TheDarkestShinobi: I've got so much of this story written, it's just writing the connecting bits that's taking a while. Regardless, here is the next chapter, enjoy and review!

Start

"We know there in an attack planned this Saturday." John rested his chin against his interlocked hands as he leant forward on the table. "Alec Green still wishes to proceed so we will station four men." Their commander took the cap of his pen and tapped on the map. "In these four spots." He circled two buildings. "The only place with a good shot for a sniper is here and here, so we will have four men in each of those buildings, the other four will be in the crowd looking for suspicious activity."

There was a short pause as the men nodded. "We are looking for hostages, so watch your shots." John had been on mission like that in Afghanistan. A dying man talks more than a dead one, Cap!

"Permission to speak?" He asked and it sounded odd to his ears, he hadn't had to ask for permission in ages. Technically he didn't now, since their commander was also a captain but it was a show of respect.

"Always Watson," Jesse replied and John placed his pointer next to the stand.

"Mission priority is protection, second is hostages." At the other nod he continued "I request to be stationed right here in case someone does get close enough to initiate contact." The other thought it over before nodding.

"Sound thought." He looked over the others in the unit. "Rob, you're the most proficient in hand to hand combat, so you will be stationed here to assist the good doctor in whatever capacity you can."

"Yes, sir."

…

"So you're going to the Alec Green speech?" he overheard Lestrade asking on the phone as he walked back into the living room.

"You know she's lying." He said as Lestrade hung up the phone and Lestrade just shook his head and held up his hand.

"I really don't want to know Sherlock, can you tell me anything new?"

"Yes." They both paused as they heard footsteps upstairs and things clattering to the floor. Sherlock was up and running before Lestrade turned around. Sherlock threw the door open to see Mrs. Hudson placing things back on the dresser. Lestrade looked towards Sherlock and saw the consulting detectives shoulders slouch and the rest of his posture followed. He knew John's death would be hard for Sherlock, but he really didn't realize how hard.

"He must've been in a hurry when he moved out," She explained as she placed a book on the dresser next to a few shower items and a hat. "He left some stuff here." She fidgeted. "I wasn't trying to sell it or anything, just wanted to…" she trailed off and Sherlock could see the tears forming.

"Good day, Lestrade. I'll text you."

…

"You outrank me, you know." Jesse Miller sat as he sat next to him in the bar. John tilted his head in response but didn't provide an answer.

"Sure, we're both Captains, but you were Captain of the Northumberland Fusiliers." John smiled a bit into his beer. "You've saved dozens of lives out there." Jesse shook his head "I got promoted a week after my father got a bullet in the head, hard to think I deserved it. "

John bought the captain a glass, and they drank in comfortable silence as the alcohol loosened their tongues a bit.

"I asked for you, you know." John raised an eyebrow as he set the glass down. His lips curved upwards with his exhale.

"How so?"

"Not directly, mind you. I knew what they were sending us into and that they were trying to find a 16th, so I told them to get me a doctor, a damn good one with experience."

"Lot of experience, there." He shook his head turning somber. "Lots of bad days."

"Did you lose a lot?" The other put down his empty glass.

"In a ways." He confessed swirling his beer before taking the last gulp. "in a ways" he repeated not wanting to say more. With a hasty salute he made his way back to the other gents and tried not to join in the arm wrestling bit. Instead, he tried to get enough beer into Jason to hear him embarrass himself with his rap.

…

"and that's why I came here today!" The people listening cheered and John let his eyes roam the crowd. That wasn't his main concern as the likely place for the shot to come from was way out of his sight.

"All of you should be treated in a way…" he let the word's trail of as he focused. What was out of place? The buzzing of low chatter in his ear gave him eyes all over the plaza.

"Jason, Dessler." He spoke lowly, but loud enough for them to here.

"Here Cap"

"Yes?"

He stared at the scaffold that was higher than the building.

"One, or both of you go check out the building diagonal from the plaza, red brick, scaffold."

"Jesse said to retain position." Was all Dessler said but Jason tried to contact Jesse.

"No word from Jesse, his comm must be out." John frowned.

"I need you to check that building." It wasn't his team, but he was commanding them like they were. John shifted and scanned the crowd again. "Now."

He could hear the hesitation and thanked Go these men were not the ones he served in Afghanistan with, or he'd surely be dead. "That's an order, corporals." He heard Dessler's sigh and Jason's throat clear.

"Right away Captain." Jason said and John nodded.

"I'm staying right here" Dessler said in response and John could picture the man giving him the finger. These men were lucky to be fighting this battle.

"Captain?"

"Yes?" John answered, although it could have been meant for Jesse, who remained MIA.

"Permission to join Jason?"

"Granted Kyle."

John saw the men dart across the street and then something on the scaffold moved. John cursed under his breath.

"A hostile is in that building, neutralize and detain is our goal. Rob, get to the stage now."

"And that's why-"

There was a gunshot and a dozen screams, John's ear buzzed with static.

"Hostile spotted!"

"Going for takedown!"

"Shot fired, I repeat shot fired!"

"Got the hostile."

"I got two running. Jason and I are engaging."

"We left the shooter on the scaffold, he's handcuffed. Someone get him!"

"This is Dessler, I'm coming!"

Rob and Alec were sprawled on the floor, Rob's body on top. Alec groaned as Rob hopped up and drew his gun. There was a growing red blotch on Alec's suit and he was cursing as he tried to get up. John stopped him and took of the man's coat before ripping open his shirt. Alec would have protested about him ruining it, but the bullet really hurt and the blood was never going to come out.

"John, I can cover you better from inside."

"For Christ's sake, look at him." Rob let out a snort.

"All the good it'll do, Captain, if there's a bullet in his head." John nodded at that and scooped the man up. For all the wild gesturing limbs the man was pretty small, and light. This was nothing compared to the times he had carried bigger men with FCU's on them both. Rob closed the door behind him and John set about his work.

It was so much cleaner without all the sand and bullets. The politician whined for all he was worth though.

"I'm going to go check the other rooms and close the other entrances." John nodded and heard the other man relaying all the important pieces around to the others. Three men were alive and in custody and Jason, don't ask him how, got one of them to reveal that today's attack had seven total.

"FREEZE!" John glances up from Alec to look at the two men stalking forward. Both their guns were leveled at his head. John had thrown the man's coat over his head and was hoping they wouldn't realize it was their target, but there was no luck there. John's hand moved of their own accord, stopping the bleeding as best they could. Alec had stopped moaning, which was a bad sign. John keeps working and the others share a glance trying to figure out if he was really ignoring them. The second grabs John's arm forcefully and rips him form Alec's side.

"For heaven's sake, I'm a doctor!" he exclaims as he snatches his arm back. He doesn't step away fast enough and the second man rips his earpiece away before throwing it on the ground and crushing it beneath his feet.

"Your uniform is military." John's eyes betray him and widen. This was an undercover uniform, which meant they had someone on the inside. Still he gestures to Alec and the second has the gun trained on his now exposed face.

"A military doctor." They won't let him tend to Alec, as their mission today was to kill him. Where was Rob!? The gun is trained on John's head and he throws his hands up. "I don't even have a gun!" he exclaimed with a voice rising in pitch. The two exchanged glances before one nodded and the other came behind him to search him. At least they didn't kill them, well not yet. The patting starting at his neck, and gradually lowered. John didn't even breathe so the first started to relax. Maybe he had somehow convinced them he was only a healer. The first took his finger off the trigger and John took a breath knowing his action had to be quick and sudden. The first looked around the room for signs of others and then made his mistake in lowering the gun. John lost his "threat" status.

This was his chance. He turned around quickly and brought his closed fist to the back of the man's neck. He heard a small grunt and the man dropped like lead. Alec's eyes widened as he watched. The first let out a strangled sound of shock and tried to raise his gun and fire. John knew the type of gun. Most of the weight rested on your shoulders because it was a heavy gun, therefore it wasn't one to quickly aim with. John was faster anyway. He shoved his open hand against the other's wrist causing him to cry out and release the gun. Next he grabbed the man's shoulders and pulled as hard as he could. The other had no chance and his body crumpled down as John drove his knee up.

He probably shouldn't have done that, he realized mid motion, since they wanted the men alive. This move would surely kill him. John's knee hit the sweet spot in the middle of the ribcage and he could feel it give. John let go of his shoulders as he brought his knee back down and the man fell to the ground. It wasn't a quick death, and both of them could hear his last choking breaths. Rib pierced a lung, he had minutes at best.

John couldn't focus on them, he had bad days before and these were bad guys. He wouldn't lose a minute of sleep tonight unless he let Alec die. It takes a few more minutes of undisturbed peace before he's done what he can and the door bursts open. John grabbed the gun next to him and pointed it at the door. Rob, Jason and Michael are there and he lowers the gun before placing it on the ground.

"Captain, they're looking for you!"

"dead." John interrupts as he stands and the three take in his handiwork without a sound. John sighs. "We need to get Alec to a hospital as soon as possible but I've stabilized him."

End.

Thoughts?

Also doing a one song series now, so look at my profile for info