Hey guys. I haven't updated in so long. Have had a bit of bad news to deal with so updating this has not been my no.1 priority. Anyway I will try and update when I can and I just hope there is someone out there who wants to keep reading.

Thanks to all those who reviewed my last chapter: starbrightnights, silvermoony77, The Beth midget, Alice, lipsofanangel2015, kitsmits, Twilitefan, XMillieX, x-Pick'n'Mix-x, anna keye, yorkshiregirl & Vilentiel.

Hope this chapter is okay. Sorry it's a bit short.

"Surprise" smiled the perfectly dressed Moriarty, standing in front of them, an evil sort of look lingering in his eyes.

He took a step towards the two men, brushing dust from his shoulder as John furiously struggled against his bonds.

Sherlock, however, remained still and unmoving.

"It's nice to meet again isn't it?" said Moriarty. "Really Sherlock, we shouldn't leave it so long next time...oh no...wait...there won't be a next time."

He let out a menacing grin.

"You've been snooping Sherlock...snooping where you shouldn't be," he said with a shake of his head, pacing in front of his two captives. "And quite honestly...I'm bored...and there are certain people who want both you and your, er, friends...out of the way."

"Leave them out of it," snarled Sherlock speaking for the first time. "This is between you and I, Moriarty."

"Of course it is Sherlock, it always has been," Moriarty said, stopping in his pacing and turning to face the dark-haired detective.

"Then let Rebecca go! Let me see that she's safe and let her go," said Sherlock in a commanding tone. "Whatever someone paid you to find out about her parents, she doesn't know anything-"

Moriarty frowned, before he raised his head slightly.

"Oh, is that what you think this is about?" he said, glancing at one of the armed men, stood beside them, in amusement. "Sherlock, I'm surprised at you. I never thought you'd be so naive! Tut tut naughty boy!"

Moriarty let out a wicked smile as Sherlock frowned confusedly.

"Oh god, tell me it's not true," Moriarty uttered in a sing-song voice. "The great Sherlock Homes is stumped. Well I never thought I'd see the day! No Sherlock, you've got it all wrong! This was never about Miss Francis's parents, no."

The evil man took a step towards Sherlock, until their faces were mere inches apart and whispered dangerously in his ear.

"I promised you that I would burn the heart out of you Sherlock Holmes and today I will do just that and the ironic thing is you won't even be alive to see me do it."

Rebecca took yet another step back, away from Irene as the femme fatale moved closer.

In this gloom Irene's face looked lined and tired, her usual cocky demeanour missing. It was as if everything up until now had been an act and now for the first time she was seeing the real Irene beneath the lipstick and painted nails.

"Here you should drink this," said the raven-haired woman holding out a small tin-cup filled with water.

A long second passed before Rebecca finally snatched the water taking a grateful swig.

As she did so her eyes lingered on a painful looking red mark on Irene's forearm.

"How did you do that?" asked Rebecca quietly, but Irene simply gulped, shaking down the sleeve of her top to cover the mark.

"I'm not here to talk about me Rebecca," she murmured, as the young lawyer gave a frown.

"Then what are you here for? To torture me?" retorted the lawyer angrily. "I am not telling you anything about my parents! You'll have to kill me first."

Irene licked her lips in a cool and collected fashion, seemingly ignoring Rebecca's outburst.

"They will kill you Rebecca, if you don't co-operate with them," said Irene biting her lip, a look of worry passing across her features. "But I don't want that to happen. So if you just do as they say-"

"Do as who say?" said the lawyer narrowing her eyes. "I take it you mean Moriarty and his men? God how could Sherlock be so foolish as to trust you-"

The young blonde stopped as she felt a slight twinge shoot through her stomach, she winced slightly but her eyes remained locked on Irene's.

"Listen I'm not going to tell you or Moriarty's men anything. I love my parents and I would do anything to keep them safe," she said in a rather high pitched voice, as another sharp pain shot through her abdomen.

From somewhere down the corridor heavy footsteps could be heard and Irene glanced in the direction of the noise a little worriedly.

"No! Rebecca you need to listen to me! You've got the wrong end of the stick-" started the dark-haired woman, but Rebecca cut across her angrily.

"Whatever you've come here for Irene, you've just wasted your time. I'm not going to tell you anything," she said angrily, shaking her head in a furious gesture as another twinge shot through her stomach. "Sherlock might have been stupid enough to trust you but I'm –"

Rebecca stopped suddenly as her eyes widened into huge orbs in the dim light.

There was a trickling sound of water as Irene's eyes travelled downwards to the puddle that had appeared beneath Rebecca's skirt.

The young lawyer stared at Irene in alarm.

"I-I think my waters just broke."

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