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

[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?"

[i_favour_you]

"I'm going to contact my father for the money we need," he says. "It'll make it obvious where we're going, unfortunately, but I'll make sure he contacts Mycroft before we make it to London. We'll be safe there."

[formersurgeon]

She glances up at the rearview. It's still in the dark of pre-dawn, and they're the only car on the road. It would be near impossible for them to be followed and not know it.

"Do we have tickets?"

[i_favour_you]

"Not yet," Sherlock says. "I want to purchase them last, make it even more difficult to follow us."

Gregson's face appears behind Sherlock's lids when he closes his eyes, so he keeps them open, staring outside. The beautiful weather from the day before turns into a cold drizzle as the sun starts to rise.

"What were you going to tell him?" he asks.

[formersurgeon]

"That they've been compromised," she answers. Her voice is soft, and anyone else wouldn't be able to tell how much she hurts right now. But Sherlock probably has a pretty good idea. "That the people coming after us have police resources, have probably infiltrated the department. I didn't..." She stops, lips pressed, and breathes for a moment. "I wasn't calling to warn him."

It had already happened by the time they knew.

[i_favour_you]

"No, I know you weren't," Sherlock says. "I'd already tried texting him. I thought---"

He'd hoped that he was somewhere with his family. It would make sense, considering his closeness to Bell. He hadn't thought that they'd have followed him on holiday.

He takes a deep breath.

"Watson," he says. "I'm going to need you to pull over and make another phone call."

[formersurgeon]

She checks the rearview mirror again to make sure they're still alone on the road. They appear to be. She pulls onto the side of the road, shuts off the car, and turns off all the lights so that they will be harder to spot in the dark.

"Who do you need me to call?"

[i_favour_you]

He takes a breath.

"Your mother."

[formersurgeon]

She stares at him in the dark for a moment.

"You want me to make sure they're not targeting my family."

[i_favour_you]

He swallows back a sharp retort and offers her the phone.

"There isn't anyone else. Ms. Hudson hasn't been responding to texts, either."

[formersurgeon]

She accepts the phone, and again sits and stares for a long moment. She doesn't want to know. If her mother is fine, great, but if not...if not there's nothing she can do about it. So what was the use?

She swallows though, and dials the number.

[i_favour_you]

Sherlock can see the hesitation, and he knows she's in pain after Gregson. After Gregson, Bell, Alfredo---

He's always found hope to be a useless thing. But right now he hopes that Watson's family are all right.

[formersurgeon]

Her mother's cell rings. And rings. And rings. With each ring, a cold fear draws tighter around Joan's heart. She had accepted the danger that comes with this job for herself, but her mother didn't choose this. If they've killed her...

And then she answers.

Joan draws a breath.

"Mom. It's me."

[i_favour_you]

Sherlock straightens, alert.

"Get her to London. Holiday. Immediately."

[formersurgeon]

"Yeah...yes mom, I'm...I know, I... no, I can't."

She glances at Sherlock.

"Mom, listen...no, you need to listen. Someone is attacking people that Sherlock and I know. You need to get somewhere safe. You and Oren. Sherlock has family in London. You'd be safe there."

[i_favour_you]

"Inform her she won't be losing the funds, I'll have my father give them to her once we get to London."