_*_*_Sherlock_*_*_
Matches! How stupid can you be? Nikki gave you the answer days ago and you went and filed it as useless information!
Sherlock scolded himself as he caught a cab heading through London.
John's life hangs in the balance and your superiority complex might kill him!
Sherlock grumbled in agreement. He had made a mistake, now John could be dead and it would be his fault, no doubt about it.
At least we are on the right track!
He told himself anxiety running through him as more and more time passed. The cab ride was taking far too long in Sherlock's opinion but he wasn't going to waste time complaining. When they had finally arrived Sherlock slipped the cabbie a few bills to wait while he searched out the warehouse. Leaving the cab Sherlock sprinted between the towering buildings hunting for his target.
Too long Sherlock!
A voice screamed in his head. Sherlock felt panic building inside him and it almost hurt as fear joined in. he forced himself to calm down worrying only for what he might find in the warehouse. Spotting a fading Dekin sign, Sherlock pushed himself to run faster.
He didn't waste a thought on waiting danger as he neared the building. Finding a small bay door Sherlock used all of his strength to pry it open. When the door gave in and slowly rolled open Sherlock hurried in.
"John!" he screamed his voice echoing around before fading into the dark. Tall windows at least twenty feet up allowed sunlight in enough to see the mass of the warehouse. There was nobody, the place was empty Sherlock spotted a lone chair near the center of the warehouse. Jogging forward, Sherlock saw an abandoned hose lying beside the chair and the floor was damp. Getting closer to the chair Sherlock looked it over.
Someone had been sitting here tied, while someone sprayed water on them.
Sherlock deduced getting a cold shiver.
John…
He had been tortured.
This knowledge made Sherlock's heart ache. A quiet buzzing sound caught his attention Sherlock glanced down to see a phone on the ground near his foot. Grabbing it up he recognized it as John's and turned it on to see a message waiting for him.
Well done Mr. Holmes. It was short and made no mention of John but Sherlock didn't have to wait long before another text came through.
There was a slight change in plans but don't fret the game is still on.
Sherlock clutched the phone tight in his hand anger rising above the fear. The phone vibrated.
I would suggest going to the Tower of London I left you a present and this one expires…
Reading through it quickly Sherlock pocketed the phone and sprinted back out of the warehouse and back towards the cab. Sherlock wasn't sure how he found the cab again after leaving the maze of warehouse but he managed and was off again.
The car flew through London breaking speeding laws but luck seemed to be on their side today and no one bothered to stop them. Sherlock watched the passing buildings scanning for the one he knew that he would see before arriving. The Tower was a busy tourist site so it would have dozens of people milling around even on a cloudy day like today.
Whatever the killer was planning Sherlock felt that there would dozens of casualties he filed that way reluctantly in 'useless information' keeping only John in mind. Sherlock barely let the cab stop before he jumped from the cab at the Tower and raced through the open area. People were everywhere taking pictures and talking in a loud buzz. Sherlock hurried through looking for a clue, a hint something to direct him.
Suddenly his eyes fell on a familiar blonde head, sat slumped over on a step leading up to the Tower. His heart jumped Sherlock headed for the man.
"John!" he cried as he drew closer.
Falling to his knees near John "No, no, no, Sherlock, no." the doctor was mumbling clearly drugged.
Sherlock touched his face searching for injuries "You're alright now I found you. I got you." Sherlock spoke quietly his heart nearly bursting with relief.
John's eyes rolled in his head to focus on him "No…Sherlock go…way…bomb," the doctor managed.
Sherlock stopped when he heard the word bomb, noting that John's jacket bulged slightly. A horrifying suspicion drove Sherlock to slowly unzip the man's jacket, revealing the very real bomb underneath.
Sherlock somehow kept his panic under control as he spotted a timer counting down, bringing his eyes to John's face "John we are going to slowly take off your jacket then the bomb, ok?" Sherlock told the doctor moving his hands to start.
One of John's hands gripped Sherlock's wrist, stopping him "Can't…remove…boom." John spoke every word hitching as he struggled to fight off the drug's effects. Sherlock saw fear in the doctor's eyes and he glanced down to see there was less than a minute remaining.
Sherlock understood.
He understood in that moment that they were truly and without a doubt going to die.
"Sher…lock," John breathed his fingers touched Sherlock's face.
When he looked up, Sherlock realized that tears had rolled down his cheeks without him noticing. John's face showed fear but held a sad smile his eyes filled with sorrow.
Sherlock scanned his friend's face noting every detail, committing it to memory, wanting to never forget the image.
"Love you." John said.
Sherlock laughed out of fear and happiness. Happy that he got to hear John say that but afraid knowing that in those last few moments that he and John would never share anything ever again.
"I love you too John," Sherlock said watching his friend, his doctor smile a bright smile.
Sherlock looked over John's face for a moment longer before folding him into an embrace. Sherlock sank into the smaller man's warmth in complete bliss.
If this had been any other moment, any other time it would have been perfect, it would have been the second best part of Sherlock's life. The first begin, when John came to live at 221B, Sherlock would have held John forever.
A quiet beeping announced the timers last few seconds but Sherlock tuned it out squeezing John tighter to him and closed his eyes.