10 Months
Mysterious Stranger
Chapter Four
A/N – this may not be in character, but I simply could not resist.
Ten months since I have seen the streets of London as a living being. Ten months today since I decided to see if I could fly. Turns out I could not. Ten months since I hurt and saved John. Saved Lestrade, saved Mrs. Hudson.
I'm in China. America led me to many of Moriarty's people. They are dead for talking or in jail for lifetime offences. My irregular network has grown to next to a global scale. Eat your heart out brother mine. The web is crumbling.
Sebastian Moran is supposed to be here. I am in the heart of Beijing. I am armed. I am angry and I am ill. I am also followed. The stranger form Kanas, I have seen him twice now, including the time at the station. The second time, I felt him, rather then saw him. A blanket was wrapped around me in night. I still keep to the street. I know it was he. I should not go after Moran but he threatened John. My John.
I can see him. He is staying at a brothel. Horrid people. I will never understand this need for affection and touching. John seems to like it though… No matter.
Moran got me before I got him. He was the only one I was going to kill. The stranger came back. Saved me again. John saved me; I think I'm delirious. It is hard to focus. There is blood, lots of blood and I am so cold.
The edges of reality are coming back to me. I cannot focus, I can just open my eyes. The light hurts. I close them again. John's voice is calling for me. I tell him I miss him. He says to drink. He says he missed me too.
I wake in a strange room. It is darkened; there is cold water next to me. I struggle to move. I know I am not bound. So I am weak then. I lay down more comfortably. Someone has been caring for me. I was ill. But I do not get ill. Holmes do not get ill. I look around the darkened room. It is secure, no camera, basic in itself, except for the medical equipment. I can hear the world outside. Water is hitting the side. It sounds metallic. I'm in the hull of a cargo ship.
"We are heading for Australia. It is where Moran and Happy Rayne are. In your condition I decided it would be best to just let them have the head start. Rayne is the brother of Moriarty and he is running the show now, as for Mrs. Hudson's assailant. He met a train engine in an unfortunate accident."
It sounds like John. It cannot be though; he is at home. Our home, my first true home. I have become sentimental. Not good, bit not good as John says.
"You realize your talking out loud do you not? I've been following you since Mexico. Took the same train and everything. You told me to watch. I watched. I hurt. I saw. I observed. I told Mycroft off. Cleared your name with the help of a great reporter named Rhys. Some of your old clients helped too. I kept everything is case you wanted to see it some day. Then I went on 'holidays' to keep clear of that overbearing bully brother of yours, far as I can tell, he took the hint. Mycroft is leaving me alone completely unaware that you are still alive. Speaking of which you, you have not been taking care of yourself either. You have been out cold for a just over a week."
Doctor John then. I have missed Doctor John, but surly I am hallucinating. I have to protect John. How could John know about the assassins? How could John know about me?
"Still talking out loud Sherlock. Go back to sleep. I will explain when you wake next."
I trust John, I sleep.
"Welcome back to the land of the living dead, bad joke I know, but you have to admit, well timed."
It all comes back to me, everything. I smile at him and try to sit up. I cannot.
"Steady on mate, three weeks of no movement and too long to keep track of malnutrition and you are in no shape to go gallivanting about. We have three more weeks of sailing before we reach Portland. But I have spoken to the captain, and paid him off a bit, to drop us at the Port of Brisbane. An Australian mate of mine from Afghanistan is keeping an eye on things for me there.
I ask John to explain how he knew it was all fake, how he found me, how he knew Moriarty's threat.
"I went back and reviewed the fall footage, then remembered 'The Woman' and her fake death. If she could do it. You could. Then, and I feel really bad for this, I cornered Molly. Poor girl. But she's a strong one. She explained how you faked it with her help. I went up onto the roof after that. No-one had seen your phone since your 'death'. Raz had it. You recorded the whole conversation between you and Jim. Lestrade and the Yard were so embarrassed. It has not become public knowledge of their folly, but Lestrade has been re-instated with full apologies. His wife is still gone though. You knew about that right? So I started hunting. I told no one what I had found and then, when I lost you in Mexico. Guess who shows up to help. Irene Adler. Yes we will be talking about that." He gives me that 'bit not good look'.
"Anyhow, she helped me find you, thinking along the same lines as myself. We find you and she took off again. Now lets get some food into you yeah?"
A/N – I like John too much to leave him on the sidelines. Thus he's back. And this makes me happy. Holmes and Watson are on the case!