The man woke with no memory of who he was or how he got there. His head was swimming and his vision blurred. Everything looked white. The room, the bed, everything. Must be in hospital he thought.

"John you're finally awake" a voice said beside him. John? Who was John? Were they talking to him?

A hand gently touched his arm, he instinctively pulled it away and started to sit up. He felt dizzy and a bit faint. He wanted to run but where to? He had no idea where home was or anywhere else for that matter.

"John it's OK. It's me Jim. Don't you remember me?" the voice went on.

He looked at the dark haired man with a confused frown "Who's John?"

The dark haired man that called himself Jim smiled softly "You're John. Don't you remember?"

John shook his head "I don't remember anything. Who I am, who you are. Nothing" He felt disoriented and a little scared. He was tired and his head hurt. He wanted to sleep.

The dark haired man passed him a drink of water, he sipped it slowly. "You are John Watson, ex army doctor and my best friend. I'm Jim. Jim Moriarty."

"What happened to me? Why can't I remember?" with every answer John became more confused and he didn't like it.

"I'm not sure what happened. I found you half unconscious muttering Sherlock's name so I can only assume that he did this to you."

"Who's Sherlock?" another person he couldn't remember. He was starting to feel sick.

"Oh he's a man that hates me and by association you. I'm sorry he did this to you." Moriarty looked pained as he looked at John "You look tired. You should rest. I can tell you all about things when you've got your strength up a bit" and with that he took the glass from John's hand and placed it on the table by the bed.

"So I'm John and you're my best friend?" John asked. He couldn't remember. He wanted to be clear. He needed to know.

"Yes" said Moriarty softly "Now rest." He let John lay back and then carefully pulled the sheet up over him as John drifted off to sleep.

Moriarty watched the ex army doctor for a little while longer, a cunning smile on his face. He couldn't believe his luck. As he left the room he met John's doctor. "How is he?" the doctor asked. "Are the drugs working?"

Moriarty grinned a vicious grin "He's lost and confused just like you said he would be. He has no idea about the past and that's just how I want it. I can convince him of anything. Sherlock will rue the day he ever tried to take me down. He's going to be destroyed and John Watson is going to do it." He laughed.

The next time John Watson woke he hoped things would be a little clearer but as he tried to think about who he was all he could remember was his conversation with Jim from earlier. Jim, he thought, my best friend. He looked over to his left and there was Jim smiling at him. "You're still here" he said.

"Of course I am" Jim replied "I'm not about to leave you alone when you need me now am I? We've been friends for a while trust me you'd do the same for me."

"I wish I could remember." John looked away. He felt so utterly alone even though this person was sat right next to him. It wasn't that he didn't believe Jim when he said they were friends but it was hard to accept when he knew nothing about him. It was even harder knowing nothing about himself.

"Hey, don't look so sad mate" continued Moriarty "Anything you want to know you just ask. I'll happily fill in the blanks for you."

John sighed "OK so who is this Sherlock and why did he do this to me?"

"Ah, anything but that." Moriarty replied. John frowned. "I will tell you everything about him I promise but not now. When we're home and you're stronger, then I'll fill you in if you haven't remembered but now stick to nicer stuff OK?"

"We are home? So we live together?" John asked.

"Yes that's how we met. We were both looking for a roommate. You know how expensive London can be. You'd just come home from Afghanistan. You were shot in the shoulder. You told me that your army pension was not enough to be able to stay in London so we share a flat. Does any of this ring any bells?"

John laid his head back and stared at the ceiling. He was so confused. He couldn't remember anything but somehow what Jim was saying felt like it was true. He couldn't explain it. His mind was all over the place, he just wanted to know who he was.

Moriarty put his hand on John's arm. "Hey don't worry about it. The doctors say it could take a while for your memory to come back. You just need to rest and take your time. I know it must be hard but I'm here for you." He smiled warmly and John smiled back. "Now get some sleep. You look tired. I'm going to go and get a coffee OK but I'll be here when you wake."

John nodded. He couldn't believe how exhausting it was trying to piece his life back together. He closed his eyes and hoped that next time he woke all this would be in the past and things would be a lot clearer. He just wanted this nightmare to end.

Moriarty strolled down the corridor smiling happily. Things really couldn't be going any better. He went into the doctor's office, poured himself a coffee, sat down and put his feet up on the desk. "Well everything seems to be going to plan." he told the doctor sat the other side of the room "I'm enjoying telling him the truth about his life but with me as his friend instead of Sherlock." He laughed.

"It's the best way" the doctor said "This way his hidden memories won't fight against what your telling him so much as it is mainly the truth. We just need to keep the drugs in his system and he will remain convinced of everything you tell him. You do realise the longer we keep this up the harder it will be for him to get his real memories back don't you?" he asked.

"I know. Perfect isn't it?" Moriarty beamed.