Molly and John dragged him onto the couch and propped his feet up on the cushions. She paced back and forth in front of him with worry etched on her face. "What happened?" she asked.
John's mind raced for a story that made sense. He looked into her panicked eyes and shrugged. "I don't know," he said with complete conviction. "I was just walking along and I found him like this. I suspect some kind of mugging. Terrible."
She looked so scared for him. "Oh that is awful. Why didn't you call for an ambulance."
Holmes waved his arms wildly in Molly's direction. "No," he said. "No hospital."
"He keep saying that," John said.
She nodded and rang her hands together. "I always warned him...he's so reckless sometimes."
"Molly…" Holmes groaned.
She knelt beside him with concern. "What?"
He pointed at John. "Watch him."
"Why?" she said.
He grunted and turned his head. Molly looked over at John. "Why is he saying that?"
John swallowed away his anxiety. "I have no idea. He's quite confused."
She nodded but he suspected that she didn't believe him. "What should we do?" she asked.
He really needed to be in a hospital and John knew that. The confusion was only getting worse and there was no telling the damage without tests. On the couch and shaking was not promising but it wasn't a death sentence. What would be a death sentence was going to the hospital. Sebastian would find them in two minutes and they'd be dead, guaranteed.
John knelt in front of Holmes and felt his pulse and examined his eyes. Nothing had changed which was comforting in the short term. "Water," he said. "He's dehydrated."
She nodded and traipsed away to the kitchen. As the faucet ran, Holmes opened his eyes. "You go," he said.
"No," John said, "why would I do that."
Holmes said the words haltingly. "They'll find me. Kill me."
"And you don't think they'll do the same to me?"
He shook his head slightly. "I don't."
"You have a bigger head injury than I thought," John said. "I betrayed them. I ran away. They'll kill you. They'll do so much worse to me."
"No they won't."
John sighed in exasperation. "You are wrong. Now just stop talking before you hemmorage."
Molly came back in the room with glass filled to the brim with water. She carefully balanced it and it sloshed onto her hand. "Here," she said as she jutted it out.
John helped Holmes sit up just enough to tip the water into his mouth.
"Is he going to be all right?" she asked.
"I think so," John said. "Can he rest for a bit? Is that okay?"
She nodded enthusiastically. "Of course."
John smiled at her exuberance. "He said you were colleagues."
"Yes," she said, "well in a way. We work together at times. Mostly on his cases but sometimes I help...with the research and such."
"Well it's very nice of you to let him stay here," he said.
"It's Sherlock," she said with a blush. "How could I say no."
They went into the kitchen to grab a bite while Holmes took a much needed rest. As hard as he tried to relax, it was impossible. Every sound was Sebastian coming to get them both. He struggled to smile as she talked at length about her latest autopsy. He'd stopped paying attention after the lacerated kidney.
"...her mandible...crushed! Oh it was ghastly," she said with a grin.
He nodded and sipped at his tea. "Sounds interesting."
"Oh it was," she said. "One second you're walking and the next second you're hit by a bus."
She punctuated her hit with a clap that sent John jumping.
"Sorry," she said.
He breathed through his pounding heartbeat. "Just a little on edge."
She pointed towards Holmes. "You didn't just find him."
"What?"
She leaned in. "You didn't find him. You're lying. He taught me how to tell when people are lying and I think you are."
He shook his head but another story didn't materialize. It was either lay on this one hard or abandon it. He tried to read Molly but there was fierce intelligence behind her earnest face. He didn't know whether it was an act or she was just as clever as the man on the couch.
"We're in trouble," he said quietly.
Her eyes widened.
"You're okay," he said, "don't worry. We'll be gone soon. You're safe."
"No," she said, "I want to help. What kind of trouble."
He looked back at Holmes to make sure he was still asleep. "He was kidnapped by these men. I worked for them but...it wasn't right. I didn't like it."
"So you broke him out?" she asked.
"In a sense," he said.
She bit her lip and furrowed her eyebrows. "But this is for real. He's really hurt?"
"Unfortunately," he said. "Not good timing."
Just as he was about to take another sip, he heard a slam from outside the building. It was multiple car doors all slamming down at once. His head snapped towards the window. There was an SUV parked across the street.
"Shit," he muttered.
"What?" Molly said. "What is it?"
He slowly walked to the window. At first there was no one.
And then he saw them.
They were coming to the door.
They'd found them.
"Hide," he said.
"What?" she said, her voice laced with fear. "What are you talking about?"
He looked everywhere for something to defend themselves.
"Hide!" he said. "Get in a closet, under a bed. Get out of here."
There were tears in her eyes as she looked towards the living room. "What about him?"
"I've got it," he said. "Get out of here. Please."
She gave him one last look before she raced towards the back of the house.
John went to the drawers and yanked them open. The forks and spoons clanked against the edge. He reached in and grabbed a knife. It was small but it would have to do.
He took a few steps towards the door and held the knife against his side. This was his fight, not Holmes'.
John stepped into the living room and neared the couch where Holmes still lay, his arm over his eyes.
"John?" Holmes groaned. "What…"
He put a finger to his lips.
Holmes sat up. His eyes went from the knife to the door. "Here?"
John nodded.
He brought the knife to his hip and gripped the handle tight.
The door opened and he saw Sebastian first. His steely eyes swept the entryway for a split second before he saw the pair.
"I knew you'd screw this up," he said.
John held tight to the knife. "You should go."
Sebastian laughed. "Oh no, Johnny. I'm not going anywhere."