This was the new project I'd spoken briefly about when I finished This is War. It's two parts and the first part is finished. The second, though, is not, though I believe it will be shorter and posted as a sequel. The lovely isolde-blue has graciously brit-picked this for me and I owe her my never ending gratitude. I hope all of you like this!
Also, this would have come out much, much later if it had not been for my wonderful family and friends, both online and in real life. So, for those who are actually on this site, thank you so, so much alienated-alien and Kasek, and for all the others who will probably never even see this. My life would not be complete if I had not met all of you.
Disclaimer: Me own Sherlock in any form? Two words. I. Wish.
Justice.
Prologue.
The first article had been released mere hours after Sherlock Holmes jumped from the roof of St. Bart's. John hadn't seen that article, or any of the others that followed, until nearly a fortnight later.
Harry had been tiptoeing around him since he'd shown up on her doorstep that terrible day. He'd finally had enough and they had argued as harshly as they had used to, before John had picked up his jacket and walked out. He trod through London, trying to find the smallest amount of peace. The peace he sought for escaped him.
He'd lost track of time, but he knew he'd been walking for hours, when he stopped by a newsagent's to catch his breath. John looked up from his shoes and nearly choked.
Staring back at him was a picture of his late best friend. It was on that day's copy of The Sun. Just seeing it made John begin to feel ill. The last article he'd seen in The Sun about Sherlock had been shortly before his death.
The picture itself was a photo of Sherlock from one of the press events that had taken place only a month before on the front page. It wasn't one of his best. The deceased man looked too sharp and almost sinister. John had no doubt that the man had been irritated by the tedious proceedings at that time. Printed next to him was the headline 'Famed Detective More Than Just a Fraud.'
John took the paper from the rack and read.
'Famed Detective More Than Just a Fraud. By: Kitty Riley. (John almost growled when he saw that woman's name.) Over the past several months the man Sherlock Holmes has made the headlines many times for solving crimes and mysteries that seemed impossible. Sources have already come to light claiming that the amateur detective had arranged the crimes that he would later resolve. Another source has recently made contact and given details of what had happened the day Mr Holmes committed suicide. Richard Brook, the actor whom Mr Holmes hired to play Moriarty, was found on the same roof he'd jumped from, killed by a fatal gunshot wound. It does not take a supposed "consulting detective" to make the leap of logic that a man willing to take the actions he did would kill the one responsible for ruining his carefully constructed reputation—"
John shoved the paper back into the rack, not caring that he ripped part of the rubbish. He strode away to return to Harry's flat, where he was staying until he could find a flat of his own. One that didn't hold as many bittersweet memories that 221B did.
When he had travelled a short way, John took a deep breath. No matter what people said, John Watson would always believe that Sherlock Holmes was not a fraud. Even when the man himself admitted that he had lied to him all along. No, Sherlock had only ever spoken one lie to him and that was the one he'd uttered whilst standing on the edge of a roof, looking down at his best friend.
And that is the first post. I hope it's piqued your interest and don't forget to review! I'd like to know if there's interest in this story. Updates should be every two weeks until till all the chapters have been typed and edited, which will then change to every week. Sorry that this first chapter is so short.
