Author's note: I'm back, hopefully for good even with the new school semester looming...thanks to all of you who wished me a good time at the beach, it was a good time, but I was also glad to get home and sleep in my own bed.


"I'm busy." Lestrade snapped as he stepped past the two men and out into the hall. Holmes and Watson were left standing uncertainly in his office.

Holmes frowned and followed the Inspector out the door, Watson not far behind. "Lestrade-"

"Not now, Holmes." The man interrupted irritably. "Gregson!" He shouted at the Inspector in question's office. "Anything yet?"

Gregson seemed to appear out of thin air. "Evans swears they were together." He commented, ignoring the startled Doctor as he offered Lestrade a sheet of hastily scrawled notes. "We'll find them, Lestrade."

"What's going on?" Watson wanted to know.

Gregson and Lestrade exchanged a glance, but it was the fair haired Inspector that answered. "Someone's been making threats." He explained. "Against us. Against anyone that works here, that is." He clarified quickly. "Smith and Adams are missing."

"How long?" Holmes asked.

"Too long." Lestrade grumbled.

Gregson put a reassuring hand on the other Inspector's shoulder. "We'll find them." He said again. "They'll be alright."

Lestrade shrugged him off. "I'm not worried about Smith and Adams." He said.

"The Rookie was with them." Gregson added, for Holmes and Watson's benefit.

"I'm going after them." Lestrade decided. Gregson shook his head.

"You were specifically named in several letters, Lestrade." He reminded the other man, without much conviction. "They'll be looking for you."

Lestrade smiled grimly. "I'm counting on it."

Gregson sighed, but didn't argue. "Be careful." He admonished the other Inspector. Lestrade nodded, and was off without another word.

Jones and Bradstreet turned the corner, and wasted no time in diving out of Lestrade's way. Bradstreet looked confused as he and Jones reached the three men still standing in the hall, but Jones was wearing an almost evil smile.

"Lestrade went to bring the boys home?" He asked. At Gregson's nod, he chuckled. "Don't know what took him so long."

"Marshall specifically told him not to go out and make himself an easy target." Gregson replied. "But he's been chomping at the bit since the news came in."

Jones snorted. "So are we leaving this to Lestrade, or do we get a chance at this piece of refuse as well?"

Gregson shrugged. "We weren't technically invited along." He said.

"He knows how we feel on the matter." Jones pointed out.

"True enough." Gregson agreed. "Let's go. Hold the fort." This last was directed to Bradstreet, who seemed to understand as little of the conversation as Holmes and Watson did.

"Sir?" Bradstreet ventured uncertainly.

It was Jones who answered. "Some fool decided to follow through on those threats we've been getting. I'm sure you've noticed by now that Lestrade tends to take it personal when someone messes with what he considers his people."

Bradstreet nodded. It was Gregson who spoke then, and what he said sent chills down the spines of the other three men present. "He's not the only one."

Jones and Gregson turned, and left Bradstreet standing there with Holmes and the doctor. When he had recovered himself, Bradstreet let out a low whistle. Someone was in serious trouble.


Disclaimer: Sherlock and the boys do not belong to me.