AU Fic: Sherlock and John are opposing barristers on a case that will make or break their careers. The case of Jim Moriarty.
Beta'd by the lovely Charli and proofread by my lovely Flo
John Watson was sat at his desk, hair slightly overlong and irritating him by flopping in his eyes as he ran a hand through it. His secretary, Sarah, wandered in through the glass door and threw a file on his desk.
"You're wanted." He looked at her askance.
"I don't get a choice?"
"No. A Mr Mycroft Holmes requested you specifically for this case. John you're one of the most competent barristers in London. He asked for you by name." John narrowed his eyes as he eyed up the thick file on his desk.
"Am I getting paid?" Sarah nodded and pointed to an envelope on top if the file.
"Half in advance." John opened the envelope and choked on his coffee.
"This is half?" He wiped his mouth weakly. "Jesus." Sarah nodded.
"He wants results John. He told me to tell you that." She nodded once, pulled her blouse down, smoothed her skirt and sidled out of the room.
"Sarah wait." He called after her, finally picking up the file and weighing it out in his hands with a grimace.
"What is it?"
"Am I building a case for or against..." He studied the front of the file and memorised the name. "Mr Jim Moriarty?"
"Against. I'm told it's simple."
"You would say that." He muttered and flipped open the front of the file.
"What?"
"Nothing. Make me a coffee would you please?" He smiled and she warmed a little.
"Of course, milk and no sugar right?"
"Right. Thanks Sarah." He smiled, which quickly turned to a pained frown when she left as he attempted to make sense of the file in his hands.
In another office on the other side of the city, a tall man was sat at his desk, hands clasped and fingers steepled together with his curly black hair flopping over his eyes. He appeared not to notice the young secretary enter the room, pink lipstick carefully applied to her lips and a soft dusting of foundation on her cheeks.
She was a soft beauty; her long brown hair was tied back and trailed down past her shoulder blades, her white blouse secured around her chest with pearlescent buttons. The blazer she was wearing was a deep black and had a few badges pinned on the lapel, an anti-cancer one, a Great Ormond Street Hospital one and her name badges, the enamelled surface glittering under the bright lighting. She was carrying a file, identical to the one lying on John's desk on the other side of London.
"Mr Holmes?" She ventured, placing the file softly down on the lacquered surface of the desk.
"My brother is Mr Holmes, Molly." He removed his hands and clasped them loosely on his lap, twining fingers together. He was strikingly handsome, and Molly could feel a blush rising.
"Sorry. Sherlock." She stammered.
"You're wearing make-up..." His gaze fixed on her and she felt suddenly uncomfortable.
"No I... Refreshed it." He nods, still gazing at her.
"Suits you." He then turned his attention to the file on the desk. "Who?"
"Jim Moriarty." She looked away.
"I assume I'm building a case for him, judging by your reaction. I also assume it's difficult." None of his words were questions.
"Everyone knows what he did... It is impossible that he gets off." Sherlock observed her with a faint smile.
"I'll be fine." He flicked it open and skimmed the first few pages before he realised Molly was still stood there. "What is it?"
"I was wondering if you'd like to get a drink... After work." He cocked his head to one side.
"No need, I'll be working through the night today." He turned his head back to the file and she took this as her signal to be dismissed.
"I'll see you later then." She felt she was talking to herself more than him, and reached for the door.
"Molly, who am I to be against?" He asked as she reached the door handle. She turned and smiled, brushing a few strands of hair out of her face.
"Sorry I forgot to say, John Watson. After you he's the best barrister in London. Your brother appointed him." Sherlock leaned back and steepled his fingers again.
"My brother appointed him? Interesting..." His eyes lost the light that meant he was concentrating on her, and Molly slipped out of the room.
"Sarah?" John asked as he wrapped a scarf around his neck and shrugged his coat on.
"Yes?" She was buttoning her coat and turned to look at him.
"Who's representing Mr Moriarty as the defendant?" He slid his hands into his pockets and shivered as the cool air rushed past him.
"Oh? Didn't I mention? Sherlock Holmes."
"What?" John's face fell. Sherlock Holmes, renowned as the best barrister in London was against him?
"Is that a problem?" John's eyes widened.
"A... A problem? Sarah don't you..." He stopped and shrugged. "Never mind. I'll see you tomorrow."
Across the river, Sherlock Holmes stood in his office, papers strewn all around. He had a page open on his laptop. John Watson, it seemed, was quietly famous. He let out a soft laugh and continued with sorting his paperwork. He smirked as the screen finally loaded. John Watson's blog. The man blogged his cases, the wins and the losses. He blogged it all. Only after the results had been released to the press of course. He was very by the book, very legal. Sherlock smiled, if everyone knew the key to his success was something highly illegal he'd be ruined.
Brought down in flames, probably put in prison for years. But Mycroft was always on side to make sure that didn't happen. Sometimes he hated his brother, actually, most times he hated his brother, but he had his uses. Sherlock closed the page and read through the sheaves of paper all around him. The name jumped out at him, five syllables burned into his retinas. He was reading evidence, becoming consumed. And that was how it worked, how he worked; and he loved it.
I hope you liked it, I will update as often as I can.
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