Sherlock was lost in thought, piecing things together so he could work out and put an end to this game. Kovarian. The woman who kidnapped Mrs. Pond and stole her child. There was every possibility that she was the same person who orchestrated not only Rose's kidnapping, but her appearance in his flat, James' appearance, Adam's, and the Doctor's. Actually, it was more than a possibility. She used Flesh before and it was being used again. She used kidnapping before and it was being used again. The more he thought about it, the more pieces fit together.

If it was Kovarian, what was her goal? Her end game? The first time it'd been to kill the Doctor, but he survived, which meant, this must be a second attempt. The clone, he shared the Doctor's memories, was, according to the Time Lord, the same person. He would be quite valuable to someone who wanted to kill the Doctor. Then there was Rose, the woman the Time Lord was in love with. As much as Sherlock hated thinking about that it played into the puzzle. She was important. What would the Doctor do to save her? The detective knew what he'd do, but he couldn't be sure the Time Lord would do the same. He said he'd do anything to save her, but was there a line to that, and if so, where was it drawn?

Kovarian would use Rose to kill the Doctor, if he was there, so that left one option.

"He has to leave," Sherlock said, coming out of his thoughts.

Mrs. Pond was gone. He blinked, looking around the empty room. Everyone was gone. She'd just been sitting on the sofa. They'd just been talking. He glanced at the clock on the wall. No, they'd been talking six hours ago.

He stood up and crossed the room to the TARDIS. Then he opened the door and stepped inside. The vast control room stretched out before him, giving him that unsettling feeling. He didn't like the Doctor's ship, didn't like it in the least. He knew why it was the way it was. How it was larger on the inside, but it made him feel small and that feeling didn't sit well with him.

Sherlock crossed the room. The Doctor didn't appear to be there. A noise reached the detective and then another. Welding, that's what it sounded like, but it was coming from…he glanced at the glass floor. The Doctor was under the floor working on the ship. He was sitting in some sort of swinging harness. The detective crossed to the stairs and walked down.

"Doctor," he said, when he drew level with the Time Lord.

The Doctor stopped working and slid his goggles up.

"Yes," the Time Lord said.

"You need to leave."

The Doctor gave him a confused look.

"Sorry?"

"This whole thing has been orchestrated to trap you, to kill you."

"And?"

So, he knew? Knew this whole time and he stayed? Did he care at all that Rose's life was in danger because of him?

"And as long as you're here she'll be in danger."

"And you think my leaving will fix that?"

If he wasn't there Kovarian couldn't use anyone against him. Rose would be safe. Couldn't he see that?

"I believe there's a good chance. Yes."

"And if it doesn't?"

"If you leave whoever's after you will have no reason to stay."

"Look, if I thought leaving would keep her safe I would, but I can't be sure they'll follow me."

Why wouldn't they?

"There's a good chance," Sherlock said.

"A chance, yes, but there's also a chance they'll stay," the Doctor replied.

"I'll take that chance."

"Maybe you will, but I won't. You can't fight them on your own."

"Sorry?"

He glared at the man. Did the Time Lord think he was incapable of taking care of her? He might be human, but he wasn't an ordinary human and he would do whatever was necessary to keep her safe.

"They pulled the TARDIS out of the Time Vortex and through a rip in the universe, a rip that they created. Whoever's behind this has power and they're not afraid to use it. If I leave what's to say they won't pull me back, what's more, what's to say they'll let me leave?"

The Doctor was right. Kovarian might not let him leave and if he did get away she might pull him right back. That would buy them some time, but that's not what Sherlock was after. He wanted to put an end to this.

"Mrs. Pond is under the impression that whoever's behind this is the same woman who kidnapped her and stole her child."

That darkness crept back into the Doctor's eyes.

"I think she's right."

"As do I. There are too many similarities."

"If it is her we'll find out soon enough," the Doctor said, turning back to his work.

Sherlock walked away, up the stairs and across the control room. He hoped the Doctor was right because when she showed herself he'd be ready. When she did he'd put an end to her games forever.


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