A/N: So this is sort of an AU to EMPT that has been sitting in my writing folder for a while now. Thanks to much urging from my wonderful chum, Lilly Etre, it has ended up here. I hope you "enjoy" it, else blame her. XD
I hope the POV switches aren't too terribly confusing... It starts out as Moran's and switches at each "--" thing.
Anyhow, without further ado...
"I will do anything to see you swing, Moran!" Mr. Holmes yelled. If only he knew…
"Do not wager more than you will be willing to provide."
"I stand by what I've said." He stood there, his friend by his side. You'll regret this.
I gave him a rueful smile, brought up my revolver, and fired.
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Moran pulled the trigger of his revolver and I fully expected to be hit. Then, in slow motion, I saw Watson fall to the ground, a large, dark stain spreading across the left breast of his coat. Oh God!
"Watson!" I fell to the ground next to him, hearing Moran's evil laughter behind me as I grasped my friend's hand. "Watson-"
He cut me off, his voice weak. "Are you- are you all right, Holmes?" Why the devil was he worried about me?
"I'm fine, my dear fellow. It's you I'm worried about!" And Moran… he would use this opportunity to escape. All of this work for naught… But I could not leave Watson. Not again.
As if he were reading my mind, he squeezed my hand. "Go, Holmes. You've been working for years to capture him. I will not let myself be the reason you do not apprehend him."
I was torn. "Watson-" The hand in mine went limp. "Watson!" I scrambled for a pulse, fearing the worst. After feeling a rhythm- weak, but there- I let out my breath. "I'll be back as soon as is possible." I whispered.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I took the distraction of the dying doctor to escape. I had gotten almost to the corner before I heard footsteps behind me. Turning around, I came face to face with a very pained and raging Sherlock Holmes.
"Is Doctor Watson dead?"
"Not yet, no thanks to you." He spat.
"Oh my, Holmes, you truly are more heartless than I would have thought possible. Abandoning your friend at his last moments? Of course, this is after deceiving him about your survival for three years… You really don't deserve such a friend."
I could see the pain in his eyes. "I will kill you for this, Colonel, whether he lives or dies." He raised his revolver, ready to shoot.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." I said.
"And why not?" Holmes's barely suppressed rage made the hand holding the weapon quiver.
"Because, as soon as you pull the trigger, I will fire my revolver as well. We're at a stalemate. I suppose we ought to just walk away from each other, Holmes."
"Perhaps we should, Moran, perhaps we should. But I will not." Before I could register what happened, he fired, and all went black.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I did it. I put a bullet in the Colonel, killing the second most dangerous man in London. The man who shot Watson. Watson… I must get back to him, save him. I looked down at the corpse, disgusted, and rushed back to the warehouse. Back to my friend.
I hurriedly kneeled down by him, seeing his shallow breathing. "Watson…" I attempted to remove his coat and determine how ghastly the wound was. In doing so, I must have brushed against the injury, as he started with a gasp. "Watson!"
"Holmes, I- I-"
"Shhh… Watson, we must get you to the hospital immediately." I made to stand up, but he grasped my hand.
"Thank you." He said, looking into my eyes. "And- I'm sorry." With that the hand fell from my grip yet again. This time, however, there was no pulse.
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A/N: sniff Please review, guys!
