Watson lay on a bare cement floor in what appeared to be the back storage room for the front store. The store room shelves were empty and pushed back creating the open area where Watson lay.

He was unconscious and the two men stood menacingly over him. He must have been slipping in and out of consciousness because his clothes and the area around him were already wet when the man with the bucket dumped it's contents onto the doctor. It must have been cold rain water in the bucket because it shocked Watson awake.

He slowly pushed himself up onto his elbows and shook his dripping head with a groan. Watson glared in the direction of his captors.

Holmes followed his friend's focus. There were three men with Watson in the storage room. The man with one arm, the man with the bucket, and a man with no legs.

At least two out of the three men were maimed soldiers which added another layer to this kidnapping.

"I do wish you would stop passing out Doctor. I believe our time together is drawing to it's conclusion and I really do not want to waste a moment of it." the man in the wheelchair spoke in a sickly sweet tone that screamed insanity.

"You're mad." Watson spat horsely.

The man bristled in his chair and the one armed man kicked their captive in the stomach. Holmes watched as Watson coughed and sputtered. The prone man hugged his stomach, his face pressed against the cold wet floor.

"We've been over this Doctor..." The legless man began a tirade. It became obvious to Holmes watching that this was the outcome that Watson had wished. He was stalling whatever his three captors had in mind as the big finally. "We have every right to be mad. You butcher, you did this to us. Three strong noble soldiers, you cut us down in the prime of our life and left us with nothing. While u got everything." The man glared down at Watson with hatred and jealousy.

The man who had the bucket became agitated. He shouted in his frustration "Enough of this talking lets get this over with." The man reached behind him grabbing a knife. When he turned Holmes could see the man was missing an ear.

He couldn't observe any longer Holmes had to act. Watson was in serious danger.

Jumping down off the crates Holmes grabbed his gun and without a second thought he kicked the door. The door broke on his second kick. Inside the room the two soldiers with legs rushed at him but were halted by Holmes's gun pointed at them.

"Stop Mr. Holmes." the legless man countered. He had his own gun trained on Watson. Watson still lay on the floor, cold and dripping. He looked up at Holmes and met his eyes. Watson's expression was tense and strained.

"No Sir, you should stop. The police are close behind me." Holmes bluffed.

"I doubt it Mr. Holmes we've read of your exploits, we know that you are often a great many steps ahead of the police." Holmes knew it was true he was often long ahead of the police. But this time had helped them along. With Watson in danger Holmes did not want to take any chances. He left directions for them along the way, in hopes that they would be timely in there assistance.

Before Holmes could reply uniformed officers bursted in from every angle surrounding the crazed men who had kidnapped Watson. There assistance was timely.

John Watson was in shock. He had been from the moment pain exploded through his leg without warning. He thought in that instant he'd been shot again as pain shuddered through his body. He'd realized later that he hadn't been shot but hit, the pain in his leg was still excruciating.

Now as the police filed in and had hold of his captors he wanted to stand up. He wanted to show his captors they hadn't hurt him. That their plans to break him had failed.

As soon as the police took control of the situation Holmes's focus turned solely to Watson. His friend was trying to push himself up cold and shaking on arms of jelly. Holmes hurried to Watson's side. No words were needed Holmes understood what he needed to do. He took his friend's arm around his shoulder and hoisted him up. Watson stood with all his weight on his left leg, leaning heavily on Holmes. Still he stood as tall and as dignified as he could in the face of the men who had hurt him. He stood defiant with a soldier's pride.

They stood there as the villains cursing and struggling were taken out to the maria to be carted off to Scotland Yard.

Inspector Lestrade flipped open his notebook as he walked up to Holmes and Watson "This is a nasty bit of work. We'll be needing your statement Dr. Watson."

"Of course." Watson agreed but his resolve broke and his expression betrayed the pain he was feeling. He slumped a little more against Holmes.

Holmes and Lestrade both noticed the dramatic change in demeanor. "Perhaps a bit later Watson after you've been checked out." Lestrade respectfully closed his book. Watson shivered in his soaked clothes and winced when the movement caused him pain.

" There's a doctor waiting out front." The inspector informed.

"lets go." Holmes started to move but Watson didn't. "Watson can you walk?"

Watson's face blanched further and for the first time during the ordeal Holmes saw fear in Watson's eyes.

"Watson what is it?" Holmes got a sinking feeling in his stomach.

"I...I am a doctor Holmes." Watson started moving forward. Holmes was relieved that his friend was walking even if he was leaning heavily on him and gasping in pain whenever he put weight on his right leg.

"That is true yes." Holmes gripped his friend tightly around the waist and held his friends arm firmly around his shoulders taking his weight as best he could while they slowly moved to the door.

"C..can we just go home? I want to go home." Watson gritted his teeth and spoke through the throbbing pain.

Holmes looked a his friend. Watson was concentrating hard on getting to the door. A dark bruise was strikingly evident on his pale cheek. Holmes would have loved to have complied with his friend's request but one look at him told Holmes he needed to see a doctor first. "If the doctor says you can go home then we will." As they neared the front door Watson walked a little taller.

TBC...

Part 3 is coming soon it's half done. Ideas are welcome. Thank you for reading and all your reviews!