prettybirdy979

Titles: Buried Alive
Theme/Table: Table #12, Titles is the theme
Setting: BBC! Sherlock
Rating: PG-13
Characters/Pairings: John, Sherlock and Lestrade
Genre/Warnings: Angst, Drama,
Summary: Sherlock is missing! And, well John's closer than he thinks to finding him. For the Secondary challenge at sherlockfest
Realised I forgot this... Thanks to mistyzeo for betaing! =D

Buried Alive

There are certain themes of which the interest is all-absorbing, but which are too entirely horrible for the purposes of legitimate fiction."

-The Premature Burial, Edgar Allan Poe

‘Where is he? He should be here!’ John frantically began to open cupboards and doors, searching for his missing friend.

‘My men have searched this entire place, Doctor. Sherlock isn’t here. Maybe we’re at the wrong place…’ Lestrade began.

‘No. The note said here. I know it did.’ John walked past the window when something in the yard caught his eye.

‘Maybe you got it wrong… wait! Oh, what now?’ John had turned and ran for the back door. Lestrade followed him as did the other police officers in the room. John went straight for the corner of the backyard, grabbing a discarded shovel on the way. He quickly began to dig at a patch of dirt.

‘What are you doing?’

‘The kidnapper’s note! It said I was lost in reveries of death. That’s a quote from Edgar Allan Poe’s The Premature Burial. This patch of dirt has recently been dug and replaced.’

The police exchanged confused looks and Lestrade opened his mouth to speak but just then John’s shovel banged against something wooden. He immediately dropped the shovel and began sweeping the dirt away. There was a collective gasp as they realised it was a coffin. Lestrade quickly grabbed the discarded shovel and began digging down the side of the coffin to free the opening.

The minute it took for Lestrade to dig the coffin out seemed to last forever but then the lid was clear and John and Lestrade were able to open it.

Sherlock was inside; his eyes closed and face peaceful. He looked just like a corpse.

‘Get him out of there!’ John yelled. Lestrade grabbed Sherlock’s shoulders and pulled him out of the coffin. Gently, he placed him on his back on the ground, a good way away from the coffin.

‘Back off! Back off!’ John growled. ‘You! Call an ambulance.’ A startled policeman walked off to do just that. The rest moved back, giving John space to work and Sherlock space to breath.

‘Is he breathing?’ Lestrade asked. When John didn’t reply, he assumed the worst. ‘Doctor, is he breathing?!’

John sat back on his heels, relief all over his face. ‘Yes. He’s breathing.’

Lestrade sighed. ‘Thank goodness. You saved his life, Doctor.’

And John just smiled. ‘It’s what I’m here for.’