"You remember the game don't you?" James slid a bottle toward Sherlock with a smile. "Should we explain it to the ladies?"
"I didn't think you were the nostalgic type, but go ahead. I've already made my pick."
James clicked his tongue and picked up the bottles, handing them to Kate. She rolled them both lovingly in her hands before setting them on the table with a smile, one slightly closer to Molly. "But see it's not our game this time, it's theirs. So we should probably explain it to the mouse here."
"She's not playing your games, this is between you and me. She's only here because you were insistent."
"Ah, yes and I was insistent because it is their turn to play this round." The men's eyes were locked in defiance of each other, neither moved until they heard Molly squeak and Sherlock saw the gun slide from under the table in Kate's lap to point at her. "Explain the game Sherlock."
His jaw clenched as he spoke, eyes locked on Kate now. "There are two pills, one is safe, one will kill you. You have to choose. They know which is which, it's chance disguised as deduction. If you choose neither, she will shoot you in the head." Molly let out a soft cry and he finally turned to her, resting his hand gently on hers. "I'm sorry, just—"He gave her hand a gentle squeeze, "take your time and pick. I promise you'll be okay."
"Touching." James sneered, glancing at the touch, "but I wouldn't make promises you can't keep. Pick a bottle Molly. Which did she offer you? Good or bad?"
Sherlock leaned to whisper to her, but stopped hearing the hammer of the gun click into place. "No cheating!" Kate nearly screamed, her eyes flicking with manic child-like anger, turning her focus to James. "They're trying to cheat!"
He stroked her cheek and tried to soothe her. "It's not really cheating, we both know the answer, it's only fair that they share their guesses, but she chooses in the end. She and you take the pill my darling."
Molly looked to her hand and then up to Sherlock's face, reaching to rest her hand on it before quickly releasing him, spinning to the table and snatching up the bottle closest to Kate.
Kate clapped, "Well done! Is it time to take our medicine now?"
"Yes, my darling. I think the ladies should stand for this, though, don't you think Sherlock? Face the class and explain your choice Miss Hooper."
Sherlock put his hand on her shoulder as she moved to stand. "Not yet. Just, think first, take your time Molly. Are you sure?"
She couldn't speak, she just put her hand over his and nodded before carefully moving it and rising to her feet and turning toward him. Kate mirrored the action with a twisted sense of glee, lowering the gun to the table and giving James a noisy kiss on the temple as she turned and stood to face him.
Slowly they each unscrewed the lid, removing the pills and raising them to their lips.
A sharp pop made everyone in the room flinch, followed closely by a second. The men were on their feet instantly.
Molly felt the pain suddenly, searching Sherlock's face, eyes wide. "Sher-"She teetered and fell forward into his arms. He whispered into her ear and started to ease her to the floor, pressing his hand firmly to her back, looking over at the others.
They still stood, Kate's face twisted in a grim mask of pain as she clung helplessly to James. His hand on her chest. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry" He muttered as he pulled her into his arms and began to rock her.
Nothing made sense.
ooOOoo
The drive from the hospital was exceedingly tense. While the guns had been safely tucked away, there was nothing safe about riding in a car with a man like Sebastian.
Finally they pulled up to the non-descript campus, headed down a long dark series of hallways into an empty classroom.
"Why are we here Sebastian, if you're going to kill me you could have done it at my husband's side. Where are they?"
"Oh Ana, we both know if I wanted you dead I would have done it hours ago. Look across."
Sebastian slid up behind her and steered her toward the windows. She shrugged his hand off and let hers slip over the grip of her gun as she turned to him. "Don't touch me."
"Calm down, we're here for a reason, now focus, and look across."
Mary turned and finally listened to him, staring out the windows to a nearly matching room parallel. Seated at some distance from the windows were James, Kate, Sherlock and Molly. "This is what he saw that night, or close to it, the night your husband killed for a man he just met, a man he trusted, even then, more than you."
Mary raised her gun slowly. Sebastian matched her movements, both aiming across the distance. "It's not an easy or a clean shot, Ana, but he did it. Now we're going to. Boss expects only two shots. One from each. Easy job, you even get to pick."
She leveled and squared her sight, the plan forming as she adjusted, watching the movement in the room. Praying it would work, she closed her eyes for only a moment before neatly and quietly squeezing off a single shot, lowering her gun with silent calm as Sebastian took only seconds later.