Mycroft paced the hallways, finger poised over the talk key. Was it worth calling Sherlock up to fill him in? This was a dangerous game, but Sherlock could prove to be useful. He settled on a bench and hit talk, pulling the phone up to his ear.

"Hello, Mycroft. Any word? What did you and Lestrade talk about?"

"He helped me look through camera footage. We didn't find anything for sure, but we will, rest assured."

"What's going to happen with John?"

An officer exited one of the rooms and walked up the hallway in Mycroft's direction. He turned on the bench until the man had passed. "About that. I managed to find somewhere to place him, but on such short notice, it's less protected. You've filled everywhere else with homicide victim's families and unresolved murder threatees"

"It's not my fault I'm so popular around the inmates and criminals"

"You're Sherlock Holmes. The famous detective. You could live up to your name."

"I do. You've seen the papers over the years. It's not my fault criminals hold grudges. Just tell me when we're leaving. The quicker this is over, the quicker I can have my doctor back."

Mycroft pulled the phone away from his face briefly and breathed an exasperated sigh. "For now, your doctor will be placed in the M.H. Home for Special Persons."

"And when will you be getting him? I've yet to tell him. Just can't seem to break the news. I know he won't like it."

"Tonight. Late. Just tell him the police department received some untraceable notes and we, meaning Greg and I, have deemed it necessary to put John Watson under close supervision for his own protection"

"He still won't like it. I'll stay up and wait for you. I assume I'll be staying here, in 221B?"

"Yes. For now. Just pretend nothing's changed. Hopefully the threat will diffuse."

"Pretend nothing's cha- Mycroft. You're taking away my only friend. I know it's to keep him safe, but- he's all I have. I can't just pretend… He better come back without a single scratch!"

"He'll be in good hands Sherlock. The safest I know."

"You may trust them, but you're well aware that I don't trust your men. I've spent too much time cleaning up their messes."

"You think I'd leave him with any of my men? Think Sherlock. I've told you exactly who he's being protected by."

"M.H. Home? Yeah, I don't trust it."

"And why not?"

"It's your home."

"Yes."

"Why would you be able to protect John better than me?"

"Not me. I'll be much too busy finding this freak and subduing him. No. I'm leaving him in the capable hands of my wife."

"Mary? Ha! Funny Mycroft."

Mycroft stood abruptly but just as quickly composed himself and walked towards the exit. "I trust her with my child. Why wouldn't I trust her with John?"

"Your child is one thing. You helped make Caroline. So of course you'd trust Mary to be a good protector for your daughter. But that doesn't mean I trust her with John. They're not the same person, may I remind you."

"Mary has the mother's protective instinct. She loves John. She's told me several times. There's no way she'd go down without a fight. Besides, it's only for a couple days." He stepped out into the air and pulled out his cigarettes.

"Are you expecting an ambush on your house or something? That sounds fun! Can I join?"

Mycroft rolled his eyes. The sarcasm was strong with this one. "It's just hypothetical, Sherlock. I don't love the idea either but it's the only available location." He lit the end of his smoke, and took a deep breath in.

"If you're going to lock John up with Mary and Monster for an undisclosed amount of time, I want to help. Just tell me what's going on. This line must be encrypted."

Mycroft sighed. His brother was of course right. There was no reason to continue keeping the case from him. Nobody could be listening in on their conversation. This was a protected line and Sherlock would keep it under wraps until John was safe. Probably. "There's a murderer loose going by the moniker Midnight Howler."

"What's his MO?"

"They, according to the families of the victims, are never seen. They catch the victim off guard and then the victim mysteriously shows up again the next morning, drained of blood with a slit in their throat and rope burns on their wrists and ankles."

"So tied down. Why would you keep this from me?"

"We got… a note."

"What did it say?"

"Sherlock…"

"That's all?"

"No."

"How am I supposed to save John if I can't solve this case? I'm desperate here Mycroft! I need to know everything about this case!"

"We were afraid that if you knew, you'd lose your head. Just look at what you did to Moriarty." Mycroft took another puff of his cigarette then put it out.

"Oh please, Mycroft. I can handle it."

"This has you involved on a personal level. It's not like other cases."

"No shit, Mycroft. I don't get called in for normal cases. Besides, I'm already involved. Moriarty ensured that."

"Fine. Give me a minute. I'll go get it from evidence." Mycroft put his phone on mute and walked back into the building. There was no arguing with Sherlock this time. He'd give him the evidence and just hope it was enough to make him turn away from the case; allow everyone else to handle it. He nodded to Lestrade as he entered the evidence locker.

The older man swiveled in his chair to face Mycroft "Sherlock insisting on being involved?"

"As usual." He flipped through the folders until he found the one with the handwritten note from Midnight Howler. "He thinks John's safety is his problem."

"I mean… we could use his help."

"We've been over this Greg. You read the note. He can't get involved. Not until we know John is safely out of reach. And even then, I'm reluctant."

"I still believe that if he knows John is in danger, he'll be discreet."

"And if he decides to take it upon himself to find this killer? They're bound to notice."

"That's a risk we're going to have to take to protect the people."

"Fine." Mycroft growled and unmuted his phone.

Sherlock's mocking voice greeted him as he put the phone to his ear. "-and nobody is smarter than me. Don't try to outshine me, Sherlock. I'll always win as long as I have cake and my beautiful wife I sto- "

Mycroft raised an eyebrow. What was Sherlock on about? "Sherlock?"

"You have the note?"

"Yes… what was that?"

"Nothing. Just thinking out loud."

"Fine. Sherlock. I'm afraid that you'll act rashly once you hear this. So please, for the love of God. Stay out of it, for your safety as well as John's. We'll take care of it. I promise."

"Just read it!"

Mycroft breathed out deeply before starting.

"'Keep up your search.
I dare you to try.
But if Sherlock Holmes gets involved,
John Watson will die.
-Midnight Howler'"

"How can you honestly expect me to sit here while-?!" Sherlock growled on the other end, "Alright. Fine. It sounds similar to the messages Moriarty has been sending me."

"That's what we concluded. But there's no way Jim could be working with this Midnight Howler. He's locked up. It must be a copycat or…"

"Don't be so dim Mycroft. It was clearly preplanned. What would you have me do? I'll solve this case before anyone is the wiser."

"I thought I told you…" Mycroft groaned. "Stay home. That's what you can do."

"You won't get far without my help. Despite how safe your home is, the criminals I work with think differently. I understand them better than anyone on the police force. You know this. I don't want John getting hurt over their incompetence without me."

Mycroft glared at Lestrade. "Mary has been armed with a gun and I'm sure John has one or two that he keeps on his person for just such occasions. We have this handled."

"You gave Mary a gun?"

"Yes. Despite how much I trust her to keep John and Caroline safe, she's still one woman. She can be overpowered. A gun on the other hand, not so much."

"You're funny Mycroft."

Mycroft rolled his eyes in exasperation. "What are you going to do?"

"I'm thinking."

"When aren't you thinking Sherlock?"

"Never. I wish I could stop. So, let me get this straight. Your plan is to have me sit at home, while you try to solve a case you're all clearly unqualified for, and keep John at your home, with a killer on the loose, in the same building as your young daughter?"

"It's not a perfect plan, but we don't have a lot of choice. Our hands are tied."

"Mycroft, you may want to see this." Mycroft looked to Lestrade who was waving him over to some surveillance footage he was looking at.

"Sherlock, I'll call you right back." He hung up and took a seat.

"Donovan just sent me this." He hit play on the video and Mycroft watched John walking through a crowd. Behind him, almost step for step, was a man in a blue and red cap carrying a viola case. Lestrade zoomed in on the case and they're able to make out the glint of a camera lens jutting out from the neck. "Got him!"

"Good work Greg!" Mycroft clapped Lestrade on the shoulder and stood to call back Sherlock.

"Donovan found it."

Mycroft shrugged and waited for Sherlock to pick up. He answered on the second ring. "Breakthrough!"

"Yes?"

"A man with a rigged viola case followed John from the Ace Café."

"So, a musician? Who is he?"

Mycroft looked at Lestrade who mouthed, ask him to come. Mycroft rolled his eyes. "Come to the station if you like. I'll fill you in when you get here."

"God's yes!" He abruptly hung up and Mycroft pocketed his cell.

"You better know what you're doing Greg." Lestrade just smiled and turned back to his computer.

If anyone has a song that they feel fits this chapter, I'd love to hear it. I couldn't think of one.