AU

[i_favour_you]

Follows this.

It wasn't until he found the beach that he realized they had made it to Cape May. Of all of New Jersey, this was possibly his least favorite place. It was so nice here. Cosy shops, happy people, and homes that cost far too much money.

Also, art supply stores. Sherlock purchases the needle, thread, alcohol, and some glue. Can't look too obvious, even with the blood under his fingernails and the tears in his tee-shirt. Not long after, he parks the stolen car in front of a chain hotel and goes in as calmly as possible to book them a room. His body is vibrating with panic. He can't remain this calm for much longer. Watson is bleeding. She's injured. He has to smile and wait in line and be bloody calm.

He pulls a coat out of the bag of clothes to put over Watson's shoulders once he gets back to the car.

"There's a vending machine and room service," he tells her. "We can get you orange juice and water for the blood loss."

Comments

[formersurgeon]

She answers by reaching over to take his hand, just briefly, squeezing it tight before letting go and returning her hand to the wheel. She's not sure what conclusion he'll draw from that fact. Will he keep her close as all he has? Realize that Gregson died when they were hundreds of miles away, so sending her away would not necessarily protect her? Or would he decide that he's dangerous, that he must push her away to save her?

The former makes a hell of a lot more sense to Joan. But she strongly suspects Sherlock will turn to the latter.

[i_favour_you]

He hurts. He wants to run, fast and hard, away from this place. Away from every place.

"They're all dead," he says. "What's next? Everyone I ever talked to? Everyone I've ever met?"

[formersurgeon]

"We need to think more about who's doing this." Her voice is calm, quiet. She hopes it will help calm and quiet him. Start his logic working, maybe it will help.

"I mean, you've put a lot of people away. Plenty of people would want to see you dead. But this? This is different. Someone with the ability to do all this. This isn't payback. This is revenge."

[i_favour_you]

"It's him," Sherlock says, with complete conviction. "It can only be him, no one else has the reach."

[formersurgeon]

She glances at him, then back at the road.

"Moriarty. Okay. But why now?"

[i_favour_you]

Sherlock narrows his eyes. "I don't know. We must be missing something."

[formersurgeon]

"Maybe we were close to something he's planning. So he ran us off. Except...then why did he kill Gregson? We're gone, we're running. This is more than just a case."

She shakes her head slightly. Why was this so personal for Moriarty? He killed Irene, fine. He drove Sherlock away from London, drove him to addiction. But now? Now it's beyond just making Sherlock go away.

[i_favour_you]

"I've done something," he says. "Put everyone at risk. Or worse."

He stares out the window for a moment before he speaks again.

"We're skipping the bank. Going to Baltimore."

[formersurgeon]

"This isn't your fault. They're the twist," she says softly. It hurts to repeat Gregson's words. "Not you."

When he says they're skipping the bank, she frowns and glances his way again.

"What's in Baltimore?"

[i_favour_you]

"Our new passports," Sherlock says. "We're going to London." He sighs. "We were always going to London, but it's going to be done a bit less subtly than before."

[formersurgeon]

Her hands tighten on the wheel.

"Subtly. Subtle for their benefit, or for mine? When were you going to mention this?"

[i_favour_you]

"Neither," Sherlock replies. "I was hoping to avoid my father. Now I think...conversing with him and my brother might actually be for the best."

Mycroft's influence is strong, though he tends to have a deep disinterest for the younger Holmes.

[formersurgeon]

She relaxes a little.

"It's gotten that bad, huh?" She tilts her head frowning. "You've never mentioned a brother."

[i_favour_you]

"Yes, because he's normally irrelevant in regards to my life," Sherlock says. "But right now, he may be the only person with the resources to help us."

Help him. Protect Watson.

[formersurgeon]

"What resources? What does he do?"

It's got to be more than just money. Sherlock's father has money, and he's turned to him before when he just needed cash. Never to his brother.

[i_favour_you]

"He's got his fingers in all of the pies," Sherlock replies. "Highly influential politician, though he'll tell you he's got a minor role in the British government. He's to be utilized for his influence, but not trusted. And my father has money. It's enough."

[formersurgeon]

The corner of her lip twitches. "Wow. You're related to a politician. I'm not surprised you never mentioned it. So, your brother's influence and your father's money. What's the plan?"

[i_favour_you]

"Don't get high," Sherlock says without missing a beat. "Sobriety is the key, everything else is secondary."

[formersurgeon]

Again, she flicks her eyes toward him.

"You've been thinking of using."

[i_favour_you]

He shouts, "Yes, of course I've been thinking about using! People I love are dead! It's my fault!"

His voice seems louder in the smaller car, but he can't care.

[formersurgeon]

"It's not your fault!"

She's shouting back. She grits her teeth, reins it in.

"Sherlock, it's their fault. It's always been their fault. I get it, though. Of course you're thinking of using. This...this is the mother of all triggers. But I know that you can stay sober."

[i_favour_you]

"Can I?" he snaps. "Because the only reason I didn't go out last night and find heroin is because you were there. What will happen if you're not? Because the only target worth anything in my life is you, and they will know that."

[formersurgeon]

"You think I'm not aware of that?! That I don't know they're gunning for me?"

She sighs.

"Sherlock, I'm not going anywhere. I know you want me safe, and I know you'll push me away if you think that will do it. But I won't let you."

[i_favour_you]

"And what will happen to me if you're dead?" he demands. He shakes his head. It's irrelevant. He's not pushing her away, and he's not going to let them kill her. But the desire for drugs is stronger than ever.

He takes a breath and lowers his voice, back to something more conversational. "After Baltimore, we leave for the airport."

[formersurgeon]

"You won't have to find out. I'm not going to let them hurt either of us."

He takes a breath, and she does likewise.

"So, we're picking up passports in Baltimore. Anything else?"