The Exception

Carl Powers

"It's started -DITR - pick up - C" I sent the text quickly as I stormed out of the apartment. I had just finished storming down Baker Street when a slick black car paused as I easily opened it and got it. Once the door was shut the car started up again as I turned to Mycroft in the seat beside me playing with the top of his umbrella.

"The game has started and he has made it perfectly clear that I am another player" I informed as he nodded taking in the information.

"I see you let the dog off her leash again" I playfully stated as Mycroft shot me a glare of confusion and anger.

"Oh yeah did you know she is currently been used as a pawn in Moriarty's game?" I asked rather bitterly as I could see the recognition in his eyes.

"He's making this personal" He grouched as I nodded.

"I want surveillance over my sister and her children" I demanded as he sighed almost thinking it over before the car came to a halt outside St Bartholomew's Hospital. As I hopped out I could hear Mycroft asking about the case, though slamming the door shut cut him off as I watched it drive off. Staring up at the building for a good ten minutes I sighed before I made my way inside and towards the lab where Sherlock would be running experiments with the shoes.

As I walked in I saw Sherlock sitting at a bench looking into a microscope as, beside him, a computer screen shows that a scanner of some sort is running tests. John is wandering up and down on the other side of the bench as they both glanced up at me as the door swung shut.

"Alright?" John asks as I merely nod and sit on the bench counter behind Sherlock so I can look over his shoulder at the screen. I glance across to the scanner as it continues throwing up “NO MATCH” results, as I saw Sherlock look back into the microscope. I could feel the tension in the room slightly as a phones text alert rung out as I frowned slightly.

"Pass me my phone." Sherlock requests his eyes never leaving the microscope. I did a quick glance around the room to see I couldn't spot a phone as I gathered it was still in Sherlock's jacket pocket.

"Where is it?" John asks

"Jacket." Sherlock replied simply as I saw John straighten up slowly, his entire body going rigid in disbelief and his eyes broadcasting the message “I am going to kill him.” Turning to his right, he marches stiffly around the table, slams one hand onto Sherlock’s shoulder and roughly pulls his jacket open with the other as he starts to rummage in his inside pocket.

"Careful." Sherlock angrily growls though he doesn't look up as John threw his hands up in disbelief as I patted his shoulder before hopping down from the counter and gently pulling back Sherlock's jacket. I could feel his body relax under my finger slightly as I slip out the phone and hold it over my shoulder for John who happily takes it.

"Text from your brother." John reads.

"Delete it."

"Delete it?" I frown.

"Missile plans are out of the country now. Nothing we can do about it." Sherlock grumbles as I chuckle as we both knew that wouldn’t be true.

"Well, Mycroft thinks there is. He’s texted you eight times. Must be important." John expresses as Sherlock raises his head in exasperation.

"Then why didn’t he cancel his dental appointment?" Sherlock growls.

"His what?" John asks tired.

"Mycroft never texts if he can talk -" I began before Sherlock's computer beeps with results.

"Ah!" Sherlock cries out delighted as we both look across to the screen which is flashing “SEARCH COMPLETE”. At the same moment Molly Hooper comes in the door.