Author's Note: how awesome am i? posting two chapters in the space of an hour? dont worry, my ego isnt that big, well, not yet, i'm just happy i could edit both in this time! also, we still havnt died! happy christmas everyone, and everyone who reviews gets an automatic cyber lion-bot from santa, guarenteed!
BB
"Good. I assumed as much. Correct building as in 'John's location', or as in 'on the right track to John's location'?"
"depends on your point of view."
"How helpful," Sherlock muttered.
"I'm not bottle feeding you, work it out." Sherlock sighed.
"It's unlikely John would be in this building. I have seen nothing to indicate his presence. There would have been some blood left somewhere if he had been; injuries like his would be difficult to stop bleeding immediately, and then there's the matter of his clothes. And he's a smart man, he would've found a way to leave a sign."
"so where do you want to look?"
"It's worth checking the rest of the building. You used 221C before."
"ok." Sherlock stood again - grateful to get up from John's chair - and followed the staircase up, Jim following him, strolling slowly. Sherlock tried the door, growling when he remembered that some people locked their flats. Or Mrs. Hudson was just being careful. Whatever.
"Mrs. Hudson!" Mrs Hudson had been cleaning up in 221C, a general sweep and polish, just in case anyone wanted to take a look. Upon hearing Sherlock shouting, she muttered under her breath about not being his housekeeper before trotting up the stairs.
"what is it Sherlock?" she spotted Jim and immediately her hand flew up to her mouth,
"oh dear, are you in trouble Sherlock?"
"no, I just want you to open 221A for us please." he spoke flatly; he didn't have the time or patience to deal with her at the moment.
"oh, okay." she put her shaky hand in her pocket and brought out a ring of keys. Finding the right one, she gave them to Sherlock, leaning in to whisper into her ear.
"be careful Sherlock, I recognise that man from the papers." He smiled slightly at her quaint ignorance,
"don't worry, I'll be careful." he hurried her out and silently led the way up to 221A. He opened the stiff door forcefully, moving quicker as the prospect of John being safe again came closer. Jim followed Sherlock through the front door, hanging around in the hall. Sherlock walked in slowly, as he usually did when it came to new scenes. He'd never been into 221A before, so he wanted to be sure to get everything. Jim went ahead again and led the way into the living room, which held yet another projector, but with a blank screen. "Sherly!"
"Odd," Sherlock commented.
"Blank. Could be a metaphor..."
"no, I need to set this up Sherly, I wont be a moment." Jim turned aside and sent a text.
"alright, he should only take a moment" Sherlock narrowed his eyes and waited. Jim's phone beeped.
"here we go..." the screen flashed and suddenly there was John, life size against the wall. "Sherlock?!" he sounded like death, and looked worse. Sherlock's hand gave a painful squeeze. "John..." He longed to reach out to the image - part of his mind wanted to believe that John was really there - but he was smarter than that.
"S-Sherlock, what the h-hells going on?" Jim chuckled,
"you know exactly what John, I explained earlier, me and Sherly are playing a game."
"what? that was really true? how could you- I can't even-that doesn't matter. what's happening now?" John was drowsy and knew he would soon be unconscious again, so he didn't have time.
"why am I here?" Jim saw the look on Sherlock's face and replied for him, grinning morbidly.
"its quite simple: Sherly has to find you, then you both go free."
"John, calm down." Sherlock was feeling a mixture of relief and fear; just how bad were his injuries? He was glad to see John relatively safe. At least he was alive and they were in contact - sort of.
"calm down?! Sherlock- just don't."
"No, you don't," Sherlock replied, sounding more like his normal self, but the brief moment of normality faded quickly.
"You'll only do yourself more harm if you panic."
"huh, I think I know that now."
"You're a smart man, but you can be rather dim sometimes." Sherlock snorted. He glanced at Jim before deciding to take his chances.
"Do you have any idea of where you are? Any hints? What building are you in?" John chuckled hoarsely,
"well it isn't exactly a holiday Sherlock, I've been unconscious, but I did-" the camera flashed off.
"Damn!" Sherlock snarled, kicking the wall. Now that he'd had contact with John, Sherlock was even more eager to find his friend. He was beginning to worry about just how much he cared for him, but that didn't matter. John was clearly suffering from painful injuries, and Sherlock needed to help him. Jim sent several texts, smirking, then decided to fill in Sherlock,
"no direct help Sherly. I've kept him conscious for now, but I did warn you, and I can't always restrain Seb, he is so strong willed..." the screen flashed back up with a slightly worse John: his shirt was speckled with blood, as was his face, and his right eye was swelling up. Sherlock ran a hand through his hair as he looked back to the projector, exasperated.
"I'm sorry, John, don't tell me anything, and I mean anything." Sherlock was clearly distressed; he wasn't making an attempt to hide it any more. John smiled,
"don't worry, Seb has kindly provided a list of prohibited subjects." John was showing a brave face really, he knew for sure that he had at least seven cracked ribs, a broken arm, and a fractured ankle for god's sake, but he mustn't let it show to Sherlock, he would get to distracted.
"If I mention any of them, don't say a word." Sherlock's gaze flicked over the image, searching for clues.
"Keep talking, though. Please. About anything."
"um, ok," John was struggling to remain conscious, but tried to hide it,
"where have you been so far?"
"All over London. Several prisons, St. Barts, Scotland Yard..."
"really? I think I was in a prison for a while too..."
"I noticed. I visited the very same, but you'd been moved by then. Recently, too. I'm sorry I was too late."
"no, don't worry, that was my fault." he looked sarcastically above the camera, obviously directed at Sebastian.
"Yours?" Sherlock's gaze focused on John again. "How? Wait, no. I know. You annoyed Seb."
"huh, yeah, you could say that..."
"For once in your life, don't be so stupid."
"huh, yeah, well, he made me jump and I just punched him..." Sherlock covered his face with both his hands.
"Don't be so stupid. Honestly, are you an ex-soldier or not?"
"well, to be honest, it was that training that broke his nose..." John chuckled, and Sherlock started to laugh to, but they both stopped suddenly as John gasped painfully, wincing at the pain.
"Don't strain yourself." He continued to study John's surroundings.
"Your injuries. Can you describe what you think they are? I'll need to know what necessary items to bring with me."
"Sherlock, I really don't need you to worry..."
"you do. Letting yourself get kidnapped... If I wasn't worried I wouldn't be trying to get you back."
"fine, if your sure... 7, maybe 8... cracked, or broken ribs... a broken arm, possibly in two... places and a, a fractured ankle. Happy?" John looked down at the ground, almost shamefully, shuffling into a more comfortable position.
"No, obviously, but thank you for telling me." Sherlock spared a moment to glare at Jim before looking at John again.
"Don't move around too much, you'll disturb your injuries, but I'm sure you knew that already. And, above all, don't give Seb any reason to harm you again."
"that's almost impossible, and... I think infection has already... set in, but I'll be waiting."
the screen went dead.
"happy?" Jim spoke for the first time in a while.
"No," Sherlock said, repeating his answer to John.
"He's hurt. How could I be happy about that?"
"I believe I meant happy I held back Sebastian, but sure."
"In that case, yes, I'm happy." Infection might have set in, he said... I have to hurry.
"Well, Jim, where to?"
"isn't that your job?"
"Ah, but occasionally I test John, and since you're filling in for him..."
"oh, ok, well, Do. The Work. Yourself!" Sherlock wasn't fazed by Jim's shouting.
"Please, do refrain from being loud, Mrs. Hudson won't appreciate it."
"I don't appreciate Mrs Hudson." Jim's phone rang suddenly, and he stood.
"I have to take this." he left the room, then the building. Sherlock followed silently: He would wait inside the hall for Jim, and maybe he'd be lucky enough to catch some of the conversation. Sherlock closed his eyes and thought, his fingers resting on his lips. There is always a pattern... Jim returned, scowling, and marched straight into the kitchen. Sherlock didn't notice him passing; his Mind Palace was consuming his thoughts. A pattern... pattern... something the sa- Oh!
"Cameras," he murmured. Jim muttered angrily in the kitchen, something to do with "her" again, pacing. He soon came back to the sitting room and stood looking out of the window, texting furiously. Sherlock eyes snapped open.
"Cameras. Films. Cleaning products. Why would cleaning products me needed? To clean, of course, simple. This particular brand is well known for being good commercially, so it would be used by those who want to make a good impression. Fussy women or large companies, then." Jim punched the wall after receiving another text, actually making dust drop from the weak plaster.
"Now, the way films and large companies would coincide would be a cinema. It's most likely to be disused, like the prisons, because then nobody would interrupt." Sherlock's eyes were sparkling with joy and triumph.
"Which means..." Sherlock strode towards the door, leaving Jim behind. In his haste, he forgot to pick up any supplies for John, even though he promised he would.
"Sherlock." Sherlock paused and looked over his shoulder.
"What?" It surprised him to hear Jim use his proper name, but he hid that.
"I am afraid you will have to wait. there is some...business I need to take care of before you arrive."
"Oh, for God's sake. Don't tell me you're going to move John again."
"no, no, just want to make John all pretty for you, and I have her to attend with..." Sherlock gave Jim a witheringly look.
"As long as John is in fairly good health - I would request that he be perfectly fine, but given what I saw on the web cam, that isn't possible."
"hmmm..." Jim muttered under his breath about the women again and turned to leave. Sherlock took another step towards the door, his head tilted to one side and one eyebrow raised.
"Well, what am I supposed to do, then?"
"oh, what do I care?" Jim trudged down the stairs, saddened because she had ruined his game, then his phone lit up. he answered the call, not saying a word. He decided to be annoying. He knew that social politeness demanded that he leave Jim alone while he was on the phone, but, well...
He was Sherlock.
So he followed him, talking sharply.
"It wouldn't be convenient for you. I could easily slip away, find John and stop everything for you. Doesn't that thought concern you?" He had to admit to himself, he was curious. Jim held up a hand to halt Sherlock and spoke, growling softly into the phone.
"one. moment." he turned on Sherlock menacingly, glaring at him.
"you so much as step towards John and I will burn him." Sherlock froze and gritted his teeth. His hands curled into fists in his pockets. He looked away. Instead of heading off to find John, as he'd promised, Sherlock stayed where he was. Jim turned towards the door to speak into the phone again.
"continue." after a few moments, he growled fully into the phone.
"are you sure? if you are lying then I-" he stopped mid sentence, already sure she wasn't. a grin spread across his face and his put the phone into his pocket, hanging up. Sherlock raised an eyebrow.
"Satisfied?" Jim almost purred an agreement as he bounded back up the stairs. Sherlock sighed and studied a dent in the wall, probably from some criminal or another trying to get to Sherlock somehow. After a long moment, Sherlock decided to follow Jim. As he went, Sherlock felt a bit of curiosity burning amongst his concern for John.
"Why have you suddenly changed? You were angry moments ago."
"well Sherly, I am just so damn changeable! do you want to hear my new idea, or should it be a surprise?"
"I'd prefer to know. While I agree that some surprises are fine, I'd rather know, in case it's related to John."
"oh, that's sad, I was going to give you a surprise."
"Well, it's not like I'm in control of your little game, is it?" he snapped. John was injured and Jim was just dragging things out... Sherlock took a deep, calming breath. Perhaps a second attempt would be... beneficial. He just had to remember that it was to help John. He caught Jim's elbow, holding onto it in a firm yet slightly gentle grip.
"Come now, Jim. I know you want to tell me."
"oh, do I?" Jim raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, you do." Sherlock leaned towards Jim slightly.
"I doubt it."
"Hm. What happened to being so changeable?"
"I suppose, I can be," he looked at Sherlock jauntily, "changeable." Secretly finding the situation amusing, Sherlock placed his mouth by Jim's ear and lowered his voice.
"Tell me, Jim."
"why should I?"
"why do anything? Because you want to." Sherlock repeated Jim's words to him from a while ago, a smirk on his lips.
"and why would I want to exactly?"
"Because there could be a reward behind it." Sherlock made sure to let his breath tickle Jim's ear and neck, so the criminal knew just how close he was. Jim chuckled softly in Sherlock's ear and whispered softly,
"which would be?"
"Ah, ah, ah," Sherlock smirked, drawing back and waving one finger in the air.
"It's a surprise."