smallhobbit | The Threat

Fandom: Sherlock BBC
Characters: John Watson, Sherlock Holmes, Molly Hooper, Greg Lestrade
Rating: G
Word Count: 400
Prompt: Look directly to your right. The first object you see is your prompt: a pile of clothing
Notes: Written rapidly for the fifth day of the July Writing Prompts on

watsons_woes

Follows on from Summoned by Christopher Robin

“Moran has directly threatened to bring down Lestrade and myself,” Sherlock announced.

“But why not John?” Molly asked.

“I think it has rather more to do with the fact that there are no words beginning JW than any wish not to harm him.”

Sherlock brought up the copy of the flyer on his laptop. He pointed out the relevant points to Greg and Molly. “As you can see the SH of SHOW is clearly on the head of one snake, whilst the GL of GLOBES is on that of the other. And obviously my snake, if I can call it that, is a much bigger, longer snake.”

“Naturally! Whilst the SM of SMILE is poised at the bottom of the ladder, ready to climb up as the other two come down,” John added.

“When did you get this?” Greg asked.

“John found it at the bakers yesterday. It had only been displayed that morning, so I think we can assume we still have a few days grace. There would have been no guarantee that he would see it the day it went up. Whoever knew to leave a flyer in a shop John frequented would also know he didn’t go there every day.

“I spent yesterday making preparations and following up a couple of leads that have now assumed a significance they didn’t have before. I have also reluctantly contacted Mycroft and John has collected a box from him. If you could get the box, John.”

John went to his room to get the box. He sat down on his bed and looked at the untidy pile of clothes in the corner, evidence of rushed departures and late returns and no time to put things away properly. He felt slightly sick; once before he’d lost Sherlock and there’d been nothing left for him except time to put everything away tidily; now life was chaotic, things were scattered everywhere, but he was happy. The thought that this could all be taken away from him again was almost more than he could bear. He was tempted to curl up in a ball, pull the duvet over his head and pretend that nothing had happened. He took a deep breath. Things were going to be different this time; last time Sherlock had been on his own, now they were all in it together. Captain Watson stood up ready to face the enemy.