Holmes led Hugh through the back alleyways for nearly half an hour before they reached their destination. Checking to see if they'd been followed, he pointed out a second story flat that Hugh recognized at once.

"I should think this the most secure place in which to secrete your possessions. The last place Moriarty would think to search would be the most obvious."

He suddenly lowered his voice to a whisper.

"Not to mention there are several compartments known only to Watson and myself, your valuables will be quite safe there, if that suits you."

"Thank you. You can't be sure you can trust me. I won't ask you to either."

Hugh put his backpack down.

"Nonsense. A young man, who so calmly faces the prospect of living a life completely foreign to him, is certainly worth my trust. I would not ask you to lead me to the book if I did not trust you, you may be sure of that."

"And now my friend...would you be so kind as to show me these wondrous reality traveling tools of yours?"

Hugh nodded, quickly exiting the alley he stopped to get his bearings.

"Are these alleys and streets in the exact patterns of your time or are they only similar?"

"Yes. Unfortunately I wasn't feeling well when it happened. There is a lot of haze to fight though before I can figure out which way I wen…"

Hugh took off across the street and stopped; he went into the alley and turned to face a large wooden door.

Holmes caught up to him and assessed their surroundings.

"Ah yes, a perfect place to secure valuables."

He reached over and turned the doorknob. The old rusty hinges creaked menacingly as he pushed it open.

"I didn't exactly choose it. I just sort of ended up here. I was so tired and sick. Even know my memory of what happened is a bit fuzzy."

Entering he stopped in a large room with book selves and walls adorned with all sorts of trinkets, including a few of a sailing nature.

"The revitalization project, hmm? No, I don't believe that is in effect. Most older buildings are simply destroyed to make room for the new ones. No doubt destroying much history in the process. This generation seems not to care about the past..."

Holmes set the old painting gently against the wall and turned back to his companion.

"But we did not come here for a lesson on this culture, did we? Is this the correct building?"

"The revitalization project must have not gone though in this reality, If it was even thought up. Back in my reality this place is already brand new flats. This is much older; At least the 1990s."

"I'm afraid not, we're being followed."

Holmes crossed the room and shut the door.

"Very astute of you to notice. I believe they've followed us from the hospital. Whoever it is either simply one of my many enemies, or someone who has determined the value of that which we seek. Considering the circumstances I would choose the latter. You are sure this is not the right building? If not, this situation might not prove to be as dire as it seemed at first glance."

"I'm sorry. I know its close, my memory is not very clear."

"That's alright. Here, let us see if there is another way out."

Hugh walked to the nearest door and tried the knob. It refused at first, it finally gave way. Opening the door he was met with a hand the grabbed hold of Hugh pulling him in wards to the grip of his captor.

"Holmes, you should really be more careful with your charge. You never now what awful things could happen to a child."

"Ah, Professor! I might've known you'd not be far behind us. Always looking for an opportunity to enlarge that pocketbook of yours. But I'm afraid there's nothing in it this time. Just a simple case of a misplaced child. I was just helping the boy retrace his steps. Fell and injured his head, you know."

"Oh, Holmes you really think I'm that gullible. The boy was seen on video and traced with scanners. I know he came from the portal; and if my resources are right he came from another reality. Who knows what else could be possible with such power!"

Holmes took a step toward them.

"Who knows, indeed Moriarty! This boy was nearly killed by the energy force it took to transport him here. You would be just as susceptible to its' destruction. You would be a fool to tamper with it. No, this energy is beyond bending to one's own designs."

Moriarty chuckled, "I have no intent to travel to any reality. I intend to harness the energy for weapon the likes of which will cause the world to tremble at my feet."

"I greatly fear that such energy as this will not be harnessed. You will only succeed in killing innocents with your lust for power. But you do not need the boy to accomplish this task. He knows nothing of this energy, release him."

"He came through the portal. He shall come with me and if he does know anything he shall talk. If he has no knowledge of the energy I shall find other uses for him. I wonder how it would feel if I made you watch him die. Hmm…?"

"The purpose would be to make you suffer. You surely can't say watching an innocent that you yourself were aiding die wouldn't die. I've seen it before in your eyes…" A statement Moriarty punctuated by pulling out an ionizer, holding it to Hugh's head. Hugh breathed heavily, feeling the ionizer.

Holmes stepped closer to them, holding his hands out in a gesture of submission.

"I also know nothing about this energy, save it's' ability to be destructive. Killing the child will get you nothing. What do you want from me?"

"From you, I would like to see suffer knowing your failure, followed by your torture and death. That will have to wait unfortunately. I want what the boy knows first." Moriarty left the doorway slowly, facing Holmes, his grip on Hugh firm as they entered the room.

"After I accessed New Scotland Yard's computers trying to find out more about the child I hadn't expected the child to be unidentifiable. I didn't expect they would thing of running a DNA profile to in an attempt identify the boy." As he spoke men entered the room from the same way Moriarty entered. "You would think being able to hold one's own great, great, great grandchild would bring some satisfaction. However I find it even more satisfying to for you to fail your own kin."

Holmes followed the pair as closely as he dared, weighing their options carefully. To his dismay, he could of nothing with which to bargain.

"Professor, I useless as I know it to be, I must ask you again to let the boy go. He has informed me that his recent illness caused him to forget where the energy source was placed. I swear that this is the truth! He will be useless to you."

"I'm afraid I can't afford to take that chance." Moriarty with his thumb switched the setting on his ionizer to stun, shoving Hugh out the center of the room he fired hitting Holmes first, followed by Hugh.