*This chapter switches quiet a bit between POV's but I broke it up so it should be pretty easy to follow, enjoy.
Sherlock felt helpless. John and Greg were equally on the verge of breaking and he didn't know what to do. Seeing John in the midst of a panic attack earlier had scared Sherlock. Remaining calm for the doctor's sake had been difficult and Sherlock did what he could to bring John back.
After Lestrade's arrival and the news dropped, Sherlock had once again taking on the role of commander of the two older men. He had Lestrade's men sweep the hospital knowing full well they wouldn't find anything but it was progress. After the three men took over the security room and started scanning video files.
It wasn't hard to find the recording of Mary's room. Bringing the video up and rewinding to the point when Ryan entered the room, the three pressed closer to the video. Ryan had his back to the camera and all they could see was Mary's face. The fuzzy, pixelated image didn't provide a clear view but they all could make out the horror on Mary's face.
"He's got a gun," Sherlock relayed to the other, he noted to small movement of Ryan's arm as he drew the weapon. Mary's mouth moved but the camera had no sound so the words were lost to the men.
John growled "If only we had sound!" he snapped.
"She said 'it was you'." Sherlock told him and the two men looked at him skeptical, "I can read lips even ones as fuzzy as this." He assured them watching to see if Mary spoke again ignoring the looks from the men.
"What do you want?" Sherlock spoke seeing the words being formed by the recorded woman. Ryan moved on the screen his back blocking most of Mary's face. Sherlock sighed in frustration "I won't be accurate with him in the way." He said in disappointment.
"Because you're a sick bastard?" Sherlock tried guessing from the partially formed words. He notice the two men tense up when Ryan's arm went back as if to hit Mary, she held her ground flinching slightly but unafraid for a moment. He didn't hit her instead his finger caressed her face.
They watched Ryan moved back once again giving them a good look of Mary's face. "What is that?" Lestrade questioned seeing Ryan pull something from his jacket.
"That's a syringe." John answered as Ryan injected Mary.
She didn't speak again the drug looked to be very effective and they watched Ryan leave the room to return with a wheelchair and move Mary into it, she didn't struggle. They had to switch to different cameras to watch Ryan pushing Mary through the halls and into a car.
They never caught Ryan's face.
"Bloody waste of time," Lestrade growled spinning sharply from the monitors.
"Greg we can't give up." John called as the man stomped from the room. The doctor shot a pleading look at Sherlock before running after the D.I.
The taller man remained in front of the monitors rewinding the footage to look Ryan over.
Young, mid-thirties, addict…dealer? No…more important, overseer.
Sherlock guessed the man was a part of a drug cartel.
So this Ryan has come a long way in the last three years.
Sherlock was stalling and he knew it. There was only one person who had the power to help them and he didn't want to admit it. Sherlock knew if he made the call, not only would he save an innocent woman's life but he would have to lower himself to get the information he needed. The tall man ground his teeth together hoping some other more enticing idea would come to him, short of killing himself…again.
Sherlock came up with nothing and forced himself to pull out his phone. His fingers hovered over the screen of the plastic device begging for something else to appear to save him from making that call.
Nothing came and nothing would.
Jabbing angrily at the phone Sherlock found the number and brought the thing to his ear.
The ringing went on for what felt like hours and Sherlock knew that the intended was savoring the moment before answering. When the ringing stopped and the soft click indicated that the call had been answered, Sherlock waited not wanting to be the first one to speak.
"Brother dear," the voice purred through the line sounding pompous and amused.
Sherlock gripped the phone tightly, resisting the urge to throw it. He didn't speak just yet letting his concern for John calm him enough to force the greeting from his mouth.
"Mycroft."
When the lashes stopped Mary was barely conscious. The pain radiating through her body was intense even breathing was sending fresh shockwaves, making her nauseous. Ryan's footsteps echoed off the walls as he drew closer to the bed. Mary lay still not wanting to jar her battered form, her eyes closed to the world.
"Love, can you hear me?" Ryan asked.
Mary didn't speak her voice raw and broken from screaming. Cool fingers brushed the new marks on her stomach causing her to jerk, emulating a straggled cry from her.
"Mary," Ryan breathed his warm breath grazed passed her ear, "See what you made me do?" he paused letting the words hang in the air. This would have been a moment where Mary would normally say something but she was afraid. "I don't want you hurt you sweetheart but you pushed me…you need to learn and understand…you are mine!"
Ryan gripped Mary's arm making her jerk again, croaking out in pain "Mine! Mary, understand? Have you learned that?" he held her tighter until she gave him a shaking nod.
His hand was gone and Mary was weeping from the pain and fear. Ryan kissed her on the forehead "Good girl," she wanted nothing more than to break his neck.
"Now let's see to those wounds, don't want them to get infected."
"Little brother," Mycroft sneered through the phone.
Sherlock took a deep breath "I need your help." he hated this.
Mycroft's chuckle over the line almost made the youngest Holmes growl with irritation. "Oh I know," the snide tone of those words set Sherlock on edge, "I've been watching you dear brother. You and your little pals seem to be under constant threat and it's rather tiresome."
"Yes well, I hate to drag you away from your failed attempt at another diet," Sherlock snapped satisfied with his contribution, "But the adults have a little problem."
Mycroft was silent for a minute before his voice sounded "What do you want Sherlock?" The superior tone was gone and Sherlock couldn't help the triumphant grin that spread across his face.
"I need you to find Mary Morstan for me. She was kidnapped from Bart's earlier this afternoon and be quick about it." He relayed knowing his brother was very efficient when it came to finding people.
"Mary Morstan, Dr. Watson's sobriety companion?" Mycroft asked sounding somewhat bored.
Sherlock sighed heavily making sure it was audible over the phone "The very same, please keep up Mycroft!"
The elder Holmes hummed in disapproval through the line "Very well brother, give me a few hours and I will find your missing junkie." With that the line went end.
Sherlock gratefully lowered the phone and stowed it in his pocket. He estimated Mycroft would get back to him in approximately three hours until then Sherlock was on watch duty.
Leaving the security room Sherlock looked around for John and Lestrade. He found them in Mary's hospital room. Lestrade was seated in the chair next to the empty bed, staring at the space that would have held Mary. John stood near the door looking grim as he looked over at the silent Detective Inspector.
John noticed Sherlock's approach and glanced over managing a weak smile "Find anything?" he asked not sounding hopeful.
Sherlock shook his head looking at the back of Lestrade's head. "He hasn't said a word, just came in here and sat down," John told him, "he's in shock."
Sherlock nodded having already deduced that "I called Mycroft," he spoke quietly.
John turned to look at him with surprise "Really?" he sounded breathless.
Sherlock smiled "Yes, he won't take too long in locating her." He knew it was true.
Mycroft could do what Sherlock couldn't do in the small window of time they had. Sherlock would have been able to find Mary but in what state? The consulting detective couldn't lose the one thing that had kept John stable through the years. The doctor would be utterly devastated much like when Sherlock fell and the genius couldn't risk it.
"Thank you Sherlock," John whispered. He knew personally how much Sherlock hated relying on his brother for anything and he was touched that he had done this.
"I'll bring her back for you John," Sherlock promised without hesitation.
Three hours almost on the dot Sherlock phone rang.
The three men were still in the hospital room and no one had fallen asleep or moved much, they all had just been sitting in complete silence waiting for the phone call. Every eye locked on Sherlock as he brought the phone to his ear on the second ring.
"What did you find?" was his greeting.
"Brother dear you have no idea what you have gotten yourself into," Mycroft purred through the line.
Sherlock huffed, glaring. "Can we please save the theatrics for a later conversation and just tell me where Mary is?'
Mycroft clicked his tongue in disapproval "Very well but you will be very interested in what I have to say later," he paused and Sherlock resisted a growl building in his chest, "she's being held in a small warehouse in the East End. I'll text you the address. Good luck little brother."
Within second after the call ended a message from Mycroft came through "We have an address!" Sherlock called sprinting from the room.
John and Lestrade were quick to follow as was the armed squad. It took a matter of five minutes to get everyone in the police cars and speeding for the warehouse.
Mary had passed out while Ryan had cleaned her wounds. She didn't dream, her vision had been black and names were begin whispered at her but they were too quiet to hear. When she was snapped into consciousness, Ryan was gone and she was alone.
Fresh, clean white bandages covered her torso completely. Mary felt hallow and knew she had been dosed with drugs which at the moment she was grateful for. It took her away from the pain for a moment.
Testing her bound wrist, Mary already knew that she wasn't going to find escaping easy especially now that she was injured. Pulling on her ankle straps, they too gave no hint to simplicity. Mary forced back the hopelessness that was threatening to consume her.
She had been hiding from Ryan for three years and had known there was a chance the man might have found her. Mary had believed for a moment that she had eluded him and was actually safe. This moment proved she had been a fool to be lulled by the normality of her life. Now she could be facing the rest of her life as a slave.
Tears pricked her eyes and Mary couldn't keep them down anymore.
"John, Greg, Sherlock…" her voice cracked with the strain. Mary sank closer and closer to acceptance.
We're going to find her! We're going to get her!
John chanted in his head as they sped closer to the address. He was extremely proud of Sherlock's selflessness he had gone above and beyond.
"We'll be there soon," Sherlock assured his hand resting on John's jiggling knee.
The doctor glanced over at Greg who still had yet to speak but held a fiercely determined look so the shock had passed. Reaching out John gripped the D.I.'s clasped hands.
Lestrade blinked in surprised, looking down at the pile of hands, following John's arm to the doctor's face. John gave him a soft smile hoping it was encouraging. Greg stared at him for a moment before giving a curt nod and patting John's hand. He pulled his hand back and looked out to the passing buildings.
Five minutes went by when the cars finally stopped, men pouring from the vehicles. The warehouse was tiny and all the rooms were searched. Sherlock and John sprinted through the rooms with Greg in tow but the placed seemed empty, not a person in sight or any signs of recent inhabitants.
"Where is she?" Lestrade asked his voice feeble.
Sherlock and John looked at each other helplessly. Where was she indeed?
"Sir!" an officer yelled.
The three men raced to find the shouting man.
"We found a hidden panel leading to another room, shots were fired sir." The man relayed leading them to the now gaping door.
"Mary!" Greg shouted sprinting through the door. John and Sherlock bolted after him, nearly crashing into the D.I. when he spotted shortly in the new room.
Th tiny room smelled of blood.
The man from the video, Ryan had Mary wrapped tightly to his chest a gun pressed firmly to her skull. Mary had blood on her face and she was shirtless with bandages covering her chest and torso. She looked to be drugged, leaning heavily into the man holding her.
"Stay the fuck back or I swear I will end her!" Ryan shouted pulling Mary further into the room.
Lestrade was frozen staring intently at Mary "Please just let her go," he begged.
The madman with the gun glared "Who are you?" he snapped.
"I am Detective Inspector Greg Lestrade of New Scotland Yard, please just let her go." Greg answered.
Sherlock looked at John, mouthing 'This needs to end soon or she will die'. John nodded and waited to see if the taller man would come up with something.
Ryan aimed to gun at Greg "You're the one sleeping with her!" the gunmen growled.
Lestrade remained in his spot, not worried about the gun now aimed at him "Please just let her go." He pleaded holding his hands up in surrender.
Ryan glanced at Mary then at the other men in the room "She's mine!" he yelled pulling closer to the wall.
Mary suddenly snapped to consciousness. She elbowed Ryan in the gut sending him into the wall. In the attack the gun hit the ground but was quickly picked up by Mary and she turned, barely giving a moment to aim before she emptied the clip into Ryan's head. The man's face was completely unrecognizable as the last bullet entered the destroyed flesh and the body slid to the floor in a crumpled, bloody mess.
The silence that followed the sudden end was deafening.
Mary was weeping as she dropped the gun to the floor and her strength left her. Falling to her knees, she sat panting from th exertion and staring at the man that had been her nightmare.
"Mary?" Greg's voice cracked as he moved forward.
Mary looked over her shoulder, her eyes looked hollow and John's heart dropped. Lestrade fell on the ground beside her, touching Mary's face gingerly with his fingers.
"Greg!" John called moving closer.
The D.I. stopped "We need to get her to an ambulance," the doctor instructed wanting nothing more than to hold Mary just as Lestrade wanted to.
Nodding Greg moved to lift Mary gently. She gave a few cries of pain as he cradled her but didn't protest. The men moved quickly from the room.
"An ambulance was called." One of the waiting men announced as the group made their way through the warehouse for the outside.
A brisk wind had stirred and the sun had set completely. Sherlock swept his coat off and laid it over Mary. She winced as the fabrics weight settled against her.
"I thought for a moment you weren't coming," she whispered glancing between the three crowded around her.
John brushed hair from her face "We would never give up on you Mary," he assured. His chest was tight still anxious to get as far away from the place as possible.
Sherlock's hand found John's shoulder and squeezed it gently. The doctor leaned into his lover, bringing his own hand up to grip the hand. Mary smiled weakly as she watched this "Beautiful," she whispered laying her head against Greg's shoulder as they settled into wait.
*So this isn't the end, have at least one more chapter in me and then it will be complete! R&R
