(11) Clipped Wings

"Go. GO!" John pushed Lestrade towards the door.

As soon as they dived into the cruiser, Lestrade locked the doors. "Here," he handed Sherlock's mobile over. "I picked it up while you were getting that bullet out. Shane's on the other end."

"Sherlock said something about not holding it off for much longer," John said. "That humans should run."

"If that means what I think it means," Lestrade let it hang.

There was a shattering of glass & both glanced up, afraid that Sherlock had been destroyed. But it was Sherlock smashing through the windows to get out. His wings were spread wide & he shot into the sky, heading back towards London.

"I'm letting Shane know," John called him.

Lestrade turned on the sirens & sped back into the heart of London. John held up the bullet he had pulled out of Sherlock. Lestrade quickly looked sideways at it. "It's gold. Just like that other one."

"Which means Sherlock could explode," John said.

"Why didn't he?" Lestrade asked, slamming the brakes as they swerved next to doors of New Scotland Yards.

"It didn't hit his heart," said John. "But if it had something in it that could spread out to his heart, he could still end up destroyed."

Lestrade ran inside with John close behind. "We need to close down London!"

"What?" Donovan scoffed.

"You can't shut down the city, too easily," Anderson leaned back in his chair.

"Sherrinford Holmes is helping to do that," Lestrade said. "Something happened to Sherlock."

"He got shot," John held up a gold bullet.

"He started acting weird."

"He's always acting weird," Donovan pointed out.

"Weird-ER than before," Lestrade rolled his eyes. "I think he might lose control & start attacking for blood."

Donovan & Anderson stared at him. Anderson asked, "You mean like an actual vampire attacking you? Like Dracula?"

"Yes," Lestrade said. "Get the warning out. If you're human, stay inside your house or your car & lock your doors. If you're already in a car, get out of London."

"We also need to find out who owns a gun that can fire these kinds of bullets," John handed both over.

People scattered to comply as quickly as possible. But shutting down an entire metropolis like London wouldn't happen at the snap of one's fingers. It took time to close down the streets from where they were & then spread out to close down more. John went into the office with two other cops to start working on where the bullets came from while Donovan watched over the main doors & only let her human co-workers out to their cars after a thorough check of the sky.

It took over an hour, but the streets were finally closed. John looked out the window from the second floor office he was in to a rather odd sight. There were people patrolling the streets, but not walking them. Several vampires flew through the area, watching over it. The Undead Law had taken over.

"Now there's something you don't see every day," Lestrade remarked as he came in to stand beside John. "Hey, I know that guy!" Lestrade pointed at a vampire flitting by with mother of pearl like wings. "Didn't know he was a vampire."

John groaned. "Any word of what's going on?"

Lestrade was slow to answer, but finally nodded. "Sherlock has attacked someone."

"What?"

"He's not in his right mind," Lestrade went on. "Whatever shot him is affecting him, somehow. Any luck on those bullets?"

"Greg," John looked helplessly at him. "My imprint. What if this is it? The air is full of vampires from the Undead Law."

"They don't execute anyone, right away," Lestrade said. "Besides, it's only Sherlock that's affected, right now. Your imprint showed both of them. It has to be something else."

"Is Sherrinford out there?"

"I don't know," Lestrade said.

"Sir?" another man came upto them. "We found something." Lestrade & John were led to a table where a small makeshift lab was set up with the two bullets lying in a container. "This is the one that you found by the ash pile is dry, but the other one you pulled out of Detective Holmes has some sort of sticky liquid in it. Just a few drops. We don't know what it is."

"So he was injected with something!" John gasped. "He's drugged."

"With what?" Lestrade asked incredulously. "He's a vampire. They have quick healing powers. I know he smokes like a chimney, but he can't seem to get high."

"Mmm, cocaine can do it."

"Cocaine?"

"The whole family used to use it a lot," John went on quickly "Apparently, it was good for Mycroft after coming back from the Titanic."

"John!" Lestrade moaned.

"I can tell you right now, that is not cocaine in there," the other man said. "It's liquid. We've been testing it to find out what drug it is but nothing's come up, yet."

"Keep working," Lestrade was still glaring at a rather sheepish looking John. "Cocaine. If he survives this, I'm killing him!" Lestrade marched for the door.

"Not your division," John shot at the cop's retreating back. "You're homicidal, not drug bust." Lestrade made a rather rude V shaped sign over his head right before the door banged closed behind him.

"OOO!" John growled. His canine hearing could hear Lestrade laughing even though he was halfway down the hall. John stalked over to the table where the other two men were with the bullets. "Let's get on with this. The sooner we find out what drug that is, the sooner we can work on an antidote."

"What's so funny?" Donovan asked as Lestrade came in.

"I'm teasing John," Lestrade said. "Any news?"

"Mhm," Donovan nodded.

"He's attacked again, hasn't he?"

"A few more times," Donovan said. "They almost caught him but he got away. They say his eyes are like flames."

"I know," Lestrade said. "I saw it."

"There's more," Donovan went on after a slight hesitation. "I've been summoned."

"Summoned?"

"The Undead Law wants all vampires living in London to come out & help try to catch him," said Donovan.

"Isn't he a lot older than you?" Lestrade asked. "John said that older vampires are stronger than new ones."

"Yes but we will have back up," Donovan explained. "We will be paired with stronger vampires to compensate. I ... I have to go."

Lestrade pulled her into a hug. "You bring him home, ok?"

"Ok," Donovan blinked back a few tears.

"I know he can be an aggravating sod," Lestrade went on. "But he's our aggravating sod."

"Y-yeah."

They let each other go. Donovan wiped away a few tears. Anderson came up to her. "You be careful out there," He began. "I don't want either you or Sherlock to end up as ash but ... but if you have to choose, promise me you'll defend yourself."

"I will & I will bring him home!" Donovan went to the door & stepped outside. She glanced back through the windows for a moment before spreading brilliant shining gold wings & launching into the sky. John caught a glimpse of her beautiful wings as she flew upwards over London.

"Doctor?" Someone called out to him nearly half an hour later. "Doctor Watson?"

"Hmm? Have you found what it is?"

"No," the man shook his head. "We compared it to all known drugs. This is beyond us. It's only a small lab, nothing like at the hospital at Bart's."

"Well, neither of you can go out right now," John said. "I could make a dash for it. There are several Lycans out there working with the vampires to catch Sherlock. I should be fine."

"Be careful," the cop handed over a vial with the liquid. "If he bites you, you're dead."

"I know," John held up the vial & looked at it for a moment. He turned & went out the door. He was half way down the stairs when suddenly, it hit him. "OH!" John turned around & ran back into the small lab, startling the two who were still there. "I know what it is!"

Ten minutes later, John was downstairs, looking for Lestrade. He found the cop sitting at his desk on call with someone. "I will let him know," Lestrade was saying. "Wait a moment," He put the mobile on the desk & turned the volume up so both could hear. "It's Shane."

"I found out what it is," John said.

"John, is that you?"

"Yes."

"John," Sherrinford paused. "There is talk of maybe ... maybe destroying Sherlock on sight."

"WHAT? NO! I KNOW WHAT HE'S DRUGGED WITH!"

"He's on a rampage. I had to swoop in behind him & turn several people he has attacked to save their lives," Sherrinford explained.

"He's DRUGGED, Sherrinford!" John repeated angrily. "He's not like Dracula. It's a drug!"

"I don't like this any more than you do," Sherrinford said. "But if he isn't stopped soon, they'll have no choice."

"I thought the Undead Law could take centuries for an execution."

"This isn't an execution," Sherrinford tried to explain. "Not like that. He is extremely dangerous. It's more like putting a rabid dog down."

"Sherrinford!" Lestrade gasped.

The three of them fell silent. "I know what to do," John suddenly spoke.

Like an eagle sighting a rabbit, Sherlock dived down to his next target. He spun around the lamp post & using his wings, he shoved the convertible over onto its side. The soft roof was torn away & he moved in, grabbing the woman by sinking his teeth into her shoulder & began pulling her out.

Something broadsided him from behind, throwing him halfway down the street. He lost his grip on his would-be victim. Through the haze of fire in his eyes, he could make out Phoenix like wings. Sherrinford quickly bit the woman to turn her before backing away & launching himself at his brother.

They flipped over each other down the length of the entire block. Sherlock pulled away & twisted upwards before diving out of sight behind another building. Another fight ensued as two more vampires tried to take him down. By now, they were trying to destroy him.

Sherrinford checked on the woman. "You'll be alright. I've poisoned you. It will protect you." She was screaming in pain from his venom but there was nothing more he could do. He took off after Sherlock. He stopped suddenly, hearing glass shatter. "Oh ... no." He slowly glided down. Vampric ash was floating on the breeze but was it Sherlock or someone else? An icy streak headed upwards caught his eye. "Sherlock!" He hurried after. Sherlock had just destroyed one of their own without reason. Literally, without reason.

Sherlock landed on the roof of a large mall & instinctively licked off the ash from the point used to destroy someone before glancing around. Violet clouded his vision. Irene had joined the fight & she had dropped in front of him with barely an inch between. Sherlock flipped backwards in surprise but continued to roll back farther than he planned. Irene had twisted her wings up & down, causing a vibration in the air which caught under his own wings, pushing him back.

"My dear, sweet Sherlock, who did this to you?" Irene jumped forward, knocking him off the building. As he fell several stories down, he was able to regain control of his own wings & flew upwards in an attempt to get away from her. Irene & two others charged after.

A horrendous clash of wings & fangs ensued. Irene sent another vibration through the air again, pushing Sherlock back a little. He ducked under but suddenly swerved upwards & her two helpers ended up spearing each other. The ashes from both vampires caused a cloud that hid Sherlock & confused Irene for a moment. She suddenly saw him come for her & her eyes went wide. She had no time to react, but tried to dive out of the way.

"Sherlock! NO! AHH!" Irene felt the burning sensation as a piece of his broken off ridge skewered into her. She spun around as she fell & slammed hard into the ground, his ridge pinning her & touching her heart.

With a broken wing ridge, Sherlock now had trouble flying. He saw three more come after him, one with gold wings. He glided downward to avoid them as they attempted to herd him forwards down the street. Sherlock crash landed near the cop station. It would take some time to let the ridge grow back but he could still fight on the ground.

Sherrinford landed in front of him. Sherlock knocked him sideways before Sherrinford had time to wrap his wings around himself in protection. Sherlock stepped onto the Phoenix fire membrane, spread his own wings wide & began to bring them down hard & fast. He was going to destroy his own last brother.

"There he is," Lestrade pointed out the window as Sherlock appeared in front of the station. "Here comes Sh—too close! He's too close!"

John ran for the door & as if it was without thinking, Lestrade followed. Both yelled out at the same time. "Shane! Look out!"

Sherrinford knew he was finished. Sherlock had knocked him sideways & was now standing on his wings as he brought down all remaining twenty-nine & a half points towards his chest. He grasped his pendant of Mycroft's ashes & closed his eyes. But the blow never came. He heard vicious growling & opening his eyes again, he saw John poised over him, snarling at Sherlock, fangs bared & eyes gold.

Even in his blood rage, Sherlock knew John could kill him with a single bite. He hissed loudly in John's face, nearly an enraged scream, but the Lycan held his ground. Sherlock backed away. His eyes landed on Lestrade. "Oh hell!" Lestrade suddenly remembered he had stepped outside. He tried to back up through the door but Sherlock's good wing came down, blocking his way. With his damaged wing, Sherlock shoved Lestrade halfway across the parking lot. Lestrade picked himself up & ran for the underground.

John offered a hand to help Sherrinford up. "He's way too close to the bait."

"Thanks for that, John," Sherrinford brushed himself off & shook his wings. "I thought I was done for. He's faster than usual."

"It's that damn drug," John said. "Now, ready to catch him?"

"More than ready," Sherrinford whistled softly. The Grant pack appeared around him.

"Alright, you know what to do," John told them. "His wings ONLY!" He checked his mobile. It was Lestrade. "We're coming."

"John, please hurry."

"Hold on, we're almost there!" John began running in the direction Lestrade had gone with the Grant pack following.

"John, I do believe he intends to kill me."

"Just a moment longer!" John pocketed the mobile & charged forward.

Lestrade had become trapped in the underground parking. In one corner was an enclosed area with a chain link fence blocking off some pipes. Lestrade slid the bolt back, stepped inside & closed it again as he heard Sherlock moving behind him. "Ok, old friend," Lestrade pressed himself against the wall between two pipes, as far away from the fence as possible & slowly slid down. "Just stay on your own side." Sherlock hissed at him, looking down with widened fiery eyes. He breathed in deeply, taking in Lestrade's scent. Lestrade put a hand on his face, feeling something sticky. Looking at his fingertips, he could see he was bleeding from being smashed against the concrete. "Great," Lestrade grumbled, looking up at Sherlock again. "I know it smells good to you, but you really don't want to do this." Sherlock pressed harder against the fence, then looked up as did Lestrade. It was all open & Sherlock could easily climb over. "Bloody hell," Lestrade said to himself, calling John.

Sherlock had bent the fence back over Lestrade & was now clamouring in to get at him. He suddenly threw his head back in a roar of pain. Lestrade heard growling & saw the icy membrane being torn as fangs sunk in. Sherlock was dragged back by the wolves biting into his wings.

"MERLIN! NOW!" John ordered. The wolves jumped back & Lestrade saw Excalibur being lifted up. Knowing what was coming, Lestrade put his hands over his eyes. There was a terrific screech as the royal blade came swinging down, severing one wing. With another stroke, the other wing was also removed.

Lestrade dared to look. Donovan & Sherrinford came out of a large black van they had backed up close to Merlin & Sherlock. The three vampires grabbed Sherlock & locked him in a white casket before putting the whole thing into the van. Sherrinford fell against the doors in relief. He pulled out his mobile. "We got him!"

Lestrade pushed the bent fence off & stood up. He looked at John kneeling between the two severed wings. "John. It's ok. They'll grow back in a few hours."

John had one hand over his mouth as he met Lestrade's eyes. "The worst is yet to come. We're going to bury him for a while. Let him mummify & lose all that drugged blood in him. Then we have to bring him back from that. I saw that process once. It's not a pretty sight."

"It's a better sight than a pile of ash," Lestrade pointed out.

"That might still happen," John said as he stood up. "From what I hear, the Undead Law is pretty frazzled with this."

"But Sherrinford is ok," Lestrade reminded him. "Your imprint showed both. Let's just go with that, for now." John silently nodded as he stood up, standing between the two wings. "What is to be done with these wings?" Lestrade asked.

"We'll burn off the membrane," Sherrinford pulled the two wings together & laid them on top of each other. "The ridges are almost impossible to destroy once separated from the body. When we are in control of our wings, ridges are pliable enough that we can bend them around or we can hold them straight & harden them if we want. Liquid steel is like a muscle we can control with our minds. We can also snap them off, a bit like how you snap asparagus, to make a weapon. But once separated, they stay hard unless under extreme heat, like lava. In fact, back in the old days, lava was the only way to forge broken ridges into weapons, usually swords. Now we just do it in a controlled furnace, but it is extremely hot & dangerous to do. All those ridges," Sherrinford looked at the pile of icy wing membrane & stiff ridges. "Will never be soft again & they can be weapons for anyone. Only Sherlock is immune to them. I'll take them to the castle."