Sherlock story
Deleted Memories, Chapter 83
Warning: post Reichenbach spoilers. Hope you enjoy
*As always thanks for reading, a special thanks to all of you who take the time to review, comment, and favorite.
"There is a time to take counsel of your fears, and there is a time to never listen to any fear." ~George S. Patton
Present Day
"Hello… Hello." John knew someone was on the other line but could not hear the other person. "Mycroft, I'll call you back, I can't hear a thing…, hello?" John frowned and looked around.
He took out his own phone and made a call. There was no answer. John frowned slightly and wondered why Mycroft would call when the last time that John spoke with him, Mycroft informed John that he would be unavailable for three more hours. Mycroft left an emergency number but it was to be called, in Mycroft's words, "... only if Sherlock managed to get himself in trouble."
He called the number to the agent assigned to Sherlock. The phone rang a few times, no answer.
John knew sometimes the signal strength in A/E and hospitals were poor. Still, something he could not put his finger on was bothering him. John got up quickly and walked briskly back to Sherlock's room. As he rounded the corner, John was relieved to not find medical staff running from Sherlock's room.
"I told you, you were being ridiculous," John mocked himself.
"Dr. Watson," A nurse caught his attention as he passed the station again. "We rushed the discharge as you requested. The papers are ready if you would sign the papers now, Mr. Holmes will be free to go."
John glanced down the hall then looked at the nurse. "Can we do this in Mr. Holmes room?"
"Of course sir, I will be down as soon as I can with the paperwork." The nurse looked slightly annoyed.
John knew that her little speech was code for, sign it here and now or your arse will have to wait.
John signed and put on a smile, "I'll sign it now, thanks."
The nurse plastered on a smile "Yes, as you wish, Dr. Watson."
Fifteen minutes later and a frustrated John Watson walked toward Sherlock's room. The nurse insisted that he read every line and verbalize his full understanding.
"I'm just a bloody doctor," he whispered angrily to himself. "What could I possibly know about medical care?"
They were all afraid to take their frustrations out on Sherlock, John realized, so John by proxy were their target for frustration.
John opened the door to find the room empty. John cursed. John remembered how Sherlock had promised him that he would wait for him to come back. John agreed that he was gone a lot longer than he originally thought, but Sherlock did make a promise.
John saw the IV lock on the floor with a small trail of blood. Sherlock could remove an IV faster and more efficiently that many medical staff.
This was done in a hurry.
This was not like Sherlock.
And Sherlock did not make promises easily but he has never known him to break a promise. John heart rate picked up as he phoned Lestrade.
The phone rang twice.
"Lestrade, Sherlock's missing." John did not say hello.
Lestrade cursed, "I told you we should have waited to give him his clothes. I'm in the lift now, I'll be right up." Then the call was disconnected.
John hoped he was overreacting but an image of a bloodied and nearly dead Sherlock, outside of a warehouse when he managed to escape from Ayyad, came unwelcome into his mind.
"Sherlock if you just walked out of here, I'll kill you myself!" John said as he jogged to the nurse's station with an phone to his ear.
He found the nurse that he was speaking with earlier; he glanced and saw Lestrade walking quickly with a phone in hand as well.
"Sherlock Holmes; was he taken for any test… anywhere… anything that I'm not aware of." John asked rapidly.
"Sir," The nurse frowned and started looking from Lestrade to John, "You're not allowed to use your private phones in here."
"Do you know where Sherlock Holmes is or not?" John asked hotly as he glared at the nurse. Lestrade glared as well waiting for an answer.
All the staff became silent then stared in their direction.
John did not apologize.
"No sir, nothing I'm aware of." She now looked concerned, "Is everything ok?"
John did not answer but spoke on the phone.
"Do you have any cameras or surveillance footage of the inside?" Lestrade took over.
"No, I don't believe so, come with me, I'll take you to our security." The nurse moved quickly now as Lestrade followed. The other staff started to whisper.
John raked a hand through his hair as he waited for Mycroft to pick up. Mycroft answered on the second ring. "Mycroft, Sherlock's missing." John again, did not say hello.
A few seconds of silence followed then, "How long?" Mycroft asked.
John closed his eyes before answering, "Possible twenty-five minutes. Closer to half an hour at this point."
"Where's the agent that I assigned?"
John swallowed hard. "I've been unable to reach him for…," John looked at his watch before replying weakly, "Forty-five minutes."
"I see," Mycroft responded quickly."Go back to Sherlock's room John, wait there."
"What do you mean…?" John was flustered.
"John," Mycroft said soothingly, "I have another agent in place. Go to Sherlock room now, John. I'll be in touch." With that, the line disconnected.
John nodded to an empty phone line.