For John Watson

[howdull]

[Sherlock is still finding pieces of the melted laptop in the carpet.

It had actually been quite an ingenious booby trap to be devised by a fourteen year old boy with only household chemicals to work with but, as Sherlock surmised, rather overkill to keep his mother from finding his extensive porn collection. Not one of their more illustrious cases, but it had been quite entertaining to watch both the boy and mother's faces as he revealed that he did know the how and why. He lost interest after the mother started shouting and John started shouting and the whole thing turned tedious.

He rather thinks John won't actually be doing a full write-up of this one on his blog.

It's been two days since their last case and he's beginning to get more than a little antsy. Lestrade has sent him nothing, just a boring hit and run that he refused to even leave the flat for, and nobody interesting has appeared through the blog. Said blog he is currently scrolling through on John's laptop, having borrowed it again.

He did ask, it's not his fault John hadn't been in the room at the time.]

Bored, John.

[He doesn't even know if his flatmate is even in, but that's hardly a necessity for him to actually speak to John. Frustrated, he throws the laptop across the room to hit the wall, where it summarily breaks. Which is where he can be found whenever John appears, sulking amidst pieces of laptop, both from the melted one of their last case and John's poor broken one.]

Comments

[howdull]

Yes, you're dismissed.

[He leads Captain Watson out of the little room and back through the reception area, to gesture out of the building. Unfortunately, the car he came in is gone, as is Sherlock.]

[jumpthegun]

[Of course they're not. John refrains from shouting profanities. Sherlock just got bored. He's probably fine. He was just bored.]

TO: SHERLOCK
Where are you? Interview is over. If you're kidnapped again, I'm killing you myself, this time.

[howdull]

[The reply takes a couple of minutes to come through, but at least it doesn't go ignored.]

FROM: SHERLOCK
TO: JOHN
Saw Jim going in and coming out of interview, following him now. Had to take the car, so you'll have to find another way back to the flat.

[jumpthegun]

[Brilliant.]

FROM: JOHN
TO: SHERLOCK
He was pretending to be my 'counsel.' Going by James Davidson of Monkton and Milnes. I'm being investigated for war crimes. Plural. They have a list as a long as my arm, apparently. Some kid I was deployed with who's serving time now said that I was his accomplice. They have photos of me with some blokes I don't recognize and some charred dog tags with WATS on them.

This is insane. And Jim's pretending like the doesn't know me, the bastard. He made me look a proper loon in there. They knew about my service pistol, by the way, said they were going to send someone to look for it in the rubble. Surprised they didn't try to lock me up on charges straight out for admitting to that. This general they've assigned to the case, he's already made up his mind. I can tell.

Also, how the hell are you expecting me to get home? I don't have any money and I'm not calling Molly to ask her to drive out here. Have you contacted Lestrade with Jim's license plate information? Someone needs to be tracking you in case something happens.

[howdull]

[Insane? Yes. But also incredibly invigorating, Sherlock is having more fun now than he has in literal years. Not that he can say as much to John, he has such boring notions about the right way to behave, and enjoying the investigation ruining his life probably isn't allowed.]

FROM: SHERLOCK
TO: JOHN
Call Molly and have her drive you, or walk if you can't bring yourself to do that. I don't have time to bring you money for a cab.

[That's all he sends, having no interest in replying to the rest and being a bit busy driving.]

[jumpthegun]

[John makes an irritated noise in the back of his throat when he reads that and is very tempted to just throw the damn phone. He's still keyed up from the encounter with Jim and interview. The doctor closes his eyes and takes a few deep, painful breaths to center himself.]

TO: GREG LESTRADE
FROM: JOHN

Sherlock is on the tail for one of our prime suspects as an accomplice to Caroline Matthews. Could you contact him and get the car details? I'm stuck at one of the bases about three hours outside the city. Working on finding a way back. Suspect is Jim Moriarty who works IT at Barts or James Davidson who's a lawyer with Monkton and Milnes. Don't know which (if either) is real name. He was using both. Has credentials for the Davidson alias, at least. He was able to get onto a secure base and impersonate counsel from Legal Aid.

[That text sent, John, heads back inside to the reception area to see if the woman from earlier is still there. Whomever it might be, he offers them an apologetic smile.]

Hey, hi! Sorry, my ride seems to have left without me for an emergency. Is there any kind of... ride service or shuttle back to London that I could catch? I'm afraid I didn't bring any money with me.

[howdull]

[Sometimes, Lestrade thinks, it would be nice not to know these two. He could be a nice normal police detective, he could solve crimes in the usual way and not get dragged into crazy conspiracies with people who didn't have a single ounce of self preservation between them.

But then he wouldn't have the exhilaration. Then he wouldn't get to see greatness at work, and he'd rather have that any day. So, after a brief delay where he spends his time massaging his temples in frustration, he does respond.]

FROM: GREG LESTRADE
TO: JOHN WATSON
On it.

[The receptionist gives him a small professional smile, and shakes her head.]

This is a military base, sir, not a taxi firm. If you don't have the money for a cab, I can let you use our phone to call a friend or family member, if you know someone who could give you a lift or lend you the money for a taxi?

[jumpthegun]

[He's not calling Molly. He's not doing that to her. Clara is out as an option. Mrs. Hudson doesn't drive, as far as he knows. John looks toward the guarded gate and the long, empty stretch of road beyond it. Well. He'd hitchhiked before and if Caroline manages to carjack this driver, that will just be bloody impressive, really.

John starts walking as he texts Molly.]

TO: MOLLY HOOPER
FROM: JOHN

Molly, please be very careful the next while. Sherlock is tailing Jim back to the city. If you have anywhere but your own house that you can stay tonight, that'd be good. Friends or family. You could probably even stop over at Baker Street, the flat next door to ours. Mrs. Hudson and Mrs. Turner are there. Tell them you're Sherlock's friend from the morgue.

I just want you somewhere not alone if you can help it.

[gallowshumour]

[Unlike with the other two, Molly's response comes almost immediately. She's been playing with her phone most of the day, turning it on and off to make sure there's been no missed messages, so to get one is a relief. Not that she's worried about these stupid boys or anything.]

I've been thinking maybe I could come and help you? I have some portable equipment that I could bring to Sherlock's flat in case any testing needed to be done, and I don't mind sleeping on the sofa.

[She wants to help.

Not just because she worries about them, but because she feels intensely sick with guilt. She's the one Jim used to get to them, she's the one that might have inadvertently provided the information that could have got Harry killed or the flat bombed. Which makes this partly her fault, and she's desperate to do anything she can to try and fix what can be fixed.]

[jumpthegun]

[John sighs as he stops just short of the guarded gate. If Molly is offering... and this would ensure she's not around for Jim or Caroline to grab. But it's asking so much of her.]

Yeah, that could work. I'm not sure when Sherlock's going to be back there, and I'm hitchhiking back into the city, so it'll be a while before either of us are around, I'm afraid.

[gallowshumour]

Do you need to hitchhike back? Is it too dangerous for me to offer a lift?

[She wants to help, but she doesn't want to push herself in where she's not wanted. Maybe John thinks she's being followed or monitored and doesn't want her around.]

[jumpthegun]

It's not too dangerous, but it's a long drive, Molly. It took us three hours just to get out here.

[For a meeting that he spent more time waiting for than actually being a part of. It'll be midnight by the time they're back. Midnight. On Wednesday. God damn it!

John hastily texts Sarah. At least that's one number he memorized.]

TO: SARAH SAWYER
FROM: JOHN WATSON

I'm sorry I wasn't at the clinic today. I was summoned to a hearing at the local Army base.
-John

[gallowshumour]

FROM: MOLLY HOOPER
TO: JOHN WATSON
Text me the address, I'm on my way.

[She'll ask why Sherlock isn't there and can't get them a taxi later, for now she's already heading for her car. Sarah's reply comes in almost on top of Molly's, she's obviously also been pretty near her phone all day.]

FROM: SARAH SAWYER
TO: JOHN WATSON
Forget it, I'm fed up of your excuses. Don't come back to the clinic, I'll post you a reference if you need one, but that's it. I'm done, John.

[jumpthegun]

[John texts Molly the address along with instructions to call or text him when she's getting close. When Sarah's text comes in, he just stares at it for a long moment. A part of him is relieved. If she has no connection to him, if she hates him, then maybe she'll be safe. But it's not as though he'd been terribly close to Harry anymore and she was still targeted.]

TO: SARAH SAWYER
FROM: JOHN WATSON
Okay. Please stay safe, Sarah. Make sure you're with someone for the next while. Friends or family. Goodbye.

[He hits send as he steps back into the reception area and goes to sit down. John sets his phone in his lap and just lets his head hang for a long few moments. His body hurts again from standing to attention and sitting in an uncomfortable chair. It does occur that this is a base and he's not technically disgraced, yet.]

I beg your pardon, but is there a hospital on-base or any kind of medical unit that I could access as a veteran while I'm here?

[gallowshumour]

[The receptionist's brow furrows in mild concern as she looks him up and down, he does look a little ragged.]

Can I ask what the problem is? I might be able to get you in to see the on-call doctor here, but if it's something serious then I'll need to call an ambulance.

[jumpthegun]

No ambulance! [It's said too quickly, and John dials back.] I just have some broken ribs... and a few burns. I wasn't expecting to get stranded here without medication for so long. [He really should have his burns tended to again after the shower. John imagines they don't look bad enough for someone to want to hospitalize him now. He hopes they don't look bad enough.]

[gallowshumour]

[Her eyebrows raise, but she's not about to call an ambulance out here for no reason. Odd that he looks so concerned about it.]

I'll ring through to the medical barracks and see if anyone can see you.

[jumpthegun]

I really appreciate that. Thanks so much. [A pause as he considers the last time he called out for assistance. What if they send one of Jim and Caroline's people?] Ah... any chance you can not tell them exactly who it's for when you're asking for help?

[gallowshumour]

No, I can't do that, your name would need to be filed in our records and they have to be able to access your current NHS patient records to treat you.

[What a weird request.]

Do you still want me to call them, or not?

[jumpthegun]

[John glances off to the side, weighing the options and trying to tamp down on his paranoia. He just needs medication. He knows what pain meds look like, even if they try to trick him.]

Yes, please, that's fine.

[He goes to sit and wait like a good soldier for the doctor to arrive. Just his luck, they'll send Caroline or something mad like that.]

[gallowshumour]

[She calls through, her voice quiet so as not to be overheard, and nods to indicate that someone will come through to fetch him.

He only has to wait about fifteen minutes before a young man, obviously fresh out of medical school and into the Army, appears and offers him a smile.]

Captain Watson? I'm Lieutenant Havers, do you want follow me?

[jumpthegun]

Evening, Lieutenant. [John smiles back as he rises slowly from the chair. He'll follow wherever the other man leads. He seems nice enough.] Thank you for seeing me on short notice. Wasn't quite expecting to be here this long. You lot are a ways out from where I live.

[gallowshumour]

We're a ways out from most places, makes it easier to get on with training without annoying the locals.

[He leads John through the base and to a fairly large clinical room with four permanent beds and one temporary examination couch.]

Hop up on there and tell me what the problem is, please?

[jumpthegun]

[Hopping isn't happening any time soon, but John removes his suit jacket before sitting. He knows the doctor is going to want to examine him.]

Couple of broken ribs and some burns on my shoulders. Just hoping to get some bandages for the back and some ibuprofen.

[He wants something more than ibuprofen and should probably be taking something more. Fewer questions if he doesn't ask for narcotics, though.]

[gallowshumour]

Alright, let's just pop your shirt off and--

[He stops as if suddenly aware of his own babying language, embarrassed.]

Sorry, Captain, I was a paediatrician before I decided to join up, it's a hard habit to get out of. How did you manage to break your ribs and get those burns?

[He snaps on latex gloves as he talks, ready to examine.]