"Redemption"
By: Robin-Song95
(***Same warnings and such apply as noted in the first chapter.)
And at this point, sorry for all you Johnlock fans out there, but this story will not include it.
Chapter 2: Reverse Routine
Two weeks after meeting Skif, John stepped out onto the busy sidewalk outside the hospital and started the walk home. As he moved into the more residential area's the foot traffic thinned out and darkness began to fall. John let himself into the building and as he climbed the stairs to the 3rd floor, he was just happy that he didn't have to work the night shift today. It was always harder to sleep during the day in his room because the sun shown right in his window for most of the morning right after he would just be getting done with a long shift and just want to sleep.
Sleep, was exactly what John was planning but the figure sitting outside his doorway let him know that he likely would not get to do so right away. He approached slowly and the woman stood up to greet him,
"Dr. Watson? The name's Raven, Skif sent me when he saw the burn I got." She said nervously, hands clasped together neatly in front of her. Though her one sleeve was rolled up and John could indeed see a bad burn just below her elbow.
John smiled at her in greeting and reached into his pocket. Pulling out the apartment key he slid it into the lock and jiggled it a bit. Once unlocked, he opened the door and motioned her in. He quickly poured her a glass of water and grabbed his medical bag. As he opened it to grab out what he would need he realized that he wasn't tired anymore.
He smiled bitterly to himself as he pulled out the burn cream and bandages. Just like old times indeed. Still he had agreed to help the Network if they needed it. He remembered how invaluable they had been on cases before Sherlock- He paused a moment realizing that the pain wasn't as bad this time when he thought of his friend. Is this what his therapist had meant when she mentioned the grieving process? Was there finally going to be a day when he could think of the man and only remember the good with that last dreadful phone call and the image of him falling just a dim shadow in the background?
"Dr. Watson?" Raven's tentative question breaking into his thoughts. He cursed himself slightly for forgetting that she was in the room and that she was wounded.
"Right then, I'm so sorry Raven. I just seem to get lost in my thoughts some times." John apologized and started to treat the burn. Raven smiled slightly and replied,
"It's okay Dr. Watson, I remember doing the same when my brother died." She looked down at him with a shadow of lingering grief in her eyes, "It gets better over time, stops hurting as much. But you never really do forget. He was eighteen, killed by a drunk driver on his way home one night. My parents kicked me out not long after." John smiled grimly up at her,
"I'm sorry to hear that Raven, were you close?" he inquired as he unrolled the bandage. She smiled fondly in memory,
"Yeah we were, we were only about a year apart and he was one of those brothers who didn't mind his younger sister tagging along. I miss him everyday, but," and here she looked shrewdly at John, "The people who leave us like this aren't ever really gone. They stay with us. Some, well some stay closer than others."
John looked up sharply as he packed up his supplies, She couldn't possibly mean. But Skif had also said that they'd been keeping an eye on him because "he'd" asked them too. John had assumed at the time that Skif had meant Mycroft. But what if….Could Sherlock have survived somehow?
No. John shook the spark of hope from himself quickly, He'd checked his friends pulse, he'd seen the blood. Heck even Molly had confirmed it. Sherlock was dead. He hadn't come this far just to be hurt with the same truth again.
He showed Raven to the door and responded politely to her thank you, before shutting the door after her and sinking into his chair, Head in his hands. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea.
~With Raven~
Raven started slightly as a hand landed on her shoulder. She'd been expecting him to come as soon as he'd found out whom she'd visited. Didn't mean though that the man didn't walk like a cat, graceful and deadly silent. Slightly desperate eyes, though he would deny that, stared hopefully down at her from the tall figure.
"He's doing fine, Got himself a nice little place. Didn't even ask me any questions really about what happened to me, just fixed me up nice and quick. Though, he does miss you. I really don't understand why you won't go back. You've eliminated most of Moriarty's minions. Is Moran really so dangerous that you refuse to alleviate the grief of your best," at his glare she huffed, "Fine your only friend in this world?"
She already knew the answer though. Sherlock Holmes was nothing if not driven and he wouldn't stop until even Sebastian Moran himself was six, or even twenty feet under. They'd had this argument before and he wouldn't endanger his friend before he was sure there was nothing left of Moriarty's organization to threaten them with.
She shoved him slightly, surprised that he let her,
"If you want to know more you can go talk to him yourself. I'll keep an eye on him but I refuse to be spying on him for you. He's gonna be right angry when he finds out you're still breathing and I don't wanna be in the middle of it!"
She stormed away from him, both of them knowing that she would keep telling him about John Watson. Because she liked both of them and didn't want to see them hurt. Didn't mean she wasn't right though. John was not going to be pleased when he found out. Sometimes she thought that Sherlock was purposefully avoiding that reunion. She knew he had a heart and emotions despite what people said. Still didn't mean that this was right. It was just hurting both of them.
AN: So...What did you guys think? I do enjoy reviews :) They make my day happier! Thanks for reading.