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

[gallowshumour]

[In Molly's mind, that just seems to be an excuse to keep bulling ahead under the pretence of needing to make a plan. But there is some logic behind it, they do need to know what's happening, and so she nods.

She squeezes his hand, though, briefly but firmly to get his attention.]

Then we look, but we stay out of sight. Be careful, John, Sherlock won't forgive me if I go home without you.

[jumpthegun]

[Molly's not wrong about John's main motives.]

Just looking. [Unless he sees there's something he can do. Then there will be doing.] C'mon.

[John does his best to move them past people and onto the next carriage while avoiding brushing up against too many people. He still feels slightly feverish and a general sort of malaise, but this task has focused his mind, at least. Sometimes living in anticipation can be worse than just having something happen, good or bad. It had been that way between battles in Afghanistan and these past few weeks have reminded him of the battlefield. Moments of dead quiet, waiting for the first stray bullet to graze past you and the next skirmish to start.]

[gallowshumour]

[She's not sure whether to trust him at his word, but she has no choice right now unless she wants to cause a scene and draw attention to them both, so she just follows him into the next carriage and the one beyond that.

The final one they step into, which should be halfway down the train, is in pandemonium and it's easy to see why. The front of the train has disconnected and disappeared, leaving them stranded in the tunnels.]

[jumpthegun]

[There are times when having his paranoia vindicated really isn't a good thing. John stares at the last carriage before raising his voice to a military bark to try to be heard over the panic.]

Everyone calm down. I'm a doctor. I need to know if there are any injuries and what's happened.

[Hopefully, it will get at least a few people to pause.]

[gallowshumour]

[It does get a couple of people to look over at him, though most of the dozen or so people in this carriage ignore him. One of the women who turned to look, a dark eyed woman in a hijab, points shakily at the door.]

We thought there was just a technical fault, but the train disconnected and went. Someone went out of the door and I think-- I think they're hurt out there. Isn't the track live?

[jumpthegun]

[Yes! This is something that he can help with. It doesn't require a weapon, just a body. Molly can't fault him for doing something here.]

Molly, stay in here and try to calm everyone down. I'll try to get them back inside.

What did the person look like, miss?

[gallowshumour]

I didn't get a good look, it happened so fast. I think it was a man? Maybe?

[Molly reaches out to try and grab him by the elbow, voice low and concerned.]

You can't, she said it's live, you'll just electrocute yourself too.

[jumpthegun]

[That is a point. John recalculates.]

He can't have got far if it's live. I can at least take a look out for him... maybe we can pull him back in with something. I know it's early, but if someone's just come from the shop or if they're a cleaner, they might have some marigolds. We can use those to dampen the charge.

Could you ask around while I take a look?

[gallowshumour]

[She's reluctant, still not entirely trusting him not to just jump out anyway, but she does let go of his elbow.]

Okay, just be careful, Sherlock'll kill me if I let you die.

[She smiles, sudden and a little embarrassed.]

I'd miss you too.

[Since they've become sort of friends during this madness. At least, she hopes they have.]

[jumpthegun]

[John flashes her a smile. He is fond of Molly now. They've been through a lot together in a very short time and she's been unimaginably kind and generous. That she's been dragged into the madness is unfortunate, but a part of him is glad she's here.]

I promise I won't do anything stupid, Molls. Find us those marigolds, all right?

[He nods to her and to himself before stepping over to the door and moving to open it up. Once he does, John will look around for signs of a body.]

Hullo? Is anyone out there? Can you hear me?

[gallowshumour]

[Molly settles to her task with a manic sort of focus that has everyone, even the belligerent and panicking people, searching their bags for anything that might help reduce the conductivity of electricity.

It won't be hard for John to see someone out on the track, they're barely four feet from the carriage door. A man in his thirties, jeans and a t-shirt, face down and unmoving. He doesn't respond to the call.]

John?

[That's Molly.]

We've got no marigolds. But we've got a plastic mop handle, does that help?

[jumpthegun]

[It's something.]

Yeah. Thanks. I need another bloke. Someone who looks like he can lift someone. I'm not gonna be able to pull him in on my own.

[He'll take the handle if Molly offers it, and reach out with it to lay it gently on the man's back. He's just trying to get a feel for if there's a current running through the man.]

[gallowshumour]

[Molly's about to offer to help herself, she's stronger than she looks and as a forensic pathologist she's lifted way more dead bodies than people might think. But she has one arm out of commission, so maybe she wouldn't be the best help at all.]

Hey-- you! Yes, you! Please come and help here, don't argue with me.

[John will find himself next to a middle aged black gentleman who has been bullied into assisting.]

I ain't a doctor.

[jumpthegun]

[Immediate death by electrocution doesn't follow when John taps the body, which is encouraging.]

I'll be the doctor, mate. [John assures him.] We need to get that man back inside. We need to get this handle under his clothes and pull him in. I'll... [John trails off. He'd been about to say that he'll lean out and try to snag him, but even running on adrenaline, the doctor can feel how his body aches, how weak he actually is at the moment.]

I'll brace you. You've got a longer reach. I'm John. I need you to fish him up for us. As soon as you've got him close enough you're not gonna tip out, I'll help. Do you think you can do that? We may be his only chance to survive.

[gallowshumour]

I can try, sir.

[Something about this young man, despite being shorter than he is by a good foot, seems to have an air of command enough that he doesn't hesitate in obeying. He's never done anything like this before, but he starts to lean out of the cab.]

My name is Reuben, and I can't say as I've ever hung out of a train before, you sure you can keep me from falling while I get him?

[jumpthegun]

Just as long as you're all right with us getting a bit familiar, Reuben. It's my first train track rescue, too. New experiences all 'round. [He offers the man a crooked smile before moving to wrap his arms around Reuben's waist from behind. His shoulders protest and John grimaces as he sets his feet to catch the outside of the door.]

Molly, grab another bloke just in case we need it.

[Just in case. He's not going to let go of the other man, and he'd really rather they both don't go out.]

[gallowshumour]

[Molly rushes over as John braces against Reuben and the other man starts trying to lean out, her face set in concern and anger.]

No! Someone else can brace him, you're going to be no good at administering first aid if you're on the floor yourself. John!

[God, it's like she's babysitting, and the annoyance at him ignoring his injuries again is enough to break through her usual deference and awkwardness.]

[jumpthegun]

[He grits his teeth, irritation flashing hot and bright as he set his jaw and he keeps hold of Reuben.]

I won't be on the floor. Just get someone else if you don't want me doing this alone.

[gallowshumour]

[She immediately looks around the carriage for more support, but most people are studiously trying not to get involved now. Some are trying to move down to further carriages, and others are focusing only on themselves.

She glares around and then goes to grab the back of John's jacket herself, she still has one good arm after all.]

Fine, I've got you.

[jumpthegun]

Molly... [He doesn't turn to look back at her, but his tone is very annoyed, indeed. Still, he doesn't want to have Reuben panicking. There's just added incentive for him to take the pain and make sure she isn't actually needed.]

Close to hooking him, by chance, Reuben.

[gallowshumour]

Almost, sir, pole keeps sliding out from his belt.

[He's doing his best, okay! He leans out further, allowing John to take more of his weight, trusting him to hold on.]

Just a bit... further...

[jumpthegun]

Take your time. I'd rather get it right the first go. [He grits his teeth and locks his fingers together so that his hands don't shake as his shoulders burn.] You've got this, mate. Molly and I have you.

[gallowshumour]

[Molly braces by wrapping the arm that's in a cast around one of the poles, it hurts but she needs her other hand to hold John's shirt.

And all of a sudden the weight doubles as Reuben successfully hooks the unconscious man and his dead weight is added to what needs to be pulled back into the tube carriage.]

[jumpthegun]

[John feels the strain, knows he can't take everything and that Molly is hurting herself, as well. In frustration, he just shouts to the people in the carriage.]

Bloody hell if the person nearest us doesn't help Molly, I'm putting you out on the tracks next. We're trying to save someone's life.

[He doesn't think about the implication of those words, he's just angry that Molly couldn't get someone bigger and less injured than her to help apart from Reuben. Maybe he should have waited, gotten a second man, himself.]

[gallowshumour]

[That's unfortunately one of the problems with large crowds of people, nobody wants to be the one to step forward and help, especially not after being threatened by an angry doctor.

Molly grunts as her arm throbs under the pressure, but she's not about to let go. Thankfully, Reuben is up and in the cab again in about a minute, then he can help lift the unconscious man the rest of the way in. It feels like it takes hours, though, and Molly can't help but cradle her arm to her chest when she's not needed for bracing any more, sucking in slightly shaky breaths. And if she's hurting then she's worried that John must be hurting much worse.

Reuben steps back, looking half proud of himself.]

Alright, now what? Can I still help?