"Fine. Fine! I give in. You can stay" John said eventually.
"I don't need your permission" Sherlock said. Mycroft came through the door of the hospital
"Why did I have this bad feeling you would be here?" Mycroft asked Sherlock
"Because you know that I'll get what I want in the end" Sherlock replied
"The real question is why are you here?" Mycroft asked, shifting his attention to John "You said you would help keep him away"
"I tried. He stole the pass you gave me for Christmas and used it to get wherever he wanted"
"Which brings up the point why you didn't give me one in the first place" Sherlock added
"I didn't give you one because when you have one you use it for mischief. You stole it for mischief, and you create mischief with it. We gave clear instructions to leave her alone" Mycroft explained
"I'd like to weigh in here" Claire said, breaking into the circle that had formed near her bed "But I am actually right here, and no one can forbid anyone from seeing me but me. And stop talking about me as if I'm not in the room. I'm right here!"
"That's my girl" Sherlock said, the words leaving his mouth before he realised they weren't suitable anymore. Claire, however, didn't seem to notice, or chose to ignore them.
"And if you could all please leave my room, I'd rather like to get some sleep" She commanded. John and Mycroft filed out of the room. "That includes you too, Sherlock" Claire added. Sherlock shrugged his shoulders and followed his brother and friend out the door. Claire sighed. What kind of life had she created for herself that now, it seemed, she had left?
"How are we going to keep him away from her now?" Mycroft asked John
"He's helping her to remember. I might not like his methods, but perhaps it's the best way to go?"
"And how can you stop me, when I've got this?" Sherlock asked, coming up behind them with John's all-access pass in his hands
"Hey! Where did you get... what... how?" John said, feeling into his pocket where the pass had been
"Such limited capabilities, normal people. I thought someone who had been in the army would be harder to pickpocket. Obviously I was wrong"
"Give that back!" John complained. Sherlock handed it over
"I don't know why you bother" Mycroft droned "He'll just take it back off you"
"I'll lock it up in future" John said, his message for both Mycroft and Sherlock
"What, with a code? You think I can't crack a code?" Sherlock mocked
"No- with a key, like the 'normal' person I am"
"But then he'll pickpocket the key, do keep up" Mycroft explained. John's face took on a thoughtful pose
"How about a random number? Surely he can't get that"
"He can tell which buttons you pressed by the grease marks you left on the buttons, and it wouldn't take him long after that" Mycroft explained
"I'll wear gloves" John said, exasperated and sarcastic
"That could work" Mycroft said honestly
"I could always watch what numbers you press" Sherlock added
"I barely need the pass anyway; the only time I need to put numbers in is when I'm making the setting"
"And I'll see that time, then"
"Not if you're out on a case"
"I have cameras throughout the house, you know. I can see everything" Sherlock said
"I thought it was Mycroft that had cameras in this house!" John exclaimed, as the group finally reached the doors of the hospital
"He does. Just I have cameras too" Sherlock explained
"Why do you have cameras in your own flat?"
"In case someone sneaks into my house when I'm not around and takes something"
"Just so I know, where are these cameras?"
"Everywhere"
"Even in the bathroom?"
"Of course. Crimes can still be committed in the bathroom, John"
"Yes, because my bowel movements are criminal" John said sarcastically
"And on that comment, I leave you both. Do be careful, Sherlock. You have to think about more than yourself for once in your life now" Mycroft said, splitting from the group
"Night Mycroft" John farewelled
"Don't completely waste the government funds before we meet again" Sherlock said, following John
"It'll be weird at Baker Street without Claire" Sherlock said sadly
"It's already weird on Baker Street, you just never notice because you only notice normal things" John commented
Sherlock didn't even try and sleep in the double bed by himself. It seemed too big for just him now, even though he'd slept alone all his life. Instead, he lay on his couch until he could be drawn into sleep.
John worried about Sherlock, but his concerns lay with Sarah. He'd had trouble dealing with both Sarah and Sherlock- he wanted to stick by Sarah in her pregnancy, but wanted to assist Sherlock in his problem. All too often Sherlock seemed to win, and he knew he would have to spend more time with Sarah or he would never forgive himself. This caused him trouble falling asleep, but when he managed his sleep was deep and restful.
June Moriarty was plotting her next move. She had so many brilliant plans circling her head, but to pick and plan just one was proving a problem. She wanted something powerful to show she was even more powerful than her father, but not so magnificent as to never be topped. She needed something personal, something dramatic, and most importantly, something that would stir up as much trouble as physically possible. She's gained strong connections with allies, and joined with previous enemies. She made the Moriarty Empire stronger than ever before, and now she was ready to watch as the world fell to pieces in her outstretched hand. She was ready to take on the 'big boys' her father never let her meet- She was ready for Sherlock Holmes.