Think. Think. Think.
What's going to be different between the actual evidence, and the evidence that has been planted?
How can I tell the difference...?
Sherlock held up two bags in front of his face, his gaze shifting from one to the other.
Evidence... that was put there purposely... it would be more obvious.
Draw attention away from the accidental...
Sherlock pulled out the most obvious pieces of evidence.
Wait, whoever did this was smart, seemed to know how I work...
What if it's the minuscule evidence that was left on purpose?
What if it's a double bluff?
But if they're so smart, why did they make the mistakes they did and leave the more obvious things?
What if they planted both the obvious and the unobvious just to make me second guess myself?
Sherlock started to put the evidence back in their places, but the paused, his hand hovering over one of the bags.
"No."
Lestrade glanced at Sherlock.
"What?" Jayden asked. "We're just eating."
Sherlock glanced up at them momentarily, just long enough to see that they were chowing down on pizza. Sherlock looked back down to his work, and responded.
"Ignore me, I was talking to myself."
"Yeah, about that, don't you think it's about time for you to take a quick break?" Lestrade asked. "It's past noon now."
"Not yet," Sherlock muttered, "I think I'm close to finding something."
No.
Go with original assumption.
There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact...
Whoever masterminded this operation was counting on me doubting myself, so my first instinct must be right.
A voice broke through Sherlock's thoughts.
Go away. Go away. Go away.
Sherlock quickly dispelled any attempts at conversation.
I'm close, so close...
Come on...
Sherlock pressed his fingers to his head, going deep into the realms of his mind.
He walked down several corridors before finally getting to the room he called his filming room. The filming room was the room that would allow him to imagine how the kidnapping had occurred, despite not being there.
Less evidence...
Minimize evidence...
Sherlock ran scenario after scenario after scenario.
John snuck past the cameras quietly as he could, as to not set off the noise detectors. He quickly removed their batteries once he was behind them.
I can do this, almost there. Just a little farther.
John stopped away back from the door, and saw that there were more than enough security measures preventing him from exiting. He quickly disposed of the cameras, and located the pressure pads. The only issue was the light sensors.
I've made it this far, I'm not going back now. John thought. Think. Think. Think. Oh gosh, I'm thinking like Sherlock now. Having mental dialogue... Actually, that might just be helpful. Not the mental dialogue, but the- Gosh, is it always so chaotic in Sherlock's mind?
No, back on track, stay focused.
What would Sherlock do?
John glanced around the room, looking for any other exit. He saw none suitable.
Alright, the light sensors obviously work using light.
When the beam is disrupted, the alarm goes off.
So all I have to do is redirect the beam.
John looked at the wall and smiled.
Mirrors.
John soon had the mirrors arranged to where he could step around the light beam, instead of onto it.
John slipped out the door, only to run straight into someone.
Mycroft.
How did he get past the pressure pads? And the cameras? And the light sensor? Mycroft thought.
Why wasn't I notified that he was trying to escape?
"I hope you've enjoyed your second of freedom, Dr. Watson," Mycroft said. "because you're not getting another one until the prank has ended. Back inside."
I was so close...
Wait- no. I'm not giving up.
"This is getting out of hand, Mycroft." John said. "It's not funny anymore. It's cruel, actually."
"Hm." Mycroft hummed.
"I'm going back." John said.
John walked past Mycroft, but paused in the door way when he was spoken to again.
"I don't think you are, actually." Mycroft passively, though John sensed a challenge.
"I was a soldier." John said.
"I'm sure you were a great one, but I'm not sure fists will be of much use against a gun." Mycroft said. "You're welcome to try though."
John glanced around the room, using only his eyes, but saw nothing. Just as he turned his glance back to Mycroft, there was a little wisp like sound, and a dart embedded itself into John's arm.
Immediately, his vision started to darken.
"Good night, Dr. Watson."
John had only one thought before he drifted into unconsciousness.
Did that come from Mycroft's umbrella?
Lestrade heard a thump, and looked up to see that Sherlock had unexpectedly stood up after hours of sitting in the same position, hardly moving.
"I need to test a theory," he said, "I'm going to the flat, I'll be back in a bit. Where's Jayden?"
"He went with Anderson to ask Molly's opinion on something they found in the evidence." Lestrade said. "They should be back in a bit."
"Can Jayden stay with you?" Sherlock asked.
"'Course." Lestrade nodded. "What should we do while you're gone?"
Sherlock bit his lip.
"There's a woman, Mrs. Turner," Sherlock said. "She lives next door to us, and might have seen the kidnapping. Call her down to the station and interrogate her. She rents out the flat above her own, so you'll want to speak with the residents there as well. Let Jayden watch, he might enjoy it. You could even show him the ropes, if you were bored enough."
Lestrade shot him a thumbs up.
Sherlock walked down the street, having decided he would rather walk than take a cab.
As he walked, he found himself breathing in and out deeply, trying to relax himself. So much was happening so fast, that even Sherlock's mind was having trouble keeping up.
He walked up the stairs to the flat, inserting his key into the door. He walked in, and placed himself in the center of the room.
Go over it again, minimize evidence...
See what would still be there depending on the different methods of abduction.
Sherlock tested out hundreds of different possible solutions in his mind over the course of a couple hours.
Eventually, he found the only theory that fit every fact. But it didn't make any sense at all.
"If you eliminate the impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." Sherlock muttered to himself.
John left the house under his own accord.
He left willingly.
A/N: Well, looks like Sherlock's on his way to figuring it out then. Hmm... I wonder how he'll react? But what if he doesn't figure out all of what's going on? What if he figures out a part, then completely misinterprets its significance? And what's the deal with Mycroft's umbrella? Reviews please!