The curious case of Sherlocks Heart (closed)

[Asa]

Ohn ordered a coffee probably not the best idea for sleep but maybe clear his head a little more.

There were more stray cat prints in the warehouse perhaps the unknown assailant travels with one. I will also get Lestrade to find out who owns the warehouse.

He knew he was grasping at straws but he had to figure out something. A text came through his phone.

Dropped off security footage from the chip shop off st Bakerstreet even though neither vic ever went there maybe someone will stand out to Sherlock or you. Just seems like people and tourists to me.

 

[such_a_bad_man]

Sherlock shook his head. Again, cats seemed to be annoying present in all the location. He didn't think they were so pervasive in London, but perhaps he'd have to reconsider that. Looking at his phone, he saw that Lestrade had come through with the video after all.

Pressing play, Sherlock watched idly as he waited for his food. He didn't have high hopes, but it would eat at him not to check. If nothing else, he could cross it off the list and not worry about it as they moved forward with this case. The video started and he split those he saw into potentials and unimportant.

 

[Asa]

John watched more his reactions than the video. He noted a few people he would suspect of being victims but clearly they were not. Goes to show not judging people too harshly.

Anyone of interest?

 

[such_a_bad_man]

Sherlock shook his head. "No... nothing... Just more faces in a crowd. No one marking anyone in the shop. No one from our list in the video... nothing..."

Sherlock sighed, pushing the phone onto the table as he put his head in his hands. Rubbing his eyes with the heels of his hands, he was suddenly aware of how tired he was. Even with the breakfast he was about to have, he could sleep for a week. This case was exhausting and frustrating in all the worst ways.

 

[Asa]

John smiled when the food arrived and nodded to the waitress.

Let's eat and head back home. Don't know about you but that short nap did not help my being tired. Food then sleep Dr's orders.

John then made quick work of his breakfast and waited for Sherlock while drinking some tea.

 

[such_a_bad_man]

Sherlock hated it when Watson pulled his Doctor card on him, but ultimately knew that he did it with his best intentions at heart. "As you wish, Doctor..." Sherlock murmured, eating the last of his muffin before washing it down with the last swallow of his coffee.

As he figured, the caffeine in the coffee barely registered as he rose to settle the check. Stepping back out with John, they shared a cab back to 221B Baker. Heading back inside, Sherlock shed his work attire and curled up in bed, dropping off to sleep almost immediately. His desire to retreat into his brain for the day overpowered any energy he just got from the food. He wasn't sure how long he was asleep, but woke refreshed, albeit to a dark city outside his window.

 

[Asa]

Even as silent as she was Ms Hudson had heard her and she knew it.

Iara? Oh dear child...

Mrs Hudson moved to help her carefully into the door.

Well its lucky for you I have a Dr. under this very roof as well I will call for him.

No...

Iara growled and tried to get back out the door and out of her grip. Mrs Hudson only briefly looked at her almost like a mother fixing to call down a misbehaving child but instead called out.

JOHN... are you in dear... I could use your assistance with a less than agreeable patient.

With that she tried to get away from her again and the flat only to collapse just outside the door unconscious.

Once John carried her up the stairs and Mrs Hudson moved stuff from the sofa she quickly studied the young woman and seemed pleased not to see something she permitted John to examine her.

This woman looks like she has been in a fight with a wild animal. How do you know her Mrs. Hudson?

Old family friends dear not that it would surprise me if that's not what she did. Always a bit of a wildcat traveling all over has stayed here before. I keep a room here for her when she is in London.

 

[such_a_bad_man]

Sherlock grumbled at the noise outside his bedroom. Throwing the covers back, he pulled his robe on. Stepping into his slippers, he pulled the door open to quite the scene in his front room.

"Watson, what's the meaning of this? I'd finally gotten-" Sherlock cut himself off. The woman splayed out on the couch was beautiful, but that's not what drew his eyes. It was the wound that John was tending to. It looked about right for a dog bite. Flicking his eyes to the woman's face, he raked down her body quickly assessing her height based on the length of the couch she was placed upon.

Flicking his eyes to the wall where his victims were listed, he recalled the placement of the wound on one victim and extrapolated that it would be about perfect for the shoulder level of this woman laying on the couch. Turning back to the woman, he saw how Mrs. Hudson doted on her. She must be the friend she was visiting in the basement. It would also be too much of a shock to have her taken in while she was in her current state.

"Watson, what do you need? I doubt our meager first aid kit will be enough to stem the bleeding for long." Sherlock asked, moving to help Watson as best he could. While their long-lost killer may have fallen into their laps, he would rather mend her to aid in getting the answers he craved.

 

[Asa]

Yeah... an operating room. I am fairly certain there is internal bleeding. It's like she went a few rounds with a gorilla or something.

Moving her jacket revealing claw slashes and and bites. Once the jacket happened the lfur smell seemed to linger around the claw wounds much more faint than the victims.

What in the world?

Mrs Hudson tenset seeing all the damage

 

[such_a_bad_man]

"Then we should get her to one as soon as we can." Sherlock says, looking into the woman's eyes. He floats it, curious about how she might react to that possibility.

He moves back to his room, throwing some clothes on. As he does, he slides into John's room, fetching his gun from where he hides it. With everyone busy in the front room, he is sure no one will notice, but he doesn't want to leave with this woman without some means of protecting himself. If she were to figure out what is going on, he and John might be in danger.

 

[Asa]

Mrs Hudson jumped at the suggestion of an operating room suspecting they would take her to a hospital.

No... she does not do well in hospitals. I will call Molly what do you need her to bring?

Her words were short and determined if not a little worried.

 

[such_a_bad_man]

Sherlock frowned. "Why would she not do well in a hospital? Does she have a record?" He asked, looking at the woman again to see if she will say anything in her own defense. He looks around, wondering if they may have to relocate to the big table instead of the couch.

 

[Asa]

Her name is Iara and no she does not have any record that I know of Sherlock. She just... hospitals are not the best place for her now let's move her and have Molly come help yo John. You cant let her die. No matter what Mr know it all here thinks he knows.

Mrs Hudson was truly worried about her. Like she was family she did say she was a on old family friend.

Sherlock help me.

John motioned.

Yes Mrs Hudson call Molly strict confidence possible internal bleeding and cracked and cracked if not broken ribs and hurry.

Once Mrs Hudson was out of ear shot John looked to Sherlock. She views her like family... possibly like the child she never had. Tread LIGHTLY. She is still unconscious so that is a problem and a blessing. We will have to try to wake her once this is all over

 

[such_a_bad_man]

Sherlock frowned as Mrs. Hudson went into the other room. Her care for this woman was like family, though not like any family that Sherlock had known. Moving to help lift her, he carried her to the table with John and laid her out so that she was stable and not pressing on her wounds.

"We can save the questions for when she is stable and awake." Sherlock promised as he helped John as much as he could with the medical supplies they had on hand. Until Molly joined them, it was mostly about stopping the bleeding as best the could. Having a trauma bag would help much more and hopefully that's what Molly was bringing.

 

[Asa]

Molly walked in with several things and handed them to John then grabbed Sherlock dragging him to the cab to get the rest of it.

You are going to do everything in your power not to upset Mrs Hudson and you will either help keep her friend Iara alive or you will answer to me. Are we clear Sherlock?

She smiled but it was clear she was serious as their patients situation.

 

[such_a_bad_man]

Sherlock nodded. He was clearly outnumbered. He could be a passive observer for now. Sliding the straps of the next few bags on his shoulders, he helped carry the rest of Molly's things inside. Setting them down around the table, he slipped away. Out of eyesight, he slid back into John's room, replacing the pistol where he found it. If Iara was unconscious for now, it would be some time before they might need it.

Walking back out, he did his best to take down the wall. If the woman was who he thought she might be, he didn't want to give her any reason to think he was her enemy. If her attacks are any indication, there'd be no stopping her if she lashed out at him or John or, God forbid, Molly.

 

[Asa]

A couple of hours later John stood there with a sewn up patient finally allowing Mrs Hudson over to her with Molly supervision to keep the patient stable. He walked over to Sherlock.

I must be exhausted because I swear I saw wounds trying to close themselves up as I found them. It's not physically possible but...

He shook his head.

Her body was trying to heal itself as I was operating.

 

[such_a_bad_man]

Sherlock furrowed his brow as he listened to John. Watson was a good doctor and not given to delusions or wild theories. He had to take him at his word about what he saw. "Watson... Would you say her wounds were indicative of a dog attack?" He asked him quietly as he watched the other room.

"And would you put her height at the shoulder to be equivalent to the height of the stab wounds on our victims?" He continued, keeping his voice down. He watch Watson's eyes, nodding slightly as he could see that John was following what he was suggesting.

"I don't think she'd make trouble here, but we should be ready to get Lestrade over here at a moment's notice." He offered as he moved in to watch Molly with Iara on the table.

 

[Asa]

She could be and some of the external wounds might match up to a dog but the internal wounds. There is no way fighting off a dog could cause those and none of our victims showed any signs of fighting back. Hell getting hit by a truck might be the only thing that could cause the damage I saw in there.

You call Lestrade on her and Mrs Hudson I have little doubt would kill us all.

John added seeing the level of mothering and worry Mre Hudson was showing this woman.

She must know more about her than she is telling and more control over her than we would.with how long it appears she was still walking and moving around with those injuries. There is not anything Lestrade could throw at her to stop her.

 

[such_a_bad_man]

Sherlock frowned. Nothing about this woman made sense. There had to be some logical explanation for what John saw, but he was right that turning Iara over to the authorities would drive a wedge between Mrs. Hudson and the two of them. This was more delicate than he first imagined.

"Alright, we won't act on what we've seen and suspect, but I do not want her leaving before we can talk with her..." Sherlock said, keeping an eye on things over John's shoulder as they spoke.

 

[Asa]

John shook his head.

Trust me she isn't going anywhere any time soon. Hyper healing or whatever she won't be going anywhere.

Mrs Hudson looked over at them and Molly seemed to be reassuring her about something.

John help me move Iara to the room Mrs. Hudson keeps for her here she should be stable enough to rest there alone right?

Molly nodded to him and John taking the hint agreed.

Sherlock and I will move her you guide the way Mrs Hudson while Molly holds the iv bag. Let's go Sherlock

 

[such_a_bad_man]

Sherlock sighed. "Very well. Carefully." He said, moving to help hold up his side of Iara's body. It was a tight squeeze for all 4 of them around Iara going down the stairs, but they managed it. Setting her down in the bed, Sherlock took the moment to look around the room finally. He'd never been down here, figuring it to be a basement like any other. It was anything but as he turned a slow circle.

 

[Asa]

It had always looked like a closet on the landing before the basement. It was however a one room apartment with a tiny kitchenette with a couple of bags from the fish shop on the video. An antique couch big enough to be a bed and blankets and pillows scattered about a table and chair.

 

[such_a_bad_man]

Sherlock looked around, wondering how they could not have noticed Iara coming and going from the flat all this time. Also, how did she not show up on the chip shop video? She's clearly been there as evidenced by the bag. All this was doing was adding to the list of questions Sherlock was preparing for when she became conscious again.

Helping her onto the expansive couch, he helped make sure she was stable per John and Molly's direction. Molly found a way to hang the IV bag and Iara was settled in for now. Looking over to Mrs. Hudson, he asked. "You'll be with her for a while?" He asked, wanting to be sure someone was with her in case she came around.

 

[Asa]

I will sit here for a time yes but I need sleep too we all do. She will be fine. I don't think she will be all that willing to be too active with everything John did.