Ch.6
"Who are we meeting with again, John?" Sherlock asked, as he drove toward the State Police department.
"The Police, Sherlock. American Police, but these men are state police and they don't mess around. They also don't know how you are. I mean, Lestrade gave them a minor heads up-," John began to explain, but Sherlock cut him off.
"A heads up? A heads up for what? You people act like Im the bloody ghost of Christmas Past!" Sherlock said.
"No, no. That's not it. They just have never met someone with your specific set of skills...well, they have but she won't give them the time of day anymore," John said.
"She? Who is she?" Sherlock asked. Someone...like me? Sherlock wondered. Impossible...
"She is not of our concern, Sherlock. We need to focus, here. They already asked for her help, and she declined them," John said.
"So we are a last resort?" Sherlock asked, raising an eybrow.
"No...they just usually don't call outside help, Sherlock. These are Americans reaching out to Brits. I mean, come on...they usually only save that for wars," John joked. Sherlock snorted and smirked. Ok, he does have a point...he thought.
"Alright...no matter. Anyhow, who is this guy we are going to meet and where exactly are we going?" Sherlock asked.
"Its in Hagerstown, actually. Its only thirty minutes from Frederick, so not too bad of a drive, in case we have to come back down," John said.
"Well, we should be coming up on an exit for it, then," Sherlock said, looking at the signs on the highway above.
"Address is 18345 Col. Henry K. Drive," John read from the post it note he had grabbed from the hotel. The receptionist he had spoken to earlier that morning had been rather rude when he called to ask directions, but he just supposed it came with the job. No one actually liked their job of answering phones, he assumed.
"Got it," Sherlock said, as he read the sign that showed the exit to their destination. "Dear God John...there are a lot of people around here in a little space,"
"You act like its something new," John said, folding the map.
"I know London is like that, but there are a lot more cars...like people owning cars; London there are more cabs," Sherlock said.
"Alright. The lady said it would be back behind the MVA and to keep following that road and we can't miss it," John explained. Sherlock nodded and continued down the road. Excitement built up in his stomach. He and John hadn't taken a case in this capacity since...Morarity. Sherlock shuddered at the thought of that monster's name.
"You ok, Sherlock?" John asked, concerned.
"Yeah, yeah...just thinking about this case...its our largest case since...him," Sherlock said, not able to even say his name out loud.
"Sherlock...it's ok. He's gone. It's over," John said, soothingly.
Sherlock shook his head, as if to clear his thoughts. "John...what I did...I did to save your life. Mrs. Hudson and Lestrade as well. I never, ever meant to hurt you. It killed me every day knowing I couldn't tell you. I am so sorry. I owe you a thousand apologies," he said. He could feel tears sting his eyes.
"Hey...hey...I know what you did was for our safety. I don't care what you say...you were a hero and still are," John said, placing his hand on his friends arm. They were parked outside the brick building, waiting to go inside.
