"I couldn't really see… he was kind of tall… but not really. Medium sized fellow. It was too dark to see his face. He jumped me on the way to my car, got me around the neck and when he couldn't stuff the chloroform in my face, he pulled a knife and tried to finish the job right there." Lestrade paused and dragged a hand down his face. "I elbowed him in the gut and grabbed my gun, but the bastard managed to roll between the cars and make a run for it."

Lestrade wheezed loudly, touching his throat gingerly. He was sat in a hospital bed, a bandage wrapped round his throat, and a very annoyed expression on his face. "Where's Lizzy?" he asked, before Sherlock could open his mouth.

"Oh, at her flat. I've discovered that the killer is going after people I've come into contact with recently… though it's accelerated rather drastically. I was hoping Anderson might've been next…" Sherlock drifted off.

"Wait…" John had been mostly silent up until now. "You're saying we left Lizzy-"

"Really John? You're just getting that now? I was wondering why you hadn't objected earlier!" Sherlock rolled his eyes.

"You left her, alone, at her apartment, with a killer on the loose?" the Detective Inspector furiously wheezed.

Sherlock sighed, turning on his heel and walking towards the door. "Yes, Lestrade. Don't worry, I have everything under control. Do let me know if you remember anything," he called over his shoulder as he shouldered through the door and ignoring the hospitalized man's furious huffings.

John's face was getting progressively redder. "Under control?" he seethed, trailing closely behind the Detective.

"You know, I still can't believe you didn't realizing what I was doing until just now," Sherlock glanced quizzically at John out of the corner of his eye.

"I was preoccupied!"

"What on earth could have preoccupied you enough to muffle you're overly-caring heart?"

John spluttered. "Oh, I don't know! Maybe the fact that Lestrade was hospitalized and that I was 'probably next'?" The pushed out the hospitals doors, making a beeline for the road.

"Oh… don't worry, you're not next." Sherlock took out his phone and started to tap away, signaling for John to hail a cab.

"Well who is?"

Sherlock raised an eyebrow and stared at him pointedly. John's mouth dropped open.

"You're joking."

"I don't joke, John," Sherlock sneered.

"We left her alone, she's going to die."

"Oh, don't be silly. We have plenty of time," the detective muttered, sliding into the cab.

oOo

Sherlock hopped out of the cab, sliding his phone away and jogging towards the front door of his flat. One of his 'connections', a teenage boy holding onto a collection can and leaning against the wall just a few feet away, subtly shook his head at the detective's inquiring look.

He heaved a disappointed sigh, pushing the black door open and making a beeline for 221C, John following close behind, silently steaming.

"Sherlock, I swear to God if anything's happened to her-"

"She's absolutely fine, John. Look-" he pushed her door open, not bothering to knock as he gave his friend an exasperated look. The doctor promptly went white as a sheet, gesturing limply past the detective.

"Oh, you call that fine then?"

Sherlock whirled around, examining the disaster behind him with wide eyes. A lamp, shattered on the floor. Obvious signs of struggle. Lizzie's beloved machete was lying in front of the coffee table. Smear of blood on the side of the fireplace, mostly likely from someone hitting their head… This wasn't supposed to happen…

"Oh god, oh god…" John's voice was faint. "Sherlock, we have to find her."

The detective remained stock still, staring blankly at the scene before him. "This wasn't supposed to happen… She must still be here.." he muttered, stepping around the wreckage, carefully observing. She had to be here. This wasn't supposed to happen. At least.. not like this.

"Elizabeth?" he called, pushing open the door to her room. Nothing.

Nothing in the bathroom, nothing in the kitchen.

"Sherlock, we have to find her!"

Right. She was gone. He had to find her.

First question, how did the kidnapper get past his 'guard'? The detective did a one-eighty and jogging up the stairs and out the door, straight towards his 'connection'.

"You're sure you didn't see anything?" The black-haired man asked, leaning in close to the teen.

The boy shook his head. "Not a thing, nobody came in or out the entire time Mr. 'olmes."

"How long did it take you to get here?" he pressed.

"Only about ten minutes…"

That must've been what happened then. The.. killer must have been waiting until the very second Sherock left.

Wonderful.

He figured he had about an hour, two at most to find her and nothing to start on. Perhaps... Sherlock took out his phone and dialed Lizzie's number, putting it on speaker and beckoning John over.

One ring.

An impatient, perplexed look from John.

Two rings.

"Well, well Mr. Holmes. How do you do?"

Ah, there it was.

"I see you've decided to make it a bit more interesting."

"Interesting is one way to describe it. Though… I prefer personal."

Male, early forties. Naturally jovial tone, probably has a rather convincing 'trustworthy' facade. No background noise, he must be in a building that's a good distance away from London traffic, perhaps in a basement as well.

"Where is she?" Sherlock hissed into the receiver.

"Now, now. I thought you liked playing games, Sherlock? At least… that's what our mutual friend told me."

"Moriarty." John closed his eyes, placing a hand over his face.

"Oh, shhhh, don't use that name lightly, Mr. Holmes. I hear he's been quite fussy lately."

Sherlock rolled his eyes. "Who are you?"

"As I said, friend of a friend! He recommended you for first class entertainment- Oh! Look who's come 'round. Say 'hi'!"

"H-hello?" She was alive.

"Lizzie? Are you alright?" John was all but panicking, and Sherlock elbowed him in the side.

"I… I think so," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"Okay! Enough chit-chat! You have two hours Sherlock, before it's 'off with her head'. Don't worry, I play fair. I left a little hint."

Sherlock ended the call, staring blankly at the phone.

"At least she's not hurt." John's voice was weak.

"She was still groggy, she'd only just woken up. Chances are the pain from her injuries hadn't registered yet. The blood on the fireplace is most likely hers, she probably has a concussion,"

the taller man snapped, running a hand through his hair and turning towards the missing woman's flat.

"We have less than two hours."

"But-"

"I'm not taking any chances. This isn't Moriarty, I don't think he's interested in just the 'game'." The detective dropped to his knees by the fireplace, looking closely at the blood stain. "If he left me a 'hint' he probably knows I'll be there before the allotted time. He wants us to find a dead body."

"Shit." John was bouncing up and down, his hands in his pockets and his face white as death.

"She was on the couch, probably facing the front door. But.. she was attacked from behind. He was already in the flat, probably hiding in a closet. She swung the machete behind her in a panic, hitting the lamp. Tripped over the coffee table- unsurprising considering how clumsy she can be- dropped the machete. Kidnapper lunged at her, pushing her from the path of the door. She hit the fireplace and since there's no chloroform smell, that's probably what knocked her out. None of this is a 'hint' though…" He rose to his feet, making his way towards the bedroom.

"Assuming this is where he was hiding…" The detective slid open her closet door.

"Aha."

There, sitting innocently upon the shoe rack, was a bag of flour.

A/N: Why hello there… Look who's back after… ten months.

Whoops.

About a week ago I was thinking about that sad feeling you get when a fic you like hasn't been updated and seems to be abandoned, and I was thinking that probably a few of my readers felt like that and then I felt bad lol. Anyways, I've been rewatching Sherlock, so I got inspired! Unfortunately, I kinda forgot where I was going with this 'case' thing, so now I'm making it up as I go.

Some of you may be disappointed in Sherlock's reaction, but I'm trying to keep in in-charcter lol and I don't know if you can tell but he is kinda worried.

In terms of next update, I'm hoping sometime this week! We'll be getting back to Lizzie, never fear!

Thank you to:

bored411- I'm glad you liked it! Sorry I kinda disappeared lol..

TwilinOfTheWillows- *snickers* I'll give it to you, you were pretty darn close. As you can see, while Sherlock was planning for her to be there... things kind of… backfired lol.

ThievingDuck- ahhh that's good ;-; Yeah, I have a bit of trouble with putting more meat in my stories. I've been trying to work on it lol. I suppose if I were to write the whole fic before I posted it it would end up in better shape, but alas, that is not what I do. And thank you! I rarely ever get advice on my writing so I am grateful :')

KiyaNamiel- LOL well i think i just beat my personal record for not updating and idk if this counts as a cliffie or not but there's that. Ahhh, thank you! You do have a point, and I guess as long as this story is interesting it's good enough for now xD

Jayla Fire Gal- Ahhhh thank you! and lol, indeed he is :D

Wunderkind4006- AHHHH *ducks the blunt object* stop saying nice things and trying to kill me! and also yes, I know the relationship aspect has been lacking, but I've been trying to keep it at least a little realistic. Never fear, the pivotal moment approaches. Also don't you dare bring an affirmation notepad I will literally draw nothing but Elmo burning in hell.

SPARKELS77- thank you!

Miss Scarlet Darkness- Ahhhh! Thank you! I'm glad you like the characters :D

AvengerFrost- Isn't it lol I had a very vivid image of that moment in my head and just had to stick it in. And you were right on both counts, it's kinda both made up and Moriarty xD And yes, his skull friend is like her dream come true.

NothingNooneZero- Ahhhh! Thank you :D So sorry I took forever to update it.

GuessWho- EHEHEHE

RebelRae- even though it's ages later, here's more to read lmao. I'm glad you like it!

and to all the new favoriters and followers! You guys rock!

Overlord Rousy out_