This is not the final draft. I need to go back, make it longer, correct it, and all that jazz ;) I shall make this perfect, but just right now it's this, and I'm sorry to make you wait or anything like that. But just for now.


Jace doesn't remember anything after Holmes swept him up. All he recalls is his feet leaving the ground, being able to really be comforted in arms instead of a hand, and drifting off to sleep.

He yawns as he stretches from what seemed like a year long nap, smiling refreshed and happy. Thinking back to what happened he sighs in relief then breathes in deeply…

Only to get a lung full of smoke.

Sputtering Jace bounds to his feet only to yelp as someone knocks him down to the ground. Looking around his eyes widen as borrowers sprint around him, away from where the smoke seems to be getting stronger. Confused beyond belief he reaches to grab one of their arms and freezes.

"Mary?" Standing in front of him is the girl he thought he'd never see again, after being captured he just never thought she'd be free, here.

"We're being smoked out Jace. We have to go." Her eyes plead as they water from the smoke coming out of the other passages to the walls, just like they did last time when she was captured. And that's when it strikes him.

"No. No why now?" His knees buckle and she races away trying to get out. Jace only sits and pants. Why? Why this dream now?

"Jace we have to move." Strong hands grip his arms and pulls him up. Spinning around he sees Kyle standing above him, a strong borrower who took him under his wing when he first came to them.

"I can't. I can't do that," Jace murmurs. He knows how the dream will end, just like what really happened.

"Yes you can." With that Jace is pulled away from the smoke down the passage that leads outside. Everywhere he sees faces he hasn't thought about in forever: the leader of the house Vic, his wife Sarah, the best borrower ever known Lea, and even the family Reese with their two children. But before Jace can pinch himself or do anything to escape the nightmare sunlight bursts all around him.

Then the cages rain down.

Jace is flung forward as Kyle tosses him into a nearby bush to not get trapped. Spinning the boy reaches for his hook to help his friend escape, to do something, only to kind Kyle gone without a trace. Looking around no one else is anywhere, all the cages full of his friends hauled away without a thought. He and Kyle were the last ones out, and because he threw Jace to safety he got caught just like all the others.

Jace was the only one to escape. Just like the last nightmare. Just like every nightmare. Just like what really happened.

Suddenly a giant boot comes down and stomps on the bush Jace hid under, the branches and leaves scattered everywhere as dust flies. He gasps and scrambles back, surprised as to what was happening.

This wasn't part of it, this never happened.

"Well, well, well. What do we have here?"

Jace looks up to see the human kneeling before him. Slowly looking up he freezes to see a man he's never seen before. A black suit, black hair, clean shaven. His face is lean with a wicked smile lighting up the face.

"How are you here?" Jace demands. This didn't happen. The nightmare never has had this before.

"I'm the living nightmare." Lunging, his hands charge toward Jace. Screaming the borrower ducks, only to hear the man laugh as his shadow leaves. Jace looks up surprised he wasn't grabbed, only to see Holmes and Watson trapped in his grasp, shrunk and helpless.

"PUT THEM DOWN!" Jace leaps to his feet and brandishes his hook. The man laughs again and shakes his head.

"Come now Jace. If you couldn't save any of them, what make you think you can save these two?" he asks as everything fades to black.

The borrower jerks awake screaming, thrashing as he tries to rid himself from the nightmare.

"Jace it's alright." Just like that his head clears as he calms down. He looks up to find Holmes watching him, an unreadable expression on his face.

"Sorry. Just had a nightmare." Jace sighs as he lays back down, huffing as a towel is dabbed at his face.

"Are you feeling alright?" At the voice Jace hesitates. It was Watson's, only he didn't cause the air to rumble.

"Watson?" Even with the nightmare, or memory turned nightmare, he still realized that the two sound the same, the ground stable and their voices not so far away. Sitting up quickly he spins to see both Holmes and Watson on the same scale as him. Looking around he pales at seeing that they were all borrower sized. Just like his nightmare…

"Um, I'm s-sorry to interrupt b-but is it safe t-to have all of us t-tiny?" He scowls as his voice comes out so hesitant, not knowing what exactly to say. That he had a nightmare about them being captured at borrower size? That he used to not travel from place to place very often because of something that happened? And explain it in great detail? That'd take a little bit and probably while they're all borrower sized, so excuse was the best course of action.

Sherlock narrows his eyes at the comment. Jace is never one to be hesitant, even if it's something he's uncomfortable with or doesn't have a clue. No, this is different. He's hiding something, whatever the boy woke up screaming to, and it's plaguing him. How to make him talk about it though is another matter.

"Lestrade needs me on another matter and Jace wants to borrow from Mrs. Hudson so how about you take a trip shrunk John?" Sherlock's smirk lands on his best friend as the man physically starts.

"What? We had an agreement-"

"To not grow unless you said you'd be okay with it. I didn't forget, I'm asking you now." This makes John snort as he rolls his eyes.

"Fine. But no touching me. Just go on your case."

"Wait, wait, wait. Watson you can't be serious," Jace begins, standing up as he presses the man. "Holmes will be a walking building to you. What if we all go back to our normal size and wait this off for tomorrow?"

"You wanted to go borrowing," Sherlock calls, his form walking over to his invention. Honestly getting John to come on this scale was the easiest thing in the world. He marveled Jace's courage and tactics and wanted to be able to get to know the boy on a more personal level. Apparently the only reason why he didn't ask to be this size was because of Sherlock. But he could be respectable when he wants to. Though he will measure the doctor later…

"Jace, you've been doing a lot of stressful things today. What if we did something you're familiar with?" John asks.

"But Holmes might pick you up even though-"

"You said not to. I can be reserved Stenson," Sherlock snaps. His eyes move to John who waves an arm at him to the machine. Happy with the enforced opinion, he turns his back and ignores everything else being said.

"Watson, please. What if we do it tomorrow?" The man doesn't answer but instead sighs and stands up next to Jace, smiling at how the kid is his height.

"Jace, I have to admit I want to be with you on this scale. I haven't been able to interact with you like I do with everyone else, and you're someone I would very much rather have that than most people I do on a daily basis. I wanted to help you, and if risking your neck for a chocolate biscuit is what's familiar, then I'm more than happy to go along. Besides, it should be exciting."

"He is ex-military Jace," Sherlock murmurs, normal structure of 6 feet instead of 4 inches and leaning over the table slightly. John jerks back at his voice, eyes going wide at him.

"T-thought you couldn't get taller Sherlock." His hand runs through his sandy hair as he looks away. Sherlock smirks fondly then straightens up as he makes sure his coat is in properly.

"Thought you couldn't get shorter John." And with that he quickly walks out the door, a smile on his face as John angrily shouts after him.

"That was funny," Jace breathes. John huffs at this but doesn't say anything.

"So, are we going to go steal some sweets?" Jace then huffs at this and glares at Watson.

"I borrower, no stealing business. Just borrowing," he clarifies, planting his hook into the table. With Watson watching carefully he slips down the rope, secretly glad it's the doctor coming along with him instead of the detective.