and picked him up. As his mother began to carry him away from the fire Archie could only think of who Sherlock Holmes was being rescued by.

Of course Archie wouldn't say anything about what he saw. A man drove up to the burning building along with several other vans following. Archie saw the word SHIELD on the badge the man showed them when he asked them to tell him all they could about what just happened. Archie kept his mouth shut just like the figure silently asked him to do. Archie almost always kept his promises. Unless it had anything to do with candy.

Mycroft put his head in his hands and fought off the emotions he was feeling. He was just informed of the explosion. He was informed of the arrival of SHIELD at the scene of the explosion. But he almost forgot all of that when he was informed of terrible news. His younger brother was dead.

Sherlock Holmes was dead.