A/N: I felt the need to explain John's Death. Maybe John is alive or maybe not. Find out later on.
It had been exactly 3 years since John had died, 3 years since Sherlock had realised his feelings for John, a month since Sebastian's network had been destroyed to the core. Everyone had gathered at 221B for the usual mourning of the departure of a dear friend and love.
The usual group had been assembled - Sherlock Holmes, Mycroft Holmes, Greg Lestrade, Molly Hooper, Mrs. Hudson, Mike Stamford and of course Richard, Regina and James Jackson. All of them were sitting around and having drinks for both the victory party and John's death anniversary.
James suddenly stood up and caught everyone's attention at the sudden movement. "Ok there people. Before we go on to the speeches...I would like to say something here" he said as he looked over at his siblings for reassurance and then turned back to the group.
"This is more of a confession and I would like to apologise for whatever I am going to say in advance... but I did... no we did everything for a reason and nothing would've changed my mind." James said and paused, looking at everyone in the eye to make sure they got the point.
"Firstly... the Jacksons and Watsons are not two different families... we are all the same family. Before any of you get angry here, we would like to clear out that we had been as genuine to you as we could from the orders we had received." Richard said as he looked at put off expressions from everyone.
"And we assure you that the names we are under are also not false. It is just a long story that must stay within this room and cannot go out of it. Am I clear?" Regina asked and everyone nodded, finally getting a feeling that the mystery of the Jacksons will be cleared.
"I will start with myself then. You would understand the whole story only after you have heard my story. I am Richard Jackson... but my birth name is Harry Watson, younger brother of John Watson and James Jackson, the twin of Harriet Watson." Richard or rather Harry Watson said and looked around at the group gaping at him.
"I know John always said that he only had an alcoholic sister and she wanted to be called Harry... but it was an agreement between us to be like that. Anyways... I had been given away to a couple who had given birth to a still born so... I am legally a Watson - Jackson. Clear until now?" Harry asked and everyone nodded, not knowing what to say at the revealation.
"Good. Now I think you guys know me better as Harriet Watson rather than Regina Jackson, which was the name I only used for the military. John and I ran away from home, shortly after mum died when I was about 11 years old, John was 13 at that time. We settled down with the Jacksons and I used that surname to get into the military." Harriet said.
As Harry and Harriet had been narrating, Sherlock had been looking at James, his eyes shined with hope, hoping that it might be John, who had faked his death for some reason he couldn't tell anyone.
"Anyways. All the three of us had joined the military and Harry and I served in the military for 3 years before we were given undercover missions and therefore we split up. John was in the military until invalided, I had to be the alcoholic, which totally sucked but was necessary to gather information and Harry was a therapist/ bartender/ doctor... I guess you could recognise him fro somewhere Sherlock?" Harriet asked.
Sherlock stared at Harry, who had removed the green contacts he had been wearing to reveal his hazel eyes, that looked exactly like John's. "The one who did the blood tests to confirm the identity of the body right? To confirm John's identity?" Sherlock guessed.
" Got it right there Sherlock. It is I who did those tests and all... it pained me to do it but... it had to be done in the end. And sorry in advance incase you want to murder off James but it had to be done." Harry said and James glared at him at giving out his game as he caught the look of recognition on both Mycroft and Sherlock.
"Wait a moment there. You are saying as if we'd reach badly if we knew the identity of James which means we know him very well and we could be angry only if it was either a person who had disappeared for a long while or..." Sherlock trailed off, his eyes wide at the notion.
"... or if the person had been dead in everyone's eyes" Mycroft said as the others stared at James with wide eyes, gasping in shock as everyone caught on with what Sherlock was tying to convey.
" Finally deduced it Sherlock? I thought you would've figured it out sooner with all the clues right in front of your eyes for 3 years unlike you who disappeared without any clue. Yes I am John Watson people. I picked up the name Jackson after I faked my death." John said as he looked around the room.
The reactions were obvious... mostly. Mrs. Hudson rushed over to John and hugged him with a death grip before releasing him, only for Molly to react the same way. Lestrade on the other hand came over and punched him hard in the gut and broke his nose before bringing him into a hug. Mycroft just patted his back, telling him that it was a great trick.
Sherlock was the last to come over. He slowly walked over to of John, trying to grasp the reality of John being alive and pulled him into a fierce kiss, letting out all the grief and sorrow accumulated in the 3 years, tears of joy and relief escaping his eyes at John being alive.
John kissed him back just as fiercely, letting out the frustration he had held in for 3 years of being close to the one he loved and unable to do anything to help him. Just as suddenly as the kiss started, Sherlock broke it to punch John hard in the gut.
"Don't. Ever. Do. It. Again" he said, punctuating each word with a slap. John said laughed and and said "I love you too Sherlock. I'm just glad no one murdered me right now. I missed you too. Want to know how I pulled up my death?" he asked as he pulled off his disguise.
Now everyone were listening with rapt attention. "The whole plan came up after you first came to Sherlock about Moran Mycroft. The time when Sherlock refused to help in exposing Sebastian so that he doesn't target anyone like last time?" John asked and everyone nodded.
"I had asked Harry and Harriet here to collect more information about him when you said about the case to Sherlock. That was also when I was asked by the military to come back for temporary service. Unlike what you all think, I was an on call soldier and had been called back to assist on the Moran case. Got the story until now?" John asked and everyone nodded.
"Wait... why was the army on this case?" Lestrade asked, confused. "Well... Sebastian had been in the army before he was caught and thrown out of it when he was caught smuggling arms. And then he joined Moriarty, took over his web and expanded it to the extent that he was the backbone of many terrorist groups that the army had been on the tail of" Harriet said.
"So... what threatened John here to fake his death?" Molly asked. "The fact that the military called me back to service and the fact that I had to convince Sherlock to work on the case. Oh and also the fact that he threatened to harm the people I loved" John said.
"So basically like me then?" Sherlock asked, looking at John, who nodded. "How did you fake it though? Even the tests were positive?" Mycroft asked. The siblings chuckled at the clueless faces around them. "Not to mention the fact that the gunshot and all heard through the phone was realistic" Sherlock said.
"Those were realistic because they were real Sherlock. After the first time Sebastian threatened to harm you guys, we made the plan. That was a month before I faked my death. I had one patient who was on his death bed and we roped him into the plan. We did a full make over for him so that he exactly looked like me and sent him to that moron" John explained.
"And... who was that man John?" Mrs. Hudson asked. "A fellow soldier fighting the last stage of cancer. We gave him a voice modulator to make him sound like John and everyone believed it easily, it was flawless I must say. And then it was the soldier, who was coincidentally named John who was shot and died." Harry elaborated.
"The blood tests? I helped you in confirming them... didn't I?" Sherlock enquired. "You never noticed me switching the samples Sherlock. I had a sample of John's hair before hand and so I exchanged the samples when you didn't notice. As simple as that." Harry shrugged as the others stared at them, jaws dropped.
"And you never seemed to pick up the clues we dropped at you. We also specifically mentioned that John loved to fake his death when he served the army remember? Went missing for days together and popping out of nowhere all of a sudden?" Harriet asked.
"And also the fact that James had accidental slip ups, the way he always stayed near you, just like John... it was pretty obvious you know. You just didn't catch it up" Harry continued.
"The media is going to have a field day when they come to know of your return. And that means more press conferences for me" Lestrade muttered and groaned, throwing his head back in annoyance. "That will be put off for quite some time Greg. Don't worry about it. After all... I am still James right now." John said.
"Well... welcome back home then. Are you finally resigning or... still on call?" Mycroft asked, eyebrows raised. "Well... all three of us are still on call unfortunately Myc. But it is long shot for the military to call us anytime soon. Don't worry about that." Harry replied.
"Good. Because I don't want to lose you anytime soon John." Sherlock said as he hugged John closer. "And... when are we expecting the announcement Sherlock? John?" Mrs. Hudson asked. "Well... we will inform you when the time comes, Mrs. Hudson" John replied.
"Alright ladies and gentlemen. A small toast to the man who returned before we leave the love birds alone. To the man who returned" Harriet said and they had a long drink and soon, the gusts left after a lot of congratulations and thank yous.
"I am glad that you are back John" Sherlock murmured after everyone left. "And I am glad that you know I am alive. I couldn't stand the pain you felt when I faked my death" John whispered back. "Guess that makes us even" Sherlock said and leaned forward to kiss John. The rest that happened can be left to your imagination.
A/N: I was seriously not planning to do this part but after some thinking, I decided to write this anyways. So the two did get together in the end. Anyways... Hope you all liked it! All comments and criticisms accepted and appreciated.
Thank you all for reading!
Rasi10 signing off
Published ON 13 June 2018
