CHAPTER 25. IN ARMS

John moved quietly towards the front entrance, he turned briefly not seeing Jesse, then he sensed movement, he suspected only because she wanted him to know she was still there. He took point with ease, he felt better leading off, the first man he brought down with a choke hold, something quiet, looking over at the second man, Jesse had done the same. They had both agreed to only use their guns if it was necessary, a gun shot would definitely sound an alarm. They tied up the unconscious men gagged them and left them tied up in the shadow of the building. Of course taking a page out of the enemies play book, they stole the uniforms. Strapping the AK's over their backs. John winced his hand to his chest, the choke hold had pulled the barely healing skin from the area. Looking at Jesse's pinched face he could see she felt her own pains, but they had started something and they damn well would see it to the end.

The sun was starting to set, that was fine, gave them more cover. The idea behind bait and bleed is to divide and conquer. So they needed to first get into the facility preferably undetected, and so far so good. A little disruption, they would need the enemy to believe that they were under attack, and by some one disguised as they were. This would cause a lovely bit of chaos, maybe they'd end up shooting each other in the process. 'Lets see how they like it!' John thought to himself. Once inside he sent a text to Lestrade and one to Mycroft. They would have at least 30 minutes before anyone reached them, the warehouse being out in the middle of nowhere. Their was a bunch of empty meat lockers off to the left of the large building.

They stationed themselves behind some empty crates, the sound of voices echoed through the building.

"Get her in there! The Boss wants her alive he's contacting the cartel."

John could make out the limp body small enough to be-"Helena." Jesse whispered pulling her weapon, John put a hand out to still her.

"Not yet. There are armed men, you don't want to risk her further injury. Stick to the plan."

Jesse nodded curtly, but John could understand her tension, where the hell was Sherlock? Jesse headed left taking an quick exit she fired three shots into the air followed by two more, tossing the weapon down she hid around the corner, John remained hidden until several men in similar black attire rushed out towards the sound heavily armed, John mingled with the group.

"There!" he yelled. And to his amusement the idiots started firing, "They're headed for the south gate!" John managed to yell out convincingly. The three men rushed forward, John entered into the building nearly colliding with three more.

"Good! They are going around! Better head them off! They're wearing our uniforms! At least three of them!"

"Right! You heard him!" one of the men instructed heading out the opposite door. He waited then signaled for Jesse to follow. The sound of gunfire outside the building and more men heading out, good there was the confusion. After taking out the two men standing guard outside the room that Helena had been dragged into, Jesse shot the heavy lock off, and pulled the rusted door open.

Jesse entered first "Took you long enough." Jesse smiled despite herself, she could see the blood and the bruise staining her friends flawless porcelain skin.

"Oh, Helena, the trouble you get in." Jesse cut the zip ties and helped her friend stand. Hiding the anger she felt towards her friends handling. Helena wasn't soft by any means, but Jesse felt her stomach turn anytime her friend had been hurt needlessly. You could tell she was born with manners and class, this kind of fighting was never her thing, Jesse had been trained for it, she could handle an interrogation, a ruff kidnapping. If she was hurt anywhere else-

"I'm fine Jesse. It's just a bump to the head and some sedative. Nothing I haven't done before." Helena smiled easily reading her friends thoughts.

"Irene-or Helena whatever. Where's Sherlock?" John kept a stance in the door way still watching the hall.

"You-aren't you injured?"

"Where is he?" John could see she was drugged her eyes still glassy, he put a hand to her neck, pulse was a bit slow, he tilted her head checking the gash, already clotted. A few scraps and bruises all superficial.

"She'll be alright looks like the run of the mill sedative, give it a couple hours. Keep her hydrated after."

"I can see why he loves you." Helena gave a thin smile.

"Oh, god you really must be out of it. We aren't a couple, now tell me where is he?"

"I don't know they were dragging him away when I was pulled out of this room. Last I was in the room second to the left down the hall looks like an old office."

Jesse looked at Helena, and the retreating form of the Doctor, also a Captain-damn it. She felt torn, but Helena needed her, "Can you walk Helena?"

"Yes, I'm fine. We can't let Hughes live Abbs. He knows who you are. That you were the one who broke me out of the Hernandez compound."

"So."

"He'll tell them. They'll hunt you down."

"I'd like to see them try." Jesse put an arm around her friend's small waste. "Now is the worst time for heels."

"They are Louboutin! Really what would you have me in? Converse or worse-combat boots." Jesse didn't reply, she handed the red head her glock. "Take this. You might need it. I have a score to settle, and I want you to be armed. I'm not going to ask you to come with me Helena, you could easily slip off the property. We could meet up at the Hotel-"

"No. I'm sorry I-I don't doubt your skill Abbs, I was afraid you would be hurt again. And I don't know how to cope if you were take from me. I mean that time you were unconscious I think my heart failed, my legs refused to work and I couldn't hear a thing. It was the oddest feeling and I do not wish to feel it again. I've never had a sister Abbs, but if I did. I think those feelings would be categorized as a kin to siblings. It's distracting."

"Now you know how I feel when I worry about you. Now come on." Abbs held back a grin, she knew she loved Helena like a sister, although she never had sisters, well in the army she bonded with the men and women, they protected each other after her discharge she'd lost the only family she'd ever known and when Helena came along.

"Come on then. Stay behind me you idiot."