A/N: This chapter is dedicated to my dear friend johnsarmylady (go read her stories!) who caught a continuity error for me. Thank you very much! If you didn't catch it or you read the chapter after I fixed it too bad:D
I am just going to stop apologizing for slow updates. Once summer comes around I should be more regular about updating. I know! I am sorry! Oops! I apologized! How very Canadian;)
Don't own, that belongs to the Great and Powerful Overlord Mofftiss, BBC & ACD! Thanks a lot guys:)
4. Things Aren't What They Seem
John woke the next morning after a night of relentless mental torture and endless nightmares. It was near dawn when he finally crossed the threshold into a slumber too deep for dreams to follow. Morning appeared and he did not feel rested.
He rubbed his face & ran his hands through his hair trying to dispel the images left behind.
He wondered, briefly, if it was worth staying in bed & pretending the day wasn't going to start but he decided he was not the kind of person to just give up, so he threw back the covers & went into the bathroom where he washed his face and shaved.
When he came back into the main room, he discovered once again someone had delivered a breakfast of porridge, toast, fruit and tea. He was a bit unnerved because he had not heard anyone enter or leave whilst he was cleaning up in the bathroom. He stared nervously around for a moment and then chided himself for conjuring imaginary fears when he had plenty of real ones. He sat down and ate. Since deciding life was going to go on, he wasn't going to waste this most excellent breakfast. Having been in the army, he was deadly practical about being provided regular meals. One did not turn up their nose at a meal when it was provided.
Afterwards he rummaged though the drawers and pulled out clean boxers, a vest, a shirt, jeans and socks. He found a jumper in another drawer and decided to put that on as well, as it was a brisk morning. He dressed quickly. He looked around but noticed there were no shoes for him to wear. That could be a problem if he ever figured out how to get out of this place but it was not the most pressing of his worries.
Now with nothing further to do he sat back on the bed, with the pillows bunched up behind his back, and stared at the closed door between his room and Holmes', wondering if it would swing open and what would happen then. His stomach clenched slightly with nerves, but having eaten well twice, cleaned up and had maybe not a great night but more sleep than he'd had for a while, he felt better about facing down the creature.
As he sat there, he wondered once more what had become of Molly.
oOo
When the tall, kind man with the graying hair led her out of the holding cell, Molly was not aware of anything that was going on. Her thoughts were fuzzy and it was only the gentle hand on her arm that kept her upright. A sympathetic voice whispered in her ear that it was going to be all right and that she was going to be looked after. He led her down a hall, up some steps and into the bright sunshine. A car was waiting outside and he helped her in. A few moments later a petit, dark haired woman, impeccably dressed sat down beside her and patted her arm in an overly friendly and familiar manner.
"All set, my dear? You are going to make a lovely addition to my home." She smiled a dazzling smile at a very confused Molly.
"Don't worry. The effects from my saliva will wear off shortly. You'll be up and about in no time." Molly continued puzzled over this woman's words and it wasn't until the car pulled away that all of the pieces fell into place. The woman sitting beside her was no woman but one of the Shadows. Fear churned in her stomach and anxiety coursed through her veins. The raw emotions cleared the muddiness of her thoughts. As her stomach roiled she hoped she wouldn't throw up in the car. Molly pressed her hands together to prevent the trembling from shattering her apart.
There was a sound from the creature beside her, almost a predatory purr. The female leaned closer. There was an impression of dark eyes with the faintest hint of silver. A throaty voice whispered in her ear. "Oh my dear, we are going to have such a good time together, but you need to relax. As much as I occasionally enjoy the sharp flavour of fear and apprehension that is flooding your body right now, I much prefer a taste of desire. Not all of my people have begun to appreciate how much arousal can add to the thrill of drinking your essence. Not all like to…indulge. We are rather a backward species that way." She smiled a slow, smile filled with sin and wicked talent. A crimson nail traced a path up Molly's arm and the female leaned closer and began a slow delicate touch of a tongue up the side of her neck, followed by careful kisses. It was nothing Molly had ever experienced, but it was beginning to make her feel shattered and not in the least bit calm. The alien being pressed her body closer and wrapped arms carefully around her as if she was afraid the human woman would break. She closed her eyes tightly and took herself some place else. The creature could do what she wanted with her body but she would not let her touch who she was deep inside.
A soft kiss to her temple and the creature pulled her head down to a bony shoulder as she stroked Molly's arms, almost as if in a parody of comfort. She shushed and rocked her and then whispered
"Not all of your people have either."
oOo
John awoke with a jerk, not surprised he had fallen asleep. After the events of the last few days and the rollercoaster ride of emotions combined with mind numbing boredom, there was really nothing else for him to do. He was use to being active and alert, brimming with adrenalin. Inactivity was foreign these days.
He wondered what had caused him to wake when he heard the sound that had crept into his dreams.
Someone was calling his name, harshly and urgent.
No, not someone. Something.
He stood too fast in his rush to obey that voice and he fought a wave of dizziness. The voice was full of annoyance and a tinge of anger. He was already becoming conditioned to obeying it, which made a part of him extremely displeased with himself. He was left with the feeling he was giving in.
The door that connected the rooms seemed a long way from where he was standing but he walked toward it and paused before he turned the knob. He took a deep breath, squared his shoulders and threw open the door.
He decided to meet aggravation with irritation.
"What?" he said in a firm voice, only slightly louder than his usual speaking voice.
Oh John, you are so screwed now. You really want to go a piss off a force of nature like that? Idiot.
But he wanted to show this alien he could push him around all he wanted but he still had backbone.
He stood in the doorway with as impassive a face as he could manage, but he was momentarily surprised by the look on Holmes' face. He had an impression of eyebrows and almost a shocked look, then a flash of something that John was certain was pleasure mixed with a hint of respect. It was swiftly replaced with the next-door neighbour of fury.
Fuck!
"You really don't have a survival instinct, do you Dr. Watson? You seem bound and determined to goad me." Holmes frowned at John, his face still black with suppressed anger and John was beginning to wonder if he had imagined that look that had flashed on his face almost too quick to register. "However I have need of you so I will overlook it for now. But do not push me too far today."
He swept that piercing gaze over John, indifferent and clinical, but something in it made John flush and feel uncomfortable and odd.
"You have been sleeping again." It was not a question.
"Well as there isn't much for me to do and I am still recuperating, yes." John said with a slightly defensive tone.
Holmes frowned again, but it wasn't the same look of anger. It was more thoughtful. "I see. I had not realized you required entertainment. Very well. As I have need of your assistance anyway, you might as well accompany me. There has been a development and I could use a pair of human eyes." He stood and walked toward the door of his rooms and lifted a back, wool coat off of the back of the door. "Well?"
"Well what?" John crossed his arms and glowered at the Shadow.
The creature huffed in exasperation. "If you wish to walk out and onto the streets of London feel free, but it may be more appropriate and comfortable for you to wear shoes and a coat. I find it cold today and my kind does not suffer from it as much as yours." The last was said with the hint of a drawl as if John was responsible for all of the frailties of the human race.
"Well I guess I would put on shoes and a jacket if I had any." John slipped his hands into his pockets and tilted his head to the side.
Holmes stopped and glared at John. When it was obvious he wasn't lying, he rolled his eyes and walked over to the phone. Picking it up, he quickly pressed a few buttons and hissed something in the language of the Shadows. John was reminded of a snake slithering on the floor. He shuddered slightly. Of course the Shadow caught it, but he merely stared at John.
John was wondering what was happening now. He assumed that the creature had called down to inquire about suitable apparel. Whilst they waited, neither said anything. He watched as Holmes put on his great coat and tie a blue scarf around his neck.
Just as he was wondering how much more awkward it could get, there was a tentative knock at the door. Sherlock looked at John and raised an eyebrow.
Really, thought John, if he keeps doing that they are going to stick there.
Nothing happened for a moment and the knock came again. Sherlock said softly, a hint of exasperation in his voice, "Get the door."
John nodded sharply and walked to the door, throwing it open. A young human male stood there, obviously scared, holding what looked like a pair of shoes and a black jacket.
A timid voice said, "Here you go, sir." John smiled a much warmer and friendlier smile than he would have at the Shadows and thanked the young boy. He wondered briefly about the role someone so young was suppose to have here, but then decide there was enough to deal with at the moment.
He closed the door again and turned to put his shoes on only to see Holmes had been watching the exchange.
"We don't." Holmes said abruptly.
"What?" John said, confused.
"We don't touch your young. That would be," and he swallowed distastefully. "That would be very wrong."
John must have looked surprised and perhaps a little doubtful.
The Shadow stepped closer to John and for once did not look intimidating. "To touch someone so young, to take from them, like that. No John, that would be an unpardonable sin. Even we have our limits." He paused and searched John's face. "And our punishments. It would not be tolerated."
He turned and swept out the door leaving John standing there stunned. He barely noticed that the Shadow had not addressed him as Dr. Watson.
He popped his head back in and barked. "Are you coming?"
John shook his head with wonder and an uneasy feeling if there was more to the Shadows than he wanted to know. It was so much simpler to hate something that was purely evil. Not so easy when they had morals not unlike your own.
He had held onto hatred of the Shadows for a long time so the feeling didn't last.
oOo
Holmes had bustled him into a car and they had driven for a while until they came to a set of abandoned flats. There seemed to be a small crowd gathered outside on the kerb.
The Shadow jumped from the car as it rolled to a stop and avoided waiting for the driver. John took a little more time to exit. He hadn't been outside for a few days and he was enjoying the air.
He followed behind the taller figure in the swoopy coat. He knew better than to try and make a run for it. A conversation in the car had reinforced the fact that Holmes expected him to try to run and to remember that he was aware of the location of his friends who had been with him in the holding cell. If he wished them to be safe he would play nice.
And then to clinch the deal he was informed that a subcutaneous tracker was placed on his person and that would make it so much easier to find him.
John had swallowed heavily at that news. It must have happened during one of his blackouts. He had raised an eyebrow, the question of location obvious in his blue eyes. Holmes had chuckled darkly and informed him he didn't want to know where.
John had muttered, "Good to know."
As they walked through the crowd, the doctor recognized the tall, silver haired human from his time at the old police station. He was surprised but not as surprised as the other was.
"What's he doing here? Are you mad?"
Holmes ignored the human. "What have you got, Lestrade?"
The other, Lestrade, just sighed as if he were use to dealing with this creature and his quirks and rapidly launched into a description of a murder of a human that had taken place last night.
"So why call me Lestrade? You have people to deal with this. Frankly I am surprised you wasted my time bringing me down here."
John paid close attention. From what he knew, crimes had all but disappeared with the arrival of the Shadows. At least that's what they had been told. Perhaps all was not as it seemed.
"Yeah but this isn't an ordinary murder, Sherlock. The human was murdered by a Shadow."
John took in the look of shock on Holmes' face and sucked in his breath at nearly the same time Holmes did. Questions pilled up like building blocks. Why would he care if a Shadow murdered a human? They did it all the time when they fed, not to mention all the humans who had been killed during the invasion.
Sherlock gestured for Lestrade to lead the way. They entered through the main door and walked a short way into the first flat. The door looked like it had been ripped off by something very strong.
John watched Sherlock. He couldn't help it. The tall being moved as if in a dance as he swept into the room and circled the body of a young woman lying face down upon the floor. He was fascinated despite himself.
John stared, reminded of that first night of the Shadows arrival. Her neck had been broken and she was tossed aside as if she were refuse. Used and discarded.
Holmes bent over, touched her clothing, sniffed her face, looked into her mouth and under her nails and then abruptly stood. He glanced at John who was standing there wondering what he was supposed to be doing.
"Dr. Watson, if you would be so kind."
John looked at Holmes, puzzled.
Have a look and tell me what you think."
John paused and then bent down. He checked her pupils and nonexistent pulse and then stood, his leg protesting as he did. The Shadow blinked at him.
"Well?"
"Well what? You know as well as I did that what he said," and he jerked a thumb at Lestrade. "She was killed by one of yours. Why am I here exactly?"
"I was hoping you'd go deeper. Besides, Dr. Watson, this is much more fun than sitting around your room all day, sleeping," he sneered.
"Yeah, but you lot kill us all the time. What makes this one so special?"
The Shadow whirled on John. "No. We don't." He said it very decisively.
"No you don't what?"
"Good lord, are you always this stupid? No, we do not kill your people all of the time. I myself have never killed any of you."
John stood there, completely nonplussed. Something was not making sense and he continued to stare at Holmes as if he was not speaking English
Sherlock looked at him with something that simply could not be compassion.
"Oh my dear doctor. You really are disillusioned aren't you? Been fed all sorts of erroneous information." He once more stood in John's space. "We do not needlessly kill humans. Yes, we need them to sustain our forms, here. Yes we will kill, when threatened." He paused and looked deeply into John's eyes. The doctor held his breath at what he saw there. "But we do not kill you for killing's sake. This young woman was slaughtered for sport. By a Shadow."
He stared a moment longer at John and then abruptly turned, dismissing him and spoke to Lestrade. "I need to go and inform my brother. We have a rogue Shadow. I think I know who it is."
And he swept out of the room leaving a thoroughly confused John behind.
Lestrade looked at him with sympathy.
"I know, mate. Takes some getting use to. But he's right. I've been working with them since the beginning and I have yet to see one kill us needlessly." He sighed softly, looking sadly at the young girl on the ground. "Today's an exception."
John just blinked at Lestrade, "But I don't understand. They started the war against us. They invaded our dimension. I saw creatures like that," and he pointed vehemently at the departed Shadows direction "I saw them kill us."
Lestrade looked at John, and then said quietly. "No Dr. Watson, you didn't. And they didn't start the war. We did."
