Chapter three
'Moriarty please!' Irene screamed as the professor laid yet another kick into the unconscious Sherlock's side. 'Leave him alone, please, I'll come with you but please don't hurt him!' Irene begged, completely unlike her normal, calm self she portrayed.
'Don't worry my dear, you will be coming with me, but not before this second rate detective is dead.' He sneered, causing the brute holding Irene to snicker, tightening his hold around her chest and middle.
'Do I get a say in this?' A sudden voice sounded from the door, and all heads whipped in that direction. 'Doctor!' Irene gasped happily at the sight of John Watson. Moriarty practically growled with annoyance whilst the brute holding Irene was momentarily distracted, Irene pushed back against him as much as she could, causing him to stumble, and loosen his grip on her.
'Now!' She screamed, throwing her head back and knocking the ugly man in the nose and then swopping low to completely trip him up. At the same time Watson threw his baton stick forward hitting Moriarty in the stomach. Irene had already crawled over to Sherlock whilst Watson continued to dual with the Professor.
'Sherlock, Sherlock can you hear me? Come on!' She squeaked desperately, shaking him roughly with the wavering strength she had and slapping him gently around the face to rouse him. It worked, as Holmes gasped back to reality, throwing his head forward in a panic, compacting against Irene's with a sickening thud.
Both cried out in agony.
'Irene!' Holmes cried out as she rocked backwards holding her head with both hands, as her eyes rolled backwards. His own throbbed more than it had in a long, long time. His ears rang and his eyes blurred, but he blindly threw his arms out, trying to grab hold of Irene, trying to support her, noticing in his own daze how she didn't have any control.
'Come on now, this isn't time for a nap is it?' He joked through pain, before finally noticing the fray John was losing across from him with the Professor. He was torn in half, looking to Irene and then to the struggling Doctor, weighing up his predicament in a lightning speed. 'I'll be right back.' He murmured to Irene, and ran over to help John out instead.
Thankfully, akin to a miracle, the commotion brought with it the security of the hotel. And before Sherlock could even grab the lapel of Moriarty, he and his brutish thug disappeared literally as if between smoke and mirrors. 'What's going on here?' The security yelled, only seeing Sherlock and the Doctor through the sudden smoke Moriarty left behind.
'Nothing, nothing anymore, it's over now.' Watson said through a tired haze. Ushering the security out after a few more moments of discussion, during which Sherlock ran over to Irene, she was lying out cold on the floor. The sight was such a shock; Holmes didn't know what to do for a minute.
'Irene?' He whispered, crouching down beside her. 'I'm sorry.' He mumbled, not knowing what else to say as he tentatively touched her cheek. Watson too was speechless, looking over at Sherlock, and noticed his eyes were closed tightly, when he re-opened them, it didn't go unnoticed the tears that lingered on the tips of his eyelashes.
'She'll be ok, come on.' Watson half spat half soothed, staring intently at the space Moriarty disappeared, as his strong arms weaved beneath Irene to lift her. Sherlock dumbly followed as they made their way back to Baker Street.
...
'You really knocked her for six didn't you Holmes.' Watson said as he gently inspected the bump on Irene's head and she flinched away. 'Doctor...' Irene warned foreseeing her hidden loves reaction and sure enough in the next minute Holmes suddenly tugged Watson roughly back by shirt collar.
'It was an accident; I would never intentionally hurt her!' Sherlock spat, and Watson was up on his feet within an instant. He pushed roughly back at Holmes. 'I know Holmes, but that doesn't invade the fact she was out cold and in pain now, does it!' He spat back, not realizing both we're simply fighting because of the pent up anger from the unfinished fight with Moriarty. 'Gentlemen!' Irene spat across the room, and both men jerked apart from each other with startled expressions.
'Holmes, Holmes this is futile, we needn't fight!' Watson yelled, pushing Sherlock finally away from him. 'At least not in front of the lady.' He joked, tipping an eyebrow in Irene's direction.
'Yes you're right, sorry.' Sherlock mumbled, scooting over to Irene. 'I trust you're staying here tonight John, with us?' He asked generally. Irene simply nodded next to him, leaning against Sherlock delicately.
'Well yes, but we won't be getting much sleep old boy; this one needs to stay awake for a few hours; to be sure she's ok. Doctor's orders.' He sighed, looking apologetically over at the very tired looking Irene. 'Very well then. A game then and a generous glass of wine perhaps?' Sherlock chirped happier, unconsciously rubbing his hand up and down Irene's arm. This didn't go unnoticed by his friend.
Instead, Watson smiled at his once cold-exterior fronted friend, now seemingly progressing to a love hardy fool! Marvellous, John thought, before clapping heartily along with his two friends, and joining in on the nights events.
Hours into the night, when the London nightlife was even simmering down and the fog had settled low into the streets, the three were unavoidably asleep and passed out with smiles on their faces. Watson was laid copiously out on the plush settee. Sherlock was led out along the bed, with Irene cuddled gently in his arms, even in sleep the two had cat like grins on their face. Only once would Irene wake and stretch out against the moonlit window like a wild cat, and for the first time in her adventuress life, she didn't long to be elsewhere. She didn't wish to be out in the buzzing streets and teaming feats of the world, instead, everything she wished for was right here.
So she turned around, and smiled upon the true face of her family. She gently loosened Watson's tie and hung up his hat. She kissed him on the forehead in her private moment between hours when no one could see her. She then turned to Sherlock, asleep like a four year old, sprawled out on his belly and smiled. She silently removed his shoes and lifting his strong muscular arm, she cuddled up beneath him once more.
The seductress and adventuress had finally found her place in the world, now it was a simple matter of securing it from the filthy grips of Professor Moriarty and his cruel world.
To be continued...:) Thank you so much for the reviews so far guys! Makes a girl happy!