Can't Stay Away (BBC Sherlock) -2-

32. One More Miracle

The same panic I'd felt during The Fall was back again.

Someone had shot Sherlock. My thoughts immediately went to Magnussen, but he didn't seem like a guy who would have a gun hiding around, ready to be used. Then I thought to his guards. Maybe one of them shot him.

That had to be it. It was the only explanation I could think of. If Sherlock died...

There's no way he will. Dad didn't say where he was hit or how bad it was. But that was worrying, because maybe Dad didn't want to tell me how bad Sherlock's condition was. Maybe the bullet hit him in a critical spot, a fatal spot, and there was nothing that could be done.

I didn't think to call Bayley during that time, because I knew if I did, I wouldn't be able to tell him what was going on with a stable voice. He'd have to hear the news tomorrow, after I got all the details from Dad.

Once the cab pulled up to the hospital, I hastily thanked the driver and ran inside, like Sherlock's life depended on it. I looked around until I spotted Dad, pacing at the top of the stairs. Like a madwoman, I took them two at a time, almost falling back down a few times. I was catching my breath the moment Dad saw me.

"How is he?" I demanded, leaning against a wall.

"They took him back a while ago. It doesn't look good, Rachel."

"He's going to live, Dad. He's Sherlock Holmes."

"He faked death, he didn't cheat it."

"Maybe he can do that too. Is Mary here?"

"No, she's home. I tried getting a hold of her, but she's probably asleep."

"Huh." She must've just gotten home when I left for the hospital. "Tell me what happened."

"Truthfully, I don't know the full story."

"Tell me what you can, then."

Dad lowered his voice so only I could hear him. "Well, we broke into Magnussen's office..."

"Christ, Dad. How'd you manage that? It couldn't have been easy."

"It wasn't, but Sherlock thought it through."

"How'd you get in?"

"Well, there's a card scanner with a camera that grants you access to Magnussen's office, but only if you're him. Sherlock got a corrupted card, so the PA would have to see who was trying to get in."

"How did that help you?"

"Well, it turns out Magnussen's PA is Janine."

I blinked. "Janine?"

Dad nodded. "Oh, that's not the best part, Rachel. Sherlock got us up there by proposing to her through the camera."

"Wait a minute, so...he was dating Janine so he could gain access to Magnussen's office?"

"Yes."

Huh. Sherlock was his old, deceiving self after all. His two relationships hadn't been real. Janine and I had been used. I guess I could feel a little bad for her now, considering she fell into the same trap I had.

Wait a minute. I didn't know why it didn't occur to me until just now. Janine and I looked somewhat similar, with our differences. Was that why Sherlock used me as a test run, because I sort of resembled Janine? Or was it because he knew a small part of me was attracted to him?