Get ready for A LOT of drama and big things happening! I present to you! The final two chapters to "The Empty Hearse" before we move to "Sign of Three!" Just a note for my lovely readers, a few plot devices are being slightly tweaked so get ready for the twists and turns! Please review and follow! xoxo
After a few minutes of staring at the draft message, a smug smile crossed the man's lips. He decided that he would be far more amused seeing Sherlock chase after his long lost love. He phoned a number from memory and after the first ring, the call was picked up.
"Change of plans. Come to Grosvenor Gardens. Therapists office across from my favorite cafe. We're going to pick up Céline, she's a bit weaker anyway. Get here now." The man spoke in his smooth and deep voice. After his order he hung up the line and went back to his draft messages changing some things.
Save souls now!
Céline, Hair Is Brown?
Saint or Sinner?
James or John?
The more is Less?
As he changed the messaged his smug smile grew wider and he stood, leaving the cafe and catching a taxi away.
In the therapists office Céline had almost finished her consultation appointment. Céline liked her therapist a lot. Her name was Faith and she was an aloof but kind woman with glasses. She was so warm and inviting and it eased Céline's anxieties. They hadn't gone into much specifics about Céline's past and the things she wanted to discuss yet. However, Céline happily signed for an appointment for the next afternoon to get started. After she had said goodbye to Faith and left the sun had begun to set.
The streets around her were empty except for a man walking her direction down a ways and she curiously checked the time. The day underneath her phone's clock read "November 5th" and she nodded in realization. I was Guy Fawkes day and she knew festivities were centered in the park about ten minutes away. Céline didn't notice a black car just behind her slowing down and as she put her phone away she ran right into the man who had been walking her way. She drew back.
"Excus-" She began but before she could finish she felt his hand firmly grip her arm. Her body went into fight or flight and she quickly launched all of her body weight at his frame to push him away. The man was not expecting her to fight back and Céline fell out of his grasp.
After falling from his grasp Céline quickly tried to get to her feet and run but the man was far too fast. She let out a scream when he caught up with her a few feet down the sidewalk and he clasped a hand over her mouth. She tried biting him as her limbs flailed about, punching and kicking. But another man from the car that had been following her came out and helped hold her. She continued to punch and kick at the two men until the first let go of her mouth and got ahold of her right arm. He roughly shoved it behind her, dislocating it, and a sickening pop came from her shoulder. Céline screamed in pain and the man quickly shoved a syringe into her neck to keep her quiet. The effects were instantaneous and Céline quickly lost control of her body, she remained completely conscious, but she was unable to move as the two men lowered her to the ground and then picked her up to take her to the car.
Across town Sherlock and Molly were at Howard's Building on the staircase before the door. The sun had also been setting there. They had been on a case for Scotland Yard. Molly was waiting for Sherlock as he was sitting and thinking, his eyes closed calmly. She loved how he looked when he was lost in thought. Her thoughts drifted to what he had told her earlier. About Céline sending him out. Molly frowned, she thought it was selfish. She would sacrifice anything to be with Sherlock and to know Céline wouldn't even hear him out upset her. As his thoughts drifted she looked at her wedding ring. She had been engaged last month. Her eyes wandered from the ring to Sherlock and back. If he just offered, she would give up her fiancé in a heartbeat.
"The journey between those stations usually takes five minutes. That journey took ten minutes – ten minutes to get from Westminster to St James's Park." Sherlock suddenly spoke up, breaking the silence and looking at Molly. "So I'm going to need maps, lots of maps, older maps, all the maps." Molly nodded.
"Right." She replied eagerly. Sherlock walked past her toward the door.
"Fancy some chips?" Sherlock asked as they headed out.
"What?" Molly asked, surprised at the request, her cheeks flushing.
"I know a fantastic fish shop just off the Marylebone Road. The owner always gives me extra portions." Sherlock shrugged, stopping at the bottom of the staircase.
"Did you get him off a murder charge?" Molly asked, curiously. Sherlock shook his head no.
"No, I helped him put up some shelves." He replied. Molly giggled and there was a silence between them for a moment.
"Sherlock?" She asked. Sherlock tilted his head.
"Yes?" He asked.
"Why would she leave you and throw you out? You left for noble reasons, it wasn't selfish." Molly snapped, both nervous and angry. "Maybe you don't need a woman who doesn't understand that." Sherlock watched her for a long moment before his gaze went to the floor.
"You know Molly, I never thanked you." Sherlock suddenly spoke. Trying to not talk about Céline.
"For what?" Molly asked.
"Everything you did for me," Sherlock replied. Molly watched him for a long moment and blushed, stepping down the stairs so she was standing beside him.
"It's okay. It was my pleasure." Molly replied, purposely lingering close. Sherlock nodded.
"Moriarty slipped up. He made a mistake. Because the one person he thought didn't matter at all to me was the one person that made it all possible." Sherlock spoke. For a moment his thoughts drifted. If he grabbed Molly and kissed her would it make him feel better about Céline? Molly saw Sherlock's eyes drift to her lips for a moment.
"You know, I had a lovely day. I'd love to…" Molly spoke up, speaking with her hands nervously to break the silence. Sherlock saw her ring as she did this.
"Congratulations, by the way," Sherlock spoke, his mind snapping back to reality, feeling stupid and guilty for even considering kissing Molly to forget Céline.
"He's not from work." Molly began. "We met through friends, the old-fashioned way. He's nice. We…he's got a dog. We go to the pub on weekends and I've met his mum and dad and his friends and all his family. I've no idea why I'm telling you this." Molly quickly spoke. Sherlock and Molly's eyes stayed locked the entire time she explained.
"I hope you'll be very happy, Molly Hooper. You deserve it…" Sherlock spoke trailing off. Before he could say or do anything else, Molly was suddenly overcome with courage and she grabbed his lapel, kissing him on the lips.
It was evening now. Watson had just returned home and he was making dinner with Mary. His phone suddenly beeped and he checked it. The number was unknown.
Save souls now!
Céline, Hair Is Brown?
Another message came in and the phone beeped once more.
Saint or Sinner?
James or John?
The more is Less?
Watson's face twisted in confusion. He read the message a couple of times over and tried to check the number but it was blocked.
"Mary?" Watson asked, rereading the message again and walking over to her. "I just got the two weirdest messages…"
As the sun set a full moon emerged. Céline was unconscious underneath a huge pile of sticks and leaves. She slowly began to come to, the effects of the drugs had slowly started to wear off. She slowly tried to lift herself but pain surged through her right shoulder. Tears filled her eyes and she tried to cry out in pain but no sound came out. It was as if her body wasn't working. She was certain it was because of the drugs. She tried turning to her other side but her body felt too weak.
After Mary had seen the message she forced Watson to take a taxi with her and go to 221b Baker Street. She knew something was horribly wrong. As they drove over Watson kept trying to text and call Céline to no avail. When they got to 221b Baker Street. Mrs. Hudson opened the door for them and Watson and Mary both pushed themselves inside.
"John? What's going on? Who is this?" Mrs. Hudson asked, confused.
"Sorry, we think someone's got Céline." Watson called as he went up the stairs, Mary lingered behind.
"Who are you?" Mrs. Hudson asked.
"Oh, I'm his fiancée," Mary answered, rushing after Watson. Watson pushed his way into the living room and suddenly stopped in his tracks. Molly and Sherlock were sitting across from the armchairs in front of the fire having tea. Watson opened his mouth to say something but the words escaped him. Mary put a hand on his shoulder. Sherlock stood and frowned.
"John? Mary? What's-" Sherlock began. Watson was shaking his head looking from Molly to Sherlock. Mary pushed past him and took his phone from his pocket, opening it to the messages.
"Someone sent John first I thought it was just a Bible thing, you know, spam, but it's not. It's a skip-code." Mary explained. Sherlock and Watson shared a glance before Sherlock looked down at the message. He felt sick the second he read it.
Save souls now!
Céline, Hair Is Brown?
"First word, then every third. Save…Céline.…Brown…" Sherlock read. Molly awkwardly set her tea down and watched. Mary nodded,
"There there was this one," Mary explained.
Saint or Sinner?
James or John?
The more is Less?
Sherlock's face fell. The words "Saint James The Less" stood out to him. Sherlock passed Mary back the phone.
"Take Molly to the hospital and wait for us. Let's go John." Sherlock rushed to the door and grabbed his coat. Watson and Mary shared a look. Mary knew he was upset and set a hand on his shoulder.
"Go, for Céline," Mary spoke, passing Watson back his phone before Watson scoffed and took off after Sherlock. They got outside and Sherlock began pacing.
"What the hell are you pacing for?" Watson was frantically looking at all the cars parked on the street.
"They're too slow…." Sherlock was frustrated and just barely missed getting out of the way of a car but to his delight, a motorcycle began coming down the street and Sherlock threw himself in front of it to stop it. The two quickly hijacked the motorcycle and were racing for the church. Sherlock was calculating the quickest route. He wouldn't forgive himself if he let something happen to Céline. Watson's phone beeped and he checked it.
Getting warmer Mr. Holmes
You have about ten minutes
Molly and Mary took an awkward taxi ride to the hospital. Mary was watching Molly with a judgmental eye.
"So, what were you doing with Sherlock at his flat?" Mary asked, suspicious.
"We were having tea…" Molly answered, keeping her eyes low. Sherlock had invited her to 221b Baker Street after their kiss but nothing else had happened.
"Ah, comforting him about Céline?" Mary asked, a dripping sarcastic tone on her speech.
"You could say that," Molly answered. Mary shook her head and scoffed, upset for her friend. There was a silence in the taxi for a long moment before Molly spoke up again. "What happened to her?"
"I don't know," Mary replied honestly, wondering who was behind this.
Céline slowly continued to take in her surroundings. She could hear people around her but could tell that no-one saw her.
"H-Help," Céline spoke, only able to get out the word in barely a whisper. She tried to move again but her shoulder sent a shockwave of pain through her body and she hissed in pain, tears filling her eyes.
"Sherlock we have to hurry." Watson pressed as another text message came in. This time reading…
8 minutes and counting...
Sherlock nodded and accelerated but to his dismay a roadblock was up for the festivities. Sherlock cursed to himself and closed his eyes tight, thinking of a new way to go before suddenly turning the bike a new direction. One of the police officers shouted at him but he ignored it as they began to drive off the road.
In the park, fireworks began to go off. A little girl holding a sparkler slowly walked to the large bonfire and stared at it. Céline could see her slightly from where she laid. She ignored the pain of her shoulder and tried dragging herself toward the small space where she saw the little girl. The pain was horrible but she pushed on so she would survive. She opened her mouth to cry out for help but no sound came out, the drugs still having an effect on her body. Fear suddenly filled her being as a man passed the little girl and threw a flaming block of wood onto the sticks and foliage that surrounded her. Suddenly the small spaces Céline could see out of were engulfed in flames and she drew back, feeling faint from the pain of constantly using her shoulder.
"Sherlock. We need to hurry." Watson snapped in panic as another message came through.
Better hurry things are heating up here...
The little girl watched as her dad lit the bonfire but the flames began to dull. He frowned.
"No. It's not gonna work. Bit damp. I'll get something to help it along, yeah?" He spoke to his daughter. The little girl nodded and watched the fire as it shouldered. Céline was crying as smoke clouded her vision, all she could do was make the motions of screaming to no avail. Thankfully, after trying this for a couple of minutes a soft scream was let out. The little girl perked up at the noise and focus her gaze on the Guy Fawkes figure that had been built atop the bonfire.
Watson was starting to panic.
"There's another message." He snapped, showing it to Sherlock.
Stay of execution. you've got two more minutes.
Sherlock began to panic with Watson but decided to take a pedestrian underpass to get there. Pedestrians cursed and ran out of the way of the motorcycle.
The little girl's dad returned with a can of petrol but before he could use it his daughter stopped him.
"He doesn't like it, Daddy." She protested. The dad shrugged it off. "Guy Fawkes – he doesn't like it!" She continued but he took the lid off the can.
"Zoe, it'll be fine. Stay back." He sternly spoke. The little girl nodded and stepped away, watching on anxiously. Céline connoted to scream in the bonfire but it was still too faint.
Sherlock and Watson were now in view of the bonfire and a text tone came in, this time from Sherlock's phone. Watson took it from his pocket.
"Sherlock…" Watson spoke, showing him.
What a shame Mr. Holmes. I thought you loved her.
Sherlock suddenly realized as the bonfire was set ablaze.
"Oh my god," Sherlock spoke to himself before accelerating for the bonfire. The onlookers celebrated but suddenly Céline's voice fully came back to her.
"Help!" She screamed at the top of her lungs. The little girl tugged her father's jacket and screamed. Some of the onlookers that heard exchanged confused glances. "Help!" Céline continued. She suddenly heard the motorcycle.
"Jump off." Sherlock snapped at Watson and the two men jumped from the motorcycle. Sherlock rushed through the people, pushing them aside. Desperate to save her.
"Céline!" Sherlock screamed, tears in his eyes. Céline heard him and screamed.
"Sherlock!" She cried. He heard her and quickly went for her location, throwing wood aside so he could grab her. Watson caught up to him and began to help.
"My shoulder." She shouted as she saw the two men clearing the path. Sherlock nodded and wrapped his arms around her chest to pull her out, noticing her swelling shoulder. He pulled her to safety and wrapped her in his arms, taking her face into his hands.
"Céline," Sherlock spoke to her. It was all he could say before she collapsed of exhaustion in his arms.
Sherlock and Watson quickly rushed Céline to the hospital. Molly and Mary were already waiting. She was rushed into a room and they checked her out and hooked her up to some IVs. Sherlock and Watson both waited outside. Mary and Molly waited in the waiting room.
Sherlock was crouched down against the wall, he was lost in thought. Watson just watched him.
"Do you know what you put her through?" Watson finally asked. Sherlock sigh.
"Molly asked me that days ago." Sherlock scoffed, rubbing his eyes. Watson frowned.
"That's another thing. What is going on with you and Molly? You've just given up on Céline? You don't see what you put her through and don't care and now you've just moved on to Molly." Watson snapped. Sherlock groaned and stood.
"Watson, I don't know." Sherlock snapped, he was feeling sick.
"What don't you know?" Watson pressed, angry. "You make me sick."
Sherlock let the statement hang in the air for a moment. It hurt him. It was the first time in a long time he felt hurt. He began to question his high-functioning sociopath self-diagnosis and turned his body away from Watson. Tears filled his eyes and he couldn't hold them back.
"Look at me." Watson snapped. Sherlock slowly turned toward him and Watson was taken aback at his crying.
"I don't know how to love her without hurting her." Sherlock finally spoke, a tremor in his voice, the tremor pushed him over the edge and he suddenly let everything go. All his guilt, his confusion. He started crying. Watson stood there, his eyes wide. He was lost for words. "All I'll ever do is hurt her. So maybe I need to push her away to save her."
"Sherlock.." Watson softly spoke. Sherlock wiped his tears away with the back of her hands.
"I love her so much John. She's the light of my life. She's all that keeps me going." Sherlock spoke, thickly swallowing. "Molly kissed me today and I kissed back. I think that I did because it helped me forget Céline for a few moments."
"Sherlock, you need to talk to Céline." Watson seriously spoke.
"I'm scared of her," Sherlock replied. Mary suddenly interrupted the two men.
"She's waking up," Mary spoke. Watson nodded.
"We'll be right in." He spoke. Mary could feel the tension in the air as she looked between the two men and nodded before rushing back inside. Watson looked at his friend.
"I'll come by tomorrow after work," Watson spoke, it was his way of saying that he forgave his friend. Sherlock looked up at him and nodded before thickly swallowing and going back inside. Mary and Watson decided to let Sherlock go in and see Céline alone first. Molly awkwardly waited with them. Mary ignored her, standing in solidarity with Céline and Watson tried to make small talk before Molly excused herself to go to the bathroom.
Céline was lost in thought and when Sherlock entered she perked up, looking at him with a blank look. Her right arm was in a cast.
"Célin…" Sherlock began. Tears filled her eyes the second he spoke.
"Mary said you were at home with Molly," Céline spoke. Sherlock could see the look of betrayal in her eyes and let the question hang in the air for a long moment. Céline was upset. When Mycroft had kissed her she sent him out, she didn't invite him to stay. She felt like she hadn't betrayed Sherlock as he had her.
"I was," Sherlock spoke. "But, Céline, it's nothing…" Sherlock was being honest when he spoke. When he kissed Molly back in the staircase he did it because he was confused. "Céline please let me explain myself." He went to her bedside and took her left hand. "I didn't leave like I did to hurt you." Céline stared deep into his eyes for a long moment.
"Well you did hurt me," Céline spoke. It was all she could muster. Her thoughts raced with all she went through but she couldn't bring herself to tell him. About the suicide attempt or the endless nights.
"I'll do anything to make it up to you, Céline please…" Sherlock begged before Molly entered the room. On her way back from the bathroom she decided to see what was going on instead of returning back to Watson and Mary. Céline's face fell the second Molly entered.
"Sorry, Céline, are you ok? I was worried about you and Sherlock." Céline looked from Molly to Sherlock and thickly swallowed. Sherlock didn't look at or say anything to Molly. Céline knew deep down it was because something had happened between them and Sherlock didn't know what to do. Tears began to fall down Céline's face and she took her hand away from Sherlock's.
"Get out." She spoke to him, holding her composure. Sherlock nodded, he stood and left the room, pulling Molly out with him.
Sherlock and Molly passed the waiting room and left. Watson was used to Sherlock leaving in that manner so he didn't think twice about it and went to see how Céline was doing but Mary lingered and watched Sherlock and Molly exit, deeply upset before turning to go follow Watson.
When Watson entered Céline was sobbing into her hand. She had let all her emotions go the second Sherlock left. Watson didn't know what to do. Mary sent him out to wait before sitting on the edge of the hospital bed to take her friend into her arms.
"Mary, why did he…" Céline managed to speak through tears. "Why did he just go to another woman? I turned Mycroft away for him. Why didn't he turn her away?"
"Because men are pigs." Mary angrily spoke, letting her friend sob into her arms.
Sherlock walked Molly home. He was sick with confusion and guilt. His mind hadn't been this bad since the time he spent as a junkie. Sherlock wanted to forget Céline just as much as he wanted to go beg at her feet until she forgave him. Molly noticed this confusion and when they got to her flat they paused at the door.
"My fiancé is gone all weekend on business. He left yesterday and won't return until Monday morning." Molly spoke. Sherlock looked at her, knowing what she was inviting him to do. Molly took a deep breath. "Do you want to come inside?" She asked. Sherlock answered by grabbing Molly and kissing her deeply. His grief dissipating from his mind as he distracted himself with her body against his as they began to passionately kiss before disappearing into her flat. It was as if he had taken a shot of morphine into his arm. Across the street, photos had been taken from a black car of their moment, but Sherlock and Molly had not noticed.
