"What?" Sherlock all but yelled "Why didn't he tell me?"
"John said he did tell you. But you probably deleted it"
Sherlock's anger at John vanished, John probably did tell him, but Sherlock deleted it. Why did he take that information as 'useless'? Why? Why? Why?
Sherlock felt horror pierce through his veins.
"Why are you here?" Sherlock asked. "Why did John tell you to give me a message?"
Robert looked everywhere but at the Consulting Detective.
Not Good.
"Because…" Robert's voice strained "because…"
"TELL ME!"
"He's dead."
Everything came to a screeching halt.
"What?" Sherlock's voice was small. So so small.
"We got ambushed." Robert explained, "He got shot, right in the heart, just as backup arrived. By the time we could get to him, nothing could be done."
Sherlock couldn't cry. Not with this stranger present.
"Leave." Sherlock said it bluntly.
"Don't you want to know what John said?"
"Why does it matter?" Sherlock's voice was wavering. John picked the right person for this mission.
"Because it was the last thing he said." Robert explained.
Sherlock just stared. He couldn't help but remember the time when he asked John what he would say if he were dying. Way back when they weren't even flatmates. Back then he said "Please, God, let me live." But now, the last thing was to do with Sherlock…
"What did he say?"
"He wanted you to know, that he was sorry."
"For what?" Sherlock asked. Did they have a row before John left?
"Didn't say" Robert said, "His last words were: 'Tell Sherlock, I'm sorry'"
Two chapters down, two to go.
I will sadly, not get into the nature of John's apology. That will be left to the reader's imagination. So, please share your ideas to why John wanted Sherlock to know he was sorry. Maybe it will become a one-shot. Next part: angst.
