#fb thread

FUJIKO:

Time to check that tracker again, see if she can load up the history to figure out where that impostor-Lupin may have left Kenichi. Hopefully he left him with someone, and he wasn’t simply alone, but she wouldn’t put it past the guy.

But not enough time to think about that because something strange had happened. That second dot continued to move, even though he surely should be dead. But then, wasn’t the first time that trick had been pulled on her.

That’s okay. She’d be ready this time, and she’d know where to find him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Having already been acquainted with the requisite portal, it didn't take her long to get there, more time spent navigating the roads than in crossing the country. Fujiko did think it was a bit of an odd place to hole oneself up in for devious deeds, but maybe that's why this Lupin had picked it. It did also cross her mind that he might be visiting, in the same way that he'd spent a few days with Zenigata before skipping out. But Kenichi was her main concern, and that's who she was focused on seeing.

She watched the flat for a bit, examining it. Who knows what was on the other side, but from this end it seemed simple enough. Basic lock on the door, nothing in comparison to the high security places she was used to detailing. Didn't take her more than a minute or two to let herself in.

JOHN:

Now honestly he really should have put some kind of dresser or something in front of the door. But for the past few days he'd been a bit... distracted. Never taken care of a baby before, and thank god for Mrs. Hudson. She'd cooed and cawed over that baby like a mother hen, despite the fact that it wasn't hers. Maybe it was a woman thing? John, on the other hand, had been rather awkward. He'd held Kenichi out at arms lengths for the entire first day. But Hudson was at the sub shop tonight and he was on his own. Had gotten a text from Sherlock saying someone would be coming for the baby who was "safe", but hadn't said who. So when he caught a glimpse of another person just waltzing into the flat, unannounced, unfamiliar, and uninvited? He was immediately on the defensive. Someone "safe" would have knocked at least, not picked their way through a locked door. He wasn't sure what was going on with this whole debacle, but he knew that this little baby was in danger. And for all he knew, this woman was the threat. He was in the kitchen, holding Kenichi against his chest (such progress) but stood straight up as he saw what looked like a pair of breasts on legs stroll in. Tightening his hold slightly and taking a few steps back. "You know people do this way too much, honestly? I'm a bit tired of it."

FUJIKO:

"Then how about you give me Kenichi and I don't bother you any longer?" He'd have to forgive her rudeness; she wasn't expecting someone to actually be /caring/ for the child. She didn't know this guy, didn't know who he was with or who hired him, but did sense he was inexperienced with babies and so maybe wasn't usually a sitter. And considering the last guy she'd seen holding a baby had then proceeded to shoot the child right in the head, Fujiko had a reason to be on edge. Her browning was already out.

JOHN:

Nope. Nopenopenope. Definitely not safe. He didn't know her, he certainly didn't have to forgive her rudeness, and he sure as bloody hell didn't have to take having a gun in his face. Kenichi still dozing lightly against his shoulder, he immediately turned his body so his bare one would take the brunt of any bullet shot. Or his side. Or his head. He didn't care and it didn't matter. Hadn't put a dresser in front of the door but you can be sure he'd been wearing his own piece. Military issue in the back of his jeans, and that came right out to train on the woman's forehead. Military issue and military training. Eyes narrowed and hand steady. Voice low and calm. "It's going to be a little more than a bother in about two seconds. I don't know who you think you are, but this baby isn't going anywhere with you."

FUJIKO:

She had to give a bit of a smirk at that. At least the gun wasn't on the baby this time."'This baby' has a name, and he's going home. I'd prefer to do that without waking him up with gunshots, you know? And I'm pretty sure whatever this Lupin's paid or threatened you with, it's not going to be worth it."

JOHN:

Well that speech got through to him at somewhat, at least. Lupin's name, specifically. He cocked his head lightly and blinked. Looked away for a moment, then back at her. Voice still clipped and short."Sorry, /this/ Lupin? I only know one. And I doubt the Lupin I know would send someone in who breaks into my flat, thank you very much, and then waves a gun in my face." He paused for a moment, the gun lowering just a fraction of an inch. "...Home?"

FUJIKO:

Fujiko's did not lower. "Well, the one who's /here/ kidnapped Kenichi after pretending to be his father and maiming his actual parents. /That/ Lupin also shot another baby in the head having me believe it was Kenichi just for fun, so I didn't feel like giving chance for the actual thing because of silly things like a locked door."Let him process the information, think on it and not on her. It didn't matter what conclusion he came to or if he chose to believe--if she could get him distracted for half a second it would be enough to get Kenichi.

JOHN:

 It was a moral dilemma. Sherlock had said someone was coming. Could it really be this crazy woman with a gun? She could be lying. He didn't have long to think about it, he knew that. He didn't really have any time to process this past a few seconds, because he was pretty sure that if he didn't just hand over Kenichi soon, then someone was going to get hurt. He couldn't promise it would be only be her. Just then, there was a bit of stirring in his arms. Kenichi decided to pick that moment to begin waking up and trying to see what was the hell was going on. He was just a baby and there were two voices he recognized in the room. One of which he hand't heard in a while. He cooed a little, made a bit of noise and turned his head. Oh! It was the pillow lady. He liked the pillow lady~ Made a bit of a happy sound in her direction. John noticed, and that along with the fact that the woman hadn't actually shot him yet motivated him to make an executive decision. He could be wrong. Kenichi could just be a really good mood. He could just really like the sight of guns. She could lying. But she /hadn't shot yet/ and that was actually really important. He'd been living with a detective too long. "Alright here's what we're going to do. I'm going to lower my gun. Then you're going to lower yours. And then we're going to sit down at this kitchen table and have ourselves a little chat, yes?" And, true to his word, he tucked his gun into the back of his jeans again. He'd been wrong before but he hoped to Christ he wasn't wrong now.

FUJIKO:

Kenichi waking up was not the moment's distraction she would have expected, and it didn't work in her favor as it caused her to lose a bit of her momentum. But. She'd thought he was dead. She'd been close to telling Lupin and Zenigata he was dead, and had been prepared for anything to bring him back from that. And now here he was, a bit sleepy looking but happy and cooing at her, and she couldn't help her face crinkling into one of a genuine smile at the little boy, at how perfectly safe he was, or would be soon enough.Which brought her back to thinking. Even if this person were being genuine, which she had less reason to believe than he did of her, there was still the fact that she'd tracked that Lupin here. And she needed to get Kenichi away from him, not sit and chat until he decided to show up."Okay then." She lowered her gun, placing it in her garter holster with a resigned nod. Moved as if going toward the table, or maybe just moving closer to the happy, smiling infant she'd worked so hard to see, her eyes big and happy staring at the little boy.And then when she was close enough she took a swing at the man's face, hoping that carrying a baby would be enough to slow his reflexes.

JOHN:

The punch landed straight across his cheek, head rocking back and momentarily dazing him. Momentarily being the key word."We'll do it the hard way then. Fine by me." That smile had meant something, that smile had been fucking genuine, but then she had to go and prove him wrong. John flew right back into nopeville and brought right leg up. Snapped it to send a kick flying into her knee. Kenichi didn't know what was going on, but he heard that smack of knuckle on bone and saw limbs flying. The tension of the room and the violence finally seeping into his brain and disturbing him enough to start up a crying jag. What was happening??? Why this????

FUJIKO:

She'd been pulling Kenichi out of his arms and hadn't given much mind to him throwing kicks. Right up until she felt it on her kneecap, the jolt of pain throwing her off balance. But she kept her arm wrapped around Kenichi, tugging him with her while the other arm looked for something to steady her. Hard to tell whether the noises she made were hisses of pain or hushes for the baby's crying.

JOHN:

The moment had come. Someone was trying to literally wrestle the baby out of his arms. That wasn't acceptable. That wasn't gonna happen. Someone who'd come in with guns blazing, and had thrown a punch at his peace offering? Nah. Nahhhhh. He knew better than to try and pull back on Kenichi. Having a tug of war with an infant was a bad idea. So he let go. Just so he could reach behind him and pull his gun back out. No words this time, no warnings. He was a steady enough shot that even with Kenichi in her arms, he could shoot her in the leg and not endanger him. At least, with the shuffling of feet underneath of him, he could try. Would prevent her from getting away anyway, baby in arms or no.Gun went off and that baby started /wailing/. Sorry Keni.

FUJIKO:

She heard the gunshot and curled tightly around the baby. No. No no no not this again, she'd had him, she'd /had him/.Took her a moment to realize the wailing, and that this was a good sign. Last time he hadn't cried. Hadn't any life in him to cry. She ran a hand over his body, seeking and finding nothing other than a very upset baby. She hugged him tighter, kissed the baby's head, muttered soothing "it's okay, you're okay, ssshh." Voice a bit more ragged once she recognized the pain from her bleeding calf. That was okay too.

SHERLOCK:

Sherlock had gotten out of cab outside the flat when the gunshot rang out. He wasn't long to run into the scene. Only somewhat slower for the injured leg. He's a mess. Worse than the two of them and quite a bit bloodier. Especially at the leg and empty eye socket.He's swift to take thing in. Stepping between John and Fujiko while putting out a few signals for mostly Keni in the form of calm. It was alright. Or it would be. The fight was over. No more crying."Fujiko Mine, Doctor John Watson. Doctor John Watson, Fujiko Mine." His voice isn't the clearest. Rasped and crackling. Dark bruising around his neck making it clear why. "I see you've both gotten to know each other's stubborness. Splendid. Now swollow it bececause one woman needs to sit still while the man tends the bullet wound in her leg."He reached in passing to lightly take the gun out of John's hands an take it with him to a seat not far away. Where he slumped. Quiet. He wouldn't do much more than that and put out sedation signals if they got violent again. He'd bloody take the baby to Jigen himself if it kept up.

JOHN:

He really didn't... know what to take in first. The fact that Sherlock knew this woman, the fact that he seemed to have an EYE missing, or the fact that the stranger seemed to be more distressed over the baby than the obvious hole in her leg. Don't worry; his time to be violent had been cut violently short. He just stood there for a few moments, honestly not knowing what the fuck to do or say. And when he found the words they were a gathering of all the tension, all the calm, clipped words and terse banter back and forth, all the fierce protectiveness he'd felt over a baby that wasn't even his, and came shouting out in a cry of, "Oh, the pleasure's ALL mine!" Panting a little, his first instinct was towards Sherlock. Taking in his very obvious injuries from where he sat. A different vein of defensive worry splitting through him, but he knew Sherlock was stronger than the average person. Could withstand more. For all he knew, this "Fujiko" was just an average human. So with another shake of his head and one more glance at Fujiko (who he seemed to have misjudged, but who could blame him) he turned and went to find the medical bag he kept at home for emergencies. Honestly, sod it all.

FUJIKO:

Okay, so /maybe/ it was Sherlock's weird stuff that got the baby calmed down, but Fujiko had been doing her part too, damn it. Of course, once Kenichi settled, she could better take stock of things, like how stupid it kind of was to sit bleeding on the floor soothing a baby and doing little to defend either of them. But moment was kind of over, her opponent more grumpy than actually threatening it seemed. And Sherlock was there, who she still didn't really know and still didn't really like but for some reason seemed to act unsurprised she was there, and also looked really, really bad. But he was the one settling things so she kind of had to take that."Don't bother: have a kit in my car." Normal human, yes, but one who did get shot at often enough to deal with emergency care when she needed it. Totally confident she could wrap this up and take herself to actual medical treatment later, and that totally wasn't the shock talking.Might need help getting to the car though. Couldn't hop to it and carry a baby all at once.

SHERLOCK:

"Swallow the pride, I said." He'd get up damn it. He would. And if he did, he'd be paralyzing her into a temporary deep sleep and taking Kenichi to Jigen. By Queen and country he bloody would. "Couldn't find a better doctor in England that won't ask you fifty damned questions before treating you."

JOHN:

This whole situation was ridiculous at this point. John had just shot the wrong person, and honestly only a very small part of him felt bad about it. He was frustrated, still on edge, but he'd follow Sherlock's lead. He always would."Listen to him. I'd rather retrieve a bullet than let you take that along /as well/." He sat right down beside her on the now (slightly) bloody floor and opened up that bag of his. Let her look inside it. No hidden weaons. "Granted I don't have fifty questions, but I do have a few. Like for example did you /really/ think that just barging in and demanding Kenichi was going to get you anywhere? Honestly????"

FUJIKO:

Fujiko didn't look inside it, giving him a bored expression that was a bit lost in pain. If he really wanted to do something, he could just not hid it in the bag."I told you: I've already gone the calm, compliant route. Didn't end well. To be honest I came in expecting that Lupin to be here. Where is he?"

SHERLOCK: