Note: Follows after Season 3 Episode 3. My version of what happens next. Sherlock must work with Sebastian Moran against a new enemy Solomon Rust. Mary's past comes to haunt them all, and she risks all to save her family. John and Sherlock's friendship is strained as John disapproves of Sebastian Moran. In the end, this case changes everything about their relationship.

Moran took aim just above center of his target – back of the head of a man in the town square below. The muscles in his arms and shoulders found that familiar tension point to keep the weapon still. Slowly, Moran squeezed the trigger part way, to be at the ready. He inhaled evenly and gently, held his breath for a moment and then exhaled cautiously.

Moran envisioned a few seconds into the future. There would be a percussive crack. He'd draw the bolt back quickly if he needed another shot – he wouldn't – then the spent shell would eject back over his shoulder. He'd get a glimpse of red mist as his target dropped to the ground.

And all of this will be over and I'll have my life back, Moran thought to himself.

The sound of his phone vibrating on the building's ledge pierced the calm. Moran quickly glanced to the screen to see who it was, even though he felt he already knew. Through his scope he saw his target pull a phone from his pocket and hold it up to his ear. He turned around and stared right at Moran.

Damn.

Moran considered his options. He slowly released the trigger and eased his grip off, one finger at a time. He reached over to his phone, and pressed the speaker button.

"I see you," Moriarty's taunting, playful voice came through the phone. Moran stared at Moriarty through the scope as Moriarty gave a little wave.

"I noticed," Moran replied. He quickly placed his hand back on the rifle, his finger on the trigger, at the ready again.

"Did you really think I'd be alone?"

"I did," Moran said just as a red light filled his scope, blinding him for a moment. Even though he had hastily thrown his plan into action, he believed he knew where Moriarty's assets would be. And he believed Moriarty when he had said he was going to the meeting alone.

"Guess I was wrong," Moran added quickly.

"On second thought...," Moriarty said as Moran heard a finger snap, and the red light vanished.

"Go ahead and shoot. I do love surprises," Moriarty mocked.

"You have nothing else to hang over me now," Moran said, pressed his face further into the scope and re-gripped the rifle. I should have done this a long time ago.

"Oh, I'm so very sorry about your mummy, I really am. But you can't blame me...God did that! Blame him!" Moriarty exclaimed in a sing song voice. "Tell me something. What were you planning to do after you kill me Sebastian?"

"Anything I want," Moran responded.

"After all the blood you have on your hands, I don't think so. You'll spend the rest of your life in prison without my protection. Or find yourself really, really dead," Moriarty mocked again, and gave a half smile.

"It may be worth it – to take a bastard like you out," Moran said, trying to sound confident. "I could also disappear. You taught me how to do that."

"A life on the run, really...is that what you want? Have the past few years really been that horrible? Did I ever ask you to do anything unpleasant? Kill someone innocent?" Moriarty asked. "No. I didn't. You have this moral code thing in your military mind. I know you. That's why I only sent you to kill the really, really naughty ones"

Moran thought back and hesitated to respond. Moriarty pounced.

"I'll make you a deal. You don't kill me, I won't kill you, and I'll let you in on everything. You can add a little moral compass to the criminal world and I get to keep a very valuable asset that I worked so hard to acquire," Moriarty said.

"I don't understand. I'm aiming a rifle at you and you want to promote me?" Moran responded, astonished.

"Right."

"For me to do what?" Moran questioned.

"To be my right hand man. My confidant. Like I said, I know you. Your word is golden. If you make a commitment to me, you will honor it. And you can be trusted," Moriarty said as he leaned over a little. "Trust is a very valuable and rare commodity in my business."

Moran could not believe what he was hearing from Moriarty. The bitter pill of all was that he was actually considering his offer. Life on the run from his enemies, from Moriarty and the authorities...would not be the life he wanted.

Moriarty pressed on, "I have always kept my word with you Sebastian. I know how important that is to you. If you agree, I make this vow to you. You will not die by my hand or my order. And I will mentor you. I need you."

Moriarty spoke very slowly, with a quiet intensity "But...I am losing my patience with this little game. You either say yes or give me a bullet in the brain."

Moriarty hung up and slipped the phone in his pocket. He squared his shoulders and stared straight at Moran with a smug smile on his face. Moran rested his head against his rifle, then slowly set it down and stood up, shoving his hands into his pockets. Moriarty gave a mock salute, and walked away. Moran watched him disappear into the crowd.

Moran rubbed a hand over his face as he shook away the memory of that day, years ago. That was the day he found out his mother was dead and the day he made a deal with the devil.

A cold wind fluttered through his hair and flapped at his coat collar as he stared down at his mother's grave stone.

He couldn't even bury his mother properly because of that mad man. The grave stone said 'Cecilia T Hopkins'. After all the work Moriarty had done to make Sebastian Moran disappear from the world, Moriarty couldn't risk Moran getting caught visiting Margret Moran's grave.

After the devastation that Sherlock Holmes had brought down on the network the last two years, Moran clung to the remnants. The mercenary work, weapons trafficking, and cybercrime had survived in part because Moran had kept it as far away from Moriarty as possible. He ran those groups with military and terrorist methods. Keeping each cell independent of each other and completely in the dark about the rest of the network. His men were loyal and well trained. Together they went underground and stayed off Sherlock Holmes' radar until it was time to start again.

Just as Moran was rebuilding, a new enemy has appeared on the horizon. Solomon Rust. Ruthless, heartless, soulless bastard that was tearing his world apart piece by piece, leaving a wake of dead bodies behind. His men were dying. Moran could not lose this battle.

He took a few steps back from his mother's grave and cradled the dozen lilies he had. He watched quietly as his men slowly dug out the old grave stone and replaced it with a new one, engraved with

Margret S Moran
Beloved Wife and Mother

He knelt down and rested his hand on top of the grave stone while he placed the lilies. He had only seen his mother once before she died. He wasn't there for her at the end. He never forgave Moriarty for that. He had been forced to sacrifice so much and he would fight for what remained. He wasn't going to let Solomon Rust take that away.

Even if it meant working with an enemy.

Moran ran his fingers over his mother's name. It was time he came out of the shadows and fight. Moran stood and brushed the dirt from his knees. He pulled out his phone and sent a simple one word text

Now

As he walked away, Moran smiled to himself. Having a ghost of Moriarty broadcasted across England should keep Sherlock Holmes in London and in the game.

It was time for Moran to engage the services of the world's only consulting detective.

Note: If part of this chapter seems familiar to anyone, I had taken part of it from an old, discarded story of mine.