Chapter 2

The sun had barely risen over the horizon when the performers had arrived to the opera house. John walked in with Greg to see everyone bustling about in a hurry to finish preparations for opening night. The singers were warming up in the audience while the dancers started their stretches along the stage. Greg and John changed into their worn ballet slippers to begin stretching with everyone else. John observed the other performers while he was stretching. The director Moriarty, and to Greg's utter dismay, the producer Mycroft were discussing quite heatedly details of the performance. John couldn't hear what they were saying but it seemed they did not agree. The lead tenor and soprano were warming up together and their voices could be heard clashing throughout the entire building he was sure. Sally was flirting poorly with Anderson who seemed more interested in the idiotic jokes he was making at the expensive of the other dancers. The stage hands seemed to be uninterested in the production as most were already drinking heavily. John sighed to himself; he hoped the opera would be better than this.

As the dancers were finishing up their stretches the lead tenor stomped on stage demanding it cleared for his song. With stiff shoulders and set jaw John walked off stage with the other dancers to watch Paulo's song. Before Paulo sang his first note many of the stage hands were seen plugging their ears one way or another.

Ah! Si ben mio

His singing may have once been considered good but that day has long since passed John thought to himself. Paulo has become lazy and pompous with his voice, his tone wide and unnerving. As he was belting out a line there was movement overhead and the backdrop suddenly fell on top of Paulo shocking everyone on set. John rushed along with other on set to help Paulo out from under the backdrop. Moriarty and Mycroft rushed on stage to comfort their male lead. John looked to Moriarty and on his face he saw a flicker of glee before masking it to fake concern. John shook off the oddity before turning back to an irate Paulo.

"Three years this has been happening! Three years! I cannot take these conditions any longer, I am not some animal." Paulo turned to storm off the stage while yelling behind him to Moriarty, "See how opening night goes without me because I will not be there!"

Moriarty called after him to stay while Mycroft picked up a letter from the ground sealed with a skull. John watched as Mycroft walked toward them with a letter in hand. Moriarty seemed to notice as well for he quit pleeing with the angry tenor to stay. The commotion quickly died down as everyone was eager to hear what Mycroft held in his hands. Mycroft opened the letter and scanned the contents, his face scrunching up into bewilderment. John could swear he saw Mycroft's eyes dart to him once while reading causing his heart to beat frantically in his chest. Oh God, no one can think I had anything to with this attack or I'll surely lose my career. Mycroft cleared his throat, clearly about to reveal the contents of the letter but Moriarty beat him to it as he snatched the letter from Mycroft's grasp.

Moriarty began to read the letter aloud, more for his own merriment it seemed than for the benefit of the cast.

"I will not allow this bumbling fool to inflict his noise upon any more. If you wish to prevent more disaster I suggest replacing your male tenor with Mr. John Watson. Fail to do so will result in the punishment of whoever gets in my way.

-PTO"

Moriarty spoke 'PTO' with such reverence it gave John a slight chill before he realized the letter had specifically called him out to sing the lead male role in the opera tonight. John looked around to see the confused, enraged, and suspicious faces of the cast and crew staring at him. He had to say something.

"I…I um…s-sorry…?" He was flailing out there. John looked at Moriarty for some sort of sign or help and what he saw was unadulterated loathing. John took a step back startled at what he saw before Moriarty shook his head slipping his calm façade back up.

"Well Johnny boy, even though the Phantom seems to think you are the rightful male lead here I very well cannot allow some ballerina that has never proven any vocal ability to suddenly take the lead now can I pet?" Moriarty all but sneered to John. He didn't know how to respond, he was right after all, he didn't ask for this to happen anyway.

"He can sir. Sing that is." Greg interrupted. "I've heard him." John looked to Greg in horror mouthing 'shut up' angrily.

"Is that so Mr. Watson? Well we might as well hear you then and give you a fair shot. I would rather not any more…punishment today."Mycroft stated matter of fact as he leaned against his dark umbrella, "Do carry on."

Greg gave John a push toward the center stage making him stumble toward both Mycroft and Moriarty. "Um…"

Moriarty gave an exaggerated gesture for John to take center stage, his mouth smiled but his eyes glared daggers. John, never one to shy from a fight willed up his courage. He walked with conviction to center stage, he was not going to let Moriarty get the best of him.

The composer looked up to John expectantly.

"Right then. 'Ah! Si ben mio' if you please."

John's smooth tenor rang through the theatre. His fellow performers watched in awe and disbelief. Moriarty glared as if John had personally insulted him, Mycroft watched in mild surprise, and Greg smirked knowingly.

John was terrified. He tried his best to block out all the other people on stage and focus on box five, the ever empty box in the theatre. John was almost done with his solo when he briefly saw movement in the corner of box five. This was the distraction he needed. He focused on the corner while he let out his last note, letting himself go and surrender to the music. John was still looking toward the box when he heard raucous applause and cheers erupt around him. Startled, John turned to see a welcoming sight of energetic and excited faces coming to embrace and congratulate him. Greg enveloped John in an excited embrace all the while cheering. The cheers started to quiet when Mycroft made the announcement, "I think we found our new lead tenor." Moriarty knew he couldn't disagree with Mycroft for John Watson was obviously very talented. He gave a brief nod before descending the stairs back to the audience seats.

John watched Moriarty go back to his seat, barely understanding what Mycroft had said. He couldn't have heard right. John the lead tenor? But as he looked around to see the cheering faces and Greg's ecstatic expression, John knew he heard correct. He was the new lead tenor. John tried to say something but no noise came out so he settled for a beaming smile and enveloping hug from Greg. As John celebrated with the cast he saw for the briefest moment, movement in box five.