This is inspired by MLC and dedicated to Surinah for her birthday challenge. It's my first (and only) 221b drabble. Hope you like.
Denouement
By
thedragonaunt
Sherlock stood looking down on his sleeping friend whose face appeared relieved of the ravages of time and care, returned in repose to the flush of youth. How he had missed that face. Pangs of guilt clutched at his heart for the cruelty of his actions. But what choice had he? The fact was, he had to die. It was the only option. But now he was back. He stood in the firelight, watching the sleeping man, wondering how John might react on opening those careworn eyes and perceiving his familiar visage. Was this cruel, too? No, this was a kindness, an act of redemption. He had been given special dispensation to make this return journey by the highest of powers, superior even to Mycroft.
His gaze shifted and he turned toward the dark figure that stood in the shadows, just beyond the fire's dying glow. The silhouette turned its hollow eyes upon him and he gave an almost imperceptible nod. The hooded man lowered his blade and severed the silvery tendril that anchored John Watson's immortal essence to his corporeal remains. As he did so, the sleeping man opened his eyes. They gleamed with the inner light of cosmic dust.
'Sherlock,' he said, smiling, 'You came back for me!'
'Of course I did, John! I'd be lost without my blogger?'
ooOoo