Brave (Aka The Reichenbach Return Pt 2)

by cajungirlkye

This is a companion fic to The Reichenbach Return. Basically same events, but from Sherlock's PoV. It is not necessary to read TRR but this fic will make a bit more sense if you do. Same warnings apply. Set 6 months after "The Reichenbach Fall", so spoilers for such. Also some mention of "A Study in Pink" and "The Blind Banker". My version of John & Sherlock's reunion. NOW COMPLETE

1. Chapter 1

Brave (AKA The Reichenbach Return, Pt. 1.5)

Sherlock Holmes woke with a start. It took him a moment to come to the realization where he was. Home. Well, not home exactly. He was in London, but he was in a guest room at Mycroft's house rather than at 221B Baker Street. He looked at the clock. 4:03 PM. He had been asleep for 15 hours.

He had just finished dismantling the last of Moriarty's crime web. He had caught and turned over every last one to Mycroft to prosecute, except the final criminal, Moriarty's second-in-command, Sebastian Moran. This one was John's would-be killer and therefore Sherlock had declared a personal vendetta against the sniper. He had been hiding in London the entire time. Sherlock had stayed at Mycroft's for the past month while he waited for Moran to slip up and give Sherlock the opportunity to end him.

Sherlock had texted Mycroft with the location of Moran, and when Mycroft had arrived Moran was dead on the floor, a pool of blood surrounding a single gunshot wound to the temple. Sherlock stood calmly nearby with the gun still in his hand. Mycroft had gently laid a hand on Sherlock's shoulder, taken the gun with a rag, and cleaned Sherlock's prints off of the gun before placing it in Moran's hand and firing another round as to ensure powder burns as evidence for a convincing suicide before the NSY came.

Sherlock stretched and slid out of the bed. He dressed then went to go speak to Mycroft in his home office. Mycroft had just hung up the phone when Sherlock stepped into his office.

"Ahh, good afternoon, Sherlock. You'll be pleased to know that Moran's death has already been ruled a suicide. I spoke with Detective Inspector Lestrade and apparently it was an open-and-shut case."

"Good to hear," Sherlock replied.

"I have already started the process to get all records of your death erased from the system," Mycroft continued. "If you're ready, a car is available to take you back to Baker Street."

John, Sherlock thought. His heart clenched. "How is he?"

"He's grieving. I tried to visit him the day you arrived back in London and he slammed the door in my face."

Sherlock smiled and Mycroft narrowed his eyes. "He visits your grave almost daily. In fact…" Mycroft paused to look looked at his watch." He should be there in about 20 minutes, if you'd like to observe him before going back to Baker Street."

He looked up to see that Sherlock had already left the room to go pack the few belongings he had with him. He smiled warmly. Good luck, Sherlock.

As the sleek black car headed toward the cemetery, Sherlock looked at his mobile at the last text he had typed to John before his 'suicide'. He had ultimately saved it to the Drafts folder.

Recipient: John – Mobile

I love you, John. I just wanted you to know that. – SH

He sighed and pocketed his mobile. He was here. He stepped out of the car and – There. There stood John, in front of his grave. He walked closer.

He just wanted to be near John, to hear his voice again. As he crept closer he could hear John talking.

"– I never would have thought that I could miss another person so much, especially one as annoying as you." John gave a choked –sounding chuckled then sighed. "I wish I could tell you how I truly felt about you, how much you really meant to me."

"You can." Sherlock realized he had spoken aloud when John whirled around, went white as a sheet, then fainted dead away at Sherlock's feet.

Sherlock swore. This was NOT how he wanted his reunion with John to go. He wanted to surprise John at the flat, (probably) get yelled at, and then move on as if nothing had happened.

He had the driver help him load John into the car and bring them both to Baker Street. Luckily Mrs. Hudson was out. Sherlock still had his key to the flat, and managed to get John into 221B and onto the couch. He fetched the orange shock blanket that he & John had procured during one of their many close calls and wet a cloth to use as a cold compress. He smoothed John's hair out of his eyes and thought about what he had overheard in the cemetery while he waited for John to come to.

Could he dare allow himself to hope?