Ok, again, sorry for all that confusion. Some got the point in this, some didn't. I will try to be clearer in the future.

Irene is not crazy. She is furious and plotting, for the purposes of this story. Sherlock was the only man who was able to beat her, and it was clear she wanted him. She had a belief of Sherlock's feelings due to his rescue of her. She also isn't used to true envy, and doesn't like how Molly got the upper hand. Plus she is locked away from just about every thing and every one, so she hasn't got much to do but think...and plan. She is a dominatrix and used to always being the one in control. Control has been taken from her and she desperately wants it back. On her own terms.

She just wasn't counting on Sherlock rubbing off on John as well as Molly...

Anyway, hope that clears things up a bit.

I had initially typed out the fantasy bit to be bold and in italics to set it apart as different. It didn't show on the upload. So I tried to do it in editing, which also didn't come out. I am so sorry. Still trying to learn how to use this site. LOL

Chapter 26

Mycroft sat in his favorite chair in his New York flat, cup of tea forgotten in his hand, his mobile dangling from his long fingers in the other.

The car was long gone. The items found and cataloged in the police station as evidence were still to come by messenger. If he had known about Laura sooner, he was sure there was more he could have done.

He glanced down at his mobile again. Latest message from Molly.

They did another brain scan on Laura. Seems there is even more activity going on in there than before. But her heart rate is altering dramatically. It will be normal for a while, then speed up like she's been running. Sent the data to Sherlock, but thought you would want to know too. - MHH

Thank you for the consideration, Molly. She is young, and will get through this. - MH

Mycroft hoped he hadn't just lied.

mmmmmmmmmm

Sherlock heard his mobile go off, signalling a text from Molly. She'd told him she wouldn't contact him unless something had changed. His back stiffened and his grip on the table turned his knuckles white. His throat turned unbearably dry.

"John... " he said in a small voice.

John understood. He stood up and walked over to Sherlock, slowly retrieving the device from its place beside the detective. Holding his breath, John read the message. Finally he was able to expel his lungs.

"She's ok, Sherlock. Her brain activity seems to be expanding, but her heart rate is apparently erratic. But she is ok, or Molly would have said otherwise. I guess she thought the information would be relevant. "

Sherlock leaned back in his chair, his eyes darting back and forth. Suddenly, he smiled. A big genuine smile.

"Clever girl! "

"I'm sorry, what? " John asked, confused.

"Laura! "

"Yeah, I figured that. But what has she done? She's in a coma, or sort of. "

"Moriarty's plan is already backfiring. "

"How so? "

"From what we have gathered, what he was doing to her increased brain function, correct. "

"Yes. "

"There have been less advances done in research used of average minds or some with mental disabilities, so thus far good and bad result. But what happens when you use such treatments on a superior mind? "

"I don't know. "

"I think we are finding out. "

"Still not quite following. "

Sherlock stood up and began to pace, still grinning.

"Surely with your background, you are familiar with the physiological and therapudic use of meditation. "

"Yes. "

Sherlock looked at John, waiting for him to catch up.

He was taking too long. Sherlock growled.

"Don't you see? Laura isn't sleeping or comatose. You said her eyes moved under their lids, like REM sleep. "

"Yes. "

"And small twitches.. "

"Yes. But that isn't completely abnormal in some... oh...OH! "

"YES! She does pay attention to me, doesn't she? She must have felt something going on in her body. Something not right. Something different. The other injections she had been given since the womb, so harder to distinguish, but this... this was different. "

Sherlock clasped his hands together and gave a throaty laugh.

"She has locked herself away in her own mind palace! She may be looking for something, or just hiding herself in memories, but she is giving her own body a chance to fight. "

"Rest would help. But Sherlock, she isn't exactly resting. "

"A Holmes never rests like average people. This IS resting for us. "

"Should you tell the doctors? "

"No. They won't know what to do with the information. Who knows what stupid thing they will try to do to help. Like that moron after Moriarty set off that bomb across from Baker St. "

"What do you mean? "

"Paramedic. Silly slip of a girl. I was unharmed, for the most part. Not even so much as a cut. But as they were boarding up our windows, she was doing all manner of ridiculous thing. Clumsy. I think she had only been on the job a short while and was trying to impress. "

"What was she doing? "

"Checking my head, " Sherlock started

"That would be normal. " John interjected.

"Yes, but she was so anxious, she ended up pulling some of my hair out. She pulled at my skin, supposedly looking for glass fragments... "

"Also normal. "

"Then she also did a scrap of my mouth. Said to check for chemical possibly inhaled. "

"Ok, that's a bit odd. "

"Very. I was going to ask, but then Mycroft showed up. "

mmmmmmmmmm

In New York...

Lestrade held Gabriel's leash as he allowed the dog to sniff over the evidence boxes before they were opened.

Mycroft sat at the table, still thumbing through the numerous files surrounding him. He was tired. More tired than he could remember ever being.

"Allow the dog to do his job, and come help me with these files, will you? " he asked Lestrade.

"Don't know how much help I'll be. But I will try. "

An hour later, Gabriel had managed to find a small doll and lovely dress that belonged to Laura, and was snuggled down with them fast asleep.

"What the hell does any of this mean? "

Mycroft looked up from the file he was looking at to glance at the one in Greg's hand. His brows drew close together.

"It looks like the DNA test we did on Laura against Sherlock. Why would Miss Adler have that? No. Its not the test. But it is definitely..." Mycroft pulled the file from Gregs hand and took his phone out of his pocket, leaving the room. Greg sighed and looked back at the dog.

It was then that he noticed something peculiar. He stood up and walked over to the snoozing canine, kneeling down beside him to gently pull the doll from under one of his strong legs.

The doll had light stains on it. His ex wife's pillow had some just like it. From when she drooled in her sleep that occurred over time. Greg wasn't sure how it could fit, but he was sure going to ask Mycroft.

Mycroft came back into the room.

"Apparently Miss Adler knew what a good many people...liked. "

"Yeah...kinda knew that. "

"Including a man by the name of Lesley Hellman. He was discharged from Barts for...lets just say, less than ethical experimentation. I have to call Sherlock. We're going home."