Standing in the shadow of a tree Sherlock saw the captives being dragged back into the house. He and John had arrived too late to do anything to stop it happening, too far away to be of help.
They were not too far however for Sherlock's sharp eyes to see Moriarty briefly in the doorway. He hissed in disgust as he caught the words '…shoot the boy.'
"Was that…..?" John stood close, speaking low.
"Yes. We might have known he was pulling the strings on London's most vicious gang." He turned to the man beside him. "What now? He doesn't just have Lestrade and Donovan, he has your kids."
"How many men?"
"I'd say there's just him, Dimmock and two others."
John folded his arms and bowed his head, and Sherlock recognised the military tactician coming to the fore. He waited as the ex-soldier rocked slightly on his heels and rubbed a hand across his chin, seeing the point at which he came to a decision.
Pulling the younger man round to stand in front of him, John placed a hand gently on Sherlock's cheek.
"If I wasn't everything you thought I was would you still want this?" his hand gestured between them. "Even if Mycroft was proved right to be suspicious?"
"John?"
"No matter." John sighed and turned his back