The next morning, I was up by six-thirty, watching the clouds adjust their colors with a steaming cup of tea in my hand. You and Jandi were still asleep, you in the bedroom and he on the sofa, and so I tried to be as quiet as I could as I made myself usefully and worked on cleaning up our disaster of a kitchen.

It started when I needed a place to put down my computer while waiting for the kettle, but it turned into a full-fledged cleaning session when I realized that some of your test-tubes and instruments were collecting dust. You hadn't had a lot of time to experiment lately, with all the work Lestrade had been piling you into, and it wasn't good for your equipment to lay out where it could be broken or contaminated. You wouldn't miss it for a while, anyway, so I took my chance.

Once I could see the color of the table, I set down my laptop and opened it to my e-mail account. There was no reply from Sholto yet, but I wasn't all too disappointed. I left it open and kept cleaning, moving from the table to the countertop.

Jandi stirred a little later, around eight, and greeted me sleepily. The stove was at least mostly clean by then, so I fired it up and made a skillet of eggs for the two of us. You were going to be on a diet of broth and milk for a few days, so I didn't bother making any for you. Around nine, I heard the telly in our room going again, so I grabbed a yogurt from the fridge and brought it to you.

The pain was still bothering you, but you claimed it wasn't as bad as yesterday. I helped you change the bandages and put some fresh ointment over the wound, then you laid back and swallowed down a few bites of yogurt. That dumb crime show was back on, so I didn't really feel like sticking around too long, but you did pull me over for a quick peck on the head before I went back out.

As I crossed the kitchen, a ding came from my computer. There was a new message in my inbox, and, sure enough, it was from Sholto. Well, it hadn't taken quite as long as I was expecting. My stomach did a happy little flip, and I sat down to open it.

Date: April 5, 2014

Time: 9:11 A.M.

To: Dr. John Watson

From: Maj. James Sholto

Subect: Re: Urgent

Hello, John. It's good to hear from you.

I wish I could help you, but in all honesty, I don't know why Macie would have told Jandi to search me out. I haven't been in contact with her at all since my deportment. She and I had been friends, obviously, and we had shared responsibility over Jahandar while he was in Ristol, but besides that, I've had no participation with the two of them since returning to the country.

Give Jandi my consolation. This situation is very strange. I understand your interest in helping Macie in whatever predicament she may be in, but I'll warn you to be careful if you're going to meddle in her personal business. Macie always meant the best, but at times she did get involved too deeply with people and societies that she should not have.

In whatever you do, please watch over yourself. Letting the police handle this might be the wisest choice where you are. If Macie has stumbled into trouble, your getting involved could cause more damage than it mends. Be wary of that.

Let me know when there are more developments. I do hope Macie is alright. I'll be expecting to hear from you soon.

JS

I sat back in my chair, drumming my fingers against the table-top and staring at the message. I was a bit frustrated to hear that he was just as confused as I was as to why Macie would send Jandi to him, and that made everything more confusing. If she really didn't have a reason, that mean there was nothing for us to work with, no trail and no leads. Sholto didn't sound quite as pessimistic as Franklin had, but he still sounded pretty sure that she had gotten herself into something serious, and that didn't make me feel any better.

Jandi joined me in the kitchen and peered at the screen. "Is that Major Sholto?" He asked.

"It is," I nodded.

"What did he say?"

"He doesn't know much." I sighed, closing the e-mail. "It looks like we're back to square one."

Jandi nodded, letting his head sag. He slid into another chair beside me, leaning his elbow up against the table.

I studied him for a moment, then shifted. "Jandi, if there's anything else you have to tell us, anything that could help, it would be very much appreciated."

"There's nothing." His eyes flashed with sadness, and he shook his head.

Date: March 5, 2014

Time: 10:52 A.M.

To: Maj. James Sholto

From: Dr. John Watson

Subject: Re: Re: Urgent

Well, that is strange. If you don't know any specifically necessary details, then I think it'd be safe to assume she'd send him to you for protection. If the both of you were supposed to be responsible for him, that would make sense. But if you do know any details as to who she met and where she went while she was in Afghanistan, that would be extremely useful.

I'll be careful. We're going to put off contacting the authorities for now, though; just until we're certain that this isn't something that could be blown out of proportion by the police or the press. Better safe than sorry. I did contact Franklin Guendolyn, from the veteran services office, but he couldn't help us much. If we find that something dangerous is going on here, we have people to call.

Thanks for your help, James. I'll stay in touch.

JW

"It really is fine, John." Greg smiled, sipping at his drink. "I figured you would be tired after the whole hospital thing, coffee was just an option. I was dog dead tired, too."

"I can imagine." I rested my cup against my thigh. "How are your cases coming?"

"They're going alright, just running real slowly. Sluggish is the right word. Painfully sluggish." He swirled his cup. "It isn't easy for me to stay awake most the time. God, what I'd give for one good night of sleep."

I nodded. "I'm sorry I had to take your leading logician off the team."

"Nah, it's fine. Sherlock's done more than his fair share's already. It's good he gets some rest, he definitely needs it. How's he doing, by the way? Has he settled down alright?"

"As alright as he can settle. You know how he is. You can't keep him down for more than five minutes without him putting up a fight. But he's resting - I think the pain's starting to get to him."

"Is he taking any meds for it?"

"No. He thought it would be better if he didn't, just in case."

"Ah, alright, that's smart of him. Tell him to get better quick, then, I'd like to have him back as soon as he's able."

"I'll tell him."

Greg's lip quirked upward, and he took another swig of his coffee. The clouds had pulled back just a bit from the sky, letting a few strands of sunlight stream through, warming up the air and brightening the trees. Gladstone sat comfortably at our feet, his tongue lolling out of his mouth and panting happily. Hyde Park was quiet and calm, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. No stress, no cases. We watched the people around us pass and finished off our coffees, letting ourselves recharge in the daylight.

"Since we're on the subject of Sherlock," He threw in, "I still haven't gotten a wedding invitation."

I pursed my lips. "No, we're still pushing back the date."

Greg frowned, his eyebrows curling. "Problems?"

"No, nothing like that. Sherlock is great, he's fine, it's just me. I don't know, I just feel like we moved really fast into the engagement and I don't want to make the mistake of rushing into a marriage. I don't- I'm not getting cold feet or anything, I just want to make sure we're doing this the right way, at the right speed. Once we're settled, once my meds balance out and things start to get calmer, then we'll start planning."

"That's all right and good," He nodded, "but, you realize that, with Sherlock, nothing is going to get calm for very long."

"Yes, I know. But-" I sighed. "I just want more time."

"Alright. That's fine, of course." He affirmed. "How does Sherlock feel about that?"

I laughed. "He's not too happy."

"Oh, I believe it."

I shook my head.

"Have you told him about the stuff with Sholto?" He asked.

"Eh, a little." I rubbed my bad thigh, feeling a little sheepish. "I'm trying to put it off as long as I can."

Greg hummed. "That's probably not a good idea."

"It'll be fine."

"Did you at least tell him you two were interested?"

"Not quite. And, I mean, it's not that I don't want him to know, it's just that there's not a good reason he should. There's nothing there anymore, I haven't even seen the man in years. I don't think Sherlock would react in any positive way to the information, especially right now, with everything going on. It's best I just let him focus his attention on important things rather than bogging him down with extra stress."

"I think it would be more dangerous to keep him in the dark. He doesn't like not knowing things."

"I know, but it's for his own good."

"Don't you think he'll deduce it off you anyway? What's the use of hiding it if he'll just figure it out for himself?"

"If he figures it out for himself, good for him. But I'm not going to give him a free ticket."

He chuckled. "You probably won't have to."

"I don't really appreciate you being so negative," I huffed.

"Sorry, sorry. Just keep me updated."

"I will." I nodded. "I'm e-mailing the major, to see if he has any information on Macie, but so far it's looking like he doesn't know much more than we do." My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I dug inside to get to it. "We're running out of options very quickly, and I'm starting to worry if there really is nothing we can do, after all."

"If there isn't, that's alright, though. It never really was your battle in the first place."

"She's important to me, I want to do what I can for her. Especially since we're in that line of... work..." I stared at my phone screen.

Jandi missing from the flat. Front door open. - SH

"John?" Lestrade squinted his eyes. "What is it?"

"Jesus Christ," I murmured, "I've got to get home."

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"Jandi's gone off somewhere." I said, standing up. Gladdie hopped into action. "He might be lost. Oh, Jesus."

"Need me to help look? I have my car," Greg offered, following.

"If you're not busy."

"I'm not too busy," He tossed his cup in the trash can. "Let's get going."

You in a cab and Greg and I in his police car, we combed through the streets surrounding Baker Street and snaked off into the rest of London, our eyes peeled for anyone resembling Jandi. We had no idea why he had gone out or where he was headed, but we searched as far as was possible. You recounted the story over text: you had fallen asleep in the bedroom, and he had evidently gone right out the front door. By the time you woke, the house was empty, and you sent me the text.

We spent a little over an hour just driving up and down various streets, and Greg and I were both getting restless, so we decided to start walking. I barely even noticed my leg, and I was grateful for that. After another hour Greg put out a report for the officers in the area to keep a look-out, too. I was nervous about that, and what Jandi's reaction would be if a policeman approached him, but it was the best we could get. We walked and down Marylebone, from Regent's Park to Hyde Park, with no sign of Jandi, and time kept passing.

Sundown was coming fast. There was no word, and there was no sign of him. You decided to leave the taxi behind and join us on the street. We were just about to head into Regent's, but stopped to wait for you at York Gate. As you climbed out of the car, we were able to see just how stone pale you were, frustrated with our lack of progress and wrapping your coat tightly around yourself. You stepped out and walked forward without hesitation, even with a bit of velocity.

"He couldn't have gotten too far, unless he took the tube," You said, not quite talking to either of us. "But where could he have been going?"

"Wait, Sherlock," I got closer to you, giving you a doctor's once-over. "How are you feeling?"

"Fine," You replied. "Let's get m-"

"No," I put a hand on your arm, and the other on your stomach. You glared down at me. "Why aren't you in pain?"

"I took morphine before I left. Now, if we can s-"

"Morphine?" I frowned.

"It was an emergency, and I could hardly move." You defended, shooting me a glance.

"I thought you got rid of your morphine."

"Can we please deal with the problem at hand."

I paused, then decided to let it go, at least for the time being. You gave me a curt nod and got moving, Lestrade and I falling quickly into step with you, moving with the current of the crowd. The cars bustling around us seemed to make the search even more stressful. Jandi could be lost, hurt, scared, panicking, anywhere on these streets, subject to anyone who could find him.

"Sherlock, we're not going to find him by ourselves, not once it's dark," I said, jogging to catch up with you. "Let's call Mycroft."

"Mycroft isn't in the country," Greg interjected.

"And he won't be happy for us to be bothering him about this," You agreed.

"We're running out of options, dammit!" I shouted. "If we just let h-"

"Sherlock," Greg grabbed your arm and pointed. You turned; across the street, a young woman with a cigarette-in-hand had her eyes pointedly resting on us. The crowd swelled and moved around her as she raised the cigarette to her lips, a smile curling with her breath of smoke. She motioned for us to come closer, and immediately I was filled with a sense of fear, as if this woman were the last person in the world we wanted to be following. But you were captured.

"Do you know her?" You asked, stepping toward the street.

"I don't. Ey, Sh-" Lestrade reached out to stop you. "Sherlock, stop. She's probably just some crackhead messing with us."

"If you have a better lead to follow, I'd like to see it," You snapped, pulling away from him and into the road.

When the woman saw that we had followed, she tossed her cigarette onto the ground and began walking, cutting through the crowd in the opposite direction of the way it was flowing. We came after her as fast as we could manage, falling into line with each other and fighting the rest of the walk. You struggled to keep your eyes on her head as it bobbed with the rest. She strode with confidence, leading us up Marylebone Road, disappearing and reappearing in the crowds like a beacon, glancing back every so often to make sure we were still there. You slowly gained ground as we made our way back up toward Baker Street.

We reached Allsop Plaza just as our mystery woman vanished, and the rough crowd nearly pushed you into a rage. You kept your arm nestled over your side, spinning around and knocking people out of your way as you peeled through the faces, waiting for recognization. You found it, but it wasn't the one you were expecting.

"He's there, John!" You shouted. "Down there!"

You bolted across the street before either of us could stop you. Cabs and cars blared their horns at you, and it was nothing short of a miracle that you weren't hit, but you barely even noticed. You zeroed down quickly on the little man you saw, bundled up at the corner of the plaza.

Lestrade and I joined you as you were helping him onto his feet. His left eye was swollen and his mouth was bloody, both mostly hidden by his hood, but was nursing his arm and ribs, which was the part I was really worried about. He wobbled on his feet as he regained his balance, and as I reached him, I put both hands on his arms, causing him to wince.

"I tried to get back, I swear I did," He was saying, his voice shaky. "But I just- I'm not used to-"

"What the hell were you doing out?" I demanded. "You weren't supposed to leave the flat!"

Jandi burst into tears, and I didn't really know what to do. Lestrade called in to recall the report, and you craned your neck over the heads of the crowd, your eyes searching and preening and growing darker by the minute. The woman was gone, drowned in the crowd as the sun dipped behind the street. There was no finding her now.

Lay all your reviews on the bed, then I'll lay in it instead.

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