Case Studies - ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS

[worldsonly]

[ The Science of Deduction.co.nm: ]
File #1: New Moore

Update: Have traced the stock of multiple island businesses to dockside warehouses. No ships have been observed making deliveries to the island during my investigation, so where the warehouses are acquiring their stock is unknown and better learned from within.

The number of guards on duty in the first warehouse, which delivers to the supermarket chain, is disproportionately large for a glorified storage unit, roughly what could be considered high security. Brilliantly unusual, for a few dozen crates of what ought to be simple off-island grocery stock.

Guard detail found to be decently trained and willing to exert physical force to restrain and subdue, but does not immediately default to lethal, despite being armed, provoked, and thoroughly startled.

Six theories. Data inconclusive, further investigative action required.

[ and an update on Sherlock, back in REALITYVILLE:
dislocated shoulder, shallow but profusely bleeding head wound, a merry medley of bruises across his chest and arms, and what is going to be a really impressive black eye within a few hours. also, elevated heartrate, breathing, and dilated pupils — he might be a little high, which might have made breaking into the dockside warehouses sans his crackshot soldier seem like a better idea in theory than in practice, but obviously he's confident John will never notice. ]

02:19 TEXT SENT: JW

Get out your med bag, if the beasts
haven't already consumed everything
within.

SH

Comments

[worldsonly]

[ aware of exactly what John is looking for and exactly how guilty he is, Sherlock allows the examination with an expert poker-face; when John leaves he immediately yanks his shirt shut, ignoring the ache of protest from his bruised chest. ] For God's sake, I'm fine.

... No, stop that, you beast. [ he launches the loo roll at the offending kitten in a huff, utterly unmoved by its fluffy tail and giant eyes, and snatches back his scarf. ]

[heartofbakerst]

[ There is a sound of the snapping of some threads as the kitten desperately clings to the now-moving scarf that is infinitely more interesting than when it was just lying there being boring. But then the scarf was gone, and being too small to adequately jump, the fluffy cat claws its way up Sherlock's leg to get back at the thing. ]

[worldsonly]

[ sob that's Italian cashmere, you tiny heartless monster. also, while it's not exactly agonizing compared to what Sherlock's sustained over the course of the night, needle-sharp kitten claws digging into anyone's calf is going to be uncomfortable. Sherlock jerks his leg in an attempt to dislodge the thing, only succeeding in making it dig deeper. ]

Ow — John. John! Control your animal!

[ this is not funny. ]

[heartofbakerst]

[ Wrong. It's hilarious. John hurries back in with a small bag of ice wrapped in a dishtowel and pauses to examine the scene of Sherlock trying (and failing) to dislodge the animal from his leg. It's nearly impossible to keep himself from smiling, but he at least tries. He then hands Sherlock the bag and reaches out to pluck the kitten up by the nape of the neck. ]

Don't much care for animals, do we?

[worldsonly]

[ Sherlock scowls, not mollified in the least by John's poor attempt to conceal his mirth. ] Irrelevant. They hardly hold my attention enough to matter.

[ though the look he gives the kitten makes it clear he can think of six different experiments for it off the top of his head; possibly seven if he can get another, which obviously wouldn't be hard. ]

[heartofbakerst]

[ John can almost see that brain of his working and he shakes his head, holding the tiny animal close, as if to protect it from Sherlock's thoughts. ]

No. You aren't experimenting on her. I don't care how many presidents it will save or what sick curiosities you've got going on in your head. She is not to be experimented on. Understand?

[worldsonly]

[ Sherlock rolls his eyes, putting as much dignity and affront into the gesture as physically possible from behind a black eye and a bag of ice. 'sick'? ugh. ]

Boring. If I saved a president, Mycroft would probably try and have another go at knighting me.

[ then, huffily, to stave off what he's sure is John gearing up for a good long lecture on morality he's in no mood to hear: ] No, fine, don't give me that look. I won't bother with it.

[heartofbakerst]

[ John had been giving Sherlock a look. ] Regardless, she's not to be touched in anything other than petting or carrying, do you understand? Maybe a gentle scolding, but that's it.

[ The doctor lifted the kitten to look at her, as she struggled in his hands to free herself. ] I was thinking 'Elizabeth'. What do you think?

[worldsonly]

[ oh no, he really is getting attached to it. Sherlock rolls his eyes; frankly, he's almost surprised John didn't try and name it Mrs Hudson in a fit of sentiment. ]

Properly Queen-and-Country, John. Well done.

[heartofbakerst]

That obvious, was it? Well, I'd considered 'Mrs. Hudson' for a bit, but she looks a bit more like an 'Elizabeth' to me.

[ John took care in cradling the cat against him and nodded to Sherlock's shoulder. ]

How's it feel? It's been a while since I've needed to relocate a shoulder. Did I do all right?

[worldsonly]

[ it looks like a cat to Sherlock, but who is he to argue, John knows more about boring things like that than Sherlock does. he's hardly going to make a blog post on the Naming of Cats. ]

I can assure you your medical skill has not flagged with lack of exercise. But if you like I can go and get myself stabbed so you can practice suturing, you haven't done that in a while either.

[ ... he says, with utter sincerity. ]

[heartofbakerst]

I really would rather that you didn't. I'm not sure I'm well-equipped enough to do a full invasive procedure on ruptured organs. And you should stay away from there for a while. Those.. warehouses. They'll have strengthened security for a bit, and I don't need you getting hurt even worse. Still not sure about that head.

[ John sighed and set the cat down, leaning against the doorway of the bathroom. ] Why didn't you text me to come along?

[worldsonly]

[ because he was noticeably higher earlier and that would have been harder to hide. ]

Saw an opening, took it. There wasn't time to wait for you, and the chances of it being significantly dangerous were practically negligible. [ his expression twists, offended at the very notion of having been successfully tricked. ]

Though I'd love to see what they think passes as higher security now that they know they're being actively investigated...

[heartofbakerst]

I'm going to guess that it involves guns and more men. In any case, you need to take it easy. They'll be watching for you, now that they know what you look like. Give them some time, and maybe they'll rotate out enough to forget your face, and you won't get yourself killed.

[ He smiled a little and folded his arms. ]

How do you feel?

[worldsonly]

[ no avoiding John when he's got something to be stubborn about. if Sherlock is honest: he feels brilliant, of course, familiarly hyper-focused and already considering how to convince John to come back with him and interrogate the warehouse security while Sherlock looks around. true, his arm's going to be sore for a few weeks, but Sherlock is more aware than most of his own body's limits and even better at ignoring them. if John wants him to use a sling he'll have to knock Sherlock out and tie it on himself. ]

Surprisingly, I have not stopped being fine in the last five minutes.

[ he stands up and walks with the intention of swooping dramatically out of the bathroom, holding his arm with casual delicacy. ]

[heartofbakerst]

[ John was considering doing just that. He really should have been easier on his arm. John watched him glide from the bathroom and bent down to pick up his coat and scarf. ]

You probably shouldn't be moving so much. Not with your injuries like that. The last thing I need is for you to pass out and re-dislocate your shoulder on the floor. [ He sighed. ] I'm only concerned. If you want to ignore my medical advise, then I'm sure you'll figure out a way to do it. However, when you're in my home, please, please take care and do as I say? All right?

[worldsonly]

[ ugh, self-preservation. dull. still Sherlock's eyebrow rises, and he smiles sidelong. ]

Only a fool argues with his doctor, John.

[heartofbakerst]

[ John was actually about to make a comment about Sherlock constantly disagreeing and arguing with him, but ended up settling on a smile, completely by accident, feeling a little flushed in the cheeks. He cleared his throat and nodded. ]

Yes. Yes, good. Very good. You're learning, Sherlock.