Okay, well technically this is an additional chapter which was part of my (rather long) one-shot and thanks to you peeps demanding to know what the thing chasing John is, you've made me do this! Be proud of yourselves :p

Anyway, do review please since I do expect more than the current FOUR reviews... it's not very kind to be so fleeting and it's hurting my feelings *goes off and sobs in the corner*

Enjoy

Kasey

...

...

CHAPTER NINE

Two Months Later

...

...

Two Months Later

"Why on earth are we doing this John? It's a pointless celebration of the ending of one boring year and the beginning of another?" Sherlock moaned as John positively dragged the lanky detective along the pavement in the direction of the Thames.

Sighing in exasperation, John slowed to a stop and moved to the side of the pavement tugging Sherlock along with him. Loosening his grip on the detectives gloved hand, John threaded his fingers between the long, pianist-like fingers and stared intently at them as he spoke; resolutely not looking at the detective, "because Sherlock, this 'pointless celebration' will be the beginning of the first year in my entire life that I haven't been afraid of the shadows and what's hiding inside them," John explained quietly still staring at their hands, his voice low and almost child-like in its vulnerability.

Sherlock sighed silently as his gaze softened from its usual calculating stare, his free hand came up and cupped John's chin making the shorter man look up into Sherlock's own eyes, "John, my dear, dear John," Sherlock shook his head in amusement and leaned down so that his face was less than a centimetre from John's own, "why didn't you say so before we left Baker Street?"

John's ears turned pink from embarrassment and the doctor looked away briefly, saying softly, "I thought you'd think it was stupid."

"I think most things are stupid John," Sherlock replied automatically and John glanced at him before looking away again and Sherlock continued, his voice soft and gentle, "however, some things are worth enduring if it's for the right reason."

John's gaze shot up to Sherlock's eyes and his eyes widened in surprise; never had he thought that the detective would ever say something so... well, kind to him. True, Sherlock had been readily accepting of John's own freakishness, but he was still surprised whenever Sherlock showed his, rarely seen, caring-side. It often made his giddy and proud that he was the one who brought it out in the self-proclaimed sociopath; other times, like now, it made him feel humbled and special in a way he'd never experienced.

"Come on, we're going to be late for the fireworks if we don't hurry," Sherlock smiled at the doctor and tightened his grip on the doctors hand as he began to walk, John following him in semi-shock. He felt a feeling in his chest, one that had been becoming increasingly more prevalent during the last three months, and he spared himself a single moment to identify it; love. Something he'd thought he'd never feel and yet, the rather odd, John Watson had given him the greatest gift he'd ever received; the gift of someone to share his life with.

"You just want to watch something explode that you're not responsible for," John muttered as he walked hand-in-hand with Sherlock, a smile tugging at his lips and Sherlock smirked at the doctor; deciding to not mention the fact that he'd switched some of the fireworks with his own special ones. The surprise on the doctor's face would be worth the berating he'd receive from Mycroft; anything was worth making John happy.

...

...

"FIVE!"

"FOUR!"

"THREE!"

"TWO!"

"ONE!"

...

...

"John?"

...

"Where are you John?"

...

...

"Mycroft! I can't find John!" Sherlock exclaimed as he skidded to a halt in front of the suited man who was leaning on his umbrella, "I've lost him!"

Mycroft frowned and looked to his left at his assistant, "Aerecura?"

"Doctor Watson's locator chip seems to have gone offline sir, our eye in the sky can't see any sight of him and Phillips isn't responding to our radio calls," Aerecura looked up from her Blackberry and frowned in either concern or confusion at the lack of a location on the army doctor, "it's like he's disappeared sir."

"It's got him..." Sherlock whispered, his legs giving way beneath him and he fell to the ground, wrapping his arms around himself in shock, fear and absolute terror, "Oh John... no... no..."

"What has got Doctor Watson Sherlock?" Mycroft asked, kneeling down cautiously next to his brother; his voice was low, soft and imploring but there was a hint of determination which was what Sherlock responded to above all.

"It! It's got him!" Sherlock exploded, his eyes blazing and filled with fear as he stared at his brother, "It... the thing... it... I don't know what it is but it's got him!"

If Mycroft doubted Sherlock's firm declaration he didn't show as he nodded and rose to his feet again looking directly at Aerecura. Speaking in a no nonsense tone he watched as Aerecura typed away hurriedly on her Blackberry in time with his demands, "I want every available operative looking for Doctor Watson, I want a full diagnostic test ran on the locators and someone to reactivate the Doctor's. I also want any and all CCTV of this entire area to be checked to see if the Doctor has indeed been kidnapped-"

"You won't find anything! It's got him... oh God John..." Sherlock exclaimed as he jumped to his feet, "You need someone who knows about this sort of thing! Someone with experience..." he trailed off and stared distantly down the length of the Thames, seemingly lost in thought.

Mycroft stepped closer to Aerecura and said softly to her, "Also have some men check the Thames for a body; just encase," he added as she looked at him questioning. She nodded and efficiently added the order to the already long list.

Carefully composing his features so as to make sure none of his concern for his brother, or the worry for the missing doctor, showed through, Mycroft took a step towards Sherlock just as the younger Holmes brother exclaimed, "OF COURSE!"

Before Mycroft could speak, or even blink, Sherlock was bounding across the pavement, shoving past people who were staring in fascination at the fireworks lighting up the sky. The last that Mycroft saw of his brother with his own two eyes was the top of the detectives head bobbing up and down in the crowd. He turned to look at Aerecura and was pleased to see that she was already tapping away on her Blackberry organising a squad to trail Sherlock.

...

...

To Be Continued...

Oh dear... I'm so evil aren't I peeps? You should answer this with "YES!" :p

Now, if you want me to update this then you must review; yes, I'm blackmailing you... ;)

Kasey