Sherlock locates the ladder to the roof, but the bottom half is locked by a protective grate to prevent unauthorized people from climbing it. He turns to Sherrinford, "Any ideas?"
Sherrinford had already pulled out a lockpicking kit and gets busy on the lock. "Yep. And got it." He drops the padlock to the ground and swings aside the grate. "Up we go." Once up, Sherlock looks around. There's no building access. "Looks like you chose the wrong building," Sherrinford laughs.
"Shut up Sherrinford," Sherlock snaps.
Sherrinford limps over to an air vent and glances inside. "Do you even have a plan for when we get inside?"
Sherlock stops. In his haste to save his brother, he hadn't stopped to think about the fact that Sherrinford knew what was going on with the airport. "You're the one with insider knowledge. Why haven't you said anything?"
"Got sort of busy saving your life."
"After you tried to take it." Sherlock shot back.
"I was just following orders." Sherrinford sighs heavily. "We sent a brigade of men to rig the building with a bomb tied to a wireless detonator, much like the one used in the Homes' mansion, but bigger. There's another placed inside the plane carrying John. All the agent with the detonator needs is your decision."
Sherlock sits and reloads the gun with the bullets he took earlier as he listens. "I haven't given an answer."
"If we don't get an answer from you, we default to the airport. We stationed people inside and got the whole place locked down."
"How long do we have?"
"Maybe 45 minutes."
"Then I suppose we better get going. The vent system should lead through most of the airport. We'll go through there, get to Mye, then deal with the bomb." Sherlock stands and tries to pull off the vent cover but fails. "Hand me your knife." He slips the blade between the vent and pops it open, then stuffs the blade into his belt. "You first. I don't know if I fully trust you yet. You did try to kill me after all."
Sherrinford looks slightly hurt, but crawls into the vent. Sherlock follows just behind, closing the gate behind him. "We will save our brother and stop the bombs from detonating. Follow my lead, listen for any human activity and for god's sake… be quiet!"
"You're telling ME what to do now? Don't make me laugh."
Sherrinford glares back. "I've climbed through more air ducts than I can count, broken into hundreds of buildings multiple times, and am fully used to sneaking around unseen. I think I know what I'm doing."
"Take a left up here." Sherrinford ignores Sherlock's instruction and continues straight. "I said left!" Sherlock yells in a whisper.
"And I know where I'm going, so shut your mouth."
"How would you know?"
"I already told you. Now would you please shut up? I'm trying to listen."
"Fine. But I'm going left. See you on the other side."
"You're going to get caught, Stupid." Sherrinford growls under his breath.
"I heard that." Sherlock huffily turns into the left duct and crawls a ways in. He stops near a grate with some light shining through and pulls out his phone.
XJP HSPCP LCP JZF PILNEWJ -DS (S1)
TX MJ RLEP ESTCEPPY EPCXTYLW QZFC ETPO FA LYO LE RFYAZTYE -XS (M1)
Sherlock considers his next words carefully.
TQ DSPCCTYQZCO HPCP DETWW LWTGP HZFWO T HLYE EZ QZWWZH STX -DS (S2)
HSLE VTYO ZQ BFPDETZY TD ESLE -XS (M2)
TX ECJTYR EZ DLGP JZFC WTQP OLXY TE UFDE LYDHPC ESP BFPDETZY -DS (S3)
SZH DSZFWO T VYZH T HLD DPGPY HSPY TWLDE DLH STX DTYNP ESPY SP SLO MPPY TY L HLC LYO OTPO -XS (M3)
Sherlock sighs in frustration. Older brothers were such a pain.
TQ SP HPCPYE OPLO HZFWO JZF MLDPO ZY HSLE JZF CPXPXMPC ZQ STX HZFWO JZF DETWW ECFDE LYO QZWWZH STX EZOLJ -DS (S4)
JPD DSPCWZNV T HZFWO T HZFWO QZWWZH XJ ZWOPC MCZESPC MPNLFDP T HZFWOY'E HLYE EZ WZDP STX LRLTY YZH BFTE LDVTYR DFNS BFPDETZYD TE SFCED PYZFRS LD TE TD -XS (M4)
ESLYV JZF XJP -DS (S5)
Sherlock pockets his phone and keeps crawling. He can hear Sherrinford ahead of him and meets him in a connecting duct. "I told you to turn left. Would have cut off a lot of the crawling."
"Not really," Sherrinford huffs. "Now will you finally shut your trap hole?"
"Why don't you make me?" Sherlock grins teasingly, "You know, if Mye thinks you are trustworthy, then I'll follow you." Sherrinford nods gratefully. "You'll want to turn right up ahead. You can hear voices-" Sherlock points, but lowers his arm at the look from Sherrinford. "Right, sorry. Go ahead."
Sherrinford blinks slowly, fighting back a retort, and looks ahead, still listening. He decides to keep going straight. Sherlock looks at the right duct as they pass it. He sees a vent on the floor of the duct, through which, the distinct sound of a crying child is heard. Sherrinford was right. But he'd never admit that to his face. "You're an interesting human being Sherlock."
"Most don't think that. They see me as someone with mental issues who needs professional help. Even John has said it a few times."
"I'm not most people."
"So I've learned. But your IQ is about as low." Sherrinford doesn't respond. "Oh come on, you shot yourself in the foot. And let me live despite having every opportunity to kill me. You became sentimental towards me, and if I hadn't needed your help, you'd be dead because of it."
Sherrinford stops crawling and turns to face Sherlock. "Everyone makes stupid mistakes, even you."
Sherlock laughs. "Never." He sits up and his head begins to spin. "What was in that medicine you gave me. I feel dizzy."
"When was the last time you ate? You didn't eat at the café."
"I don't eat on a case!" Sherlock snapped back.
"That's just stupid!"
"It's never hindered me before. What did you give me?"
"Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. It binds to the metals in your blood, rendering them useless to you. You're likely suffering from anemia, both from your injury and the lack of minerals."
"You should have known better than…" Sherlock blinks his eyes several times, finding it suddenly hard to focus. "My hands are numb. What did you say it was again?"
"Eth-yl-ene-diamin-et-etra-acetic acid."
"EDTA" Sherlock mumbles, "Formaldehyde, sodium cyanide, thalassemia, benzalkonium chloride, thiomersal…"
"Yeah. What about it?" Sherrinford looks at Sherlock curiously.
"I'm trying to figure out what it is in that that has made me sick." Sherlock returns to his mumbling. "Diaminoethane-tetra acetic acid…"
"You're feeling sick because your body has used up its supply. You need something to eat. And quickly." Sherrinford turns and continues to crawl through the duct.
Sherlock stares at his hands, they still feel numb and he can hardly focus. "We need to find Mye. Then we'll talk about me eating."
"Sorry Sherlock, but if you don't eat, you're not going to be of much use to Mycroft." Sherrinford crawls into a duct that smells strongly of food.
"Sherri, I swear to god, if we lose Mye because you're concerned with forcing me to eat…"
Sherrinford opens a vent in the floor of the duct. "Stay here. I'll be right back." He drops down and Sherlock crawls over, looking down into an airport kitchen. Sherrinford was out of sight but quickly returned handing up a hamburger bun and a cup of black coffee. "Take mine too. I'm coming back up." He hands Sherlock another cup.
"So you make yourself a creamed coffee and leave me with black?" Sherlock mocks but sips his cup anyway. Sherrinford had put in two sugars. Maybe he really did know more about him than Sherlock would like, or at the very least, his boss did. He moves back to give Sherrinford room.
"So I like mine creamy." Sherrinford pulls himself into the duct and covers the vent back up. "Sue me. Just finish what I gave you."
"You sound like Mummy." Sherlock smirks and takes a tentative bite of the bun. Buttery and light. Probably meant to be toasted. A few bites in, Sherlock begins to get feeling in his hands again. He tests their mobility, opening and closing his fists several times.
"How do you feel?" Sherrinford gulps down his drink as though he hadn't had anything quite so tasty in years.
"Like doing something stupid."
"And that would be?"
Sherlock finishes off his coffee. "I'm still not sure I trust you enough to tell you all my plans. Let's go." He tosses the cup aside and crawls past Sherrinford.
"Take the left up ahead." Sherrinford calls after him. Sherlock waves a hand back and continues on the straight path. Sherrinford grumbles but follows, leaving his empty cup behind.
Before long Sherlock stops. "Here. We'll exit here." The area is quiet, nearly abandoned. Sherlock lifts the vent out and looks back to Sherrinford. "If you land on your foot wrong, I'm leaving you behind."
"Good to know." Sherrinford scoffs. The ground is a good 20 feet below. Sherlock goes first, holding to the edge of the duct and letting himself drop, rolling into the fall.
Sherlock grabs his arm, the weight of rolling over it having ripped a stitch. "Your turn." Sherrinford drops as well, much more skilled in the art of falling and jumps up, uninjured. They've come out in an airport gate. Sherlock glances around for a sign. Gate 23. "He's at gate 13." He starts running up, following signs for gates 12-17.
Sherlock pulls out the gun he took and hands it to Sherrinford. "This is where I do something stupid."
"I'm not going to shoot you." Sherrinford takes the gun and checks the cylinder.
"Not what I meant. Put it away for now and follow my lead." Sherlock peeks around the corner. He's relieved to see Mycroft tied to one of the waiting chairs, his captor standing a few feet away, gun at the ready. Sherlock meets Mycroft's eyes and he nods. "Good thing I'm your height." Sherlock grabs Sherrinford by the shoulders and pushes him forward, using him as a shield. He addresses Mycroft's captor, "Drop your weapon or he dies."
The man turns. "It's about time you showed up. Little early to be making threats." He holds his gun to Mycroft's head.
"Rather young for a killer."
"We've got younger." The captor chuckles, fingering the trigger.
Sherlock pushes his gun into Sherrinford's neck. "Let him go and I'll give you 958. Your man for mine. Try anything funny and I will not hesitate to kill him and then you."
"Go ahead." The captor shrugs.
Sherlock shoots the gun into the air and puts it back on Sherrinford. "Untie him now. I swear to God…"
"He's not important. Boss wants him dead anyway. I'm just here to fulfill my mission."
"And if you don't, you die. I've been informed. I'm here to make sure you don't succeed, which means you're going to fail, so either you let him go and I'll kill you quickly, or don't and I'll make your suffering last a few minutes. Your choice."
"How about option C? I kill you all here and now." The man lifts his gun toward Sherlock. Without hesitation, Sherlock drops Sherrinford and shoots the captor, hitting him in the stomach.
"Sherri, untie Mye." Sherrinford runs over to Mycroft as Sherlock approaches the captor, who is now kneeling on the ground, holding his stomach, and choking. "Where are the other men?"
He looks up at Sherlock, blood shining on his teeth. "You tell me, Sherlock Holmes." He spits out a glob of blood.
Sherlock scans the terminal map in his mind palace. "One would be by security, another guarding the bomb wherever that is, and one in the stairwell to stop anyone from coming up or leaving. Am I missing any?"
The captor laughs. "Just the one behind you." Sherlock ducks just in time to throw the new assassin over his back and into the injured one. The new assassin leaps forward again and starts to struggle with Sherlock.
Sherrinford helps Mycroft to his feet and sees the injured assassin aiming his gun at Sherlock. "Sherlock, look out!" Sherlock pulls his attacker sideways to avoid the shot and they end up on the ground. Sherlock gains control and pins the new assassin. Sherrinford limps over and quickly snaps the injured man's neck, letting him fall lifeless to the floor. He pulls the gun out of the man's grip, checks the mag and curses. "Hey, Micro…oft. Happen to see where he left his pack? He's out of bullets."
Mycroft shakes his head. "He handed it off to someone else. Claimed he wouldn't be needing it."
Sherrinford nods and looks over as Sherlock grunts. He's still struggling with the assassin. "A little help over here Brother?" Mycroft hurries over and aims a kick at the assassin's head. They double over and Sherlock rolls off. "Thanks," Sherlock manages, breathlessly.
Sherrinford helps Mycroft subdue the new assassin. They pull off the head covering to reveal a woman with cropped brown hair, dark eye shadow and thin lips. They pat her down. "She's clean."
Sherlock eyes the woman and circles her slowly. "What's your name? Or are you still just a number?"
"1093." She mumbles crossly.
"Why, thank you. I want you up, with your hands behind your back. You're going to take me to the bomb. Mye, find a way to unlock the building and get everyone out. Take him with you." He gestures at Sherrinford.
Mycroft glares at Sherlock. "If there's really a bomb, there's no way I'm letting you deal with it. You've risked your life enough times today. You're coming with me and we're getting out of this airport together."
"Just do as I say, Mye! We don't have time to argue. I'm going to go block the wireless signal. Won't take 10 minutes. Here, take your gun." Sherlock hands Mycroft the gun who snatches it away angrily.
"You had it all along didn't you? Mother fu-"
Sherlock ignores the question. "Should be three shots left. Make them count. I'll meet you out front in half an hour. Promise. Don't let him out of your sight." He adds to Sherrinford.
"And why exactly is he coming with me?" Mycroft asks.
"He's a target. He's capable of taking care of himself but his foot is broken so he can't escape if things get hairy. I've got my hands tied with this, so I'm trusting him with you." Sherlock pulls out Sherrinford's knife and holds it at the assassin's throat. "Let's go."
"Hold on a minute Sherlock." Sherrinford takes Sherlock's upper arm. He whispers into his ear so no one else will hear. "Promise me you won't do anything else. For him."
"I'll be careful." Sherlock leads the assassin off.
Sherrinford watches Sherlock leave and turns. Mycroft had disappeared. "Mycroft? Mycroft!"
"Keep up." Sherrinford follows Mycroft's voice to the stairs leading to the ground floor.
"You heard Sherlock. There are other assassins around here. You shouldn't just run off."
"And how are you meant to help me more than this gun? You're limping like crazy." Mycroft gestures to Sherrinford's foot.
"I know their training."
"And why should I trust you? For all I know, you're one of them."
"Mycro, look at me."
Mycroft stops. "What did you just call me?"
"Mycro. Sherlock says it makes you sound small, but I guess you'll always be my little brother."
Mycroft turns away. "No. Sherrinford died in the war 30 years ago. This is some sick joke. An attempt to get into my head. Well, I'm not going to let you."
Sherrinford steps closer. "Your fifth birthday, I took you on the roof to watch the stars. I let you use my telescope, but you didn't like seeing just one part of the sky at a time."
"You're not him. You've simply done your research." Mycroft pulls the gun on Sherrinford. "You need to leave. Get back to your people and get the hell out of my way."
Sherrinford raises his hands. "Woah, woah. I can prove it." He steps closer, grabbing at his sleeve. Mycroft puts a hand under the gun to steady his aim and Sherrinford slowly pulls his jacket sleeve down, revealing a horizontal scar along his inner wrist. "I used to cut, remember? And you found me. You may have been five or six years old." Sherrinford points to Mycroft's wrists and he instinctively pulls his sleeve down. "You did it to yourself, to get me to stop. For every cut I made, you would make one too."
"Two. For every one, I'd make two." Mycroft pulls the sleeve up briefly flashing a red mark before pulling it back and switching to his right sleeve, revealing similar scars to Sherrinford's.
Sherrinford quickly hides the concern on his face. "It's me, Mycro."
"Share? Is it honest to god you?" Mycroft's eyes are brimming with tears as he looks his brother in the face.
"Honest to God." A tear falls down Mycroft's cheek and he falls forward into Sherrinford. He stumbles back but hugs Mycroft. "It's alright Mycro. I'm alright. I'm here."
Mycroft pushes Sherrinford back. "You weren't dead, and you didn't come home! Why didn't you come home?" He falls back into Sherrinford's arms.
"I'm sorry. I would have come home if I-" Sherrinford stops and shoves Mycroft back, lifting his gun at the woman who'd just arrived, ascending the stairway. "Kylie."
The woman holds her aim steadily at Sherrinford's head and flips her blonde curls over her shoulder with one swoop. "958. Pity seeing you here. Could have sworn someone would have eliminated you by now. Who'd have expected it would be me."
"I'm a quicker shot than you and you know that. Lower your weapon and I'll let you live."
"And what purpose would that serve me? Satisfaction of sparing an old friend?" Kylie scoffs. "Yeah right. We had to off the girl Sherlock abducted because of you."
"Where's the bomb Kylie?" Sherrinford cocks the hammer.
"Like I'm going to tell you, Traitor." She takes a step up.
"I have the high ground here. And you're outnumbered. Just tell me what I want to know and be on your way."
"You're too late. My mission has been fulfilled." Kylie grins. "Boss would be proud." She flinches her finger and true to his word, Sherrinford pulls the trigger of his revolver. She falls backward down the stairs, lifeless. Mycroft turns and retches.
"Get ahold of yourself. She was going to kill us." Sherrinford helps Mycroft to his feet. "We have to go. Text Sherlock. The bomb's been activated." Mycroft wipes his mouth and pulls out his phone. "Can your 'minor government position' get this place opened up?"
"Of course it can." Mycroft looks at Sherrinford who was staring distractedly in the direction Sherlock had gone. "You're not thinking of going after him are you? We need to get out."
"No no. Of course not…" Sherrinford trails off. "I'll be right back. Get everyone herded to the entrance."
Mycroft grabs Sherrinford's wrist. "There's no way I'm letting you go again."
"Just go. Please. I know what I'm doing." Sherrinford shakes Mycroft off and runs down the walkway.
"No. Share!" Mycroft chases after.
"You still have a hard time following instruction don't you."
"Rules don't define me."
"Government huh?"
"Yeah."
"Then you should be accustomed to rules. We need to get everyone we can out. I don't know how long we have."
"All the more reason you need to come with me. I can't lose you again."
"Sherlock isn't going to stop until he finds that bomb. We both know that. The quicker we find it, the quicker we can all get out. But we need to evacuate and only you can make that happen." Sherrinford hugs Mycroft. "Please. Just go. I don't want you to get hurt."
"What about you? I don't want you getting hurt either."
Sherrinford sighs. "Mycro. You've been used to me being dead for 30 years now. If this is our goodbye, not much will change for you."
"It doesn't have to be goodbye."
Sherrinford places a kiss to Mycroft's head. "You've grown into a man that I… I'm so proud of you."
Mycroft sees a man in a strange uniform running past at the bottom of the stairs. "Share, you better meet me outside alive or I'll kill you myself. Find Sherlock." He runs off after the bomber. He receives a text just as he sends one out.
Sherlock I just saw the bomber. It's too late to block the bomb signal. Sherrinford is on his way to you. You both better get out.
-MH
Mye, I found it, it's on the second floor, fifth corridor. Janitor's closet. Can you believe how predictable they are?
-SH
Mycroft holds himself back from slamming his phone against the wall. He spots a security guard making the rounds. "Get those doors open this instant, by order of the British Government. This is an emergency." He flashes his ID and the guard runs off, not long after, an alarm sounds, and he can hear shouting to evacuate. 'At least someone can follow instructions.'
Don't touch it Dumbo! You're not a bomb squad! Just get out. They're evacuating.
-MH
Dumbo? Ha, Mycroft you make me laugh.
-SH
I swear if you touch it Sherlock…
-MH
Don't swear Mye. What would Mary say?
-SH
PS, it has a timer, and an extra display. I believe it's the one attached to the bomb on the plane. John's plane. If I cut any of the wires, even the correct one, that could set off the other timer and the other bomb. I assume, by the way the wires are set, if I cut the wrong one, it'll set off both bombs. Sounds fun. Shall I try it?
No dammit! Just leave it and get out!
-MH
Can't do that Mye, and you know it. I can stop this. Trust me.
-SH
Mycroft lowers his phone, torn between going after his brothers and getting out to wait for them. He's just turning to follow the crowd when he feels a hand take his shoulder. "Sherrinford? Where's Sherlock."
"We have to get out of here. Now!" Sherrinford grabs Mycroft by the waist and starts pulling him out.
Mycroft fights back. "Tell me what's going on. Where is Sherlock?"
"He called me. Wouldn't say where he was but asked me to help him disarm the bomb."
"So you told him?!"
"Yes. I know my boss. He's not going to play by the rules. My niece is on that plane. If Sherlock doesn't do something, we're all as good as dead."
Mycroft's phone buzzes and he pulls it out. "Hold that thought." ((*Author's Note, Listen to this while you read the next part.* www. youtube watch?v=T17Bl1R0OZk))
Protect him. He's playing a game of death at the moment because he spared my life. Both of you, survive.
-SH
Don't talk like that. You're going to get out. You promised. I won't let you die.
-MH
"Your niece?" Mycroft asks, turning back to Sherrinford.
"Care, I think her name was."
Goddamn it Mye. Just do as I said. Your daughter's life depends on what I'm about to do. Get out, for her.
-SH
"Yes. Of course. Caroline." Mycroft resigns.
Fine. You win. Just save Caroline. T SZAP JZF RPE ZFE LWTGP T OZYE VYZH HSLE TO OZ TQ T WZDE JZF LRLTY Good luck Sherlock.
-MH (M5)
Monster will be safe. I swear it. HP PLNS RPE ZYP CPEFCY QCZX ESP OPLO T SLO XTYP YZH JZF RZE DSPCCTYQZCO ELVP ESLE LD L MWPDDTYR ACZXTDP YZE EZ EPWW XFXXJ LMZFE XP
-DS (S6)
TX YZE ACZXTDTYR JZF LYJESTYR ZGPC EPIE JZF MLDELCO -XS (M6)
He shoves his phone angrily into his pocket and allows Sherrinford to lead him far from the building. His heart feels torn in two. Sherlock just had to be the hero. He just had to get involved and force Mycroft to choose between his brother whom he would always protect, and his daughter. "Fuck!" he yells to the sky and falls into Sherrinford's embrace, defeated and angry.
Sherlock wipes the tears from his eyes and breathes in deeply. There's less than 5 minutes remaining on the main display. Following Sherrinford's instruction, he cuts the first wire. The second screen turns on with a loud beep and he cuts the second wire to turn it off. Then he simultaneously cuts the two blue wires and connects them, triggering another loud beep. To his dismay, the timer is still counting down. Sherrinford warned him that that may be the case. Sherlock stands and leaves the closet. There's nothing he can do to stop the airport exploding now. But at least the plane was safe. He syncs the timer on the bomb to his phone's timer and starts to walk back the way he came. He dials John.
"Doctor John H. Watson's phone. You missed me but leave a message. I'll call you back."
"Hey. It's me. I just wanted to say goodbye. This time, it might be real. I'm sorry. If by some miracle, it's not, I'll call you at seven. On the dot. Promise. Don't worry about me. I've lived a good life. Just know that you were my best friend. And I- well. I'll tell you later." Sherlock hangs up as he reaches the stairs. The airport has fallen silent. He types one final text into his phone and sends it.
Mycroft anxiously opens the message but drops it as the airport suddenly erupts into flames. "No! Sherlock!"
Text conversation:www. dcode .fr/caesar-cipher
(S1) Mye, where are you exactly? -SH
(M1) I'm by gate thirteen. Terminal four. Tied up and at gunpoint. -MH
(S2) If Sherrinford were still alive, would I want to follow him? -SH
(M2) What kind of question is that? -MH
(S3) I'm trying to save your life, damn it! Just answer the question! -SH
(M3) How should I know? I was seven when I last saw him. Since then, he had been in a war and died! -MH
(S4) If he weren't dead, would you? Based on what you remember of him, would you still trust and follow him today? -SH
(M4) Yes, Sherlock! I would! I would follow my older brother because I wouldn't want to lose him again! Now quit asking such questions! It hurts enough as it is. -MH
(S5) Thank you, Mye. -SH
(M5) I hope you get out alive. I don't know what I'd do if I lost you again. -MH
(S6) We each get one return from the dead. I had mine. Now you got Sherrinford. Take that as a blessing. Promise not to tell Mummy about me. -SH
(M6) I'm not promising you anything over text you bastard! -MH
Song: Alfie - Lily Allen
Hey guys! I have a Pinterest board dedicated to this fic. If you'd like to check it out pin. it/ 50eA5HJ. Just remove the spaces. It's got reference photos for some characters and head cannons that I've accepted as part of my lore. Enjoy!