To Bring You Back

by Nooooooooooooop

2 years after Sherlock's death, John is still around. His life is finally happy, when Sherlock spoils everything. He shows up and pulls John into the growing mystery of the Butcher, a whole new category of serial killer. There's something special about this villain, and it's up to Sherlock and John to figure out what. But no one will be able to predict how this case will close.

1. Chapter 1 - You

You smiled, satisfied, as you sharpened the knives and then carefully laid them out in their places, gently sliding some back into the knife block, with only a soft noise to indicate the movement. The work space was still bloodstained from last week; the activity had been a huge success. If it were any other cutting board, you would bleach it, but you knew the chemicals would damage the wood. The cutting board really was beautiful, a consolation gift from an old friend after... you shook your head, shying away from that particular train of thought. After finishing with the knives, you grabbed a damp rag, wiping the cutting board yet again. One can never be too clean.

You looked around, realising you needed to organise the Kitchen again. The Kitchen was what you had lovingly named your little hideout, your safe place away from all the journalists and paparazzi still trying to milk every possible story and tidbit about Sherlock's demise, even two years later. It was away from Baker Street, something that Mycroft had organised in an old warehouse. You hadn't really meant to get into cooking, but it helped when you were upset. You've started experimenting with all sorts of styles and cuisines, and gotten quite good, often inviting friends around for tea, or to try out a new recipe.

You frowned at the thought of him, scrubbing absently at every available surface as you walked around the room. It didn't bear thinking about, Sherlock's death. It seemed that everyday a new detail popped up, proving over and over that Sherlock was gone, whatever Russian rumor was floating around. But you still stood by your original beliefs: Sherlock had lied to you, and he was really that smart. He couldn't be dead. Anderson had only fueled that flame of hope, encouraging any and all theories on how Sherlock could have survived. He even started that stupid fan club... what was it called again? The Empty Hearse. Idiotic. Sherlock would have agreed. That wasn't how to lure Sherlock back. He had to have a reason. You knew you wouldn't be enough incentive, so you had to find another way.

You smiled again, looking around the now-clean Kitchen, ready to start the next project. Prepping, the building anticipation, was one of the best parts of your new pastime.