Sherlock story

Deleted Memories, Chapter 96

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.

"The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person's determination." ~

Tommy Lasorda

Present Day

The doors slammed on a transport vehicle and hand push hard down in an attempt to restrain a very determined Sherlock Holmes.

Fifteen minutes later, John, and Mary were coming around the corner. They had both turned their phone to vibrate far down the road. Mary signaled with her hands indicating which of the three doors on the side closes to the water that they would enter. John, at this point followed, leaving the decision to Mary Myers.

They both hoped that backup would arrive soon, but the truth was that John had no intentions of waiting and neither did Mary.

Mary winched as the door squeaked slightly as it was slowly opened. Both quickly scrambled as quietly as possible behind a wall that obstructed the view of their bodies. After listening for a few minutes, Mary glanced around the corner and signaled John with her hands. He then moved to the next closes location where their bodies could be hidden.

The warehouse was huge, with many levels and exits. It illumination was dim and the sun had set with only a dim but colorful display that delicately lit up the night sky. They started to search the rooms one by one but so far, the building seemed abandoned. Both were still cautious.

A short time within the search they came upon a semi dark room and like the rest approached with caution. As they realized that no one was in the room and turned to leave, John wordlessly held his hand up as he stared into the corner. John was almost sure that he saw something. He moved to the corner. In the dim against the wall and on the floor, something laid. He picked up the familiar light black Belstaff wool coat next to a familiar broken phone and Sherlock's black dress jacket. It was held to his chest as John whispered, "Where are you?"

Heavy and quick footsteps were heard coming toward the room. John quickly put the coat back down as he caught Mary's eyes.

Both moved behind the door as three men came running into the room toward the equipment on the floor.

Bedlam broke out as shots were fired punches and kick were thrown. In the end, one of Ayyad's soldiers lay on the floor with a minor wound to his leg, another lay unconscious and the last lay with a gun pointing to his head and a bruise forming on his jaw that John had put there.

Myers called in their location and for backup to hurry.

John Watson had his own ideas of how to occupy his time while waiting for backup. Myers took out plastic handcuffs, and handcuffed the three individuals while she guarded the door. They claimed to be all that was left and were only still there because they were moving the last of the equipment.

"Tell me where you've taken him, Sherlock Holmes, the man who that coat belongs to." John face was unreadable as he waited for an answer, saying nothing more.

Mary looked briefly but did not end her conversation on the phone. The man looked like a giant teddy bear, she thought to herself. He was harmless. She briefly wondered how he could have made out of the war without being killed.

The soldier smiled. Some slight blood showed on his teeth from where he was punched. He said nothing.

"Where…, is…, he…," John asked with a deceptively calm voice as he moved the gun so that it was now in direct contact with his forehead.

Mary continued to talk, but paid closer attention to John.

John stared the soldier in the eyes and again waited for an answer. Anger flashed in the soldier's eyes as he spoke in a thick Czech accent.

"So, what will you do, Doctor Watson…?" Surprise showed in John's face because the soldier knew his name, "… You always follow the rules. You're an ordinary person; you don't have the guts to shoot me. Don't worry; you'll get him back…, eventually…, more or less alive. Alive at least in body, that is." The soldier then started to laugh and snicker to himself as if someone told him a funny joke that only he understood.

John smiled for the first time as he said in a still, calm, voice, "Since you seem to know all about me, answer a question. Do you think your life means more to me that his. Soldier to soldier, how far do you think I'll go?" John then whispered something so that only the soldier could hear.

The soldier's eyes widen as he snapped his head toward John, looking him in his eyes.

"You have until three." John pulled himself back, he pointed with a long arm. The gun was at point blank range on the soldier's head.

Mary putted her call on mute.

"One…"

The soldier looked at John and said, "You can't."

"Two…"

The soldier looked at Myers who had her mouth half open with a worried expression.

John pulled back the trigger on the gun and said without expression.

"Thr…" he was interrupted.

"WAIT… Wait," the soldier shouted, breathing heavily.

"I'm still at three, but since I did not finish, I'll give you this last chance, I suggest that you speak quickly and clearly before I shoot you on principle alone." The gun was still pointed at his head.

"He is being transported to the highway to get him out of London then to a private airfield to be taken out of the country to one of Ayyad's locations. I don't know which one. I swear to you that, that is all that I know."

Agents' shouts were heard and Mary shouted back. Mary ran up to John and put a hand on his arm and said quietly, "It's time to put up your gun, John." she looked toward the door.

John made no move to take the gun away but instead frowned as he pushed it into the soldier skin, grinding slightly. The soldier winced. John locked eyes with the soldier ignoring the agents that came into the room.

They noticed John still having the gun to the suspect's head and one went to question Myers who simply held up one finger to silent him.

"Since you knew so much about me, and you obviously knew we were coming, tell me this, what are you not saying? Whoever is giving you the information would have told you that there is a lockdown of the city and surrounding areas. Why do you think that you would make it on the highway, unchecked?"

The soldier said nothing.

John simply raised his eyebrows.

The soldier sighed, "Not all vehicles are being stopped."

John's eyes widen, "Which direction?"

The soldier told him everything. Agents talked on their phones relaying the information. More people were coming in and out now. The room was becoming crowded. John ran to the corner and picked up the coat before running off.

Myers looked at John and made an instant decision; she quickly put one of the agents in charge and ran after John.

As she caught up with John she said, "You do know that, that coat is evidence."

"He loves this coat." John said nothing more on the subject, as if his words should be enough of a justification for his actions.

Myers sighed but said nothing else about the coat; she chose to change the subject.

"What did you say to him?" Myers was curious.

"I told him that I've already killed to save Sherlock and if necessary I'll do it again." John's face was still unreadable.

Mary glance at him then glanced away. "Good bluff, I almost believed you."

John said nothing but started a light jog. He pulled out his phone with his free hand as he juggled the coat and phone without slowing his pace.

Myers wordlessly started to jog beside him as she pulled out a torch and turned it on. She glanced at John as he spoke on the phone. She now came to the conclusion that it was not a bluff.

A/N: a torch can also be called a flashlight.