NEXT CHAPTER C:

Sebastian winces on Greg's behalf, sliding further back against the wall. Jim kicks the unconscious inspector hard in the ribs.

"You're lucky you're a good shot, Moran, or there would be a bullet between your eyes," he hisses. Sebastian doubts that but dares not say it, simply nodding.

Sherlock hears the gunshots from upstairs and curls up further, hoping no one is dead. Especially not Sebastian. He sits and wonders if he should go downstairs and check on him. He sounded like he was getting a pretty good beating from Jim. And Greg...Oh dear god GREG! The gunshots. If it wasn't Sebastian getting shot then maybe it was Greg?! Or what if it wasn't even Jim behind the gun? What if Jim was dead by the inspector's hand? He jumped out of the bath and ran to the door. He pushed the furniture out of the way before jumping onto the bed and sitting up. The door slowly creaked open. Sherlock held his breath and buried his face in his knees.

"Sherlock..." It was Sebastian. The sniper had taken Lestrade's body to a cell downstairs and went to check on the detective.

Sherlock looks rather relieved as he looks over Sebastian- hurt, but not shot.

"W-who got shot?" he murmurs. Jim or Greg. He's not sure whom he'd prefer to have been shot. But Sebastian doesn't look too upset, so it couldn't be Jim...

"Was it Greg?" he whispers, looking rather afraid for the answer.

Sherlock felt Sebastian's arm weigh heavy on his shoulders. He linked his fingers through the sniper's before realising what he was doing. He jolted, stood up and walked backwards until his back was against the wall.

"I don't want to hurt you." He mewed weakly. "You're being hurt because of me." Sherlock put his arms up in a weak sign of defiance. Sebastian grabbed his arms and pinned them above of his head. Sebastian was sick and tired of Jim at this point. Although over the years he's done pretty well hiding it. He'd made friends every now and again but they had never been one of Jim's captive's. He tilted his head and kissed him. Sherlock flinches at the sudden pining of his wrists though he relaxes marginally into the kiss. He flinches again and moves his head away from the sniper, breaking the kiss.

"He'll just hurt you after. You don't deserve to be hurt because of me." His next words are almost inaudible. "I'm not worth it."

Sebastian lifts Sherlock's chin a little and looked at his eyes.

"Is that seriously what you believe? That you're not worth it? If you weren't it, I would have killed you instead of leaving a scratch." Sebastian traced the line of stitches with his finger.

Sherlock shies away at the touch. "You should have. Then you wouldn't get hurt and maybe everyone would be happy."

"I wouldn't be." Sebastian frowns again. He opens his mouth to say something but the words are lost to the door slamming open. The sniper jumped and attempted to untangle himself from Sherlock. The detective panicked and pulled away but Sebastian's metal dog tags were caught in his shirt collar, unfortunately bringing the two men together. Sebastian turned his head to look at the newcomer. He frowned and looked up. Into the dark eyes of James Moriarty. Sherlock whimpered and tore the tags free from the fabric in a desperate bid to get free. Sebastian stood up a bit straighter and pulled Sherlock behind him protectively.

"Sebastian Augustus Xavier Moran." Jim growled under his breath. Sebastian swallowed. Jim had never, well nobody had ever, used his full name before. "You just never learn do you?" Jim flicked his wrist downward and a blade swiped into his hand.

Sherlock is terrified – for both himself and Sebastian. He tried to tell him that this was a bad idea. His eyes flit between Jim and the door. He can't run, effectively, and there's a good chance that it'll only make Jim angrier. But Sebastian...he needs to do something for the sniper, because he can tell that the larger man is cowed as it is by the usage of his full name, which he takes as a bad sign. He pulls away from Sebastian, stepping around him and walking over to Jim, looking rather scared but not daring to wait a second longer. He's wary of the knife as he slips to his knees, eyes lowered in a sign of submission.

"Jim, please. Nothing happened, I promise. Please leave him alone. He didn't do anything."

Jim says nothing. He twists the blade into his hands and looks between the two men. He then darted forward slamming the handle of the knife into Sherlock's cheek with enough force to break it. The detective drops to the floor, holding his right hand to his broken cheekbone.

Sebastian hears the crunch of metal hitting bone. He darts forwards to help him, panicking.

"Wrong choice Sebby." Jim says, almost playfully, before throwing the knife. Jim had a pretty good aim with knives, even if that skill was somewhat rendered useless since he never tracked anyone but Sherlock down. He had people to do that for him. The blade embedded itself in Sebastian's shoulder. The blond man stumbles back, clutching his shoulder. Blood flowed between his fingers and he dropped to his knees.

Sherlock's in absolute agony. Tears slip out, unbidden, blurring his vision as he sees Jim throw the knife at Sebastian. He feels guilty as he takes the criminal's distraction as an opening and slides out the open door before clambering to his feet shakily and running as best he can down the hall. He wrenches open a random door halfway down as his strength evaporates and steps through, shutting and locking it before frantically looking around the room. It seems to be a bedroom so he bolts for the bathroom and locks that door too, hiding in the cabinet under the sink and crying softly, which only serves to make his cheek hurt more. He knows Jim will find him but hopefully he'll give Sebastian a chance when he comes for his prisoner rather than an employee.

Sebastian jumps as Sherlock runs past. He collapses against the wooden dresser and smashes through it. He couldn't help but smile slightly because he knows if he could keep Jim there for long enough, Sherlock might have a chance at escapingbut Sebastian would almost certainly be killed Jim turned away from him and began making his way out the door. Without a pause for thought, Sebastian leaned forwards and wrapped one hand around Jim's ankle and pulled sharply. The criminal hit the floor with a smack. Sebastian pulled the knife out of his shoulder but he dropped it as his muscles began convulsing with agony. While he was down, Jim got to his feet, brushed the blood from the cut on his face and stood there panting.

"So sickeningly brave but unfortunately useless." He cut the knife into the bottom of Sebastian's jaw. "You love him don't you?" Sebastian looked at the floor and said nothing.

Sherlock waits and waits, but no footsteps come. Perhaps Jim is taking his anger out on Sebastian. He feels guilty, but he can't bring himself to get up and go back into the room. He just can't. Everything hurts inside and out, and he's exhausted physically and emotionally. Pain and loss of blood is making him lightheaded, and he doubts he could manage to even get back to that room without passing out in the hallway Sebastian had said that Jim wouldn't kill him- he's a necessary part of the Empire. And Sebastian came on to him, even when he said not to, so he shouldn't feel guilty. He does, but his limbs are trembling from exhaustion, and he can't do much about it now. His last thought before letting himself pass out is that hopefully Jim will just kill him, when he finds him.

Sebastian keeps his eyes to the floor, hoping Sherlock had managed to get somewhere relatively safe. Jim bent down and picked up the knife. He twirled it again, something he does before attacking someone.

"You wouldn't kill me. You need me." Sebastian was clutching at straws to try and stay alive. Jim just tilted his head and continued to twirl the knife.

"I'm sure I could get by. You're not the only one who knows how to aim a rifle." Sebastian tries to stand up, bringing his feet firmly underneath him and his hands flat on the floor. He stood up shakily, placed one hand on his shoulder. He could no longer hear any footsteps from down the hall. He and Jim stared at each other for minutes that seemed like hours.

"You remember the fun we used to have?" Jim was smiling again now He chuckled darkly and began walking towards him. Sebastian said nothing but swallowed hard.

"I'm sure Sherlock would love to see what I can reduce you too." He smiled again and raised an eyebrow. Sebastian eyes the knife, fear coursing through his veins like fire. The first 8 months he'd spent with Jim had been worse than hell, and the threat of having them repeated was more than terrifying.

"You're going to risk your best and most loyal employee for almost 10 years simply because I kissed Holmes? Look at the tapes. He was terrified and pushing me away. He doesn't care. He left now and didn't come back either. He couldn't care less, and all I wanted was the sex, which I didn't think would be a problem considering what you've had me do in the past. Look at the tapes and you can see clearly that I'm not lying- he burst into tears the second I touched him."

Jim tilts his head and considered. He ran the knife across Sebastian's jaw, still smiling.

"Still..."

Sebastian swallows again. Memories from past months flashed through his brain again as Jim moved the knife lower across his jaw and onto his neck. He tilts his head back slightly, not daring to move any further.

"Sir? If you're planning on keeping Holmes, I think you should find him now He was considering suicide a few minutes ago, and now, with neither of us there with him, would be the opportune time.

Jim smile disappeared before taking the blade away from his sniper's neck.

"Where is he?" His voice was cold and devoid of the shred of humanity he had left.

"I don't know." Sebastian stated simply It was true; he had no idea where Sherlock could have gone. "You're the one who broke into the three most secure places in Britain, you find him."

This was the bravest Sebastian had been in a long time. To begin with, Sebastian would dare talk back to Jim now he felt the need to protect Sherlock, by any means necessary.

Jim punches him, at the tone, the knife leaving a cut across his cheek. His other hand squeezes the stab wound viciously, causing Sebastian to shout, legs collapsing beneath him once more He delivers a sharp kick, snarling and leaving Sebastian hunched over in pain on the floor. His eyes are dark with anger and malice. "Whatever's put this attitude of yours back up, Moran, I suggest you get it under control, or I will for you." He turns and walks over to the door, strolling out and locking the door behind him. Sebastian will be punished more later. For now, he needs to find Sherlock.

Sebastian lifted up his head painfully and watch Jim go. His stab wound was leaking blood again and he could no longer find the strength to get up. He stayed on the floor for a few moments before getting to his knees Sherlock couldn't have gone far, there's no way he would have the will to Sebastian stayed down for a while then got to his shaky feet. He had to find Sherlock before Jim did.

Pulling the key from the door, Jim grabs his mobile from his pocket, sending a mass text to everyone on property.

Find Holmes.

Moments later, feet are pounding down the halls above and below him, as well as down his hall, though he quickly sends them away. He has an idea. Sebastian had said that Sherlock didn't care, but he's not entirely convinced. And if he thinks Moran is in danger? He pulls out his gun and fires at the door, which hardly splinters- wood layered over steel. But Sherlock doesn't know that he's outside the room, away from Moran.

He smirks as he hears faint movement from behind one of the doors, though which one, he can't quite tell. He fires again, pretending to be screaming at Sebastian before crossing his arms, eyeing the hall expectantly.

Sherlock stays as far away from the door as he can but stays close enough to hear what was happening. He could hear gunshots and raised voices from Jim but nothing so far from Sebastian His head tilts toward the window, Sebastian was being hurt because of him The last thing Sherlock wanted to do, after everything Sebastian had done for him, was to hurt him His knees begin to shake more violently after every gunshot He looks around the room again trying to gather his bearings. Then his eyes fell on the window ledge. Still using the wall for support, Sherlock made his way over to the concrete overhang before pulling the latch open and looking down. The wall went straight down and the courtyard was flat Hitting that from this height would almost certainly kill him. He stops for a moment, considering the effect this would have on Sebastian but as Jim was now proving the sniper would be better off without. The world around him started to slow down. Soon, the only thing he could hear was his thundering heartbeat in his temples He'd been in this place before. Two years ago. On top of Bart's. And if Sebastian was anything remotely like John Watson, he'd get over it. It would take him a while but he'd move on. It was for the best, he couldn't let Jim hurt him anymore. Just as he was ready to jump, the door slammed open and Jim grabbed his collar, pulling him away from the ledge.

If Jim was angry before, he's beyond livid at this point, not that it exactly shows. Every employee he has knows that the calmer he looks, the worse his anger is. He tosses Sherlock away from the window; onto the floor as he latches shut the window once more. Two of his men are blocking the door so Sherlock can't run. When he turns to the ex-detective, his face is deceptively calm.

"That, my dear, was both foolish and disappointing"

Sherlock looks up at the criminal, trembling.

"Sebastian..." He mummers almost inaudibly Jim just laughed harshly.

"I knew you cared about him. Again, wrong decision. He's been...taken care of. He won't be kissing you anytime soon" He tutted. "What would Johnny Boy think? You falling in love with one of Britain's most wanted? Naughty."

Sherlock looks to the two men at the door, seeing no way of possible escape and this time Sebastian wasn't around to save him.

Jim's lips curl as he notices the look "Oh, dear. Sebby isn't going to come saving you, darling. He doesn't care" He crouches down, running his thumb along the man's broken cheek and earning him a pained whine from the detective. "You've been terribly disappointing, Sherly. I tried playing nice, but you had to go pining after Dear John and it all went downhill after that didn't it? You went from Johnny to me to Sebby in only a day," he tsks. "And now you want to die." He shrugs a bit "I'm going to give you a test run."

Sherlock was confused and scared at what that meant. Memories of John caused tears to come fresh to his eyes but he quickly shook them away.

"He cares." Sherlock manages to whine weakly.

"Sebby? Of course he doesn't. He only wanted you for the sex. He said it himself."

Sherlock's face fell but he was determined not to give Jim the satisfaction.

"What do you mean, test run?"

Jim smiles pleasantly.

"Of death. Obviously" He gestures with a hand, and a shot is released from one of the guns, a dart burying itself in the back of Sherlock's neck and making him slump bonelessly immediately, still completely awake but unable to move. The two guards stalk forwards to pick him up, and Jim smirks at the detective as he's carried out. "Have fuuun"

He's brought downstairs and everything immediately becomes horrifyingly clear as a coffin is brought in by another team of men, and Sherlock lowered, unable to protest, inside and the top nailed on.

:3

SHERLOCK'S NOT DEAD EITHER.

I SEEM TO ENJOY THIS.

THE NEXT ONE WILL BE UP EXTREMELY SOON AS I'VE FORGOTTEN TO UPDATE AS WE WRITE. :S