Keeping the Strength to Fight

Chapter 15- Sherlock

Sherlock's body and brain jolted awake. His entire nervous system pulsed with forgotten energy; and every muscle in his body contracted simultaneously. A gutteral, strangled scream forced its way up his throat and he choked on the air.

It was unpleasant to say the least.

Finally, when the spasm had passed and his muscles relaxed, he was able to think clearly again.

Tired, he lifted his head.

Looking around, his best guess was that he was in some kind of abandoned police station, as the layout was similar to that of an interrogation room; with a table and chair in front of him, and a mirror on the far wall.

It then occurred to him that he was sat down, his senses finally kicking in, and that his arms and legs were bound to the chair. He glanced across to the mirror, knowing it was two-way, and that there was likely someone watching him. He was an ant under a magnifying glass; a specimen to be examined.

He snarled- he was the one who did the examining!

Slowly, he brought together what he knew. He had only been out for at least 4 to 5 hours, based on his lever of hunger. The last thing he consumed was that god-awful coffee.

He silently fumed for having not noticed.

How far could they have gotten in 5 hours? Knowing Moriarty, he would have had a private jet on hand somewhere in the nearby vicinity. And assuming his brother is the same, that's also what he would have used.

For what reason though, Sherlock couldn't say; but they weren't still in Turkey, he could tell that. It wasn't nearly as hot as it should be.

"So... countries to the north within 5 hours of Turkey..."

Starting from there and stretching out, he built a map in his mind. All the places that fit the criteria flashed up beneath his eyes. He dismissed many on the basis that they were still to hot, had high security perimeters or that they simply wouldn't be places that a Moriarty brother would base himself- among other reasons.

He eventually narrowed it down to three locations.

Germany, Sweden and the UK.

All were within 5 hours flight. Germany approximately 3:30, Sweden 4:00 and UK 4:30.

The temparatures were quite similar too, so there was no way to narrow it down from that.

It would make sense for him to be in Germany, as France- where he was previously- was close by. Meaning that 'Andrew's' people wouldn't have had to travel far in order to have followed him- he didn't know how far the new Moriarty's nets had become.

He also figured that Sweden would be the best place to be for technology and communication. Advances in Swedish government technology had mainly been kept under the radar of the average civilian population, but having Mycroft as a brother gave him some advantage over those average people- he had knowledge of many government secrets.

However, for some unknown reason, both of these very valid and significant points seemed to be worthless. Somewhere in his mind told him no. He was drawn to the UK.

Ignoring his questioning thoughts he pressed on.

"So the UK it is... but where?"

Based on the way 'Andrew' had reacted to the mention of his brother, and him living in France previously, Sherlock counted out Ireland. Scotland was too far and pointless, and Wales could hardley be counted anyway.

The major airports in England were Manchester, Bristol and Heathrow- London.

The north-east was definitely too derelict for a Moriarty, and although Bristol seemed logical, London was the most obvious and easy location for him to go. And in Sherlock's absence, crime rates would have risen too.

He scanned London for abandoned police stations and found it empty. But nearby, in Hertfordshire, there was one that had been in the local news recently, and was bought not long ago by an anonymous bidder.

Sherlock opened his eyes and smiled.

Bingo.

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Elsewhere in Hertfordshire, an ambulance pulled into a village. The unconscious victim was wheeled out by two men who were certainly not paramedics. A black van pulled up, and he was carefully wheeled inside. The not-paramedics returned to the ambulance and left the village, whilst the black van continued down the road, and left at the other end.

Margaret but her binoculars down.

"The healthcare system today..." she muttered absently as she tottered off to make tea.