HI! This is my first ever fic so please be reasonable!

I've done it as an alternative ending to ep 5x14 'over a barrel'.

There's some Joan Whump and possibly some Joanlock if you squint!

Enjoy!

'Hey, you're on speaker'

Watson's tone was low, she knew that Sherlock didn't have enough time, but she didn't know the consequences it would face.

'Watson, are you unharmed?' Sherlock blurted only seconds after Joan had spoken.

'Yeah, I'm fine'

Lying was the easiest option. She just wanted to scream 'SHERLOCK GET ME OUT THIS IS TORTURE' but knew that would benefit neither of them in the situation.

A long pause happened before Sherlock spoke a statement Joan already knew was coming.

'I need more time. 4 hours at tops! We've almost finished the case, we are so close! It's just... finding evidence and tracking down leads takes more time that you've given.'

Sherlock voice was exhausted, all he could think of was getting Joan home safe but he had to cloud his thoughts with the solving this case in time. He knew that the situation would get worse when he stated to Mr Brunelle that he needed more time.

The silence of the call was interrupted by a hand slamming down on the table, so forceful it actually made Joan jump (even though Sherlock didn't see it).

'You had time Mr Holmes. So so so much time' Jacks irritated voice crescendoed down the line as Sherlock heard the click of a bullet being armed into a rifle. It killed him not being able to witness what was going on, not being able to see if Joan was safe or if something had happened but as soon as that click went his mind went into overdrive, his heart started racing and his voice wouldn't stop reasoning.

Joan slowly moved backwards with the movement of the gun listening to Sherlock's frantic voice over the phone line. Although she could not hear what he was saying, as his speech had got so fast she couldn't understand, she could hear the worried tone again. Without question she stood in front of the gun protecting the hostages behind her knowing that it was unlikely that he would shoot her without reasoning first.

'Please Jack, you don't want to do this. Let everyone else go, even keep me for the extra time just please, let these innocent people go!'

'I think I know just how to motivate Mr Holmes to work faster'