(15) Reunion

Sherrinford followed the roads to allow time for the cruiser to arrive at the nearly the same time he would. Arlin would do nothing to Sherlock, or Irene for that matter, until he had both Holmes men in his clutches, so it was safe to wait for the car to catch up. As they neared Dartmoor, the cruiser turned away & parked nearly three blocks over to hide. Sherrinford dived towards the house situated behind the military base & landed in the front yard.

He would go no further. John & Lestrade needed time to catch up, so Sherrinford waited to be noticed. He watched the door like a hawk. It had been many centuries since he had seen Arlin, his favourite wolf from bygone days. His mobile vibrated twice & then twice again. A signal from John that he & Lestrade were close. Sherrinford moved towards the door. He kept his wings opened, expecting a vampric ridge to be thrown at him at any moment. The door opened & the two old long-lost friends laid eyes on each other at last.

"Arlin," Sherrinford began in a hoarse whisper. "It's been a long time."

"Yes, it has."

"You survived. I'm glad you did."

"You won't be, in a few minutes."

Sherrinford sighed heavily. "I can't even imagine how much you must hate me now, but I have missed you. All of you. We all have."

"The feeling is not exactly mutual."

"I know & I don't blame you."

"If you wish to see Sherlock one last time, I suggest you come inside."

"Alright," Sherrinford closed the wings. Arlin wouldn't jump on either vampire to bite them, knowing he would be bitten right back. He had no intention of dying, only destroying those who had once destroyed him. Sherrinford waited on the porch just a little longer. His mobile still lying in his pocket vibrated twice in a row for the third time. John & Lestrade probably had eyes on him by now. Sherrinford followed Arlin inside & the door closed.

Kyle & two women appeared, trapping Sherrinford among the four of them & the next instant, he also wore a net of mithril. "We've checked the entire property," said one of the women. "No one else is out there."

"Is this your new family?" Sherrinford asked as Arlin cuffed him as well.

"My second wife & a daughter," Arlin answered. "But not a twin this round. She is a bit younger than Kyle. I won't let you Holmes men hurt them."

"I know you won't believe it," said Sherrinford as Arlin pushed him forward. "But that has not been our intention for many an age."

"You're right," Arlin pushed a little harder, shoving Sherrinford into the same room Sherlock was tied up in. "I don't believe it."

Sherrinford saw the blackened lance still lying on the floor. Sherlock tried to keep his eyes on his brother. "It is not Mycroft's. Just paint. I don't know whose it is."

With another shove, Sherrinford fell to his knees in front of Sherlock. He looked up at him & spoke in Greek. "Any ideas, Xanthá?"

Sherlock shook his head as best possible. "We do kind of deserve this, Theós."

"Do we ever!" Sherrinford noticed the vampric lance being lifted.

"Time's up," Arlin raised it & was in the process of striking Sherrinford down when blood began pouring from his arm that was holding the ridge. "OUCH!" Arlin dropped the weapon before he could plunge it through Sherrinford & clutched the wound. "What the hell?"

"You forgot that Mycroft & Sherrinford are the top spies in the Secret Service," Lestrade came into view, both hands gripping his gun. Sherlock just smiled. "I love silencers. Nifty gadgets. Thanks for these, Shane. I managed to shoot the other three & no one he—."

"NOOOOO!" Arlin screamed.

"Calm down!" Lestrade ordered. "That did not come out right. They're fine. I didn't kill them. John's dealing with them. He's a doctor. They'll be ok."

Arlin kicked Sherrinford over onto his side. "You were supposed to come alone."

"I did," Sherrinford said. "They showed up, later. Not our problem you took a little too long."

Arlin was about to speak but he felt something press against the back of his neck. "Hello, David," John said with a low growl. "Where's Irene?"

Arlin slowly turned around. "John. We're kinsmen. We come from the same line. Yet you take their side, after what they did to us?"

"What about what we did to them?" John asked. "It goes both ways. Isn't that how a blood war works? Charmed or not, one of us tried to kill their sister, first. Now, we know it is all Micah's fault. I ended this a long time ago. I will not let you destroy what I have rebuilt! Now, where is Irene?"

"You let this human wander into our midst & shoot our pack!"

"They're fine!" John insisted. "None of us want any more blood shed. The war is over!"

"Arlin," Sherrinford managed to sit up by Sherlock's feet. "Come back to us. Please. We've been wondering about other Watson Weres for a while. John is rebuilding the pack. Don't throw it all away."

"John's pups are safe from me," Arlin said.

"They are safe from the Holmes as well," John put in. He grabbed Arlin's shoulder to turn him forward & pulled him closer, keeping the gun pressed to the back of Arlin's head as if to make him march. "Now, come here. Bring me to Irene. Greg, get those mithril nets off them. We need their wings!"

"On it," Lestrade holstered his gun & made for Sherrinford.

Arlin glared gold. He spun around & punched John so hard, he was thrown right through the wall. Pureblood Lycan strength. With a sickening crunch, John landed in a heap on the kitchen floor. His gun went off, hitting the kettle. Hot liquid began pouring out.

"Greg, look out!" Sherrinford called out as Arlin launched himself for Lestrade.

The two of them fell backwards into the hall out of sight. They heard vicious growling & Lestrade scream. "Arlin, no!" Sherlock yelled. "We don't have his permission!" Another gun went off & Arlin yelped.

Lestrade hobbled in a moment later. His face on the left side was lacerated. Two long cuts from over his eye down to his cheek where they merged into one & then continued down to his chin, like a red squashed sort of Y-shape etched in his flesh. He dropped to his knees beside Sherrinford. "I don't think he bit me, but I'm not entirely sure."

"Those will leave some serious scars," Sherrinford remarked.

"Is he dead?" Sherlock asked.

"No," Lestrade said. "Enough Watsons have died in this blood war. I only wounded him."

"Then you better keep an eye out," Sherrinford warned.

"Uhh, where's John?" Sherlock was looking ahead through the hole in the wall. The kitchen floor was empty.

"I'll find him," Lestrade pushed himself up. When he was standing, he reached over to Sherlock. "First things first." He yanked out the drip. "Who knows what he's got you on?" He leaned on the wall, pressing one hand to his wounds.

"You need stitches," Sherlock said.

"I think I'll need a skin graft for this," Lestrade reached for the mithril net with his free hand. "Keep watch over my shoulder." Sherlock nodded as Lestrade began unwrapping the net. "If we can get even one pair of wings loose, we'll be fine. You can cut this metal if your wings are already out, right?"

"Very easily," Sherlock said. "It's a rather soft metal, but also an annoying one."

Lestrade dropped the net to the floor. "You should be able to cut the rest. I'll go after John. Any idea where Irene is?"

"Below us, in the werewolf den," Sherlock replied. "But be careful. He gassed her with Lycan spray. Don't breathe it in."

"Alright," Lestrade nodded. "I'm glad she's still around." Sherlock watched him leave before pushing his wings out to either side, holding them flat against the wall until Sherrinford could move in closer. Sherlock began cutting through the net holding in his brother's wings.

John shook himself as he regained consciousness. His whole body ached from being put through a wall. He heard Arlin growl. A moment later, Lestrade & Sherlock both yelled. John forced himself to stand & moved to the hall. Lestrade was just heading back to the trapped vampires so John moved in on Arlin while he was still incapacitated. He trained his gun on him.

"I won't kill you," John said. "But I have no problems shooting you, again. Haven't we Watsons suffered enough?" He stumbled forward & put a hand on Arlin's shoulder. "Arlin. Help me end this. I've gotten rid of Micah. I've cleared our name. We just need to free Irene & let everyone go home. But you will have to answer to a few things. Shane, Greg & I have a lot of interesting recorded conversations you've been having. Oh, yeah. Forgot to tell you. We bugged Sherlock's belt." John was careful to say 'we' instead, even though it was all Sherrinford's doing. But it was probably better to not put the full blame on the Holmes right now. It would only make Arlin even more crazy.

"I was loyal to them once, like you are now," Arlin said.

"Come with me to their castle next full moon," John began. "I'm the only Watson there. The Grant pack is fun to hang out with, but I need my pack back."

Arlin pushed himself up to his hands & knees. "You really expect me to go back? After what they did? Particularly Sherlock? He cut my first child in half with those wings!"

"The one who was charmed by Micah & who had Excalibur halfway down to Enola's heart?" John replied. "It was instinctive reaction to protect her. Could have happened to anybody. It's not an excuse, but it is what it is. They hate what happened, especially now that we know the truth."

Arlin pushed himself back onto his knees, his eyes level with John's hip. He saw the Titanic model on the sword. "Mycroft's ridge," He muttered. "I heard he was on that ship."

"Did you know he lost both daughters that he had adopted?" John said. "They got separated from him & went down with Titanic. Just a few days shy of their seventh birthday. Still human."

"No," Arlin stood up, leaning on the wall. "I didn't."

"Where did Greg shoot you?" John asked. Arlin glared at him, looking rather embarrassed. He slowly turned around. "Oh." John cross-rolled his eyes shut. Arlin's arse had a bright red spot on his right side.

"Next full moon, I'm going to eat him," Arlin groused.

"Can I help?" John snorted back a laugh.

"Shut it," Arlin ordered, limping down the hall. John followed, keeping his gun pointed at Arlin's left butt cheek.

"Just let Irene out & I won't shoot," John tried hard to not giggle but failed.

"I'll let her out," Arlin gave up. Irene was his last chance. He hoped she was more sympathetic to his cause, now.

They eventually stood before the vault door. Arlin entered the password & went downstairs half way. John stayed close, gun at the ready. "Irene?" John called. "Are you in there?"

"I'm still here," said Irene. "John, is that you?"

"Yeah & Greg's upstairs," John said. "He's working to get that mithril off the boys. We're going to get you out, now. I've got Arlin at gun point." He heard a soft low hiss & thought it might have been Irene, but Arlin had put his hand on a pad & the bars slipped upwards out of sight, so perhaps it was that, instead. "Irene?" John called, wondering why she had stopped answering.

Both wolves were knocked off their feet & went flying. Blinking hard, John saw shimmering nearly black violet as he heard a loud shriek. Looking around, he found himself alone in the werewolf den. Irene & Arlin were both gone.

"WHOA!" Lestrade dived out of the way as an angry purple ball came hurtling up the stairs. It smashed through the wall & outside. "John?" He called as he got up.

"I'm down here. Hang on," John was still wondering exactly what just happened as he stood & headed up the stairs. "What happened to you?"

Lestrade hesitated before answering. "I was attacked by Arlin. I don't know if he bit me or not."

"Either way, that needs to be taken care of, right now," John said. "Where's Shane & Sherlock?"

"I got the mithril net off Sherlock," Lestrade said. "He should be able to free Shane with his wings."

"Let's get back to them & I'll take a look at that cut over there."

"Wait, where's Arlin?"

John looked down the stairwell. "I don't know. One second, he was right in front of my gun & the next, I'm sitting on my arse. I think Irene snatched him up while trying to get out."

"I wonder how long he's had her here," Lestrade said as they made their way through the hall. "You don't think he ... did something ..."

"Shoot her with that drug?"

"I mean, something more perverted," Lestrade said. "She's really mad."

"I doubt it," John said. "I hope not."

They entered the busted room where Sherrinford & Sherlock were. Both were now free & Sherrinford was just pulling off the slashed cuffs from his wrist. He cast them aside. "Where's Arlin?" He asked. A loud scream from somewhere outside was the answer.

Sherlock looked around to the window. "That's Irene."

"She has Arlin," John said.

"Alright, you two go after her," Sherrinford began. "I'll take care of Greg."

"I need to take a look at that wound," said John.

"How?" Sherrinford rhetorically asked. "You've used up your med kit for the Watsons you shot & besides, you can't tell if he was bitten or not. I can taste him & see if there is Lycan venom & if not, I can dry out the wound."

"Taste me?" Lestrade blinked.

"If there is Lycan venom, then what?" Sherlock asked.

"I'll ... cross that bridge if I get to it," Sherrinford replied. "Go deal with Irene." When John & Sherlock left, Sherrinford pulled Lestrade to the couch. "Lie down."

Lestrade stayed standing. "What do you mean, taste me?"

"I'm going to lick that wound," Sherrinford said as if this was the most normal thing in the world. "If it has venom in it, I'll know."

"But that will destroy you!"

"Only if I swallow it," Sherrinford held up his hands for a moment. "If there's no venom, I can dry out the wound so it won't get infected, but no matter what, that thing will scar. I'm sorry."

Lestrade gingerly laid himself down. "Don't girls like battle scars?"

"I couldn't tell you much about girls. Three thousand years & I've barely bothered with them."

"You serious?" Lestrade asked, slightly unbelieving. "Are you ... a virgin?!"

"No, no nothing like that," Sherrinford laughed. "I'll try seducing a girl if she's on her cycle, but only for that sweet drink. For anything else, I prefer men." Ignoring Lestrade's shocked expression, he knelt on the floor beside him. "Don't move. I just need a few drops to know." He quickly pressed his lips to the largest part of the wound. He pulled back a little, rolling the blood in his mouth. "You taste rather good."

"Uh, thanks?"

Sherrinford smirked at him. "It's clear. I can dry it out." He moved in again.

Lestrade sat up. "What are you doing?"

"Drying it out," Sherrinford repeated. "You'll get infected, otherwise. Lie down. You'll be fine."

Lestrade slowly lay down again. It was a rather interesting sensation for Lestrade as he stayed still as stone. Sherrinford had moved in on him like a lover & was now gently licking at his face, starting at the bottom of the wound & slowly working his way up. Lestrade could feel a soft suction as the vampire's lips held the sliced edges of flesh together while pulling in a little blood. As he moved upwards, Lestrade could feel that the wound wasn't bleeding as much.

Sherrinford paused, pressing the fingertip of his middle finger along the sleek bloodied eyebrow, gently stroking it. "Close yours eyes," He ordered in a whisper. "You're lucky he went over it & not through it." Lestrade just looked at him. "Close your eyes," Sherrinford ordered again. Lestrade finally obeyed & Sherrinford began to work over the fork of the wound to speed up the sealing on both sides.

Sherrinford only slightly pulled away when he finished. "That's going to be very tender for a while. Don't knock it."

Lestrade gently touched the wound with his finger tips. "It's not bleeding so much, anymore."

"Vampires can speed up blood clotting," Sherrinford said, moving away to sit sideways on his hip on the floor. "But we rarely do that except for friends. We prefer stuff ripped open, if you know what I mean." He laughed.

Lestrade rolled his eyes as he stood up. "Thanks, Shane." He offered a hand to pull him up.

Sherrinford got up & pushed his tail back. "You do taste really good. Kind of sweet. Extra sugar in your tea, perhaps?"

"Er, honey, in fact."

"Interesting," Sherrinford lightly ran a finger over Lestrade's wound, picking up some stray blood drops. He licked them off. "Maybe we'll make a werewolf out of you, yet."

"Shane? Um," Lestrade indicated his wound with one hand. "Uh, thanks. I ... thanks." Face bright red, he turned to the archway. "Thank you, very much."

"I understand Mycroft's attraction to you," Sherrinford said.

"WHAT? I was never his partner! I don't do guys!"

"I know that," Sherrinford was laughing at the poor cop. "Too bad. You're definitely my type. His too but then again, Mycroft was a queen & tried to hump anything that moved: man, woman, vampire or wolf. I just like my men."

"Too much information, Sherrinford!"

"Sorry," Sherrinford was anything but. "I just haven't had sex in three months & your blood is very arousing."

"UGH!" Lestrade buried the better side of his face in both hands before heading for the door. "This is not my division!" He left Sherrinford behind to die of laughter. Outside, he found Anderson inside his cruiser nearby. He & Donovan had the other three Watson Weres trapped in the cage. None of the wolves looked impressed at being caught.

"What's go—what happened to you?" Anderson couldn't help but stare at the huge gash.

"I'm ok," Lestrade held up a hand. "It's just a scratch."

"That looks deeper than a scratch, Greg," Anderson said.

"It might—ok, it will scar," Lestrade gave up. "Did you see Irene? She has violet wings."

"She went around the back." Donovan said. "She has one of these," She jerked a thumb behind her to point at the Watson Weres in the back. "with her." Kyle growled at her. "Shut up! Just wait until Detective Holmes sorts this case out."

"That's what we're afraid of," Kyle glowered.

Lestrade leaned on the window frame. "This case is seven hundred years old & those are Watson Weres."

"WATSONS?" Donovan & Anderson gasped at the same time.

"John & I already have most of it solved," Lestrade said. "We'll explain, later. Right now, Irene's a bit of a problem. Stay in the car." He unsheathed his sword.

"Hey, easy!" Anderson exclaimed. "If that's Irene Adler, isn't she sort of Sherlock's girl?"

"I won't destroy her unless she attacks," Lestrade said as he turned away & headed for the property behind the house.

Irene waited until she saw the feet of Arlin on the lower steps. She surged forward, vibrating the air to knock down both werewolves. In such a small space such as the stairwell, it rocked them like a hurricane. Still dazed, Arlin had no time to react as Irene shoved him forward in a desperate bid for freedom. They went through the wall.

Arlin twisted around & punched her in the stomach as she began to climb into the sky. She dropped him & crashed into the trees. Arlin stood up, leaning on his better leg. "You foolish, stupid girl!" He snarled as he entered the trees where one of her wings was caught in some branches. "You're not even a year old as a vampire. I'm just over eight hundred years & a pureblood Lycan. I am way stronger than you. You're lucky I don't want to kill you or I'd have bitten you, already."

"You're lucky you told me you're a Watson or I would have done the same!" Irene hissed at him, baring fangs. "But come any closer & I'll stop caring!"

"You ruined everything!" Arlin advanced on her, anyway. "I only have a couple centuries left. The last one will show my age. I wanted those men destroyed before I die & now I don't think I'll get another chance."

"That's not my problem!" Irene tugged at her wings but one was firmly implanted into the trees. She twisted around to keep her bared fangs in Arlin's direction. "How dare you hold me captive without my consent & what did you gas me with? I was choking for ages! So much for doing no harm to women."

"It was just cooking oil & some mustard power," Arlin shrugged. "I wanted Sherlock to think you were dying. He wouldn't give me Sherrinford so I told him it was Lycan venom. But no, it wouldn't harm you."

Irene hissed again as she attempted to climb into the tree so she could physically get her wing out of it. But to get into the tree, she would have to bend that wing at an impossible angle, several times over. She let herself fall out & landed on her toes on the ground. "I'm really stuck, this time."

"Let me he—"

"Fuck off!" Irene literally snapped her jaws as he was just beyond her reach.

"Wow, ok!" Arlin took a few steps back. "Swearing is not ladylike."

"Keep your out-dated misogynistic views to yourself!" Irene scratched her brow, deliberately using her middle finger.

"I know things are different," Arlin held up his hands. "I've lived through several ages, after all."

"Just wait until I figure out how to untangle myself," Irene threatened. "Just you wait!"

"He doesn't have to!" John brought his gun down, holding close to Arlin's temple. "Sherlock, can you get her out?"

"What the hell did you do to yourself, Irene?" Sherlock scoffed as he surveyed the damage.

"I fell in," Irene muttered. Sherlock reached for two crossed points to untwist them. "Stay away!"

"Alright," Sherlock held up his hands in surrender. "Why? You need help."

Irene closed her eyes, as if tired. "Fine. Hurry up."

Sherlock pushed one point up & over & part of her stuck wing stretched out. It also released half the branches under it. "Uh-oh! OOF!"

THWACK!

The branches slammed into Sherlock, sending him backwards several feet. He rolled over to lie on his stomach. He shook himself, curls bouncing every which way, trying to recover from the blow. As he opened his eyes, he caught sight of a tiny gold glint just ahead of him. It was his pendant of Mycroft's ashes. Picking that up, Sherlock went back to Irene to try again. "I better watch what I untangle." It took a lot of tugging & shoving, but he finally managed to get it out without having his arse handed back to him by a tree, again.

"Thank you," Irene folded her wings behind her.

"You're alright, now," Sherlock said. "You're ok."

"But you aren't."

"I'm fine," Sherlock insisted. "John & Lestrade saved us. Shane & I are both fine."

"No, you're not," said Irene. "Arlin will try again. He wants you both destroyed before he dies. He won't give up."

"He'll have to," said Sherlock. "We have his pack arrested & in the cruiser & John will take Arlin in."

"Um ... Sherlock?" John said from the ground. He looked up at Sherlock & Irene, sporting a black eye.

"Quickly, Irene!" Sherlock spread his wings. "In the air!"

Arlin had once more used all his strength to overpower John. He ran around the corner of the house & stopped so fast, he fell back. Lestrade was standing there, brandishing a sword & Arlin had narrowly missed stabbing himself upon it.

"Sorry," Lestrade continued to hold the sword point towards the downed werewolf. "I'd rather not kill you for John's sake. Get up. Nice & slow."

Arlin did so. "I am sorry that a human got mixed in with this." His eyes turned gold. Lestrade put both hands on the sword. A shadow swooped over them.

"Irene! No! Come back!" Sherlock ordered.

Irene had dived into Arlin just as he was about to attack Lestrade, again. They rolled over & suddenly Arlin screamed. "Gotcha!" Irene snarled. Her wings had curled forward, extending the longest forward point on each one, coming down the outer ridge. She now had Arlin pinned by his wrists to the wall of his own house. Irene shook herself back & forth a few times until the two points snapped off. She dragged herself away & lay on the ground to heal.

Sherlock landed between her & Arlin a moment later. He raised his brow in surprise at the crucified werewolf, partly sitting on the ground with his wrists nailed on either side. He turned to Irene. "You're a little scary, sometimes, Woman. Brilliant, but scary!"

Irene just shrugged as she stood up, putting her wings away at last. She moved over to Arlin. "You say I'm weak because I'm newly formed," She began. "Clearly, strength isn't everything, is it, Mr. Watson?" They glared at each other. "Element of surprise, speed & agility & a desperation to protect someone. All that helps."

"We need to get you unpinned," Sherlock said. "John? We need a doctor over here."

John showed up a moment later. He looked at Arlin, saw vampric points implanted into his wrists, saw Lestrade still holding the sword out & glanced at Sherlock & Irene. "Not even going to ask!"

"I had this planned so perfectly," Arlin said as John set to work. "I didn't think you would still take their side if you knew what had happened."

"What had happened was several centuries before I was born," said John. "It's honestly not my problem. I'm not saying that to hurt you. I mean it has nothing to do with me. I'm just a wounded doctor from Afghanistan. That was my war."

"We are distantly related."

"I know," John gently worked on removing Irene's spike. "Sorry." They both winced as he pulled it out. "But blood is not everything. It's not enough for me." He tossed the spike aside. "I've already told your wife & children, so now I'm telling you. I'm taking over the pack. You'll be the Omega."

"You can't do that!"

"I already have," John said. "They'll join me at the castle for full moons. I want you with us but you will bow to me! Your way didn't work. Mine did. That right there settles it."

"How do you expect me to go back?"

"You can start by talking to Shane. He misses you," John said, starting on the other wrist. "Your wife & children are much younger & were never part of the blood war. They are only scared of the Holmes because of what you told them. So you are going to prove that you were wrong by talking to Shane & then you tell your family to answer to me."

"She's my wife, not yours."

"I know that," John said. "I have no intention of taking over THAT much. Gees! I'm a widower & not ready for any other relationship, right now. Besides, I have four kids to deal with."

"Four?"

"My two pups & those two idiots," John laughed, indicating Sherrinford & Sherlock standing nearby.

"They are idiots, aren't they?"

"Finally, we can agree on something!" John stood up. "How's your shot wound?"

"It's closed over by now," Arlin said. "Bullet was pushed out with the healing. It's just really sore."

"Good, that means I don't have to spank you," John muttered. "You need a darn good spanking."

"John!" Arlin whined.

"Well, I can't do it to Sherlock," John said. "He'll get off on it & the blogs will go wild. So, you're the next best thing."

"I heard about that," Arlin said. "So, are you two a couple or not?"

John glared gold. "Talk to Shane, Arlin. That's an order!"

"If I don't?"

"I'll kill you," John stated simply & Arlin believed it. "I'm a soldier & I have bad days & this was a really bad one that could have gone a whole lot worse. Also by the Undead Law, you can be executed for what you tried. I'm the only one holding that back, right now. So don't test me." He moved aside as Sherrinford came closer.

Kneeling down in front of Arlin, Sherrinford slowly raised a hand as if wanting to pet the werewolf. Part way through, he changed his mind & let his hand drop back into his lap. "I don't expect us to be friends like before. But can we call a truce?"

"Do I have a choice?"

Sherrinford turned on his mobile & faced it towards Arlin so he could read the message, an execution form from the Undead Law that had yet to be signed. "It's either that or execution. John has full power over this case, being a Watson. Not just any Watson but the one who had already ended all this over a year ago. He restored the name & the Undead Law is waiting on his word. But this case is seven hundred years old & we have all the evidence. We can't link you to the unexplained recent destruction of some vampires, but for trying to have my brother & I destroyed, we have enough to have you put down. I really do not want that, even if you don't believe it."

"You still at that castle up in the Cheviots?" Arlin asked. "The place where most of my first family died? Where Sherlock killed my firstborn? Somehow, you want me to go back there?"

"It's a bitter price to pay," Sherrinford said. "But, if you do come back, we can grieve together instead of being alone." He raised his hand again, slowly reaching out. Arlin grumbled under breath & Sherrinford paused before moving a little closer. He gently placed his hand on Arlin's shoulder. Arlin continued to softly growl but allowed Sherrinford to stroke his arm downward. "She really did a number on you," Sherrinford held Arlin's hand up, looking at the bandage wrapped around the wrist.

"She's quite fierce," Arlin said.

"You kidnapped her for a week. What did you expect?" Sherrinford nodded to Lestrade who tossed the handcuffs over. "I'll be really careful," He said, easing one cuff on over the bandage before pulling in the other hand. "Greg has to take your whole family in for a bit. Sort a few things out. You'll be alright so long as you let John handle everything. Ok?" He petted Arlin's head for a moment before helping the werewolf to stand. Arlin ended up crying into his arms & Sherrinford wrapped his wings around to hide him for a bit until he calmed down. "I have something for you," Sherrinford spoke after several minutes had past. He pulled out a tin of honeycomb & offered a piece. "I know you've heard us both say it a few times & saying sorry doesn't even cut it, neither does honeycomb, but we have to start somewhere. Right?" Arlin didn't say anything but accepted the honeycomb. "I really do hate Micah, though. He started this. All of this. Three thousand years ago. He turned Adrian into a vampire. Then came back into our lives to use our own wolves against us. It's truly all Micah's fault." He stroked Arlin's spine before pulling away. "Come on. I'll help you into Greg's cruiser. Sally should be here with it any minute."

Sherlock & Irene were digging through the house, looking for the gun. They had already put the vampric ridge into the boot of Anderson's cruiser. Sherlock had chipped away some paint to find a gleaming cornsilk yellow sheen. It had come from Micah de Lacie.

"That's the one who destroyed Mycroft," Irene said.

"He's also the one who caused the Holmes-Watson blood war," Sherlock said. "I highly doubt Arlin told you that little detail."

"No, he didn't."

Sherlock completed the story for her while they looked around. Irene finally found a rifle mounted over the doorway of the master bedroom. Sherlock found another bullet in the drawer. "This would have been the one to shoot Shane & make him go crazy if Arlin couldn't get him to come here."

"Shane would have done the same as you did," Irene took the bullet.

"It was Arlin's original plan to make the Undead Law execute us," Sherlock said. "When that didn't work, he resorted to other means. He had back up plans."

"I'm glad none of them worked," said Irene.

Sherlock held the rifle up to the window & looked through the scope. "Why did you tell me to stay away when you were stuck in the trees?"

Irene sighed. "It was a knee jerk reaction. Last time we crossed paths, you were trying to destroy me."

"I thought I did," Sherlock lowered the rifle. "Now Kate's all mad at me. I suppose I'll have to sort her out, later." He stood in the door for a moment, back towards her. "I'm glad I missed. I was not in my right mind at the time."

"I know," said Irene. "How'd they get you to stop?"

"Shane buried me in my own grave for an entire week!" Sherlock complained. "I dried out. Lost the contaminated blood. Then he fed me clean blood in Molly's mortuary."

"That's what Arlin told me," Irene said.

"I thought being stuck with Titanic for almost two days was bad," Sherlock went on. "Ohhh! Do not ever get buried, Irene. It is not a pleasant experience!"

"Neither is getting whacked by half the tree," Irene teased.

"Yeah, I'm still smarting from that one," Sherlock grumbled, making her laugh.

"Ohh that was fun to watch!"

"Shut up, Woman," Sherlock marched through the hall, a gasping Irene following close behind.

They placed the rifle & bullet next to Micah's ridge. The two cruisers pulled away, leaving the three vampires behind. They would fly out. John sat in the seat with Arlin, keeping an eye on his crucifix wounds. Every single Watson Were bore some sort of injury or other, but Arlin's was the worst.

"Well now," Sherrinford watched Lestrade's cruiser with Arlin in the back seat until it disappeared. "Four more Watson Weres."

"You think he'll come back to us?" Sherlock asked about the oldest one.

"I don't know," Sherrinford sighed. "Most of the killing happened at the old castle & then there's you."

"I know," Sherlock looked at the ground. "I know what I did."

"But if you didn't, Enola would have been destroyed, instead," Sherrinford pointed out.

"Then Micah would have killed Randall, anyway, even though he didn't have to," Sherlock said. "John's heart wound healed almost instantly, but Micah would have only cared to get at the blood & cure himself. Randall would not have stood a chance."

"I hope Arlin will see it that way, some day," Sherrinford said.

"Not so long as I am there," Sherlock said. "If we are ever to get Arlin back to the castle for the full moons, I can't help guard. Not for the first few times, at least. He won't accept me so easily. Perhaps Irene could take my place?"

Irene smiled at Sherlock for a moment. "Oh, you're serious."

"Just for a few times," Sherlock tried to look as cute & pathetic as possible.

"I hate that guy. He locked me up for a week!"

"I know what that's like," Sherlock said. "I was locked up for a whole week, as well."

"Yes, but you kind of needed it," Sherrinford said.

"He won't lock you up at the castle," Sherlock tried, ignoring Sherrinford's comment.

"I'll think about it. Don't beg, with the eyes & the pout," Irene scolded. "I said I'll think about it. That's all you're going to get. For now, I have to go calm Kate down, no thanks to you." She took off into the air without another word. Sherrinford started laughing.

"What? WHAT?" Sherlock snarled.

"You really let a woman like that go?" Sherrinford asked. "How can you be that bloody stupid?" Sherlock rolled his eyes & flew away without answering.