A new chapter to celebrate my beta's birthday. Happy birthday Bally.

Chapter 26- Not Alone

He had heard the gun shot ring out from across the museum and with it, the very life seemed to drain from his body in a loud, uncontrollable gasp.

One shot.

Soo Lin or John?

Sherlock raced down the stairs, slipping and sliding on the polished surface in his haste. His heart thundered in his chest, faster than any race horse, filling his ears with a sickening noise, even as he became painfully aware of the sudden silence pressing down all around him like a living thing.

Wouldn't John fire back if he could? Oh God…what have I done?

Heedless of his own safety, the detective barrelled into the dark room where he had left the two. Unfortunately, Sherlock's speed was so great that he slipped on the floor and slammed spectacularly into a wall before being able to stop himself.

Their eyes connected.

Of course, there was mutual relief that they were both still alive; but anger, regret and horror at the pale young woman sprawled like a sacrificed lamb across her work table.

The detective stretched out his hand and in two long strides, John reached out to take it. There was warmth there; a reassurance in the idea of life even in the face of death that lay before them.

There was no need for words when they finally let go. The two men nodded quietly to each other, as they turned to survey the scene in front them.

As was his habit, Sherlock's quick eyes absorbed the new crime scene within a few seconds, and the lack of any sort of struggle made him numb.

Numb but not surprised.

He had already seen the truth of it in Soo Lin's eyes. Quietly and without complaint, the girl had accepted that her life would soon end. Had she stood up and looked her brother straight in the eye before he shot her? Yes that was most likely. There was an iron strength about her in contrast to her willowy figure.

The detective pulled himself up to a sitting position, which attracted John's attention again. With a thin smile, the ex-solider glanced down at him with a look of …fondness?.The small man reached out his hand in turn and gently patted Sherlock's shoulder before straightening up to his full height with a deep sigh.

Then, in a blink of an eye it would almost seem, a completely different man stood in John's place.

Sherlock sat cross-legged on the floor, avidly looking on as the other man morphed completely into his professional mode. Careful to avoid disturbing the crime scene, the doctor took his time to check her pulse before solemnly calling her time of death and phoning in the details to Inspector what's his name.

But when the doctor was all done and there was nothing left to do, Sherlock watched helplessly as a tear rolled down the man's cheeks. Bit by bit, John unsteadily walked away, until his back hit the opposite wall. Finally his legs buckled under him and he slid down the wall; staring wide eyed at the body before him.

Puzzled, Sherlock quietly studied the other man's extreme reaction.

It made no sense to him.

Watson had most likely seen more dead bodies in his whole life that he had; why would he fall apart now? Was he having some sort of traumatic flashback? It was probable, for Soo Lin was not a murder that they just happened on in the course of an investigation. She had been a living breathing girl not more than ten minutes ago; the only person to have so far survived the deadly cipher.

Concerned now, Sherlock quickly crawled to his side, 'Do you need your doctor John? Tell me what to do. You are not well.'

When John wouldn't look at him, the detective tore off his beloved coat and laid it over the man's body to keep him warm. Quickly the detective pulled out his mobile and with a few quick strokes, he verified the address of John's therapist; rapidly mapping out the most direct route in his unique mental London map. 'John, hang on!'

Cab or leg it? If I jump this one roof, we can get there in no time.

Having decided to make a run for it, the detective turned to the next obvious problem. Would John even allow himself to be carried?

This would be easier if I knock him out first. Hmmm…

'John, I am going to pick you up now,' the detective informed him in a slow, firm voice, 'I'll take you to your doctor. Don't hit me. John, can you hear me?'

There was still no response.

'John, don't do this to me,' Sherlock whispered desperately now, even as he unconsciously sucked in a deep breath and readied his body for the inescapable punch across the jaw. 'Hang on!'

'I am fine Sherlock,' the doctor suddenly replied in an emotionless voice as he reached out one hand and gently pushed Sherlock back; his blue eyes wholly fixated on the gentle curve of Soo Lin's face, 'are you alright? Did he hurt you?'

John's focus was so intense, that Sherlock's eyes were inevitably drawn in the same direction.

In death, the young girl had found the peace that she had so desperately sought and failed to find in life.

'Just need to sit still for a minute,' the small man insisted; patting Sherlock's arm as if he was the one who needed reassurance.

Sherlock stared at him hard in the face, not liking this feeling at all of being in the dark. It was if John's body had dissociated from his mind and they were acting as two separate entities. Well at least he was talking in coherent sentences. That was something to be thankful for. For a moment, Sherlock had been terrified that this incident had been the proverbial straw falling on the camel's back, causing John's mind to …

No, don't even go there…don't even think that. John is fine and he will always be ...FINE!

'I know you are upset but did you see the assailant? Please…John this is important. Try to focus now.'

'I wasn't here,' the doctor interrupted the interrogation in a low whisper, 'Do you think if I had…?'

'…stop that. Don't. That way leads only to madness. Know that you would have been killed too if you had been here with her,' Sherlock answered in a matter of fact voice, as he forced his clean handkerchief into John's clenched fists.

The detective had no doubt that whether it was by luck or fate, John's decision to step out of the room was the only reason he was still alive. It was clear to Sherlock now, that survivor's guilt had however taken over the small doctor and was eating away at him.

'I know. I know,' John murmured despairingly, '…it's just….'

The detective had to lean in closer to hear the words. 'Just what John? Keep talking.'

'She was scared!' John suddenly shouted; angry at the whole world, 'she was so scared, and she….and no one helped her!'

The detective closed his eyes. This was true, but he didn't allow himself to experience how he felt about the matter. He closed off his emotions as he always did when he was working. After the case, when he shut his bedroom door safely behind him, he would allow the anguish of this colossal failure to rush over him and gnaw off another part of his soul.

'No one helped her,' John rambled on and on, over and over in a shaky voice. 'She was so scared and she faced the end alone. Didn't she have anyone? How could she not have anyone? Everyone has someone, right?'

Sherlock opened his eyes with a small frown. Were they still talking about Soo lin?

John swallowed hard and mopped his wet face with his friend's handkerchief.

'I think I will take you up on that offer to stay at Baker Street tonight, Sherlock,' the small man added in a low voice as he blew his nose; interrupting the detective's thoughts.

Sherlock nodded his head wordlessly. That was the best news he had heard all day. He wouldn't mind having someone capable watching his back either. Three murders in three days; this was getting entirely out of hand.

'The second bedroom is yours. You can stay for as long as you want.'

There was no response and Sherlock looked across at John's pale features. The doctor had drifted away again; lost in his own personal ocean of pain. After a while, Sherlock hugged his thin knees to his chest and scrunched up his long limbs into a ball, as he sat quietly at John's side.

Sometimes, there were no right words. Even he knew that.