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3. Indulgence
"My job is not to keep your brother safe, Mycroft!" Helena exclaimed, stomping her feet in the elder Holmes' office.
"It's been a month, Helena, and you've accomplished nothing."
"I will find him," she stated. "He's messing with your dear Sherlock as we speak."
"Then stop him!"
"I will," the woman remarked, and slammed the door on her way out.
She wished she knew what the big picture was here, instead of running around blindfolded. But these things take time, like he always said. She'd have to wait and see. In the meantime, she went back to Baker Street. The night was cold and damp, as she walked through the city.
"I cannot believe your brother," she said, as she entered the room. Sherlock gave a nod as he struck the chords of his violin by the window.
"Neither can I, most of the time."
"What did he do?" asked John.
"He threatened to fire me! It's not my fault that bastard knows how to hide!" she yelled.
"We've all had a stressful day, let's just have a cup of tea and forget about it," ventured the doctor, nodding to himself.
"I know where he'll be," said Sherlock suddenly. The woman turned around and faced him, her eyes glistening.
"You do?" asked John.
"He's going to be at the pool at midnight."
"How do you know?" asked Helena, hope sprinkling inside of her.
"I just do," Sherlock concluded solemnly. He had no idea why he was sharing this with her, it was his game after all, it was private. Then why was he telling this woman about it? She smiled at him and suddenly he understood.
But that couldn't be true.
"John, you can't come," he said then.
"What? Why not?"
"It's dangerous, sweetie," said Helena. "Wouldn't want you to get shot again!"
"I'm coming, Sherlock."
"No, you're not," the detective said, in a resolute tone.
"I'll just get my stuff and meet you there, Holmesy," Helena said then, and left. She went back to her flat and took a sniper rifle and two guns. She put the rifle in a bag and headed out, to the pool.
What was she going to do? This wasn't scripted, if anything was. "Improvise," she thought, just like he had told her.
Okay then.
She took a cab to go to the pool, and when she got there she ran up the stairs to the second floor, positioning herself on the balcony overlooking the actual pool.
Sherlock was there, and he was alone.
In a second, a door opened, and John appeared. He was wearing a coat twice his size, and soon it was discovered why. He had enough explosive on him to blow up the whole building. On his chest, a little red light that indicated someone had him on lock on.
Helena couldn't make out what they were saying, but Sherlock's face said it all. She saw someone in the dark, on the other side of the room. The shadow winked at her.
"Who are you?" asked Sherlock, looking around the wide room.
"I gave you my number, I thought you might call…" the shadow said. Helena smiled to herself, and pointed her sniper rifle right in the middle of the man's eyes. But Sherlock was in the way. They had a brief conversation, then the man, who had introduced himself as Jim Moriarty, looked up at her.
"You can come down now, lovely," Moriarty said. She furrowed her brows. Was he talking to her? He sure was looking her way, but he couldn't see her, could he?
"Yes, you, come down," he repeated, and Helena noticed a little red dot on her chest. Shit.
She made her way to the stairs, and went down to the pool. Sherlock sighed when she entered the room, obviously disappointed. He thought she might have killed him. He thought she might have been the one to finally end this.
"Put the rifle down," Moriarty intimated. Helena did as she was told, then kicked the rifle, which fell into the pool. "Good girl! Cookie for you."
"People have died," Sherlock said, getting the conversation back on track.
"That's what people do!" Moriarty yelled.
"I will stop you."
"No, you won't," the man cheered. Helena moved to stand next to Sherlock, and suddenly Moriarty's glance was on her.
"You made a new friend?" he asked Sherlock. "She's quite the charmer…"
"Leave her alone," Sherlock found himself saying.
"I can take care of myself, thank you very much," Helena snorted. Moriarty smiled at her.
"I—I was just…" Sherlock stuttered. "Never mind. This is what you want," he then addressed Moriarty again. "Take it," he said, and handed him an usb pen.
"Ah," Moriarty sighed. He brought the pen at his lips and gave it a kiss, then smiled. "Boring!" he cheered, and proceeded to throw the pen into the pool. "Well, I better be off. So nice to have a proper chat," he smiled evilly. "Au revoir, sweetheart," he said to Helena, and kissed her hand charmingly. The woman didn't respond to the gesture in any way. "Ciao, Sherlock Holmes," he said, and left.
Sherlock, who had been pointing a gun at him this whole time, put the gun down and rushed at John's side.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine Sherlock," he answered, as the detective took off his coat and hence the explosive.
Helena sighed. "I'm going after him," she stated.
"You're going to do no such thing," Sherlock said.
"Why not? It's my job, Holmes," she smiled. "I can take care of myself."
With that, she left too. She ran out in the street, only to find Moriarty leaning on a black limousine, with a bored expression on his face.
"Ellie! You're doing great," he said.
"What exactly am I doing, Jim?"
"You'll know soon enough, my love. Now come here, give us a kiss," he smiled widely. The woman returned the smile and approached him. She threw her arms around his neck in a very cinematic manner, and he kissed her passionately.
"I should go back," she said then. "Hit me," she demanded. The man looked at her in confusion, and raised a single brow.
"I'm not going to hit you, baby doll."
"Don't be a sissy, Jim. Hit me!"
The man hesitated for a second, then shrugged and punched the woman right in the face. Helena didn't make a sound, she didn't even complain about the pain. God knows that wasn't the first punch she'd taken in her life.
"Thanks," she half smiled, but then cringed a little at the pain.
"My god. You're insane, Ellie," the man remarked, not really looking surprised. "I love you," he sighed.
"Love you too," she said. After placing a quick kiss on his lips, she went back inside.