Texts
SH& MH
GL
Chapter 1: Introduction

Mycroft stood sentry at the door as he watched his younger brother locked away in his mind palace. Growing bored of just standing in the doorway he walked over to the open kitchen chair he unbuttoned his jacket and sat down to wait. Just as he began to get comfortable he looked up as the flat door opened and Sherlock's landlady walked in. "Oh dear he's off in own thoughts again… are you two behaving?" Mrs. Hudson asked as she looked over at Mycroft as he sat perched on the edge of the chair. "We are temporarily getting along of course he is becoming a nuisance losing himself like this," Mycroft said looking past the older woman to see if his brother was done yet. "You are going to find them…right?" Mrs. Hudson asked as she walked into the kitchen area and began to move Sherlock's experiments out of the way so she could make tea.

"Yes, but it's not we…it is I who are going to rescue them…it is what I do just like it is Mycroft's job to just stand in the shadows and watch the world on his video feeds," Sherlock said coming out of his mind palace and into the conversation. "Ah yes, it is better though than what you do brother, doing experiments in your kitchen and giving your landlady a fright with your collection of oddities in your fridge," Mycroft remarked as he got up and buttoned his jacket and waited for his brother. Sherlock rolled his eyes at his brother's remark and got up from the couch and padded into the kitchen. "They are not oddities Mycroft they are carefully put together scientific experiments that are crucial to solving my own curiosity and many of my cases," Sherlock remarked coming out of the kitchen with his phone that he had left on the table earlier that morning.

Mycroft scoffed lightly as he watched his brother walk by him. "Oh yes and how does having severed male genitalia in your crisper drawer help you on a case?" Mycroft asked. Sherlock stopped and chuckled before looking over his shoulder at his older brother. "That's a personal experiment for my own inquisitive mind brother, now we should get back to our predicament. "John was taken because it's a well-known fact that he is my blogger and in some people's eyes that would make him my friend and a crucial weakness," Sherlock remarked stapling his fingers together over his mobile and dropping back onto the couch and resting his elbows on his knees. "But I was at a loss at first as to why they grabbed your assistant until you arrived here today then it dawned on me, that jacket is too big on you… being that is a tailored jacket you've lost weight about twenty pounds which means you are watching what you eat more to be more aesthetically pleasing to be seen with someone quite younger than you. It wasn't a long stretch to deduce it was that new assistant of yours, no one else is around you as much as he is," Sherlock remarked reading his brother like a book.

The elder Holmes cleared his throat to defend himself when Mrs. Hudson came into the room and looked at the brothers. "This is not very helpful; it's been three and a half days Sherlock…you need to accept that you are stuck and let your brother help you a fresh pair of eyes never hurt," the landlady said in a motherly tone. "If I have help then I am not the best at what I do Mrs. Hudson, and yes while my brother can deduce as well as I his mind has begun to slip since he has begun lower himself to shagging his assistant every chance he gets," Sherlock said in haughty tone.

"Oh come off it Sherlock, you're not fooling anyone anymore, you don't have to be a genius to see the change in you, you're sweet on John…in your own strange ways," she said seeing the younger man just stare at her before clapping his hands together and spinning around. "Yes, fine… you caught me I am very ashamed of it, after all my work to distance myself from all emotions and friends I have failed and become victim that God forsaken emotional feeling of being sweet on him as you say and it's because of that that John was taken and is probably near death because I made the mistake of falling in love with him!" Sherlock bellowed as he turned to his brother and landlady. Realizing what he said Sherlock snapped his mouth closed and began to retreat back to the couch and sat on it and pulled his legs up to his chest.

"I…love… him…" Sherlock mumbled trying to deduce the tight feeling in his chest.

Accelerated heart rate, dilated pupils…my little brother is in love, there is no mistaking it… Mycroft thought with a silent chuckle as he watched Sherlock cope with the emotions running through him. "You're also wrong and right in your deductions brother they weren't taken because of their relations to us…John Watson was just in the wrong place at the wrong time and the kidnappers clearly could not leave a witness…also having leverage over you has even more leverage over me…" Mycroft said looking at his brother who seemed more upset that he was told he was wrong.

John groaned as he sat up in the dark room his head was still throbbing like it had been since he was kidnapped three days ago, being struck in the head wasn't like how they showed it on the telly people just didn't get up right away. The army doctor knew this from personal experience he had woken up with a splitting headache and a soft voice of his forced roommate. Looking around John noticed the dark room the size of a washroom was empty except for him and the darkness that made seeing anything impossible. "Ren…Ren where are you?" John called out as he grabbed along the damp concrete wall for something to grab onto to pull himself to his feet. As he reached his full height the door to the small room opened blinding John as the light poured into the room.

Before he could react he felt another body crash into his. Holding on to the smaller frame as he slid back to the floor John held the younger man close as he ignored the stabbing pain behind his eyes from the harsh florescent light pouring in through the door that kept John from seeing their captor's face. When the metal door slammed shut with a loud clang the light was gone. Being thankful for the small blessing John repositioned the other captive to the small bed and sighed softly. "They'll find us soon…" John said softly as he sighed and put his head back against the cold stone and thought back to how he ended up in the dark room.

: Three Days Prior:

"John, we need more milk" Sherlock called out as he stretched out on the couch after an all-nighter for a case. Folding his hands together and putting his fingers against his lips Sherlock stared at the pale color of the ceiling.

"How are we out already? I just picked some up yesterday," John said as he walked into the living room from the landing and saw Sherlock draped on the couch in his blue robe. "I used it up, it's as simple as that John, now we need more and clearly you are going out so you can kill two birds with one stone," Sherlock remarked looking at his flat mate putting his coat on. "Yes I'm going out but I won't be back for a while so there will be no milk until later," John said zipping his jacket and leaving the flat.

Sherlock watched his partner and flat-mate walk out of the room. Rolling his eyes as he went back to thinking about his experiments Sherlock pulled his phone out of his robe pocket and began typing a message to Lestrade that he was close to solving the case if he wanted to come over.

Walking out of the front door of Baker Street John stopped at the sight of the black town car and Mycroft's assistant standing there. "You're a new one…what happened to uh… what was her name again?" John asked standing no more than a couple steps from the younger man. "Her name isn't important, I'm Mr. Holmes new assistant you can call me Ren," the young man said as the driver opened the back door of the town car. "Please come with me Doctor Watson…Mr. Holmes is waiting for you," Ren said as he got into the town car. Knowing it would be easier to just go with it John climbed into the back seat beside the other man who had taken to burying his nose in his cell phone.

John sighed as the car moved slowly down Baker Street. As the town car pulled up to the end of the street the car suddenly jerked when another car slammed into the back of the town car sending it sliding into traffic causing two cars to slam into the front end crushing it. Groaning softly John opened his eyes slowly his vision blurred by the steady stream of blood pouring into his eyes. "Hey, are you alright?" John asked reaching over carefully to check for Ren's pulse. Pushing the medium length bleached blonde hair out of the way. Ren slowly opened his eyes and looked into John's eyes.

"What happened?" Ren asked as the back door was ripped open. Before either man could react bother were pulled from the wreckage of the car and thrown into the back of a van. Unable to stay conscious for long John felt himself slip farther into darkness as the van tore away from the crash.

Hearing the commotion out on the street Sherlock lifted his head off the couch to look out the window. Unable to see anything the consulting detective ignored the distraction outside and began to rise from the couch when Mrs. Hudson came up the stairs in a rush. "Sherlock...did you just hear that accident?" the landlady asked going over to the window to get a better look. Sherlock sighed and sat up and walked over to the window and looked at the group of people that had begun to crowd the street to see the wreck and take photos with their mobiles. As they watched the view below Sherlock heard his mobile go off with a text message.

Where is John and Ren?-MH

Looking at the message Sherlock thought for a moment before texting his brother back.

Not here-SH

After a couple moments Sherlock heard his phone chirp again.

I can't get ahold of my assistant; he never ignores me-MH

He was supposed to be picking John up for a meeting-MH

Sherlock felt his stomach drop at the last text from his brother. Turning and rushing out of the flat and down the stairs before bolting out the front door and down the street to the accident. Stopping by the group Sherlock pushed his way to the car and froze when he saw the government car totaled. Standing in shock for a moment Sherlock felt his mind stop at the sight before him. "John! John, answer me," Sherlock yelled as he pushed past the last line of people and looked inside the backseat. Seeing the empty seats and the smears of blood Sherlock tried to remember how to breathe. Pulling his phone out with a shaking hand the younger Holmes felt a hand on his shoulder pulling him out of the street.

It took Sherlock a moment to realize it was Lestrade. "What happened here?" The DI asked his friend as he led him away from the scene. Sherlock looked down at his hand and saw it was shaking. "I don't know, John was apparently going to speak with my brother, both John and my brother's assistant are missing and most likely injured," Sherlock remarked not realizing how tightly he was clutching his mobile. "If that's true then Sherlock we'll find them... now let's get you back home," Greg said tugging on Sherlock's arm and led him back down Baker Street to his flat. Once inside Greg helped the consulting detective to the second floor he walked him into the living room and sat him down on the couch.

Grabbing the mobile out of Sherlock's hand he looked at the messages between Sherlock and Mycroft. Taking the phone from the room Lestrade moved out of Sherlock's sight and began to type up a text message to Mycroft using Sherlock's phone.

There's been an accident, John and your assistant are missing, Sherlock seems to be in shock what do I do? – GL

I'll be there in twenty minutes, do try and keep him there, don't let him leave the flat-MH

I mean it Detective Inspector Lestrade, or it will be your job- MH

Rolling his eyes at the text Lestrade went back into the living room and found Sherlock still sitting there his leg bouncing a bit with anxiety. Unsure if it was safe to move closer Lestrade jumped a bit when Sherlock got to his feet and tried to head to his room off the kitchen. "Your brother said to stay here until he gets here and judging by his threat he won't be long before he gets here," the DI said as he watched Sherlock head for the bedroom. "Why did you contact my brother, he's just going to come in here and throw his weight around… literally, I can find them on my own Geoffrey," Sherlock said as he went into his room and shut the door to change.

"It's Greg" Lestrade yelled through the door as he turned around in a circle as he ran his fingers through his silver hair. "I don't even get how John puts up with you sometimes," Lestrade mumbled as he waited for Sherlock to exit his bedroom. Sherlock exited the room after a few minutes fully dressed and made his way to the door, as he pulled the door open he came face to face with his brother who seemed more frazzled than usual. "Mycroft… you got here quickly…I'm sorry to say I am too busy to try and match wits with you right now," the younger Holmes said trying to step around his brother.

Holding his umbrella out as a blockade Mycroft looked into his brother's eyes. "I've come to offer my services to help you locate John and Ren," Mycroft said coming into the flat without an invitation. "I don't need your help Mycroft I can do it myself, unless you wish to make it easy and tell me what you know about why they were taken," Sherlock said letting his brother walk the room. "I have no clue as to why, and I am being honest dear brother… if I did know I would have told you already but I don't know a thing," Mycroft said as paced the room.

Sherlock watched his brother's actions and began to read him. Increased pulse, sweating, nervous? Chewing his bottom lip and fingering his pocket where he keeps his stash of cigarettes….he knows something… something he isn't willing to say yet… "Do stop that Sherlock I know you are trying to deduce me and if you must know I am worried… worried that those two are hurt badly and will not be receiving medical attention by any kidnappers," Mycroft said stopping his pacing. "John is a doctor, he worked in a battle field he can handle anything until we find them, the better question is what are you hiding Mycroft," Sherlock remarked walking up to his brother until they were only a couple steps apart.

Ren opened his eyes slowly and tried to see in the darkness and found his cell phone in his pocket and saw the screen was cracked but was still working. Dialing quickly he hit the send button and found that the call wasn't going through. Using the light from the screen Ren looked around where he was. In the faint blue white light Ren saw another figure. Trying to stand up he felt his leg give out causing him to fall to the floor the cell phone skidding across the stone floor. Pulling himself over to the other figure he sat beside John and sang a song softly until he woke up. "My head… what happened?" John asked as he blinked trying to see something.

"The last thing I remember was the car accident… I think I blacked out after though," Ren said as he reached over and grabbed his mobile from the floor and used the light to look around the room. "I don't think it was an accident, and if it was then why are we here in a dark room, whoever took us wanted us for a reason," John said deducing why they were there. "You sound like Myc…I mean Mr. Holmes when you talk like that," Ren said catching his mistake as he misspoke. "I take it you're on a first name basis with Mycroft… not too many assistants are like that, is there something going on between you, not that I'm judging you or prying," John doubling back quickly.

Feeling blessed that it was dark enough to hide his blush Ren went through his phone for a moment until he found he was looking for. Holding the phone up John looked at the screen and blinked at the brightness while his eyes focused. One the screen was a picture of Ren and Mycroft together in a self-taken photo of them. "You cannot say a thing Myc is a very private man… he would be very cross if he knew I told you," Ren said looking at the photo once more before shutting his phone off to save the battery.

Just as he slipped the mobile back into his pocket the door opened with two shadow men blocked most of the light as they came into the room and grabbed the prisoners and dragged them out of the room and brought them to another room and sat them at a dull metal table. Blinking against the harsh lighting John looked at the man sitting across from him and Ren in shock. "Yes… I know what you're going to say…how did I do it? Well that's my little secret," the man said laughing. Flinching at the laugh John wanted to punch the other man.

"I don't care how you did it…you are the world's biggest arse… and that's saying something because I know Sherlock Holmes…" John said getting to his feet only to be pushed back down onto the chair.

"John,"

"No, just stop… I don't know nor do I want to know how you are still alive but you will get what's coming to you… Moriarty," John said breathing deeply trying to stop the increasing pain in his head by sheer will as his increasing headache made him close his eyes tightly as he began to fall into the darkness.