The ride to St. Bart's was quick but silent. Lacey could feel the tension between the three of them but let it fester. She stared out her window and began planning her next moves and hypothesizing. She missed it when John asked a question. Sherlock turned to her and nudged her, gaining her attention.

"What?" HSe said slightly dazed.

"I had asked you about Ms. Artemis." John stated eyebrows furrowed. "Are you sure you are alright?"

"I am fine. I was just thinking. What did you want to know?" Lacey asked, eyebrows raised.

"Who was she to you? A friend, close friend?" John asked awkwardly. He noticed she had said Artemis was important to her as John was to Sherlock.

"She was my best friend. And my accomplise. She will sometimes help me with projects I handle. She was a genious and helped me set up my information ring. Networking and people were her speciality." Lacey said with a hint of a smile. But it was gone immediately. People were not her strong suit.

"Why are you two so interested in the case?" She asked. John shifted slightly and Sherlock rolled his eyes.

"You cannot say you would not be intrigued if someone had returned to life after dropping dead. Your brain is wired to think, solve puzzles, not ignore things that most do." Sherlock stated stiffly. Lacey stared at him.

"Er, you did die earlier today. Honestly, I am surprised you are still going. Most people-" Lacey cut John off stiffly.

"I am not like most people." She returned to looking outside, she couldn't bring herself tot look at the two of them. She was so embarrassed. She probably sounded like such a moron. A depressed, attention seeking idiot.

But she wasn't. Currenlty, the only emotion she felt was determination and embarrassment.

"I can tell. That is what makes you interesting. You have even managed to catch Sherlock's attention." Lacey hesitantly turned to the two and looked at John. "However, I think it might have something to do with stabbing his shoulder." Joh msiled and Lacey could not fisht the amused smirk from invading her face. She directed her attention at Sherlock. "I do apologize. I trust it is not in too much pain."

Sherlock shook his head. "No the stab wound was small and shallow, nothing of importance." His eyes were darting about. Lacey sighed, knowing what he wanted to say. "What's on your mind Sherlock?"

"Up unitl about three years ago, you had no life. You have traveled over several countries and obviously know how to fight, or atleast get out of a predicament. Your build says dancer, your stance says military. Ballet while younger and military once you were old enough. You probably just finished and for the past three years you have been living with your friend. You have some higher level of education than the basic schooling basics. Self -taught most likely. You used to be a smoker, would you by any chance have one on you at the moment?"

"Sherlock. No." John intervened. Lacey raised an eyebrow and let Sherlock continue on.

"You wear clothes that are flattering, formfitting yet loose enough for you to move. That and Your boots and flat shoes show you are constantly ready to run. Tel me, Lacey, what are you running from?"

Lacey stared at him. He was close on several of his deductions.

"Make a deduction." She stated firmly.

Sherlock pursed his lips but continued to deuce different things about her. "You are an older child but the lack of family tells me they have either disowned you ,you left them or they died. From your apartment I saw a few pictures of your family so they died and you kept the photos for sentiment. A tragedy involving the majority of the family. Also, certain pieces in your apartment do not match you or your friend's tastes. Family furniture. You have not eaten properly in days and you hardly sleep. Your façade is slowly falling but you are putting on a good enough face to keep your emotions in check. Obviously you have them as you were crying earlier. You most likely learned to keep your emotions in check from your possible military experience." Sherlock paused and looked at her again. She was staring at him, face blank. Her dark brown, almost black eyes caught him a bit off guard. they were unnerving with her pale face. The dark brown hair falling past her shoulders in gentle curls outlined her face and made her appear to be ghostly.

John was looking at Sherlock in slight shock. He could tell Sherlock was struggling to find a concrete analysis from the jumble of facts he found. Who the hell was this girl?

"Almost." She muttered and returned her gaze to the window. The boys stared at her. That was all she ahd to say? Before either of them could think of anything to say, she climbed out of the stopped cab and went into St. Barts. sHe began to walk through the hallways, heading to where she usually worked but the hallway began to spin. She streatched out a hand and placed it on the wall. sHe closed her eyes and willed herself not to collapse. The adrenaline was basically gone and she couldn't put anything else in her system until she got a sample of the toxin. She jumped slightly as a hand gently touched her arm. Turning she saw John and Sherlock staring at her curiously.

"Are you ok?" John asked. She nodded but he was not convinced. John was practically waiting for her to collapse. She straightened up.

"I am fine. But we need to get a sample of blood, let's go." She walked off, refusing to let her exhaustion win.


THe moment John pulled the needle out of her arm she asked for any spare change. SHerlock grabbed the blood and began the process of seperating the blood and the drug. John just looked at her for a moment.

"How much do you need?" He asked. With out a hesitation she replied. "Enough for a soda." John just looked at her. SHe hasn;t eaten well in days and she wants a soda? He gave her some change and she almost bolted from the room. SHerlock and John watche din curiosity.

"What do you think that was about?"

"Obviously she wanted a drink." SHerlock said, turning to the work at hand. John rolled his eyes.

"Yes, but after everything she's been through, and without having properly eaten, she should be asking for food not a soda. Hell, even alcohol would be a normal response." John said exasperated. Lacey blew through the doors and returned, energy drink in hand. It was the biggest she could get. Lacey was drinking it as she walked through the doors. She nodded ot John and went over to the work station opposite SHerlock. SHe opened up a laptop that was lying causally about and John assumed it was hers. SHe logged on and began tapping at the screen. SHe picked up the laptop and walked over to a wall that held a screen and plugged it in. Whatever was on her computer screen was soon on the large screen wich was also a touch screen.

John watched in amazement and Sherlock in interest as she began to drag documents and files across the screen organizing them.

"Sherlock, how long will it take to isolate the drug?" SHe asked suddenly. SHerlock replied without skipping a beat.

"Not long." Lacey hummed at the vagueness. SHe opened up a search engine and started looking up drugs that would match her symptoms. However she has no success.

After about half an hour of searching, with John and his medical expertise assisting her search, she stops and turns to Sherlock. "Have anything?"

"Yes, I am emailing it to you now." He stated and a moment later Lacey pulled the document up and opened it. As she read it, her eyebrows furrowed.

"It's not just one, it's a whole slew of them." John muttered. "It's amazing the adrenaline was able to restart your heart. You must have used alot." Lacey just kept looking at the screen. THe drugs seemed familiar. SHe knew them but the combination was rare. WHere else did she see these?

LAcey turned away from teh screen adn closed her eyes, thinking. SHe pinched the bridge of her nose and tapped her finger against her leg each time she sorted through a thought.

this list, used for killing.

no past cases in Scottland yard.

where else?

America.

Kate is in America, kate is a cop.

Kate worked a case that involved this concoction! Lacey's eyes snapped open and she whipped out her phone.

"Who are you calling?" John inquired. Without looking up, Lacey replied "Friend in america."

John looked at the clock. It was almost nine in London.

"You do realize it is nearly three over there.." Lacey just stared at John and let the phone ring. She didn't care about the times. Sherlock was over by her screen looking through her notes. As long as he stays out of certain files. She thought to herself.

Someone on the otherisde picked up. "Yeah, hello? This is Castle." Lacey furrowed her eyberows and pulled her phone away from her ear to check the number. She did not call Castle.

"Castle?" She inquired, confused.

"Hello, who is this?" He asked groggily. "Lacey. Why do you have Kate's phone?" Lacey inquired. Sherlock had turned to listen to the conversation and John was just confused.

"Who is that? What's going on?" He inquired.

"Shush. Phone." Lacey hushed.

"Don't shush me, Lacey, you called me." Castle said getting grumpy. Well as grumpy as Castle can be.

"Not you, Castle. I'm…." She looked over her shoulder. "..With people."

"Oh, what kind of people?" Caslte asked teasingly. Lacey rolled her eyes.

"Castle, put Beckett on the phone."

"She's asleep."

"Wake her up, it's important." Laccey countered.

"I'm up. What is going on?" Kate's voice said over the phone. Lacey allowed herself a small smile.

"Kate, good to hear your voice. I need your help with something. DO you remember that fairy tale case you and Castle had a while back?"

"The one that started as a hit and run years ago? Sleeping beauty was the perp?" Kate asked.

"The very one." Lacey stated. There was a pause. She couldn't hear Kate or Castle. sHe shifted and looked back at John and Sherlock.

"Lacey what is this about? Did something happen? Last time you asked about a case-" Lacey cut her off.

"We are not discussing that. I have a list of drugs that were found in my sysytem-"

"You were drugged?" Kate asked, she could hear Castle ask the same question in the back round.

"Yes, I was drugged. Now-"

"What happened are you ok?" KAte asked. Lacey rolled her eyes again.

"Yes, yes i'm fine, now please. I have a list of drugs and I believe they are the same-SHERLOCK DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH THAT FUCKING FILE!" Lacey yelled out and everyone froze. Kate and Castle in America and John and Sherlock in St. Bart's. All of them froze at the sudden outburst from the usually stoic girl. Lacey closed her eyes and breathed. SHe needed to calm down.

"LAcey, I am going to put you on speaker, Castle wants to talk and listen too." Kate said. Lacey hmmed in response and looked back over to the two men she startled the shit out of. "Sorry." She whispered.

"Lacey, are you with other people? Put us on speaker. If they are helping you you need to keep them in the loop." Kate stated. LAcey sighed and put the phone on speaker. "John, SHerlock, this is Castle and Kate." SHe introduced. John breifly said hello, but Lacey spoke over him.

"Earlier today i was drugged, adn I have a list of the drugs used and I beleive they match up with the drugs from your case. Do you have a list you could send me?" SHe asked impatiently.

"Yeah, just let me get on my computer. Castle, move." She heard shuffling.

"Kate, what are you doing with Castle at three in the morning? SHe inquired.

"Lacey, grow up." Kate scoffed. "So where is Artemis? SHe not with you three?" LAcey froze. sHe hadn't told KAte yet. SHe hadn't told anyone. John looked at her and furrowed his eyebrows. "Lacey,." He said soflty and SHe snapped out of her thoguhts.

"Artemis is dead." SHe said bluntly. "Artemis was killed a few days ago. Blunt-force trauma to the head. Beaten to death." SHe said. SHe herd Castle on the other side of the phone but Kate stayed silent. There was a pause on Kate's side.

"Kate."

"I-Im so-" Kate stammered. Lacey cut her off before she could begin.

"Kate, the drugs. I need them. Whoever killed Artemis tried to kill me today." She filled in as she went over and started reorganizing the files sherlock was messing with.

"Twice." John put in. Lacey shot her head up and glared daggers at him. He then caught his mistake. Sherlock rolled his eyes.

"Twice?" Castle asked. "Lacey, what happened today?" Kate asked, slowly growing concerned. Lacey groaned inwardly.

"This morning i was drugged. I took ass tons of adrenaline and my heart stopped for a bit. It restarted, i stabbed someone in the arm, made a few friends, went home. About an hour or two ago, it blew up. Just like yours had." Lacey said, losing her patience.

"Holy SHit." Kate and Castle said together. "Lacey, I'm sending the files over now. Are you sure you don't want to come to New York for a bit? ANd how is Missy holding up?" Kate asked. Missy was Artemis' 13-year old daughter. Artemis was in her late thirties. Lacey paused. With everything happening today, she hadn't even thought abut Missy. She would have to call and check in later.

"I'm planning on sending her somewhere safe fro a while. SHe needs to get out of England until I can get this fucker."

"Lacey, language."

"Castle, what the hell are you? My mother?" SHe challenged. John snorted and Lacey smiled a bit at the reaction. Kate stepped in.

"Send her here. Castle and I can watch her. I'm sure Esposito would love to see her again." Kate offered. Lacey considered it. America with Kate would be the safest place.

"I'll have her on the earliest flight tomorrow." Lacey stated. She pulled the list of drugs and skimmed through it. THe exact same.

"Kate, they are the same. Damn." Lacey said as she hopped onto the table and sat cross legged, thinking. she looked to SHerlock who had remained uncharacteristically silent.

"Any thoughts?" Lacey asked him. Sherlock looked to her.

"You had said he was caught on the camera when he attacked you. Where were you attacked?" He inquired. Lacey remembered!

"THat's right! we have him on film." Lacey stated and jumped off the table, running at the screen. she began typing and searching. A big red pop up said ACCESS DENIED. A few minutes later, she was past that and into the Scottland yard server.

"Is that legal?" John asked. LAcey didn't respond. SHe paused and looked at him but went back to what she is doing.

"I doubt Lestrade would take kindly to you hacking their system." Sherlock stated lazily as he stood behind her. John picked up the phone she left on the table and stood behind them as well. Lacey brought up the videos from the investigation. SHe began to scan for any that held her. SHe looked at the times as well.

"How do you know how to do this?" John asked.

"Yes, how indeed. This would not be something you learn from teh military. Were you a previous criminal? No, you have morals." He waved his hand, dismissing the thought. He went back to thinking about who she was. He eyed her up and down and thought over everything he had learned.

"Lacey, did you not tell them? THey don't know what you do and you're working with them?" KAte asked.

"Woah, Lacey, they should know." Castle interjected. things were getting out of hand.

"What does she do?" John asked. Lacey rolled her eyes. she was getting increasingly agitated and aggressive.

"Why is it that everyone feels the need to share my trivial information with strangers they don't even know!" SHe yelled. John gave an apologetic glance.

"Besides, these two can handle it. Sherlock is a consulting detective, John is ex-military. They do shit like this often enough." SHe said. Laceys spotted the clip she needed. "Found it!" SHe exclaimed and poked it.

"What did she find?" Castle asked over the phone. Lacey rolled her eyes.

"Castle, I found the clip that will help identify the attacker. I'll keep you two updated." SHe took the phone off speaker and held it to her ear.

"Lacey, maybe you should sit this one out." Castle stated. Lacey rolled her eyes.

"Kate got blown up and she still took care of the case." Lacey argued.

"Yes, but I had a job, I had close friends and family to support me that were in the same country and i wasn;t drugged to death." Kate countered. THe family and friends made Lacey cringe. When was the last time she had a friend besides Artemis?

"Guys, I'll be fine. You know I can do this. I can handle this." SHe stated firmly.

"Kid, sometimes you have to stop and ask yourself: is it worth destroying yourself for? THis could end really badly. We don't want to lose you." CAstle said. Sometimes, his father side would come out and impress Lacey. But he did have a point. SHe paused and thought.

"I'll be fine." She stated. She could hear Castle sigh. SHe sipped her energy drink and froze when Kate spoke up. SHe cursed herself mentally and waited for the question KAte was about to ask.

"Lacey, what are you drinking?" KAte asked. Lacey visibly froze and Sherlock noticed a small shiver run down her spine.

"Oh, uhm nothing just some water. HEy, Kate? I uh I gotta go ok?" LAcey sputtered out nervously.

"Lacey, lay off the caffeine, you know how sensitive-"

"Yes, yes. I know." Lacey cu her off and shifted in her stance.

"Seriously. Watch how much you drink." Lacey sighed. "I will. But I really do have to go. I have killer to catch. I'm going to get Missy on a plane within an hour. is that ok?" Lacey asked. That means Lacey would arrive at a normal time in London.

"Yeah. That will be ok. We don't have a case yet, so we have a bit more free time." Kate filled her in.

"Ok. I will speak with you later tomorrow. THank you for the help." Lacey said.

"No problem. Take care." Kate said and Lacey hung up quickly and turned to The two men who were staring at her oddly for different reasons.

"Who is Missy?" John inquired.

"Artemis' daughter. I'm sending her to AMerica in an hour." Lacey stated and began dialing another number she knew by heart. "Can you two look in that video and see if you can find the attacker? I have one more call to make." SHe asked. Sherlock narrowed his eyes but nodded and John just nodded before turnign to the screen. LAcey listened as the pone rang and made her way to the door. It would probably be best to make this call out of their earshot. However, the man picked up before she made it out the door.

"Hello?"

"Hello, Mycroft. I need a favor." Lacey looked over he shoulder to see the two men tense and spin to face her, eyes wide wiht shock. How could she know Mycroft? was running through both of their heads. SHe walked out the door.


When Lacey walked back into the room, Sherlock grabbed her by the shoulders and spun her around before stopping and firing off questions.

"Who are you? How do you know Mycroft? You work for him, don't you?" Lacey was already dizzy so him spinning her didn't help matter.

"Sherlock! Let her go!" John said as he walked over. Sherlock loosened his grip and Lacey stepped back and away and tried to regain her balance.

"i used to work for Mycroft. Well, I helped him a few times. He owes me a few favors. I sued on tonight. No, not spying on you, sorry." Lacey said shaking her head, trying to clear it. "I actually have ot go take Missy to the airport. I'll be back in an hour. send me a picture of him when you find him." SHe said and walked out defectively blowing them off. John stood there stunned by her audacity adn Sherlock glared after her, not trusting anyone who was associated with his brother.

Lacey got a cab and went immediately to the place Lacey was staying. Since her mother was a killed, Missy could have been a potential target and was forced to stay with someone from Scottland Yard to ensure her safety. Missy was staying with Donavan. Lacey did not like the idea but put up with it. SHe didn't think highly of Donavan but didn't hate her.

Lacey knocked a few times. She spent a few minutes at the door knocking until Agent Donavan opened the door.

"Yeah? What's up?" Donavan asked.

"I'm sending Missy to New York. Lestrade already approved adn i have the ticket. Where is she?" Lacey asked, looking behind Donavan. Panic began to bubble in her stomach when she didn't see Missy.

"SHe's in the bedroom. I'll go get her. Come in." Lacey stepped inside.

"Aunt Lacey!" She heard and turned to see Missy running at her and hug her tightly. "Hey, kiddo."

"Aunt Lacey, what are you doing her? Can I go home now?" Missy asked. Lacey shook her head and watched as the smile fell from the girl's face. SHe wore a blck skirt and light pink top. Her legs had matching pink socks that reached over her knee. It was cute.

"Missy, I am going to have to send you to AMerica for a bit. You are goign to stay with Kate and Richard." Lacey said hesitantly. Missy snapped her head up.

"What?" She whispered and stepped back as if Lacey had slapped her. Lacey eyed her and tried to find a way to put it with out sending the girl into a tizzy.

"you are going to go stay with KAte and Richard in New York for a bit. Like a vacation. You will be coming back. It's only for a few days. Two weeks tops. I promise." Missy seemed to relax a bit but still looked a bit upset.

"Are you coming too?" Missy said quietly. Lacey shook her head. "I can't. I have to stay here and make sure things are safe for you." A guilty look flashed across Missy's face and Lacey noticed it.

"Go grab your things. We nee dot get going. i have your ticket and I am going to the airport. AHve you eaten?" Lacey asked as she walked Missy to her room. Missy nodded adn grabbed her suitcase.


"She used to work for Mycroft?" John inquired. Sherlock hmmed.

"Perhaps that is what she did that kept her off the map. Was she ever on the map?" John inquired. SHerlock was looking her up on the internet but came up with nothing. Sherlovk went through her files but most of them were encrypted. It would take him a bit to figure them out.

John was watching the vidoe while Sherlock was looking for information on their companion. Sherlock eventually began looking for imformation on Artemis but found nothing. Not a single thing.

Not even on Artemis' daughter. He sat and thought. What could this mean? With begruding sigh, he decided he would have to call Mycroft for information.

He was about to call when John called him over.

"Sherlock. You need to see this." John said as he froze the video. They watched as a man rushed down the street. Lacey was following after, her brown hair fanning behind her. They watched as she chased him two blocks. He dove into an alley and tried to grab her as she passed. She managed to get free right after he injected the drugs into her back shoulder. She got away and stumbled around, trying to get away from him. it was clear on her face she did not expect that to happen. Now in seriosu danger, she had to get out of there. They watched her stumble away and right before they lost sight of her, they saw her pull somethign out of her pocket.

Sherlock kept watching as the man exited the alley, looked both ways and kept walking. John froze the video.

"We found him. Do you know who he could be?" John inquired. Sherlock stared at the frozen scene. It looked like the man was looking for someone else. Sherlock leaned forward. "John, play the video. I believe there is more to the story." John eyed SHerlock but played the securoty footage. TEhy watched as teh attacker walked over to another alley and started speaking with a woman. The woman looked vaguely familiar but it was to blurry to really be able to tell.

John froze it and zoomed in. Sherlock instantly remembered.

"It's Artemis." John said after a moment. "We need to call Lacey."

"DOn;t be such an idiot, John" Sherlock said as he grabbed his coat and phone quickly.

"What?" John asked. "Are we just not going to-" Sherlock cut him off.

"Of course we are going to tell her, we just don't't have her number." Sherlock said walking briskly from the room and John caught up.

"Then how are we going to reach her?" John asked. He figured they would have to go to the airport right this moment but needed to give Lacey a heads up.

"We know someone who does have her number." Sherlock said, dialing the number to his brother's phone.


Lacey stood at the terminal entrance and gave Missy one last hug before she was sent onto the plane.

"Missy, I have something for you." Lacey said as she pulled a thin gold chain with a small round pendent on it. SHe handed it to the thirteen year old. "St. Christopher. Patron Saint of travelers. It was my mothers." Lacey explained as Missy looked at it. The girl smiled and hugged Lacey on last time.

"Thank you. I love it." She said putting it on. "And don't worry about me. I'll be fine. Maybe this time I can make Mr. Castle broke." Missy joked and Lacey laughed. It sounded foreign to her. He hadn't laughed in weeks. A silence enveloped the two.

"Well, I have to go. I'll see you soon." Missy said. Lacey placed a hand on her head. "Stay out of trouble, Missy." The girl laughed.

"No promises." SHe said as she turned and walked to the terminal. LAcey watched her go. Suddenly, a rushing man walked past her and bumped into her shoulder.

"SOrry, ma'am." He said hurriedly. Lacey waved him off. He headed to teh terminal. poor soul might miss his flight. she tought as her phone beeped.

It was an unfamiliar number. SHe opened the text and read it. SHe had turned and began walking to the exit of the airport but stopped halfway.

This is the attacker, he is working with Artemis. Artemis is alive.

-sh

Lacey looked at teh time the text was sent. It was about half an hour ago!

She opened the two pictures. One was of Artemis with the attacker. The other showed his face. It was the man that just bumped into her.

"Lacey!" SHe heard Sherlock shout to her. She looked up and saw Sherlock and John running to her. "He's on the plane! he's on the plane with Missy! He's on the plane we need to stop it!" she yelled and turned to run to the terminal. Sherlock grabbed her arm and she struggled.

"Let go!" She yelled.

"Don't! We have a pane waiting for us. It will land a minute after hers, maybe before id we are lucky. We need to leave." Sherlock said and spun Lacey around to look at her. "We will get her back. You have to trust us." He looked into her frantic eyes and she nodded. She was loosing her resolve. Missy had to be safe.

"Let's go." John said and the three ran outside to the waiting car that would take them to Mycroft's plane. It paid to have a government employee owe you.


please reveiw! how do you guys think so far?

pleeease speak with me!