Sherlock paced between the hotel bathroom and the door. He'd woken John about 30 minutes ago and he was now quietly watching late night telly. There'd been no response or text from his brother for nearly 45 minutes. "John. Stay here. I'll be back soon. Something's wrong."
"Why don't you just call him?" John looked up at Sherlock.
"I have. I just get a busy signal."
"Maybe he's talking to someone?"
"I know my brother. If he'd found her safe, he'd have texted me before doing anything else."
John flipped off the TV. "I'll come with."
Sherlock shook his head. "No. I'll text you the second I get there, just… stay here. Please."
"I can handle myself. Let me come."
"I'd feel better if you stayed here. Get some rest. I'll be quiet coming back." Sherlock quickly left, giving John no time to rebuttal. As he ran, he called for a cab which met him a couple blocks away. Halfway to 221B, he received a text.
Oh Sherlock, how very dull.
Sending your brother in your stead?
Hurry up, and do, bring John.
Or I just might, blow off his head? (Hehe)
-JM
Mycroft's car took up the only open curb space, so Sherlock jumped out and paid. He made his way through the front doorway which fell open much too easily. It had been broken open. But the key was gone. Must have been before Mycroft arrived. Someone else was here. The scene in the front hallway reminded him of the one from Scandal in Belgravia. Signs of a struggle: fresh claw marks, scuff marks on the stairs, and a broken rail support; all too intentionally placed to be real. Jim was here, and he was trying to send a message. Sherlock rolled his eyes. So unoriginal. "Dull." He muttered and took a step further into the flat, his foot landing upon Mycroft's umbrella. He scoffed. Even when no one would see him, Mye still brought his security cane. But why hadn't he used the hidden knife inside it? He must have been jumped. He picked up the umbrella, texted Lestrade, and headed up to his flat.
He slowly pushed open the door and called into the room. "Mycroft? Mycroft Holmes?" A noise came from the bedroom and he cautiously made his way over. "Mye?" He pushed open the door to see Mycroft on the bed, tied back to back with Mrs. Hudson. Both parties were gagged. "Never thought I'd be unfortunate enough to see you like this Mye." He smirked and glanced around the room. Nobody but the two captives so he moved to untie them.
Jim's cold voice sounded behind him. "Nuh, uh, uh." Then, in a sing song voice, "You don't have what I asked for."
Sherlock froze. "And what would that be?"
"John, Sherlock. John!" Jim stepped into the room.
"What do you need John for? You have me." Sherlock remained facing the bed but stood straight.
"That would give away the secret, now wouldn't it?"
Sherlock placed his hands behind his back. "What secret?"
"My secret Sherlock. Mine." Jim whined. Sherlock's phone buzzed in his pocket and he pulled it out.
Have you seen the ghost of John?
Long white bones and the rest all gone,
Ooh, ooh, wouldn't it be chilly with no skin on?
-MidnightHowler
He finally turned and thrust his phone at Jim. "Tell me who this is!"
Jim smiled widely and linked his hands together. "Look who just got a text. Hm. I wonder who it could be. Maybe someone who's angry you didn't do as I asked?" He stepped up to Sherlock. "I'm only trying to help Sherlock, really I am, but if you don't do anything to help me… well…" He turned on his heel and imitated the sound of a crashing plane.
"How are you doing this? Why?"
Jim turned back around. "I can't go around giving out my secrets willy-nilly. Then I wouldn't be unique anymore." He thrust out his bottom lip in a mock pout.
Sherlock snorted. "Oh, sure. Unique. Using the American way to break into my flat and kidnap my friends."
"I try." Jim stretched his arms over his head, "John goes with you everywhere. So what happened this time? Were you trying to protect him?" He tilted his head accusingly.
Sherlock suppressed an eye twitch as he lied. "Of course not. He's expendable."
Jim grinned wickedly. "Then you wouldn't mind if I just" he pulled a device out of his pocket, "pressed this detonate button here?"
Sherlock's mind began to race. There was no way he knew where they'd ended up tonight. "Where does it lead?"
"Man Sherlock. You are getting slow." Jim laughed and walked to the foot of the bed. "You and I both know where you turned in tonight."
"How do I know you're not lying?"
"Truth. Lies. In the end, it doesn't matter. Someone's still going to die."
"And what if I call for help?"
"Are you willing to test me and find out? I love games, Sherlock. But I don't think you're willing to accept losing." Mycroft started to squirm in his bonds and Jim hit him atop the head. Mycroft groaned and Mrs. Hudson sobbed into her gag.
"I don't think you'll really do it." Sherlock looked Moriarty up and down. "Why would you go to the trouble of asking me to bring John then threaten to blow him up when I don't oblige? You need him for something."
"You're the one who told me he's expendable, and wouldn't you know it, I've already found his replacement." Jim looked over at Mycroft who glared. "Oh, Mycroft. I really don't like that face." He slammed the detonator over Mycroft's head, and he went limp. "Much better. 573 may be a handful but she does make a great device. Look, not even a dent in the craftsmanship." He held it out for Sherlock to see.
Sherlock ignored the device, and stared Jim in the eyes. "He knows better than to trust you now. Nothing you do or say will sway him. What could you possibly expect to gain?"
"Your cooperation."
"You think I care about him more than I do."
"I'm sure that's not quite true. I've seen you recently."
Sherlock's cheeks burned. "I see."
"Always plan for the unexpected." Jim pulled the detonator back and turned to the window, fingering the button with his thumb. "Should I do it Sherlock? I'd really like to."
"Go ahead." Mrs. Hudson reacted to Sherlock's heartless tone with a disdainful squeal.
"Good. I'm grateful for your permission. I was going to do it anyway, but now John's death can be on your head. Now, where was I? Oh yes. Pressing the big red button." Lestrade burst into the room and undercover of Jim's momentary distraction, Sherlock knocked the detonator from his hand. He pressed Jim's face into the wall, arms behind his back. "You're not going to kill me Sherlock. You're too good for that."
"No James. Not kill." Lestrade took him from Sherlock. "Greg here is going to take you away."
"I'll see you again Sherlock. Guaranteed. Also," Jim looked to where the detonator landed, "whoopsy. Someone forgot, I'm the bad guy." He giggled manically as Lestrade pushed him from the room.
Sherlock looked regretfully to Mrs. Hudson then down to the device whose button had already been pressed. He closed his eyes tight. Of course he wouldn't play by the rules. How could I have been so stupid? He raced down the stairs. "Lestrade, untie them when you're done. And for the love of God… make sure he can't get away!" He ran into the street, right in front of an oncoming cab.
"Are you mad?" Lestrade yelled after him.
"Maybe." Sherlock called back and climbed in.
Mary awoke to a loud beep. She squeezed her eyes closed, then opened them, blinking away sleep. Another, quieter beep assured her that she'd definitely heard it. She rose from bed and pulled on her robe to investigate. Couldn't be a smoke detector battery. Much too quiet. She waited for another beep and followed the noise to the source. Caroline sleepily toddled up behind Mary as she glanced inside the vent.
"Mommy. What's that noise?"
"I'm not sure baby. Can you go grab Mommy a Philips screwdriver from downstairs?"
"Sure." Caroline nodded. While she waited, Mary retrieved a flashlight from the bedroom. Caroline returned and handed her the screwdriver. She held the flashlight while Mary undid the screws. "Do you want me to call Daddy? He left somewhere right?"
Mary put the screwdriver on the floor and removed the vent cover. "He did. But let's not bother him." She took the flashlight from her daughter. "Let's find out what's making the noise first." Another beep sounded, and Mary shone the light into the vent. She couldn't see anything, so she turned to Caroline. "Think you can get in there?"
"But it's dirty." Caroline whined and Mary laughed.
"I know. But how about this. Once we stop the beeping, I'll let you take a bath in my tub." Caroline nodded enthusiastically and took the flashlight from Mary before crawling into the vent. Mary waited a moment before calling after her. "See it?"
"Yeah. It's uh…" Caroline paused to look over the device before describing it to her mother. "It's like a spy movie briefcase. Metal. But it doesn't have any latches. It's also got a timer on it."
"A timer? Read it to me."
"It's counting down from 2000."
"Shit…I've got to call John." Mary stood. "Caroline, get out of there now. You did very well." Caroline crawled out of the air vent, brushing as much dust off her pjs as she could. "Go ahead and change. Quickly. Then meet me outside."
Song: Centuries - Fall Out Boy