A/N- Hey all sorry I missed last week. It has been a busy time of celebrations, people calling in sick, and catching what possibly is ebola and needing to report to the CDC. Just kidding- but in order not to be any later than I am I am not responding to reviews this week but I do want to thank Teshka, Black Night, Lara, IzzyBells, kaz1370, shnuffeluv, and Beside Moonlight for the wonderful birthday wishes and reviews. Y'all made lying in bed sick better.
PS. For those wondering about the Sherlolly I hint at I regret to inform you that I will not be writing a oneshot. However it is because I am using these gaps to set up for my next story which will be a Sherlolly set in this universe and an occasional cameo from my OC's. Anyways onwards and forwards.
They met at the morgue. It was the easiest as Greg had a body which already called for Sherlock, John, Molly, and himself. Mycroft joined the party seeing as it was just one day away from the New Year and thus his official professional relationship with Mark. Mary was in luck as well as she had needed to go to the hospital that day for a checkup in any case. Noelle made hot chocolate.
"Why are you here?" Mycroft asked the shivering woman as she came in with her fiancé.
"Nice to see you too," she bit out, "I miss Florida. It's so nice this time of year."
"Which again bids the question of why you are here."
"My brother almost just got sent off to his death. I am allowed to come see him."
"But he didn't so why would it matter?" the government asked genuinely confused.
"and you call us goldfish," she muttered before smiling at the presence that dramatically entered at the moment, a ball of excited energy and relief. He allowed Noelle to hug him and Molly to fuss for a moment before he turned to John and started to deduce in his usual spitfire way. Meanwhile Mycroft and Mark conversed covertly. Noelle thought she saw Mycroft smile a bit at his brothers' return as well but the moment he saw her looking at him Mycroft dropped his face back into the usual sour look. Still she made a face at him which he received with a lethargic roll of his eyes.
"Alright then," Sherlock announced, "Mycroft you will not increase your security on us it is practically stifling already. We will take precautions however so we should move our little meeting back to Baker Street."
"Oh, okay," Molly told the group, "Do make sure he keeps me informed though, Noelle."
"She will do nothing of the sort," Sherlock cut in rudely, "You can keep your own notes."
"Wait you want me to come too? I am in the middle of my shift."
"Not anymore," Sherlock said his eyes on his phone texting Lestrade, "I have informed Mike that you are not to be alone in the morgue or with anyone I haven't vetted yet. As I have not started that process yet he has given you the day off. It will give you time to move anyways."
"Move what?" John said.
"Well obviously Moriarty is dead but whoever put out that ad is targeting me, Molly and her role in my death would put her at risk. The homeless network has ways of protecting their own, I already put the word out, and Mycroft has whole governments at his disposal but Molly lives alone in an apartment that is atrociously easy to break into."
"You would know," the woman in question muttered.
"Anyways the obvious solution is for her to come to Baker Street where lives a consulting detective his killer neighbor," Noelle protested appropriately, "and her occasionally useful fiancé who will communicate with Mycroft so I don't have to and is trained is arms and such."
"Sherlock!" Molly cut in, "I can't just leave and go live with you!"
"Why not?" he asked in a childlike way that even made Mycroft think of a young child.
"I am too old to kip on the couch," she started.
"Obviously you will have John's old bedroom."
"Until he can get you into his," Noelle muttered so only Sherlock could hear her. He scowled.
"Toby," she stated smugly certain that it would deter the detective.
"Mrs. Hudson loves animals. Although Noelle may try to steal your pet. She has a strange affinity for cats."
"It will take too much time!" she tried at last.
"No worries," Mycroft jumped in, "I just contacted someone who owes me a favor. Your things will be moved in by evening."
Molly threw her hands up in despair, "It seems the whole world is willing it so!"
"No just the Holmes," John cut in, "but they do make a formidable pair. Perhaps we are lucky they don't get on well."
At the same time both brothers sighed and looked opposite ways in a grand show of displeasement that just made them look all the more similar.
"I am excited," Noelle piped up, "It will be nice to have someone besides Sherlock around!"
"What do you mean by that?" the detective pouted.
"Oh nothing," she said but she had a certain mysterious twinkle in her eye.
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"Okay ladies," Noelle was pacing in front of Mary and Molly, "This is it. Do or die and a lot depends on this."
It had been an eventful last few days with lots of adjusting and shenanigans. That, of course, is not to mention the case and all the investigating that had led to naught. Today though it was all business. They were sneaking off from the men who had been mother henning them all week for a very important mission.
"Oh relax," Molly cut in Noelle's speech, "It isn't do or die. It's just a little lingerie shopping."
Noelle gave her a look that told her she was clearly out of her mind.
"You know I believe in abstinence before marriage right?"
"Yeah," Mary replied with dramatic tones, "I can't believe you went all this time without sex!"
"Well we can't all be horndogs Mary," Molly laughed as Mary howled.
"Well," Noelle took control of the situation again, "I want to look nice for him among other things," she winked, "I haven't been his comfortable with someone for a long time and I just haven't dressed up this way since I got a lot of these scars. It is important to me to look good."
The women both understood. Of course they did so with planed maneuvers the covertly extracted themselves from the men that had been keeping eyes on them all week. They made their way chatting down the street to some fancy looking ladies wear store. Noelle and Mary spent the first fifteen minutes picking the most outrageous slips of sheer cloth they could find and not so subtly suggesting them to a blushing Molly. The teasing of course was well deserved as she and Sherlock had both been very tight lipped about any strange noises or occurrences from 221 B. Noelle had her suspicions but she knew neither had overtly declared anything to the other. Something would have to be done about that but right now she was focusing on her wedding clothes or rather underclothes so she and Mary turned to more serious inquiries.
"What about this one?" Molly held up a tasteful if bright ensemble that Noelle instantly dismissed.
"It's orange!" she exclaimed.
"Well I am glad you learned your colors Noelle," she smiled.
"Oh gosh," Mary bemoaned, "Sherlock is corrupting her."
"Oh hush," Molly smiled, "Sorry Noelle I forgot your aversion to the color."
"It's great when it isn't on me."
"You would look good in rags."
"Flattery gets you nowhere," Noelle rolled her eyes before pointing to a red and black corset, "Oh what about that one?"
"Hold onto that you can try it on. Now what size are you? C? D?" she asked before seeing a blush spread across Noelle's face, "Oh now none of that! For goodness sake woman you are shopping for lingerie with us!"
"Yeah, yeah, I just don't do this group shopping thing often you know."
"Here," Molly said throwing a blue lace ensemble at her with a wink, "this one too."
"and here is my contribution," Mary laughed throwing a green and blue nothing at her, "now go try them on and model. I don't care if they make you look nude I want to see them!"
"Mary!" the pathologist scolded, "Noelle go try them on and show us the ones you like. If you want!"
Noelle laughed, "I will show them to y'all but you have to say what you really think."
The women shooed her off to the fancy dressing room in the back of the store that was quite destitute at the time of day which suited their purposes as it afforded them some more privacy. Noelle went in the rooms to change while Mary tried to wheedle Molly into trying some things on as well. A jingle could be heard in the background but no one noticed since Noelle was stepping out in the dressing room in the green and blue that Mary had picked out.
The girls all started exclaiming over the sexy outfit when they heard, "You can't go in there!"
That was when all hell broke loose.
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Sherlock answered his phone lazily. "Yes?" he drawled.
"Holmes," Mark's voice came over the line frantically, "Is Noelle there with Molly?"
"MOLLY?" Sherlock yelled.
Receiving no answer he jumped up, "Molly isn't here. Where is she?" he demanded.
"How did you lose Molly?" Mark exclaimed agitated.
"How did you lose Noelle!?"
"She lives by herself and is supposed to be at an exhibit. Molly lives with you."
"I will call John," Sherlock said hanging up.
"Where is Mary?" he demanded without any greeting.
"Hmmm?" John said clouded with sleep.
"Mary. Is Mary there?"
"Hmm. No," he replied followed by the clunk of him falling out of bed, "NO!"
Sherlock hung up and sent a text to Mycroft, John, and Mark.
BAKER STREET NOW -SH
A small ruckus occurred as all the men crammed into the room certain that the women had been taken hostage.
"If it was just Noelle I would leave it be," Mycroft said before clarifying for Mark, "She often dodges my cameras and we all know she can handle herself. Mary even in her precarious state is a formidable opponent but Ms. Hooper-"
"Doctor," Sherlock cut in.
"Doctor Hooper has essentially no defense skills."
"Please Mycroft," Sherlock drawled, "You underestimate the woman. She is quite capable of taking care of herself. Of course," he added after a moment, "she always apologized after she kills an insect."
"How in the world did they take them all?" Mark asked.
"Perhaps it is Moriarty," John said tersely.
"Don't be ridiculous. They are two blocks away!" Sherlock stood suddenly making for the door, "or at least Molly is."
"How do you know brother mine?"
"I put a tracker on her phone. Noelle found hers and I thought it best not to mess with Ms. Watson."
They all agreed and made for the door, each of them checking a weapon. John and Mark stowed guns in their coats, Sherlock wielded a sword, and Mycroft was checking his umbrella. They rushed out and were quickly down the street and barging into some store, probably the front for an international kidnapping ring. Someone yelled at them but they ignored them pulling out their weapons and following the tracker to the back room and assaulting with the full force of their combined efforts.
All at the same time their faces turned red, bar Mark who was gaping with a smile at his fiancé. Still holding their weapons amidst the three women who seeing their saving force had fallen about in laughter. Mary sat lounging in a chair while Molly was closer discussing the stores merchandise with Noelle. Noelle herself was decked out in the barest ensemble of blue and green. It was an elegant sort on lingerie that resembled a gown. The silk body of blue was overlaid with a lacey pale green. While the cut was quite, um, flattering to her bosom the silk hung to her more womanly curve and a fine slit ran high up her thighs revealing her long shapely legs. No one even looked at her scars.
Lamely Mycroft relaxed his hand resulting in a single dart shooting out of the umbrella he had been wielding like a sword. It landed dully with a thud in the wood behind Noelle's head causing the women to break out in laughter again. Mycroft continued to flap his mouth open and close in a manner resembling a fish and breaking his iceman façade he so often wore as he cleared his throat nervously.
"Well, ahem," the British government choked out with a, dare he call it, an appreciative glance at Noelle's body before beating a hasty retreat, "I should call off the um, operatives. We wouldn't want anymore company in here now."
"Yes," Sherlock himself averted his gaze, "It appears our women were not kidnapped just irresponsible."
"Your women?" Molly raised an eyebrow.
"Irresponsible?" Mary said at the same time while Noelle asked, "Kidnapped?"
The women broke out into laughter again.
John regaining his senses as Mark handed Noelle his coat suddenly frowned, "Yes irresponsible! We thought you all had been kidnapped. We have been keeping an eye on you and you all just disappear!"
"Shut up," Noelle drawled with the jacket now appropriately covering her, "No you haven't been 'keeping an eye on us' you have been stifling us. Yes, you are all very worried. We get it. We have also all been big girls for a very long time. As far as kidnapping goes that was a stretch. Really Sherlock I thought you would at least think that through. Molly, Mary, and me at the same time. Please they would have a hard time with one of us. Anyways this was supposed to be a surprise." She pouted.
"Well love," Mark smiled brilliantly (and deviously) at her, "It was certainly a surprise."
John snorted, "You all are still not off the hook!"
"I have yet to seal the deal. Molly is not beholden to anyone, ahem, at the moment," Noelle and Mary directed that at the detective as Molly rolled her eyes, "Mary sorry you are on your own for your excuse."
Mary laughed standing to follow John out, "I suppose I will have to face the music. Let me know how the others look!"
"There's more?" Mark asked hopefully.
"You have already seen enough!" Noelle accused pushing him out with Sherlock.
"Molly you too!" Mary called with a wink causing the pathologist to blush red and the detective to freeze with curiosity on his face.
"Oi!" Molly demanded pushing both men out of the room, "Out both of you!"
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"Hello?" a small nervous man answered the phone.
"Don't attempt small talk I find it so tedious," the voice over the phone said.
"S-Sorry," he replied and hearing the sigh at the other end of the phone immediately continued, "the footage aired. I trust you saw it."
"The entire country saw it. Well done indeed but what I am now interested in is the encrypted channels or have we forgotten what is at stake here?"
"No, no, I'm sorry. Just please do-don't-"
"Oh shut up and stop your whimpering it does get old. Cut to the chase."
"Ac-according to official channels Sherlock Holmes is not being sent away. Assuming this threat is contained Parliament is considering his past help with cases and the resolution of the current situation, ie us!"
"Don't be smart."
"S-sorry, anyways they are considering his debt to society paid."
"Good. It would be unfortunate if Holmes couldn't come to the game. Now would you like a moment to say goodbye to your mistress?"
"You, you said you would let her live!"
"and so I will. I am so glad not to have to kill this one too. So many jobs for a pretty girl like her in the world."
"I'll, I'll go to the cops! The government! The press!"
"and tell them what? That you aided and abetted an international criminal? That you hacked into supposedly secure encrypted government lines? You would be in prison or worse and your precious mistress would already be in an Indian brothel."
The nervous man wept and pleaded over the line for a bit of mercy. A loud sigh could be heard from the other side of the line.
"Well I suppose she could be bought…for a price of course."
"Please anything. I'll do anything!"
"There will be a video on your doorstep soon. Make it untraceable then take it to 221 Baker Street."
"Then you will let her go?"
"Of course," the cold voice replied, "I am not a barbarian."
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Sherlock was still recovering from the shock of the morning but having discussed with the other men had decided to let the women have a bit of a longer leash. The women were taking advantage of this and were out celebrating at some girly healthy restaurant probably gossiping, tap dancing and doing other inane feminine things. Sherlock however was back at Baker Street staring steadily at the wall in front of him. There was little to no leads other than Moriarty to go on. Moriarty however was dead. He had seen it with his own eyes and it was very difficult to fool him. Still there was a niggling doubt roaming around his mind palace scratching at the walls.
"Yoo-hoo!" the cheery voice of his landlady rang out, "Sherlock you have a package."
The detective sulkily got up to receive the package. Immediately he started to deduce. It was from their mystery broadcaster, he could tell by the way it was taped. Meticulous. Careful. Almost like- no- he was dead shot himself through the head. Dismissing Mrs. Hudson he carefully opened the package. Inside was a flashdrive. He examined it carefully. It could be evidence, he wagered, or a computer virus designed to hack into his files. Best to be cautious, he thought and grabbed John's computer he left there for updating the blog. Typing in the new password, MorstanWatson4ever, he plugged in the flashdrive. There was one file on the drive, a video, and he opened it.
On his screen a dark room appeared. A flickering light appeared as a group of men entered the room and switched on a light. The room was a dingy molding green with a chair situated right in front of the camera which he realized was attached to a computer. Led in last was a woman in bedclothes and just stirring from what appeared to be chloroformed induced dreams. With a start he realized he was looking at Noelle. Nearly four years ago. The footage fast forwarded through some rough handling designed to get her fully awake. When the tape started again he saw the visual of the conversation he had heard over the phone when he first met Moriarty. It fast forwarded again at the end of the conversation through quick frames of beatings and back talkings until it again landed on a carefully selected scene. The timestamp showed three am.
"Our benefactor has a purpose for you," a thick Russian accent came. "Do not worry. You will still die. It has been your fate for some time now. You thwarted it before but no more. Yes, you will die but first you must suffer."
"Well," Noelle's voice came out defiant and hard, "you've been trying the better part of the day and you've yet to succeed."
"Well," the Russian smiled, "Perhaps our benefactor will have better luck."
Just then another Russian entered the room with a small blowtorch and an iron heart. Noelle bit her tongue as the iron was heated to gleam bright white in the dark room. As the two approached her she squirmed a bit as one held her down and the other pulled up her shirt. The harsh sizzle of her skin burning and being ripped away with the iron had no accompanying sound from the woman's lips and the Russian nodded almost proudly.
"You were always a formidable opponent my dear," he smiled, "but everyone has their breaking point."
The tape again jumped and this time when it stopped Noelle was no longer holding her silence. She was strapped securely in her chair as a man dressed in black drilled straight into her shin bone. A string of foreign expletives streamed from her mouth over the sound of the drill.
"Is there something you would like to share," the same man asked in Russian.
"Lot's you bastard, starting with-"
"Oh how crude. No matter there is nothing more I desire of you any longer than your imminent death."
The drill was extracted from one wound to start on another which again elicited a shriek.
"I am going to kill you. I am going to start with this one then I will take you out in alphabetical order. I always did like some semblance of ahhhhhhh- order," she finished.
The man laughed and so did she before the tape jumped ahead again. This time they were advancing on the woman with a syringe. Noelle for her part looked two steps away from death. Her limbs limp, her eyes tired, her hair limp.
"You are almost ready for your debut my dear," he said, "just one more pinch and then it is time to say goodbye. Really it has been a lovely time."
Stepping forward he pushed the needle into Noelle's arm and stood back with a manic grin.
"Goodbye my dear," he said pushing the needle with a substance Sherlock was oh too familiar with into her arm and kissed her on her head, "you were an honorable foe."
He stepped back and turned to grab a large knife from one of the minions. He turned around and was met with the icy glare of Noelle.
"Wow I see the allure of this drug. It works fast," she hissed as she rose suddenly letting her bonds fall to the ground. A shot went off but it was the drill worker that fell as Noelle disarmed one of the guards, "So shall we start with A?"
One rushed her and a kick was delivered to his side he stumbled towards the camera which fell to the ground a shot was heard as the tape cut out and the movie ended.
Sherlock turned to take the flashdrive out and saw the women returned from their night out Mark and John on their heels. He hadn't heard them come in but it was obvious they had come in sometime in the middle of the tape. Noelle's face was sheet white the others not looking much better.
"Where did that come from?" Mark asked breaking the silence.
"It was delivered to-"
Suddenly the tape cut back on and a familiar voice rang through the flat.
"Did you miss me? Did you miss me? Did you miss me? Did you miss me? Did you-"
"Still certain he is dead?" John asked.
Sherlock blinked at the screen. Quite honestly he wasn't sure.
Next time did you miss me? Well I promise to update on time next week!
Stay tuned.
Please review? :)
