The trio drove in the early morning light on the moor, having spent the night on the train. Sherlock was behind the wheel, Marie beside him while John sat in the back. They all stared out silently, Sherlock focused on driving while John and Marie took in the moor around them.

They stopped just at the edges of the moor, and John murmured as he consulted a map: "There's Baskerville." He pointed out the facility and then the village Henry was from as he peered at the map: "That's Grimpen Village. So that must be ..." He check the map again and then nodded at the area he'd been looking at: "yeah, it's Dewer's Hollow."

Sherlock peered around and he suddenly pointed to an open field around Baskerville that had danger signs on it. "What's that?" He asked and John peered at the symbols through his binoculars as he said slowly: "Hmm? Minefield?"

Marie looked at him and he handed her the binoculars. She peered through with narrowed eyes as John pointed: "Technically Baskerville's an army base, so I guess they've always been keen to keep people out." Sherlock continued to look around as he muttered: "Clearly."

They drove through to Grimpen Viallge, heading for their hotel. Sherlock parked them and as they walked towards the hotel, passing the restaurant, they saw a young man acting as a guide addressing his group. Marie peered down and saw a sign beside the guide that read: 'Beware the HOUND!' There it was again- that word.

She listened as the guide finished off: "Don't be strangers, and remember ... stay away from the moor at night if you value your lives!" The group chuckled as they dispersed. Marie hurried after John and Sherlock, and she saw John watching Sherlock amusedly as Sherlock tightened his jacket, raising the collar.

Sherlock noticed, and muttered lamely: "I'm cold." Marie smiled as John suppressed one of his own, but as they walked into the inn, John and Marie exchanged smirks. John went ahead to get their booked room keys while Sherlock puttered around, examining the vegetarian restaurant.

Marie had gone ahead to sit outside, and she was observing the tourist guide from earlier. He was a youngish man, probably around her age, and he was currently on his phone but heading towards a vacant table.

As he hung up and sat down, Marie walked over to him. "Mind if I join you?" She asked as she flashed a winning smile. He glanced at her before doing a double take. He nodded slowly, his eyes raking her body. She chose to ignore that, sitting opposite him where she could see Sherlock was watching intently.

"So, what's a pretty girl like you doing out here on your own?" The guide asked and she smiled as she replied: "Oh, just looking around. I heard about the hound," she indicated his sign, "and thought it might be interesting. But it can't actually be true, can it?"

The boy lifted his brows at her as he replied: "What if it was?" He asked and she smiled coyly as she said flirtatiously: "Now, look here. I don't doubt your dashing looks are enough to fool some," his lips had curved at that and Marie leaned a little in as she said coquettishly, "but even then, I have to say I doubt it."

"Oh yeah? What if I said I had proof?" He asked and she pretended to blink in surprise. "You're pulling my leg." She giggled and he smirked as he whipped out his phone, leaning in to show her something on it.

"No, I'm not." He said mysteriously as he flicked through his phone. "I've seen it. Only about a month ago, up at the Hollow. It was foggy, mind – couldn't make much out." He showed her a fuzzy picture and she raised her brows.

"You trying to impress me with that, big boy?" She challenged and he grinned as she'd leaned in closer to him. John had joined Sherlock outside, and the pair were slowly making their way over to where Marie was sitting.

The guide didn't notice, too focused on the dark-haired beauty before him as he replied: "Well, no, that's not all…" He trailed off suggestively and Marie smiled beguilingly as she teased: "No? You got something else there to impress a girl?"

He grinned at her innuendo, but he explained himself seriously: "I had a mate once who worked for the MOD." His voice began to take on a hushed tone as he worked his way up to his horror story. "One weekend we were meant to go fishin' but he never showed up – well, not 'til late. When he did, he was white as a sheet."

John and Sherlock were close enough to hear but the boy was too focused on his story as he said darkly: "I can see him now. 'I've seen things today, Fletch,' he said, 'that I never wanna see again. Terrible things.' He'd been sent to some secret Army place – Porton Down, maybe; maybe Baskerville, or somewhere else. In the labs there – the really secret labs, he said he'd seen ... terrible things."

Marie's interest was no longer feigned as she asked slowly: "What things?" Sherlock and John arrived as the guide said slowly: "Rats as big as dogs, he said, and dogs ..." he reached into his bag and pulled out a rock cast, "dogs the size of horses."

He showed her the imprint of what was clearly a dog's footprint. Except it was monstrous in size: more the size of a bear's paw than a dog's. Marie's face had whitened as she stared and the guide looked almost triumphant until he noticed the two men standing beside the table.

Sherlock leaned in to take a closer look and the guide started, looking startled as he began: "Oi-" but Marie had seen enough and she said with forced cheer: "Oh, Sherly, all ready?"

He blinked at her, probably because of the nickname she'd thought of on the spot, but he caught on quickly. "Oh, yes. Two rooms- one double and one single, so unfortunately John's not going to be able to bring over company."

John sighed but let it slide as Marie said to the guide brightly: "Well, thanks. That was very interesting. Really spooky." She took Sherlock's arm as the guide looked bewildered and a little hurt, but Marie was already dragging Sherlock off with her.

Sherlock's face was thoughtful, thinking back to what they'd seen. He led her over to their car, John trailing behind them, now more determined than ever to take a look around Baskerville.

As they drove up to the front gates, both Sherlock and Marie quickly analysed every detail. Sherlock merely catalogued all of the information while Marie's mind whirred, taking note of every weak point and automatically plotting every possible escape route.

Sherlock said quietly as they approached: "Don't engage. Even if we're caught, Mycroft will be able to get us out. That's far safer than you using any ulterior method." She started a little but when she glanced over and saw his concerned gaze she smiled and nodded.

"I know. It was just habit." She replied and he answered: "I know. But I thought I'd let your mind take a break from that kind of thought." She smiled as John grinned at them, although it slid off quickly as they became serious.

As they stopped at the gate, the guard came over and said firmly: "Pass, please." Sherlock handed over a card and the guard said politely: "Thank you." He walked off to the gate, and John murmured incredulously: "You've got ID for Baskerville. How?"

Sherlock murmured back, cautiously moving his lips as little as possible as other guards checked around car for anything dangerous: "It's not specific to this place. It's my brother's. Access all areas. I, um ..." he cleared his throat, "acquired it ages ago, just in case."

John and Marie sighed under their breaths and John muttered sarcastically: "Brilliant." Sherlock turned to him as he demanded: "What's the matter?" "We'll get caught." John snapped back.

"No we won't," Sherlock scoffed, but he added: "well, not just yet."

John muttered sarcastically: "Caught in five minutes." He role-played sardonically: 'Oh, hi, we just thought we'd come and have a wander round your top secret weapons base.' 'Really? Great! Come in – kettle's just boiled.' That's if we don't get shot." He added under his breath just as the gates opened and the guard ordered: "Clear."

He handed the card back to Sherlock who accepted it with a quick: "Thank you." He drove them on as the guard informed them: "Straight through, sir."

John said disbelievingly as they drove through: "Mycroft's name literally opens doors."

Sherlock answered flatly: "I've told you – he practically is the British government. I reckon we've got about twenty minutes before they realise something's wrong." Marie sighed and she muttered: "And you want me not to worry."

He didn't reply as they pulled up. They jumped out of the car and followed a guard into the facility. John looked around curiously while Sherlock watched everything with a critical eye. Marie had tensed slightly- the military base brought memories too close to her old job for comfort.

A car pulled up before them and an officer jumped out, asking Sherlock hastily: "What is it? Are we in trouble?" Sherlock didn't even pause in his strides as he corrected: "'Are we in trouble, sir'?"

The officer quickly corrected contritely: "Yes, sir, sorry, sir." They stopped and Sherlock appraised the man. "You were expecting us?" Sherlock asked suspiciously and the officer explained as he introduced himself: "Your ID showed up straight away, Mr Holmes. Corporal Lyons, security."

He glanced at John and Marie before addressing Sherlock once more: "Is there something wrong, sir?"

Sherlock replied without a beat's hesitation: "Well, I hope not, Corporal, I hope not." Lyons continued firmly: "It's just we don't get inspected here, you see, sir. It just doesn't happen."

John interrupted: "Ever heard of a spot check?"

When the man looked at him hesitantly, John introduced himself as he pulled out his ID: "Captain John Watson, Fifth Northumberland Fusiliers." "Sir." Lyons immediately saluted him, and John returned the salute as Lyons glanced at Marie.

"My secretary." Sherlock introduced and Marie nodded once, showing polite disinterest. Lyons didn't question it and he informed Sherlock: "Major Barrymore won't be pleased, sir. He'll want to see you both."

John countered firmly: "I'm afraid we won't have time for that. We'll need the full tour right away. Carry on." When Lyons hesitated John added: "That's an order, Corporal."

Lyons immediately replied: "Yes, sir." He bowed his head in deference and led them away. They followed silently, the men all clasping their hands behind their backs. Lyons swiped his card on the security machine and stood back. Sherlock stepped forward and swiped Mycroft's card and the machine beeped green.

The doors unlocked, and Sherlock quickly and covertly checked his watch. Marie glanced down to see it too, as they stepped inside. She had promised Sherlock she would let him- which meant Mycroft- handle the situation once it got sticky, but she was also going to prepare for the worst case, wherein they wouldn't need Mycroft because the army would be shooting to kill.

As they walked through the white halls, Sherlock murmured to John: "Nice touch." John muttered back: "Haven't pulled rank in ages." Sherlock smirked just a little as he asked snidely: "Enjoy it?" John replied immediately: "Oh yeah."

Marie smiled inside at that, but she kept her outward face completely emotionless. Sherlock was once again amazed at just how different this woman could be when she chose. As Sherlock was required to swipe again for the elevator, Marie's posture became just slightly more tense. The more times he swiped, the quicker the message for a personal confirmation from Mycroft would raise an alert.

As they reached a different floor, they found themselves in a lab. They looked around at all the animals kept in cages and Sherlock asked: "How many animals do you keep down here?" Lyons replied simply: "Lots, sir."

"Any ever escape?" Sherlock questioned and Lyons replied: "They'd have to know how to use that lift, sir." He indicated the security elevator and he said almost jokingly: "We're not breeding them that clever."

"Unless they have help." Sherlock mused, when they were interrupted by an elderly doctor. "Ah, and you are?" He asked and Lyons stood at attention as he reported: "Sorry, Doctor Frankland. I'm just showing these gentlemen around."

Frankland said good naturedly: "Ah, new faces, huh? Nice. Careful you don't get stuck here, though. I only came to fix a tap!" He joked before he left them. John questioned: "How far down does that lift go?"

"Quite a way, sir." Lyons replied and John checked: "Mmm-hmm. And what's down there?" Lyons replied lightly: "Well, we have to keep the bins somewhere, sir. This way, please, gentlemen." John paused to watch Frankland as he glanced back at the group curiously before swiping his security card on the elevator.

Sherlock was looking around the lab carefully while Marie pretended to be waiting for him patiently as a good secretary would. She was in reality checking all the experiments going on around them, while also processing the different ways to escape.

"So what exactly is it that you do here?" John asked Lyons as they moved on and Lyons asked: "I thought you'd know, sir, this being an inspection." John didn't miss a beat as he replied: "Well, I'm not an expert, am I?" Lyons conceded as he explained: "Everything from stem cell research to trying to cure the common cold, sir."

"But mostly weaponry?" John checked, and Lyons replied shortly: "Of one sort or another, yes." John continued: "Biological, chemical ...?" Lyons swiped on the door at the end of the lab and he turned to address John while Sherlock stepped up to swipe his ID: "One war ends, another begins, sir. New enemies to fight. We have to be prepared."

Sherlock checked his watch quickly while Lyons was facing John and Marie also glanced at it covertly. As they entered the next lab, Lyons called: "Doctor Stapleton." Sherlock repeated the name quietly, sounding confused. Marie's eyes flickered to him but returned to the situation at hand as Stapleton looked at them.

"Who's this?" She asked and Lyons explained: "Priority Ultra, ma'am. Orders from on high. An inspection." Stapleton asked in disbelief: "Really?" Sherlock said sharply: "We're to be accorded every courtesy, Doctor Stapleton. What's your role at Baskerville?"

Stapleton snorted and Lyons looked a little nervous. John said sternly: "Er, accorded every courtesy, isn't that the idea?" Stapleton replied just as firmly: "I'm not free to say. Official secrets." Sherlock said scathingly: "Oh, you most certainly are free ... and I suggest you remain that way."

John's brow furrowed while Marie's eyes narrowed just slightly at Sherlock's sharp tone. Stapleton was looking at Sherlock pointedly as she answered: "I have a lot of fingers in a lot of pies. I like to mix things up – genes, mostly," Sherlock's eyes suddenly lit up but only Marie noticed as the others were looking at Stapleton who was still talking.

"Now and again, actual fingers." She somewhat joked but Sherlock wasn't paying attention as he whipped out his pen and pad. "Stapleton. I knew I knew your name." He muttered and Stapleton muttered: "I doubt it."

Sherlock ignored it as he replied, writing something down: "People say there's no such thing as coincidence." Lyons was looking a little confused, and John was trying not to show his confusion as well. Marie's face was perfectly blank but inside her mind whirred, trying to figure out what Sherlock was doing as he muttered: "What dull lives they must lead."

He held up the notepad with one word written on it: 'Bluebell.' He watched Stapleton carefully as Lyons leaned over to read what he'd written. Stapleton's face changed abruptly and she demanded: "Have you been talking to my daughter?"

John frowned in confusion as Sherlock asked bluntly: "Why did Bluebell have to die, Doctor Stapleton?" John looked between them as he asked: "The rabbit?" Marie recalled Sherlock mentioning the rabbit before and her eyes widened a little bit in surprise. Sherlock continued, still focused on Stapleton: "Disappeared from inside a locked hutch, which was always suggestive."

"The rabbit?" John asked again, confused as to what Sherlock was doing, but Sherlock ignored him again as he said: "Clearly an inside job." Stapleton had her arms folded defensively as she challenged: "Oh, you reckon?"

"Why? Because it glowed in the dark." Sherlock sneered at her, and Stapleton said flatly and defiantly: "I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about." Marie coughed a little and Sherlock suddenly remembered as he checked his watch. Stapleton didn't notice as she demanded: "Who are you?"

Sherlock ignored her as he said quickly: "Well, I think we've seen enough for now, Corporal. Thank you so much." Lyons looked confused as he asked: "That's it?" Sherlock turned away as he looked at the way they'd come, saying over his shoulder: "That's it. It's this way, isn't it?"

Stapleton shouted after them: "Just a minute!" But Sherlock didn't pause in his strides and John asked angrily under his breath: "Did we just break into a military base to investigate a rabbit?" Sherlock just swiped his card as Lyons caught up, and John was forced to give the matter a rest for now.

They had reached the first lab they'd 'inspected' when Sherlock received a text. He smirked and scoffed: "Twenty-three minutes. Mycroft's getting slow." They reached the elevator's and Sherlock swiped in. Lyons followed quickly, and the door opened to reveal Doctor Frankland.

He looked surprised but he greeted cheerily: "Hello ... again." They didn't reply as they stepped in. Marie was beginning to tense a little, not liking how long they were taking. Her gut was giving her a bad feeling and she'd long learned to follow that feeling.

Sure enough, when the elevator doors slid open at the first floor, a man stood waiting for them. He had a closely shaven head but a neat beard around his face; Marie was more interested in his hand though, held loosely at his sides but close enough to grab his gun at a moment's notice. Lyons was also surprised as he said curtly: "Er, um, Major ..."

"This is bloody outrageous." The Major said coldly and Lyons bowed his head immediately. "Why wasn't I told?" The major demanded and John quickly stepped in as he asked: "Major Barrymore, is it? Yes, well, good." John stepped out of the elevator calmly as he said naturally: "Very good. We're very impressed, aren't we, Mr Holmes?"

He looked back at Sherlock who'd stepped out behind him, and Sherlock replied as he simply passed the major: "Deeply; hugely." He checked another message on his phone; Marie could only assume it was from Mycroft. Barrymore was furious as he spat after them: "The whole point of Baskerville was to eliminate this kind of bureaucratic nonsense ..."

Sherlock interjected: "I'm so sorry, Major." Barrymore was now following them out as he snarled: "Inspections!" Sherlock called back as he walked quickly towards the last doors and their escape: "New policy. Can't remain unmonitored forever. Goodness knows what you'd get up to."

"Keep walking." He muttered under his breath to Marie and John as they followed closely behind him, when suddenly Lyons called sharply from behind Barrymore: "Sir!" Lyons slammed a button and the alarms blared. John glanced up while Sherlock and Marie looked back, Marie's muscles tightening slightly.

"ID unauthorised, sir." Lyons informed and Barrymore asked sharply: "What?" Lyons explained: "I've just had the call." Barrymore turned back to the group as he asked darkly: "Is that right? Who are you?" He demanded. Marie shifted her weight just slightly to sit back on her heels; it was so minute only an extremely observant eye could see it.

Sherlock saw and he glanced at her while John said firmly to Barrymore: "Look, there's obviously been some kind of mistake." The major held out his hand and Sherlock handed over his ID card. Barrymore glanced at it and he said scathingly: "Clearly not Mycroft Holmes."

Doctor Frankland had walked up to join them while John tried to keep up appearances as he tsked: "Computer error, Major. It'll all have to go in the report." Barrymore snarled, furious: "What the hell's going on?!" Marie's eyes flashed as she saw the man's hand drifting to his gun, but suddenly Frankland spoke up: "It's all right, Major. I know exactly who these gentlemen are."

"You do?" Barrymore asked in confusion and Frankland replied easily: "Yeah. I'm getting a little slow on faces but Mr Holmes here isn't someone I expected to show up in this place." They all tensed slightly, expecting him to recognize Sherlock. Sherlock began: "Ah, well ..."

"Good to see you again, Mycroft." Frankland interrupted as he held out a hand. John's face held a moment's surprise before he schooled it. Marie's face never gave anything away. Sherlock was quick to accept the man's handshake as Frankland continued: "I had the honour of meeting Mr Holmes at the W.H.O. conference in ... Brussels, was it?" He asked.

"Vienna." Sherlock corrected naturally as Barrymore looked between them suspiciously. Frankland took it in stride as he agreed: "Vienna, that's it. This is Mr Mycroft Holmes, Major. There's obviously been a mistake." He soothed.

Barrymore turned and nodded at Lyons, who moved to shut off the alarm. The major glared at the doctor as he said darkly: "On your head be it, Doctor Frankland." Frank just scoffed and turned to Lyons and said: "I'll show them out, Corporal."

"Very well, sir." Lyons replied and Sherlock walked on ahead to the doors, John and Marie right behind him. As they stepped out and out of earshot, Sherlock murmured: "Thank you." Frankland asked: "This is about Henry Knight, isn't it?"

When the group looked a little surprised, he murmured: "I thought so. I knew he wanted help but I didn't realise he was going to contact Sherlock Holmes!" Sherlock smiled grimly and Frankland reassured: "Oh, don't worry. I know who you really are. I'm never off your website. Thought you'd be wearing the hat, though." He added.

Sherlock grimaced as he replied: "That wasn't my hat." Frankland told John and Marie: "I hardly recognise him without the hat!" Sherlock replied through grit teeth: "It wasn't my hat." Marie patted his arm, but her face was still grim. He glanced at her as Frankland said to John enthusiastically: "I love the blog too, Doctor Watson."

"Oh, cheers!" John said thankfully and Frankland murmured: "The, er, the Pink thing ..." John hummed and Frankland said with satisfaction: "... and that one about the aluminium crutch!" John just nodded politely as he replied: "Yes."

Sherlock interrupted: "You know Henry Knight?" Frankland stopped and they all stood in an empty part of the facility parking as Frankland admitted: "Well, I knew his dad better. He had all sorts of mad theories about this place. Still, he was a good friend." Sherlock examined the man as Frankland glanced around to see Barrymore staring after them.

He leaned in to say seriously: "Listen, I can't really talk now. Here's my, er, cell number." He handed Sherlock a business card as he said quietly: "If I could help with Henry, give me a call."

Sherlock smiled politely and he asked: "I never did ask, Doctor Frankland. What exactly is it that you do here?" Frankland grinned as he joked: "Oh, Mr Holmes, I would love to tell you – but then, of course, I'd have to kill you!" He laughed a little at his joke and John's lips curved. Marie didn't move and Sherlock replied flatly: "That would be tremendously ambitious of you."

Frankland looked a little sheepish but Sherlock continued: "Tell me about Doctor Stapleton." Frankland chuckled: "Never speak ill of a colleague." Sherlock picked up on that as he pointed out: "Yet you'd speak well of one, which you're clearly omitting to do."

Frankland conceded: "I do seem to be, don't I?" Sherlock allowed it to end there as he replied: "I'll be in touch." He walked off, the other two following as Frankland nodded his goodbyes as he called after them: "Any time."

As soon as they were closer to the car, John asked: "So?" Sherlock feigned ignorance as he repeated: "So?" John asked: "What was all that about the rabbit?" Sherlock didn't reply as he simply flicked his collar up on his jacket and John scoffed as he said: "Oh, please, can we not do this, this time?"

Sherlock looked confused as he asked: "Do what?" John spelled it out for him: "You being all mysterious with your cheekbones and turning your coat collar up so you look cool." He walked over to the car door while Sherlock looked confused.

Marie finally cracked a smile as she also walked over to the car door. "... I don't do that." Sherlock muttered in protest and John and Marie answered at the same time as they climbed into the car: "Yeah you do."