A/N: I send a special thank you to khorazir for sharing her drawing "Butterflies." She states that this beautiful work was inspired by Sherlock's words in chapter 8 of this story. Words can't express how moved I am by this.

Beta: As always - Jarri Scythe

Tension Makes a Tangle - 11

Things were a little strained between Sherlock and me on the trip back down to Woking. After his blunt declaration earlier Sherlock seemed to withdraw back into himself, although that might be due to him refocusing on Percy's case.

For myself, I was becoming more and more troubled by Sherlock's behavior. I felt that there was something not quite right in the way he was acting in our intimate moments, but I wasn't sure what it was. Trying to analyze it got me nowhere, especially since it was uncharted territory for both of us. What could I possibly compare it to? Maybe I was just being paranoid. I finally decided that I would try not to worry about it anymore until we were in another such situation.

When we arrived at Percy's house we went directly to the same bedroom where we found both Annie and Percy. Percy looked much better than he had the previous day. When we came in he got off the couch and shook our hands.

"Do you have any news?" he asked eagerly.

Sherlock replied, "I went to see Detective Forbes, and your boss, and I have a few other ideas I am following up on that might lead to something."

"You don't think it's hopeless?"

"No."

"Thank you so much!" exclaimed Annie.

She turned to Percy, "We just have to keep calm and be patient, and the truth will have to come out."

Percy smiled at her fondly, squeezed her hand, and then sat back down on the couch.

"Well," Percy said after he was seated, "I guess we have more to tell you than you have to tell us."

"Really!" Sherlock exclaimed, clearly interested.

"Yes, we had an incident during the night, a serious one." Percy looked very serious and maybe even a little frightened. "I'm starting to think that I am in the middle of a horrible conspiracy, and that my life is in danger as well as my reputation."

Sherlock was smiling as if this news pleased him.

Percy continued, "I know it sounds crazy, because I don't have any enemies… that I know of. But after what happened last night I have to assume that someone is out to destroy me."

Sherlock was getting impatient, "Tell me what happened!"

"Last night was the first night that I slept without a nurse in the room. I felt so much better after your visit that I sent her home. At about two in the morning I was awakened by a sound like something grinding against wood. I listened to it, and decided that it must be a mouse. It suddenly got a little louder and I realized it was coming from the window. Just then I heard a metallic click. I sat up in the bed and wondered if the noise was coming from inside or outside. But just then everything went silent. I sat there for several minutes, wondering if it was all my imagination or not, when I heard the window being slowly opened. At that moment I realized the sounds were of an instrument being slipped between the window sashes so that the lock could be slid open. I jumped out of the bed and opened the curtains. There was a man crouched at the window. I hardly got a glimpse of him before he ran off. He had something wrapped around his face, but he had some sort of long knife in his hand, I saw the light reflect off of it as he turned to run."

"Fascinating," said Sherlock, "what happened then?"

"I began shouting, because I didn't know where my phone was at the time. After a few minutes Joe arrived and then he woke up the others. Joe and Dad found marks in the flowerbed outside the window, but they couldn't find a trail across the grass. They did find a place where someone hopped over the fence and broke the top rail. I haven't called the police yet, since I knew you were coming and I wanted to hear your opinion first."

Sherlock got up out of his chair and began pacing the room as he does when he's excited.

Percy watched him with a smile, "I seem to be having a run of bad luck."

"You've certainly had your share," agreed Sherlock. "Do you think you could walk around the house with me to see the marks in the flowerbed?"

"Sure, I'd love to. We'll have Joe come with us to show what he found."

"I'll come to," said Annie.

"No," said Sherlock shaking his head. "I must ask you to stay sitting where you are."

Annie sat back down looking disappointed. Joe joined us and the four of us went outside together. We walked around to the outside of Percy's window. Joe pointed at the ground where there were some marks, but the ground was very dry and so there was nothing Sherlock could make out.

Sherlock shrugged and said, "Let's go around the house and see why this room was chosen by the burglar. I would think that the larger windows of the sitting room and dining room would be a more logical choice."

"Maybe he passed them by because they are more visible from the road," suggested Joe.

"Oh, yes, of course," said Sherlock, "Here's a door which he might have tried as well. What is it for?"

"It's the old side-entrance for servants and deliveries. I think it's always locked now," answered Percy.

"Have there been attempted break-ins before?"

"Never," said Percy.

"Is there anything of particular value in the house that would attract burglars?"

"No."

Sherlock continued around the house, sauntering with his hands in his pockets. He seemed to have lost his keen interest from before.

Then, he turned to Joe, "I understand you found a place where the intruder hopped the fence. Let's go look at that."

Joe led us to where the top rail of the fence was cracked. There was a fragment of wood hanging free and Sherlock tugged it off and looked at it closely.

"You think this was done last night? It looks pretty old, don't you think?"

"Well, maybe so."

Sherlock looked over the fence.

"There are no marks of anyone jumping down on the other side. No; nothing to help us here. Let's go back to the bedroom and talk it over there."

Percy was very tired by this time, and could only walk very slowly, helped by his future brother-in-law. Sherlock walked quickly back across the lawn, and I followed so we got to the bedroom window several minutes before Percy and Joe.

"Miss Harrison," Sherlock said to her from the window, "you must stay where you are all day. Do not leave for any reason. It is very important."

Annie looked stunned, but agreed, "Of course, whatever you say Mr. Holmes."

"When you go to bed tonight, lock the door of this room and keep the key. Promise me you'll do this."

"But what about Percy?"

"He will come to London with us."

"And you want me to stay here?"

"Yes, do it for his sake. It will help him. Quick! Promise!"

She nodded, but said nothing as the other two arrived at the window.

"Why are you sitting and moping in there, Annie?" asked her brother. "Come out and enjoy the sun!"

"No thanks, Joe. I have a migraine and this room is cool and dark."

"What do you think we should do now, Mr. Holmes?" asked Percy.

"It would help me if you would come up to London with us."

"Right now?"

"As soon as you can. Maybe in an hour?"

Percy smiled, "Yes, of course! You give me so much hope that I feel stronger already. Do you really think I can help you solve this?"

"Yes, you can be a huge help."

"How long will you need me? Should I pack an overnight bag?"

"Yes, John and I will put you up for the night."

Percy chuckled, "Well, if the burglar comes again he won't be able to find me. Just tell us what you want all of us to do. Should Joe come with us to take care of me?"

Sherlock smiled, "You're forgetting that your friend John is a doctor! I'm sure he feels up to taking care of anything you might need."

I nodded and said, "Of course!"

Sherlock continued, "The three of us will leave for London whenever you are ready."

Annie continued to declare herself incapacitated with her headache, and stayed in the bedroom. I wondered why Sherlock designed to keep her prisoner like that. My only guess was that he wanted to separate her from Percy for some reason by taking him to London while keeping her in a known location.

When the three of us arrived at the train station Sherlock suddenly announced that he wouldn't be coming with us to London. Percy and I both expressed surprise and dismay.

"I've just realized that there are a few things I want to clear up before I go," explained Sherlock, "but you being away will actually help me do what I need to do. John, when you get to London take Percy to Baker Street and stay there until I contact you and advise otherwise. Luckily, you two are such old friends that you must have a lot to talk about. Mr. Phelps, we have a spare bedroom where you can stay. I expect to be back around 8am tomorrow."

"But what about the investigation in London?" asked Percy, clearly disappointed.

"We can do it tomorrow. I think that what I want to do here should be completed first. Now, off you go."

Sherlock waved at us as the train pulled out of the station.

I was very upset. Sherlock was clearly up to something, and once again he had neglected to inform me of what it was. It looked as if the change in our relationship did not mean he trusted me in any greater capacity when it came to his work, and that was the worst type of betrayal.

TBC...