Right, so yeah I haven't updated in ages. Woops. I was torn between two different ways to take this story and I wanted to be sure of which direction I was going to take before carrying on further, I know what I'm doing now so all is good. Updates should hopefully be a bit more regular from now on as well so Yay!

Standard Disclaimer.

John never heard his phone when Sherlock rang him. He was still ignoring it. After seeing the texts from 'M' he just couldn't bare to look at his mobile anymore. Besides, he was already on thin ice in the surgery if he was seen checking his text messages it might just be enough to entirely piss his employers off. However the pressure he had seen Sherlock under was making him feel guilty. He'd told Sherlock earlier that he wouldn't abandon him yet here he was taking pensioners' blood pressure whilst Sherlock was God knows where...

John ran his hands through his hair and sighed heavily. He still couldn't shake the picture of Sherlock surrounded by the bodies from his mind. Every single time he closed his eyes there was Sherlock, bloody and beaten and surrounded by corpses...

John shook his head and stood up walking over to the water cooler in the corner of the room and pouring himself a cup of the cold liquid. His hand was shaking, why was his hand shaking? The picture of Sherlock shouldn't change anything, it shouldn't. Besides he hadn't even discussed it with Sherlock yet. Maybe everything wasn't how it seemed...

John took a drink of his water. What difference did it make if Sherlock was... a killer? He'd forgiven Mary then he could... he could... of course understand why Sherlock would have done what he'd done, if it had been life or death then...

John still felt sick. Even if this was just Moriarty and his henchmen messing with his mind, it was bloody working and John hated it. John threw his empty cup in the bin and went over to get his phone from his pocket to check it, he hadn't had a patient in ten minutes, he needed to check to see if he'd received more text messages or ring Sherlock. He couldn't sit around like this for much longer.

He pulled his phone from his pocket and just registered that he had a missed call from Sherlock when the receptionist knocked on his door.

"I've a Mr. James Delaney here," she said. "Sore throat are you ready to see him?"

John looked longingly at his phone for a moment before sighing and returning it to his coat. "Yeah send him in please."

The receptionist just smiled and closed the door behind her leaving John alone.


The silence in the cab between Sherlock and Mary was slightly awkward. Sherlock was both annoyed and relieved to have Mary travelling with him but he was also quite worried. She'd been the one threatened in Janine's messages, her and the baby so maybe it was best she was with him at least that way he could keep an eye on her but he still felt uneasy having her with him. She was eight and a half months pregnant after all... Anything could happen.

"Thank you for emmm," began Sherlock clearing his throat mid-sentence. "For helping me with the code."

Mary smiled. "It takes a lot for you to admit someone was smarter than you doesn't it?" she teased.

Sherlock scowled. "I solved it ages ago... I was testing you."

"You're such a bad liar."

Sherlock scoffed and took his phone out to ring John again... No answer. Sherlock grumbled something under his breath as the call went to voice mail. He hung up without leaving a message. "Why exactly do people carry mobile phones if they never answer them?" He asked grouchily.

"You know he never answers his mobile when he's at work."

"Well excuse me for thinking the return of Moriarty holds more significance than toddlers with runny noses."

Sherlock began typing away on his phone as Mary just stared at him sadly.

"I'm sorry," she said.

Sherlock looked up. "Sorry about what?"

"Molly and Tom."

Sherlock grimaced and returned his attention to his phone. "Oh that."

"Yeah, are you okay? I was talking to John before you went into see her."

"I'm perfectly fine."

"Sherlock-"

"I have a feeling whatever we're looking for might just be in the safe in Irene Adler's house, either that or someone will be meeting us there, hard to tell exactly what will happen just yet. I-

Mary just looked at Sherlock as he rambled on, she only half listened to what he was saying as he was trying to change the subject from himself. She'd seen him do this on more than one occasion. He was scared, not just because of Moriarty although that was what he was mostly worried about, but she could see the same fear in his eyes that had been there preceding the wedding; the fear of being alone. Despite what the man said Sherlock valued his friendships, really valued them. He was worried about losing John because of the baby and now Molly the one who had always been there for him despite anything he did had been taken away from him. Sherlock didn't have to tell Mary how he felt she could read him like a book.

"Could be dangerous," said Sherlock snapping Mary out of her train of thought.

"You're not going to put me off," she said.

Sherlock smiled. "Didn't think I would."

"I'm not leaving you Sherlock," she said. Mary didn't just mean today she meant in general and she hoped Sherlock could see that.

The detective smiled. "Well since you were still hanging around after shooting me I thought you'd be difficult to shake off."

Mary smiled wanly. "You're not in this alone. You know that right?"

Sherlock's smile faltered but he composed himself quickly. "Thank you," he said simply not entirely sure of what else to say. Sherlock returned to his phone and tried calling John once more... Still no answer. Sherlock sighed and texted Lestrade instead telling him what was going on and asking him to have an ambulance on stand by. Just in case. Sherlock looked at Mary and back to his phone. He wasn't taking any chances.


As the cabbie pulled up outside Irene's old house Sherlock felt uneasy. The last time he'd been here he'd been drugged and he felt as if a similar outcome happening this time would be a lucky escape... He glanced across to Mary. He'd never forgive himself if he allowed something to happen to her... John would never forgive him.

Mary eyed the building suspiciously. "Ready?" she asked turning to face Sherlock.

The detective walked forward towards the front door in response. He checked the front door, the lock broken and the door was slightly ajar, so someone was expecting him anyway...

"The door's open," he said calling back to Mary who was taking the steps slowly to join Sherlock.

"Do you think it might be a trap?"

"Only one way to find out," said Sherlock as he began to push the door open.

Sherlock allowed the door to swing forward and studied the hallway before walking onwards. The musty smell and the dust told Sherlock that nobody had lived her for a long time. It had been a few years since Irene had left for good and obviously nobody had lived in or rented out her house since she had occupied it. Sherlock smacked his lips and began to cautiously walk forward.

"Come on," he breathed to Mary who was walking closely behind him. "I think we'll find what we're looking for in Irene's old safe."

Mary studied the house as Sherlock led her into a large living room, judging on the clue Sherlock had been left, the broken door and the breaks in the dust lines, Mary could tell someone had been here recently. Very recently, in fact they could still be here somewhere. It was a large house after all. Mary found herself unconsciously rubbing her tummy, hoping that nothing would happen her child if there were someone else still in the house.

Sherlock studied the mirror above the mantelpiece and began fumbling along the hardwood looking for a switch to click back the mirror hiding the safe. He found it quickly and waited as the mirror raised up to reveal the safe.

Mary walked over to Sherlock and studied the safe's control panel.

"Do you know the code?" she asked.

I did," said Sherlock before licking his lips. "A few years ago."

Mary looked at the control panel and then back at Sherlock who was leaning over the fireplace studying each of the buttons on the panel individually. "Are you going to use the code you know or?"

Sherlock hesitated for a moment. "The chances of the code being the same are slim but I have nothing else to go or... However if I use the code and it's wrong... I'm not sure what will happen. Also Janine would know I knew the last code so why would she have left it the same?"

"Maybe you're over thinking this," Mary suggested.

Sherlock looked at Mary and back at the control panel. It had been wiped clean, there was no residue left on any of the keys to suggest any sort of pattern. He had nothing to go on. Nothing at all. Sherlock bit his lip as he began to doubt himself once more...

John's voice shot through Sherlock's head...

"Stop with the self doubt Sherlock it really doesn't suit you..."

As John's words from earlier replayed in his head Sherlock took a deep breath and decided to go for it, before he could over analyse the situation further he made a move to type Irene's measurements into the control panel.

"Whoa, Sherl," said a voice behind him. "Do you really think that's a good idea?"

Sherlock and Mary turned as Janine entered the room. Mary turned quickly and took John's gun from her pocket. "I will shoot you," she threatened pointing the gun at Janine.

Janine simply laughed. "Shoot that gun and it'll be the last thing you ever do Mary. You don't really think I'm here alone do you?"

To answer her question a red dot appeared on Sherlock's temple, a shooter outside had him in sight. If Mary shot, they were taking him down too.

"Shoot me Mary and my little friend outside will decorate the walls with the insides of Sherlock's head, do you want that to happen?"

Mary bit her lip and lowered the gun, defeated.

"Good girl," said Janine in a sneer. "Now Sherl, back to business. How about we up the stakes yes?

Sherlock just stared at Janine. He was just about finished with these games.

"If you guess incorrectly Sherl my shooter will finish you how about that? The last thing you do in this life will be a mistake, how fitting for the egotistical control freak?"

Sherlock's jaw tightened and he ran a shaky hand through his hair. He eyed the panel again and began to doubt himself once more; it could hardly still be Irene's measurements, right?

"Maybe I should give you a hint, should I Sherl?" teased Irene. "It's not Irene's measurements."

Sherlock bit his lip; he was back to square one. He just stared at the panel. How was he supposed to guess this? How?

"Oh, come on Sherl, it's not difficult," chided Janine. "In fact I'd say the whole country knows, the code. They've heard it enough. Just think..."

Sherlock's emotions were getting the better of him again. The stress was hitting him. He didn't care about dying, not really but what would happen to John, Mary the baby if he was killed here? He kept raising his hand to begin typing some sort of sequence but what? He didn't know... He just didn't know anymore...

Mary just stared at Sherlock; she could see the fear and panic in his eyes. He wasn't coping, he couldn't even think straight. He kept mumbling different codes, words, numbers that the code could be under his breath but he wasn't trying any of them.

"Sherlock," said Mary softly but he ignored her. "Sherlock," she said slightly loudly.

"Gahh!" Sherlock growled slamming his fists against the mantelpiece. "I DON'T KNOW THE CODE!" he snapped.

"Sherlock," said Mary finally taking steps towards Sherlock and pulling him into a hug. "Just calm down okay, take your time. Just calm down. Getting stressed over this won't help you, okay? You're just missing something because you're panicking. Just calm down please and you'll see what you're miss-

Suddenly Sherlock pulled away. "Miss something?" he repeated. "Miss something!" he spoke louder. He turned to face the panel. "Of course, you said the whole country knows it, the whole country! His message played everywhere. The code is..."

MISS ME

Sherlock entered the code and after a beeping noise the safe clicked open. Sherlock breathed a sigh of relief. He was right.

Before Sherlock could put his hand on the safe's door a loud bang and the sound of glass splintering filled the room, the shooter had taken his shot. Sherlock jumped at the noise but he never felt the bite of the bullet, the gun hadn't been aiming at him. He hadn't been the target. Not this time. Sherlock looked towards the splintering window. If the shooter hadn't been aiming at him then that meant...

"Sher," whispered a voice beside him.

Sherlock turned to see Mary swaying slightly on her feet, her eyes wide with pain. Sherlock looked at her hand that was covering her tummy and at the blood seeping through her shaking fingers. She'd been shot...

"Oh God, no," breathed Sherlock.

"I told you that you'd be shot if you got the code wrong," said Janine in a sneering tone. "Never said what would happen if you guessed right... See you around Sherl."

Sherlock glanced at Janine quickly before turning back to Mary and catching her before she collapsed. This couldn't be happening...

"Please God, no," Sherlock muttered, as he pulled his phone from his pocket and dialled Lestrade telling him what was happening and that they'd need the ambulance. Now.

Mary raised a hand to Sherlock's cheek, staining his face crimson. "It's not your fault," she whispered. "It's-it's not your fault Sherlock."

Sherlock's eyes widened and he just stared at the barely conscious Mary in his arms.

"It's not your fault," she repeated wearily before closing her eyes and going limp in Sherlock's arms.

Sherlock's breath caught in his throat and he shook her gently, no response.

"Mary?" he asked his voice cracking slightly. He could hear the paramedics slamming doors and running up the steps of the house carrying their equipment. "Mary, please come on, MARY!"

I changed Irene's safe panel slightly just to suit my story. Sorry about that. I'll try and update again soon, I'm back to uni in a month and I want to at least try and have this story finished before then. As always reviews are greatly appreciated and I'll see you in the next chapter.