The silence was broken by a text alert. Was that a lightsaber? Since when did Sherlock like Sci-fi? He didn't even know what Star Trek was until the last one came out and he only watched five minutes of Lord of the Rings. Guess I'm not taking him to the opening of The Hobbit. The detective opened the text but as he looked at the screen his moment of peace went with it. He showed it to John.

{The pills were normal. One was a calcium supplement 2 gram dose and the other was an alpha-blocker for high blood pressure 8mg dose.} Molly

"Why would he take calcium supplements?"

"For his high blood pressure. Calcium supplements help lower it when taken with the regular medication. But this is 2 grams each and with the two pills normally taken each day that's more than twice the regular daily dose."

"Would that have caused the electrolyte imbalance?"

"Sure. Only I don't see how Mycroft wouldn't have noticed this? There would have been symptoms and the Cardura dose isn't right either."

"How?"

"The prescription we found was for 4mg and this is twice that dose."

"You said there would have been symptoms."

"I did. Hold on." John went to small bookshelf under the window where he kept his medical textbooks. He pulled out a large paperback book and quickly went through the contents for what he needed. "Here it is. The symptoms would have been any combination of aching joints, dry mouth, fatigue, vomiting, and trembling. His heart rate would have increased before he slipped into a coma."

"He had a rapid heart rate when they brought him into the E.R."

"At least now we know the how."

"We also have another clue as to who."

"How's that?"

"Because not only would they have to have access to Mycroft's medical files they had to know the exact doses and would have needed a way to get them switched without Mycroft noticing. That isn't easy to do."

"You mentioned social functions. Does he ever have any at the estate? I mean he's a people person, more than you are anyway."

Sherlock blinked in surprise. He didn't think of that. That should have been obvious. An easy way to get into the house and make the switch. No, no, no wait. People person. "John you're amazing. Simple. Normal. Slightly aggravating but you are amazing."

About to say thank you of course he might have left out the aggravating part. "Why am I amazing? What did I do?"

"People. People is what he's knows better than me."

"You mean that deduction thing you do?"

"It's not a deduction thing it's observation and analysis and no that's not what I'm talking about. Mycroft knows people. He only has to speak with them for a minute and he can know them better than their family or friends they've known their whole life."

"Yeah . . ."

"John don't you get it?"

"Sorry, no."

While John does try to be more perceptive his intelligence is unfortunately no higher than most of the average idiots the detective puts up with. Sherlock lets out a frustrated sigh and calms himself before responding in a 'skull talk tone' as John calls it. "The analyzing method he created for his thesis discovering a person's sympathies by their physical traits. I can use it to identify a suspect."

"But it doesn't show the whole method. It just gives examples which don't really sound too-" Note to self don't question big brother in front of little brother. Harry didn't even get that kind of defensive nature the short time they did get along. Great, now the Holmes brothers have a better relationship than him and Harry.

"John pay attention."

"I am."

"You're thinking."

"You think all the time. I don't complain."

"Right. I was saying," And I'm ignoring him. He shuts himself away for hours at a time without a word but if he's not getting attention he has a tantrum. That would be amusing to see. "Simply put all I have to do is crack Mycroft's secondary code to bypass his primary code for his project files where they'll be a copy of the completed method."

"I can go back to sleep?"

The genius tilted his head and raised an eyebrow looking rather like his brother when John first met him. He might have thought John was trying to be funny again. A doctor does not joke when he needs sleep particularly before embarking on adventures around London with a crazy flatmate. In the end Sherlock walked off without giving an answer. Stupid sociopath.

Idiot soldier.

He wants to go back to sleep John does. Granted Sherlock does regret having awoken him so soon but once he had he expected the man to help. He did, somewhat, but that's not the point. First the morning with all his questions and now he wanted to sleep. He let go of that problem to redirect his mind toward cracking the next code. It was a bit more challenging than the last and in fact if he hadn't seen the redecoration of Mycroft's study he wouldn't have cracked it at all. Simple that was the key. A simple room with only what was necessary. A quiet room where he could simply focus on thinking. The password was Jedi. Strange to think that the Holmes would take interest in such fiction but as Mycroft was fond of saying 'All information is essential when utilized' so naturally he found a group who promoted no emotion a model to learn from. To everyone else the series was entertaining to the Holmes brothers it was a study of Human behavior and proof that emotion only got you into trouble.

Once Sherlock got through the password blocking him from the documents he searched for Mycroft's observation method. It was labeled as 'The Five Types' but before he could even finish the first paragraph Mrs. Hudson interrupted his work.

"Sherlock there you are."

"Working."

"Yes, dear I see that. I just wanted to tell you that Detective Lestrade is here to see you." She left downstairs muttering something that sounded like 'poor boy.' Sherlock rolled his eyes. He was hardly a boy and he hated being pitied worse than he hated ignorant people like Donovan. "Lestrade." He invited ushering the man in.

"Hey Sherlock. I know it's probably not the best time but I got something you might wanna take a look at."

"Show me."

Lestrade brought out an envelope which he quickly undid and handed the contents over to Sherlock. "We were investigating a kidnapping."

"The Chief Inspector's daughter."

Nothing is ever a secret around the Holmes. At least he wasn't as bad as his brother. Lestrade winced. Shouldn't have gone there he thought shaking his head. "Yeah we found the girl but the ones that took her disappeared by the time we arrived. They did leave someone else though. One of theirs, nothing special, he was a small time thug. Busted him a couple times for break-ins. Anyway he had these pictures in his coat pocket. One of them's your brother. The others are government officials some important and some well I never heard of 'em 'fore I saw those pictures."

"They're important to someone but what do they have to do with Mycroft?"

"I haven't got a clue."

"Nothing new there."

"I'm trying to help Sherlock because I know this is a bad time for you."

"Why do people keep saying that? I am fine. Completely fine. Normal."

"Clearly."

"That's my word."

"You can't own a word."

"I use it better."

"You win. What do these pictures mean?"

"Pictures of various people all in government with the dates and locations on the back. I'd say their target marks."

"Target Marks."

"Professional assassins often use them. Their employers provide them with a photograph inscribed with a specific date and location where they can find their target. The method of killing is normally left up to the assassins."

"Why would professional assassins work with a common thug?"

"Good you finally learned how to ask proper questions."

"Seriously Sherlock are you trying to push me over the edge?"

"Actually I was complimenting you."

Largest shock Lestrade ever received. "I . . . Wha . . ."

"Should I call for John?"

"N-No. Are you alright?"

"I said I was."

"You did. I heard you I just . . ."

"Honestly Lestrade you were making progress. Perhaps it would be better if I continued insulting you?"

"No! No. I'm not used to compliment is all, from you I mean. I prefer it though."

Stumbling and stuttering from a compliment. What could be made of that? The Detective Inspector did seem troubled whenever he questioned or insulted him of course that was in front of others. That was the expected response so naturally the opposite cause should yield the opposite result. Why did people have to be confusing? "I'll remember that."

"Good."

Was that pride? Why would he be proud? "Do you know precisely how the man was involved in the kidnapping?"

"I only know he picked up the ransom demand. We chased him from there to the hideout where we found him dead on the scene and the girl unconscious but otherwise unharmed."

"Sounds like your man was used and wasted by his new friends."

"Maybe. No way to be sure."

"It's the most likely explanation. If they are professionals and involved with what happened with Mycroft they could hardly afford to be 'd need someone who knew the area and wouldn't matter if he fell. But why would they risk a kidnapping when they had a job? Unless it's part of the job."

"How's that?"

"I need to speak with the girl."