Sherlock story

Deleted Memories, Chapter 153

Warning: post Reichenbach spoilers. Hope you enjoy

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A/N: Folie à deux means Madness of two

"I felt despair. Though it seems to me now there's two kinds of it: the sort that

causes a person to surrender and then the sort I had which made me take risks

and make plans." ~ Erica Eisdorfer, The Wet Nurse's Tale, 2009

They pulled up and parked quickly. They exited as Lestrade helped Sherlock. When Lestrade realized that, his brilliant plan to have Sherlock collapse so that the emergency personnel could take him to the hospital would not work. He changed places with John. Lestrade had underestimated the younger Holmes sheer will, and stubbornness of spirit. John was looking tired but still not complaining. Lestrade was helping now so that John could rest. Donovan eyed John and walked beside him, keeping an eye on him.

No one was there but emergency personnel, agents, and one insane but determined television crew. They at least were kept a block away. Everyone else had enough sense to leave.

An agent ran up and gave Sherlock an earphone. Sherlock held it to his right ear.

"Sherlock Holmes… what do you … think you're doing." Mycroft was not happy. Sherlock did not bother to ask him how he knew he was there.

"Lestrade said you were hurt. Lestrade is supposed to take … you to… hospital." Mycroft took a little longer than normal to finish a sentence.

"Lestrade was overreacting. I just had the wind knocked out of me so to speak, I'm fine." Everyone looked at Sherlock with raised eyebrows. He ignored them.

Mycroft muttered under his breath about his stubborn brother.

"I can still hear you Mycroft. These are very clear headpieces." He held the earphone to his ear as John helped him put it in.

"Only the best… Sherlock." Mycroft voice paused for a bit.

"Hard day at the office, Mycroft?" Sherlock frowned but was careful to keep his voice casual. He bit his lips when he did not hear anything. He did not ask Mycroft if he was hurt. There was no need. He frowned and was about to repeat himself but decided to give Mycroft another second or two.

There was a pause then Mycroft finally spoke.

"A bit."

"Did they program the code in yet?" Sherlock asked, determined to stop the bomb.

Determined to get Mycroft help as soon as possible.

"It's in the phone… we are getting ready to hit send now." Mycroft had a short conversation with someone but Sherlock could not make out what was said.

"Mycroft, something about the code is bothering me, something Ayyad said. I need to see the bomb and the site." Sherlock eyed the doors but knew entering would trigger the bomb until it was deactivated.

"I knew you would… look to your right." Another agent came with a computer. It had a video link to the room with the bomb. He handed it wordlessly to Sherlock.

Sherlock looked around, finding nowhere to sit he looked at John. "Help him down, Lestrade." John said as he looked into his eyes.

Lestrade helped Sherlock slide to the ground. He thinned his lips in discomfort. He took a few seconds to breath through the pain. He had one leg straight, the other bent to hold the laptop and to keep it from sliding. John sat beside him, he looked at him with concern. He nodded at John to reassure him, then turned his attention away from the group. Lestrade bent down and Donovan knelt.

"How long?" Sherlock asked.

"Twelve minutes… Sherlock." Sherlock closed his eyes briefly.

"They're getting ready to hit send now…" Mycroft started to say.

"WAIT" Sherlock said, "Give me a minute." Sherlock could hear the bomb expert take up the phone. He started arguing at Sherlock. Sherlock wordlessly took out the earphone and gave it to John as he went into his mind.

John took the earphone and frowned as he heard the irate man argue. He recognized the voice immediately. It was Butler. John lost patience as he spoke between gritted teeth. "Shut up and listen Butler. He will be with you shortly!"

Sherlock hands moved as his mind took apart and put back together the codes and symbols.

He frowned, something still seemed … wrong.

"It's seven minutes!" Butler, who was quiet for a moment, started speaking again with a raised voice.

"Sherlock will be with you momentarily," John said as he bit his lower lip but did not allow anyone to interrupt Sherlock.

Everyone, including the agent's, eyes were on Sherlock. He never noticed.

Sherlock's mind worked furiously.

"What did he say?" Sherlock asked himself in his mind.

"It will not do you any good, Mr. Holmes unless I have some sort of sign that you surrender…"

"It will not do you any good, Mr. Holmes unless I have some sort of sign that you surrender…"

"Sign that you surrender…"

"Sign that you surrender…"

"Symbols that you give up…"

"Take away the symbols."

Five minutes were left.

Sherlock eyes flew open, as he grabbed the earphone. "Take away all the symbols keep the letters and numbers." The expert started to argue about how there are always symbols in bomb codes. Sherlock lost all patience.

"I understand that you're nervous, but my brother is in there, I am directly outside. If you blow up so do I. I promise to allow you to say I told you so if that happens. Now correct the code… and... Push! Send!"

He heard Mycroft's weak voice in the background telling the expert to do as Sherlock said. He watched the man over the laptop screen as he adjusted the codes and double-checked himself.

Sherlock looked at Lestrade and Donovan then John. John nodded as he put his hand on Sherlock's shoulder. Sherlock forced a smiled. Mycroft's voice came on the earphone line again as Sherlock held it to his ear. "Sherlock."

Sherlock frowned at how weak he sounded. "Mycroft, stay awake… okay." Sherlock hated the fact that his voice broke a little.

"I'll try… my upmost…, see you soon."

The bomb expert, Butler looked at the timer, three minutes to go, he stood within a yard and sent up a silent prayer as he licked his dry lips. He thought of his wife and child, as he took a breath and with a shaky hand, hit send.