Bradwell, England

"We've gone to far. That was...wait, that's Manchester Road! Turn!"

"We're not turning on Manchester Road, we're passing it."

"No, the thing said turn left on Manchester Road."

"What thing? Your phone?"

"Yes...and now we've passed it." John sighed, shaking his head. "It's almost six o'clock." He watched as Molly drove, keeping her eyes focused on the road in front of her.

"I know where to go."

"How would you know? This place isn't even on the maps."

"Exactly why I'm not taking directions from that thing of yours," she said, a small smile crossing her face as a small metal gate appeared on their right. "I think this is us."

"That's not a military base, that's someone's driveway," John said, exasperated as he watched Molly turn, stopping in front of the gate. They sat in silence for a moment, staring at the overgrowth covering the rusted iron bars. Trees loomed overhead, casting ominous shadows on the entrance and the path beyond.

"I grew up in Bradwell," Molly said after a moment, her eyes still fixed on the trees. "I lived with my dad during the summer. My brother and I would bike down this road every day, and one day we noticed it," she said, nodding at the gate before glancing at John. "We climbed over and walked down that dirt road a while before reaching the real one."

"The real one?"

"Yeah. The real gate," she said, pausing for a moment. "Guards everywhere, all wearing helmets and carrying rifles."

"Did you get caught?"

"No," Molly said, laughing quietly. "We weren't quite that brave. Just watched for a while." Molly looked at John as he sucked in his breath. "What?"

"I just realized...you don't have clearance."

"What?"

"Sherlock said he would get me clearance to get in," he said, looking at Molly. "He doesn't know about you."

"So what, you want me to be your chauffeur and wait for you here?"

"Well, we may have no choice." He watched as Molly turned, opening her door and stepping out onto the dirt beneath them. "Molly, wait...you're going to get yourself killed," he said, following as he shut the car door behind him.

"We're both going to get in," Molly said, stopping in front of the gate before mounting it, swinging her legs over the rusted railing and hopping down to the other side. "Or neither or us are."

"Can we at least...park the car?" He glanced at their station wagon, which was parked directly in front of the entrance.

"Don't worry about it. It's my brother's." She smiled, motioning for John to follow.

"Would you mind explaining why exactly we took brother's car?"

"Didn't want to take the chance. This is...this is Sherlock we're talking about," she said, smiling weakly as she stumbled over his name. John looked at her from his side of the gate, before reaching over and gently patting her shoulder.

"Listen...whatever he said to you yesterday..." he began, watching as her eyes lifted to meet his. "Whatever he said, he did it to keep you safe."

"I hope so."

"He did. And he..." he paused, biting his lip. "He cares about you." Molly smiled, nodding.

"It's what I like to think," she said, breathing in slowly as she glanced at the branches above them. "Air's nice, isn't it?"

"Yeah," John said, struggling to slide himself over the gate. "Very fresh." They both froze as a black car pulled up next to the station wagon, the driver's side door opening as the engine shut off.

"So," Gregory Lestrade called out, shutting the car door as he removed his sunglasses. "What's the mystery today?"

"Apparently Sherlock's in need of our help," John said, giving Molly a sideways glance.

"Or he wants an audience for whatever miraculous feat of deduction he plans on performing," Lestrade said, raising an eyebrow.

"That sounds about right," John said, smiling a bit. "What brings you here, Inspector?"

"You two," Lestrade said, glancing between the two of them. "I was curious after you had the department look up the hospital's number."

"Well, unless you plan on breaking into a high security military base, I would recommend heading back to the Yard." John bit his lip, watching as the Inspector narrowed his eyes.

"I think an explanation here might be appropriate..."

"We don't...have one," Molly said, her voice quiet as she met Lestrade's gaze. He stared back at her, watching as she shivered slightly.

"Well. Might help to have an inspector with you, then," Lestrade said after a moment, looking at John. "If what you're doing involves breaking into military bases."

"I'm surprised your not arresting us," Molly said quickly, smiling nervously as she shot John a look.

"Yeah. Me too," Lestrade said, opening the gate slightly and stepping through. "But this is Sherlock we're talking about." He shut the gate quietly behind them. "As much as I hate to admit it, I trust him."

"I'd better call Sherlock," John said, reaching into his jacket for his phone. "Hope fully he can...make arrangements."