01.
Ellie returned to 221B Baker Street and found no one was home. Both Sherlock and John had left for the morgue, according to Mrs Hudson. She stood for a while at the front door, deciding where she should go first. When she left her store to see Mycroft, she was certain that she would not be happy enough to go back to work and she was right. She texted her employees to tell them to run the stores on their own for a few days. She needed a vacation. She needed to clear her calendar off for a few days to get things straight. Taking a deep breath, she dialed a number.
'Pick up, please.' She listened to the dialing sounds impatiently. 'Hey, hi. How are you? I'm good. I was wondering if I could see you. Now.'
She hung up the phone and called for a taxi.
She decided to see Jim first. He knew about her secrets more than Sherlock since he was the one who helped her create them. When she walked into the café, he was already there. By the serious look on his face, he must have known what had been going on. She planned to sit down opposite him but he signaled her to sit next to him. Ellie did not understand why he wanted her to do so, but she followed his order. Jim ordered her a cup of tea since she was not in the mood of drinking.
'What should I do?' Ellie started first after a long quiet moment. Even Jim did not start their talk. He was always the one who talked first every time they met. There was a baffling look on his face. They both knew this day would come sooner or later, yet they just ignored it. Jim was Ellie best friend, and she was the only one he could trust, even though she loved his biggest enemy.
'I… don't know.' Jim said frankly. She was the only woman in the whole world who could make him say I don't know.
'I don't want to lost any of you.' She said. Her voice was tremble. He never heard her voice trembling. 'It's all my fault!' She buried her face in her hands.
'Don't ever say that! It's not your fault whatsoever! It's business between me and him.' He held her shoulders in his hands.
'I lied to Sherlock. To you, I am the object that ruins everything. How can you say it's not my fault?' She could feel herself crying.
'I made you lie to him. I was the one who threatened you in the first place.' Jim said. 'You did it to protect Sherlock Holmes. People made mistakes!'
'At least it made you my friend.' She tried to make a smile. 'And now I'm in your way. And you know what? I'm not willing to correct my mistakes.'
'We'll think of something.' He said. Ellie would definitely think he was talking about the two of them, but it was not true. He was talking about him and Sherlock. Jim treasured Ellie as his only friend, so he would not want her to be hurt. But he had to kill Sherlock Holmes. He just had to. It was the only way he worked.
She just nodded weakly. Ellie finally understood why Jim wanted her to sit next to him. That way he could comfort her, hold her in his arms. What should she do? She did not want any of them to die. If she saved Sherlock, she would betray Jim and vice versa. Helpless, Ellie leaned on to Jim's shoulder and cried softly, never knowing the man was also confused.
In the afternoon, she went to the morgue to see him. Ellie knew Sherlock would be angry when she disturbed him from his work but she just needed to see him. Even though she could not talk to him about what was going on, she needed to be in his arms. They calmed her down all the time. The streets to the morgue suddenly became long and lonely. The young woman walked slowly on the pavement and watched people passing by, wondering what it would be like to live a carefree life.
She looked into the lab from the small glass window. She saw Sherlock, John and Molly were inside. The brown hair woman still had a thing for Sherlock, by the way she secretly looked at the detective when he did not notice. He had never treated her nicely, yet she still did everything for him. Ellie felt jealous of Molly. She wished she could just sacrify herself for Sherlock but she could not be such a mean person. There was no reason for her to protect Jim Moriarty since he was not nice to her in the very first place. But she got to know the criminal gradually, enough for her to take him as her friend. She knew it was wrong, she knew it would hurt all three of them but she could not help herself.
'Sherlock…' John accidentally looked out at the door and saw his flat mate's woman outside. She did not look alright. The doctor tried to wave at her but she did not respond.
'Not now, John. Just talk when you find something.' Sherlock was looking at the microscope. He did not even bother to look up.
'It's… Ellie. She's outside.' John said before Sherlock could say anything.
'What?' He looked out to the door. It was when Ellie realised they all knew she was here. She quickly turned her back at the door to dry her eyes. Hot tears were streaming down her face when she looked at Sherlock. Suddenly all her nerve she put together to talk to him had disappeared. She just wanted to run away.
'Ellie!' Sherlock shouted when he saw her walk away. He jumped up from his chair and dashed out of the lab. Molly looked at him surprisingly. It was the second time she saw the man she secretly loved acting weird in front of a woman. The first time was when he checked a phone belonged to a mysterious woman that people rumoured he was in love with. This time she had the chance to see a real one. She did not do anything but turned away, yet Sherlock wore a worried face. She never thought he could have such worry on his face. And he was in the middle of a case!
'Who was that?' Molly asked John when Sherlock was out of sight.
'Sherlock's girlfriend.' The doctor replied frankly. 'Don't tell him I tell you. Not many people know about it, and Sherlock, erm, he doesn't like people talking about her.' Failing to notice the disappointed look on Molly's face. John walked out to see what was going on out there. Molly followed him.
'Ellie!' Sherlock grabbed her arms before she could run any further. 'What's wrong? Why didn't you come in?'
'It's… nothing. I just don't want to disturb you.' She turned back and smiled.
'Then why did you cry?' He asked, holding her shoulders.
'I did not cry…' Ellie protested weakly.
'Really? You eyes are all red, Ellie. Your right hand is still wet with all the tears you tried to wipe out. Not to mention you did not clean it quite clear.' He used his hand to wipe the few drops were left at the corner of her eye. 'Normally your voice is not like that. People voice only trembling when they…'
'Alright. Fine. I cried a little bit.' She chuckled. 'But after hearing all of that I feel better.' Luckily she never got bored of his talking without breathing. That was the reason why John and Sherlock never let her to stay with them when they had client, otherwise she would laugh at his attitude.
'Why did you cry?' He insisted her on answering his question.
'Be quiet!' Ellie said and then she pulled him closer to her for a kiss. He responded to that kiss immediately like usual but he still could not understand why she cried. For a short moment, he found himself was terribly concerned about her tears. He broke the kiss and looked at her in the eyes, holding her as close as he could to him.
'Why did you cry, Ellie? Answer me.'
'I love you, Sherlock. I really do.' She ignored his question completely. She just had to tell him that. He must know that before anything could happen.
'You…' He was surprised. He knew she felt that way but she never told him that. 'Can you, erm, say it again?' He clumsily asked her with slightly blushed cheeks.
'I love you, idiot! You heard me perfectly.' She laughed gently when she saw the astonishment on his face. 'Remember it, Sherlock!'
'Thank you.' He just bent down and kissed her. 'Now if you excuse me, I have a case to break.' He stood straight and walked back to the lab like a robot. Ellie smiled widely at that. She never thought those three little words could make him looked like an idiot. She waved goodbye to Molly and John, who were standing speechless, then left without looking back.
'What did you just do?' John asked Sherlock. 'Did you even hear what she said?'
'I heard her perfectly. I did show my appreciation.' Sherlock walked to the microscope again, still moving like a robot.
'You don't say 'thank you' after she told you she loved you, Sherlock!' John raised his voice.
'What do I have to say then?' He looked up innocently. John was surprised about this. Sherlock did not know how to respond to that sentence. Amazingly how Ellie could put up with him without hearing him say anything to prove his feelings for her!
'Forget it! Just solve the case please!' The doctor left the room.
'You should say you love them back.' Molly spoke. Then she also left the room after John. She was in shock. The man she secretly loved was in love with another woman and he did not even acknowledge it. It was also her very first time she saw him taking care of a women. It was her very first time to see him kissing a woman. Who was she? Who was the woman who could take away his heart and his breath?
'Oh!' Sherlock exclaimed when he was left alone in the lab.
Sherlock dashed out of the morgue after he texted Lestrade about what he had found in the lab. He did not need to be there where the police arrested the criminal, unless he was extremely bored or interested. He had to rush back to his flat to see if Ellie was there, otherwise he had to waste another hour to get to her place. He was not ready for that three words but he had to see her now, at least to say he did not mean it when he said 'thank you' previously.
'Good evening, Sherlock, dear!' A playful tone raised as the detective passed through the main door. Sherlock halted and turned to the voice source. He drew a surprised on his face, lightly. He thought that man would make a 'glorious' return. When he said 'glorious', Sherlock Holmes actually meant 'annoying' and 'show off'. Jim Moriarty was standing there, just as simply as that and greeted him. Somehow he felt that Ellie was in danger. It was the first time he had a hunch. He had to admit that Ellie had done an amazing job bringing things he never experienced to him.
'That's very elegant of you. But sorry, I have to dash!' Sherlock said. Jim could wait.
'Sure. You can walk, but Ellie will be hurt.' Jim said with a deathly low tone that made Sherlock frown. He turned around to stare at the criminal warningly.
Sherlock growled softly, enough for himself to hear it. He observed Jim for a moment. The criminal was wearing a serious face. 'What do you want?' He said after a long pause.
'A nice little chat will do. I really just want to talk to you today, Sherlock.' Jim turned his back and Sherlock followed him immediately. 'Would you mind if we do this while we walk?'
'Oh, no, it's fine.' He replied, catching up with Jim.
'I'd never hurt her. She's the only friend I have.' Jim started. Sherlock's face turned into a surprise one. Ellie never told him that. It was the topic they always avoided. 'We all need to make a choice here, it's a friendly advice Sherlock, if you want her to be safe. You and I are not the only people who concerned about her.'
'I know exactly what I should do to protect her, Moriarty.' He replied coldly.
'No, you don't. Just like back then with Irene Adler. It was Ellie who showed you what to do, was it, Sherlock?' Jim hit the point with the perfect proof. Without Ellie, Sherlock would still be puzzled by the woman, very likely.
Sherlock did not reply to that question. He just continued walking with his enemy under the dark gloomy sky of London. He knew Ellie had some kind of relationship with Jim. He had imagined it before but he never thought he could not accept it easily. He did not love her, but to him she sounded important. What was Jim to her?
'Think about it, before our games begin.' Jim said shortly before he disappeared in the dirty alley.
Mycroft Holmes was drinking his glass of wine in his private room. In front of him were lying the files of the world most dangerous criminal: Jim Moriarty. Mycroft never considered himself as the perfect man. Human made mistakes. And he did, once. It was a big mistake if he must admit to himself. The older Holmes looked at the files next to Jim. It belonged to Elizabeth Hudson. She was his brother's girlfriend. Things turned out unexpectedly. He thought Irene had got Sherlock's heart. Then there were the files of John Watson, Mrs Hudson, and DI Lestrade. They all need to make a move. Suddenly he had a text.
'I am ready to accept you offer.
EH.'
Reviews? Please give me some ^^ (please x 3) (puppy eyes) I won't do anything unless I get one (at least) T_T
Will Sherlock ever be able to say the three words (little fluff there but that's it, for now!)? What is the "offer"? Stick with me!
Every thing is not what it seemed!
