Song is for the start of the chapter!

After the Tube I didn't stop running until I got into the hospital. I needed some computer and Molly would have one. Besides Sherlock, she knew I was still alive. I ran up the stairs and burst into her room without knocking. "Molly! I need your laptop!" I said to the back side of Molly.

She turned around and smiled friendly at me, except it wasn't Molly. It was someone else who I had never seen before. "Molly is taking a holiday. She'll be gone until next Friday. I can a leave a message though."

I swore under my breath, knowing Molly never took holidays. This had to because of Zane. He was forcing everyone I knew out of my life.  "I'll just drop by on Friday then."  Without waiting for a reply I walked out of the room and left the hospital, knowing that no one was there that could help me.

Sherlock was bound to have a laptop at the flat. I just had to avoid Miss Hudson. I took the tube and got off at Baker Street. I ran down the all too familiar road and stopped at 221. I put my hand on the handle and turned it hoping that it was unlocked. To my disappointment that was not the case. I stood there for a minute, knowing that I had no key to let myself in. I finally decided that it wouldn't be that bad if Miss Hudson knew I was alive. I knocked on the door and waited for a response that didn't come.

I let out a sigh as I looked at the sky that threatened to rain. I got onto my knees as I took out a hair pin from my hair and started to fiddle with the lock until my hair clip snapped. I remembered how Sherlock made a new lock a couple months ago. He said it was the best money could buy.

I shivered, the cold finally getting to me as I sat on the front step, feeling defeated. Did I want to wait until Miss Hudson came around or should I move on? I needed help and since Kale was out of the picture that left John. As much as I wanted to keep him out of this, I knew all along that he was already in as deep as Sherlock and I were.

I stood up from the step and brushed myself off. I just hoped that John was home.  

Within an hour I found myself looking at John's door handle as I thought about what to say to him. 'Sorry I lied about dying, um, can I use your laptop?' Somehow that wouldn't go over well. I was afraid that just like Kale, he would not help me. 

I didn't understand why I was even here. John was just going to be too pissed and hurt to help. With a frown, I turned on my heels and started to walk away but stopped when I realized that I couldn't do this on my own. I never could.  If he turned me away, at least I knew I tried. I turned back to face the door and without thinking more, I knocked.

"Coming!" I heard John's voice from the other side. I felt my heart race in my chest as I heard shuffling on the other side of the door as the door cracked open.

There was a minute of silence as John looked at me as if wondering if I was really here. "Hi John," I mumbled, unsure what else to say. John was clearly pissed, I could see it all over his face. By the way he positioned his shoulders and the way he held his hands I could tell he was fighting the urge to slap me.  "They took Sherlock." 

Without saying anything, he stepped aside to let me in then closed the door behind me. "I grieved for you and just like Sherlock, you faked it," he said and pounded on the wall next to me out of anger, causing me to jump.

He had a right to be mad, but I didn't know who else to turn to. I sighed then started to tell him about the murder frame that Zane put me in and why I had to fake my death because of it. Also I told him about the treasure and how we were so close to finding it. Lastly I told him about the frame, how Sherlock disappeared and who took him. I poured my heart into my words, hoping that it would convince him to join my cause. This time, I told him everything, not leaving out anything. "Can you help me?" 

He was quiet as he held his sour face. He was still mad at me and he had a good reason to be. I frowned as the seconds ticked by in silence. This was a terrible idea. I hurt him and I was sure he wouldn't forgive me. I should leave right now to spare myself any more embarrassment. "Can I at least use your computer?"

He looked at me confused for a second, not expecting me to ask for such a simple request. "Sure," he managed to spit out.

I followed him into the house and sat down at his table where the computer was at. Where it was always at. He was so typical. I started to search for the history of this frame I took. I also searched for frames that could have keys and where to find them at within the frame or how to take them out without harming the frame. The frame it's self was over 150 years old so I didn't want to damage it more than I had to. In fact I can't believe I was thinking this but I wanted to give it back when I was done with it instead of keeping it like I normally did.

After I grabbed enough information that I could, I stood up from my seat and said, "Thanks." I looked at John who was still mad. This was when I had to leave. He wasn't going to help me. I should have known that.

Without another word I put my shoes back on. I put my hand on the door handle as I was about to step out into the winter day but John blurted out, "why didn't you tell me? You could trust me."

I didn't have a good answer to this. Why did I not tell him? Sherlock wanted me to but I chose to not. I wanted to keep him safe. He was not in the right mind after Marry left, but deep down, I knew that John would have still been helpful even with that going on in his life. "I don't know." I said honestly. There was another minute of silence as I waited for a response. "I'll go John. It's obvious you want me gone." I was wasting time here if he wasn't going to help me.

He finally sighed and said, "wait. let me get my shoes on."

A smile came to my lips. Maybe he didn't hate me or at least I just convinced him enough to help a mutual friend.

John slipped on his shoes and together we walked out of the flat together to my place in Brixton.

John and Rori back at it again. We were an odd team but we worked. Last time I worked solely with John, someone died and I was nervous to see if something like that would happen again. Maybe that was why I didn't want his help and I fought it so hard. Now I didn't care because I needed Sherlock back and I was willing to do anything to make that happen. 

I looked at the musty building that I was living at and fished the keys from my pocket. I opened the door and let John inside the small flat that I have been calling my home. I led him up the stairs into the living area where a gold frame sat on the ground. "This is the frame." 

"Goodness Rori, you robbed a museum?" he asked as if he couldn't believe I would do such a thing. He expected better of me.

I rolled my eyes at him, always the saint. There was no way I could get this frame without robbing it. Like so many other actions I have done to solve this mystery, I had no other choice. "I needed this frame. In fact Sherlock planned the whole thing." I said defending my actions. "Look if you're going to just criticize me, I can do this on my own and you can leave." I pointed to the door, not in the mood to hear anything from him.

"No, no I'm done. Can I try taking it apart?"

"Be my guest. I can't seem to do it." I frowned as I stepped out of the way so he could get to it better.

I watched him get on his knees and fiddle with the frame with not much difficulty. I had a feeling that we were going to be here a while. I was here in the comfort of this flat and who knows what Zane was doing to Sherlock. Just the thought of it sent shivers down my spine. Staring at this frame was not going to solve anything, I needed to make another plan to save Sherlock. "I'm going to run and get pizza. Cool?"

"Yeah, fine. I can go for some food," he said to me, not taking his eyes off the frame.

I got my shoes back on as I was just about to go out but a snapping sound that came from the frame made me stop in my tracts. "What did you do John?" I asked accusingly, fearing that he broke it.

"I took it apart," he said in amazement at himself.

I walked over to him and saw that the frame had been taken apart completely. But it didn't look like it was broken, it looked like it was meant to fall apart like this. five minutes and John had figured it out. He had done more in five minutes then I had done all night long. 

John reached over and from under one of the sides of the frame, he pulled out a relatively large gold key. He picked it up and handed it to me like it was mine to begin with. I held it tight in my hands, as if it would vanish if I set it down. After so much disappointment, I felt like I was finally going somewhere. I had something that Zane wanted and maybe I could use this as leverage. 

John then picked up each side and gave it a little shake, making sure there was nothing else in it. With the last side, he shook it then tilted it to the side making a little pin fall out. "What's this?" John asked as he picked it up.

He handed it over to me and I looked at it with a smile. It was small but had little gears in it, like it was used to wind something up. After so much looking, so much disappointment, we had the key to get into the ship and the key to get the compass to work. We could maybe win against Zane. "It's the missing piece."

<><>

3rd 

Zane paced around the room as he thought about his next step. Sherlock was getting him nowhere so he needed some another plan. He had only five more days to get the money. He had hit a dead end with the treasure, but he had a feeling that Rori wasn't captured by Mycroft and was still out running the streets. 

There was a reason why he liked Rori so much, she was resourceful, she knew who to ask and when to ask. She was smart and was willing to make hard choices in a blink of an eye. That being said, he had a feeling that Rori had something that he didn't have for this treasure. 

As much as she was an entertaining play toy, over the time that he had known her, she had gotten braver against him, to the point that she was not purposely defiant. She was becoming more of a hassle then a toy. This was the last time he was going to let her mess up his plans, even if that meant that he would loose his only playmate. After this, if it came down to it, he would not be afraid to burry her in a shallow grave.

There was a knock on his door and without permission to come in Kale walked through the French doors.  His normally styled hair was a mess and his clothes looked like they had been through the ringer. 

Kale had been looking for his brother all throughout London. He never thought he would be desperate enough to set up base in the dirty side of London. It had been years since Kale had seen Zane around here.

Kale looked at his brother with a frown. He looked collected but Kale knew better than to think that. Something got Zane ruffled up.

"Ah my brother! It's about time you found this place," Zane said and smiled at him.

Kale frowned as he pushed his brother down into a red velvet chair. He had some words to share and this time he was not going to hold back was what in his mind. "Shut it. I know what you did."

Zane looked up at Kale with confusion even though he knew what he had done. "What?" Thanks to Walter, Zane knew where Rori was going to be at the museum. He hoped that seeing Kale would cause Rori to slow down, or even get caught at the museum, but it seemed like it did nothing to her. Sadly, Walter had become useless now that Rori would never trust him again. Just like his wife, they were expendable so Zane got rid of them.

"You made me run into her that the gallery. You want me to lose her for good, don't you?" Kale growled at his brother in hatred. 

Zane chuckled, never seeing Kale get so worked up before. "No, my dear brother I didn't make you run into her." He lied as he tried to get out of his chair only to be pushed back into it by Kale.

"Stop with the games! I want out!"

Zane sighed, Kale was not able to boss him around. Zane stood up from his chair and towered over Kale. "Watch your voice with me little brother. You can walk out at any point. But I'm pretty sure that your new job wouldn't like to know about your past history in detail. Not to mention I could let slip that you killed that old man Kapelhof  to Lestrade. Oh Kale, you could go to prison for that."

Kale shrunk under his brother, knowing that he could not get out of this hole he was in. Once again Zane trapped him, and he had no choice but to follow suit.

Zane smiled at him, knowing that he had his brother right where he wanted him. "But you have your agency."

Kale made a sour face at his brother as he resisted the urge to do something rash. Zane had him right under his finger and Zane liked that. Zane was always one for control and more often than not, he often held Kale to do his bidding. 

"Now if you excuse me, I have some business to attended too. Why don't you just run along and play with your toys," Zane shooed him off like he was a child.

With his head hung low, Kale knew that this fight was lost. He turned around and left the room, knowing that he was not going to be free from Zane anytime soon.

Zane watched Kale leave the room without another word then he himself left his study, down to the basement where Sherlock had been kept for a couple days now. "Morning Beauty." Zane said to the bruised, bloodied, and dirty Sherlock Holmes.

Sherlock barely made a move as Zane came down to greet him. Almost all of his body was covered in bruises and dried blood by now. He had been beaten up heavily the past few days. Not to mention the lack of food and water made him feel even weaker. He wasn't sure how much longer he could last. 

Zane crouched next to Sherlock to look at him better. He never thought Sherlock would be so strong physically and mentally. He had broken a lot of people in his life time but Sherlock remained a fortress. "I'm going to need Rori's number but your phone is locked. Unlock it," Zane said pulling out Sherlock's phone that Zane had in his pocket. 

Sherlock looked up at Zane with a frown, if he took him out here, he was sure he would be stopped upstairs by his men. He could hear at least four sets of feet above him. "If you're so bright why don't you do it yourself?"

"Because I don't have the time. Now do what I say."

Sherlock pushed himself up from the ground and took the phone. This could give him an advantage. "I won't unlock it unless I get to talk to her first."

"Always has to be the difficult one don't we? Fine." He was running out of time and he was willing to make compromises.

Sherlock dialed Rori's number then waited for her to answer. He knew that anger could get the better or her so it would be amazing if she still had her phone instead of throwing it in the middle of a road.

"Hello?" Her tired voice sounded on the other side, just as tired and worn out as Sherlock sounded.

"Rori, you're safe. Did you find it?" Sherlock asked quickly, needing to know where she was in her plan.

"Yes.... John, he's here. We got all of it set up. Where are you? We can find you. Sherlock I'm so.."

Before Sherlock could hear anything more Zane took the phone. "Rori, it's nice to hear from you too," Zane said as he held the phone up to his ear.

"Zane. Let Sherlock go," she said fiercely to him, suddenly not sounding so tired anymore.

"No, you see. I can't do that. I need him for my plan just like I need that key. Do you have it?"

There was silence as the phone crackled, waiting for a response. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Zane sighed, two could play this game. "Let's not play that game Rori." He kicked Sherlock hard enough to make him yell out in pain.

Rori felt her heart sink. Just by his yell, she knew that wasn't the first time Zane had hit Sherlock since he had him. "What are you doing?! STOP IT ZANE! This is between you and me. Leave him out of it!"

"He's now in the mess too. If you care about him, you're going to listen to what I tell you to do."

Rori paced around her bedroom. She was going to walk right into his trap but she didn't have another plan. "Ok, ok I'll do what you say on one condition. I talk to Sherlock again."

Zane chuckled, finding humor in her relationship with the man in front of him. "you say you can't stand this man, but I feel like that's a lie. You make it sound like you are more in love with Sherlock then with my brother. You listen to me, we're going to meet up in Greenwich by the boat on dry ground in two hours," he said then reluctantly shoved the phone at Sherlock who was now up from the ground.

"Sherlock?" she asked as if asking if it was a smart idea or if he approved of it.

"Do it. Give it to him," Sherlock said, knowing that together they could make a plan to stop them there. Rori was smart, and she would come up with something. This was all going to end today.

"I'm sorry." 

"We don't have time for that."

"I think I have a plan. You're going to have to follow what I do exactly. I know Zane will take some men and so will I. It's time to have a family reunion with Scotland Yard."

Sherlock held back a smile. He knew Rori could beat Zane, he always did. "I'm ok. Don't worry about me. Goodbye Rori," Sherlock said not to make Zane worried about what she was telling him.

"See you soon Sherlock," Rori said on the other end and hung up the phone.

it might be a bit late but I've been super busy with teaching and I'm kind of in a revolution zone in Kiev right now. it's really wild! hope you enjoy my photo. I kind of edited the hair to make it look black but it's still kind of blonde. :/ I tried. I thought it would be funny to have them all buddy buddy in the photo just because I can. but let me get this straight, they are not friends what so ever.

well cheers,

DarlaH