The Troublesome Tales of Sherlock and Moriarty
Chapter 7: The Milestone At The Window
Previously on The Troublesome Tales: Could Sherlock becoming a criminal? Or even committing some acts of corruption? Was Sherlock being duplicitous and still helping Moriarty? No one knows what is going on Sherlock's head. No one does. No one ever will. Sherlock Holmes is a mystery beyond our greatest minds. Sherlock is in self-proclaimed isolation. What could John do now?
Chapter 7:
The following Sunday, that turned out to be quite sunny and bright, the opposite to what was lurking in the depths of the dark and dreary London's underground tunnels and subway. Where the fearsome Moriarty could be waiting to strike. Wrecking havoc, where ever he went.
However, John and Mycroft had just finished their weekly meal together at the same location as they always did. Their local fish and chip shop. They were walking, once more down Baker street, talking about work and general rumours. They would talk about anything to take their fatigued minds of Sherlock, they both knew he would not becoming out of his own isolation for duration of years that would upset them terribly.
"Sherlock is back into hiding?" Mycroft said, he sounded like he knew that Sherlock would go back into his own company, but Mycroft didn't want to admit it, not yet.
They stop outside a door. A door that they know well, to well. The black door that was holding weak paint, that was almost at the stage of ripping. It held proudly three numbers and a lower case letter,with a rusted once golden door knocker. It was almost had a double meaning; proud and sophisticated but old and rusty.
The same accursed door that lead to a very treasured friend of theirs that was locking himself away for no apparently sane reason. He was cutting of his connections to the outside world.
Usually, it was open for any customer to walk thought and give Sherlock a baffling case that would keep him occupied for a week but then he would solve the mystery. Now, it was bolted shut, with no signs of being re-opened. It held no promise that it would open again to the general public to give them support, knowing that their case would be solved quickly and efficiently.
~OooO~
"Should I knock on the door?" John asked, looking longingly at the door of 221B Baker Street.
He looked at Mycroft, he was biting his chapped lips, almost saying 'do not bother'.
"Your right" John said sadly, 'why waste time' John thought. He wanted to try and see Sherlock, but Mrs. Hudson would not let him enter, she wouldn't even let him get too close to the house, like it was a deadly disease that could kill him within seconds.
"Moriarty will never be seen again" Mycroft said, Mycroft seemed muddled. Overjoyed that they would to have to worry about Moriarty any more but bitter that he could not face justice that he so rightly deserved. "I'm glad he has gone."
"I agree, he is such a nutcase" John said immediately, then he smiled, he had called Moriarty a 'nutcase.'
Both men laughed for a few mere seconds before composing themselves again.
"You know I actually spoke to Hyde" John said, looking into the distance.
"What did you think of him?" Mycroft said, almost eager to hear John's description of the maverick.
"He was.." John paused, trying to recall the deformed features of the man that was Moriarty "When I met him, I was filled with a fierce feeling of revulsion."
"It is impossible to see Moriarty with out feeling under the weather" Mycroft remarked.
John laughed, humourlessly. Remembering what he felt like when he first met Moriarty. Shock. Horror. Disgust. Fear. Anxiety. Despair. Dread. Terror. Fright. To say the least, John was completely and absolutely petrified of Moriarty.
"I am very worried about Sherlock's health" John said, trying to change the subject quickly.
"Yes, his sudden changes of behaviour must be impacting his mental health quite a bit." Mycroft said, showing some concern for his younger brother.
"If, Mrs, Hudson let us in, then our company could strengthen him, make him want to be sociable again" John said, then he realised that his plan would not work. Even before all this mess, Sherlock was never that sociable.
"John? Mycroft?" said a familiar voice, that made John and Mycroft jump in surprise. To anyone around them, they would have jumped a few small centimetres of the concrete pavement.
Both Mycroft and John swivelled around to find who owned that voice, they couldn't see the owner.
"I'm up here" the voice said.
Mycroft and John looked up to see Sherlock sitting by the window, looking like a lonely prisoner in his own proclaimed solitary confinement. Sherlock looked very ill. From where Sherlock was sitting, enjoying the fresh air, John remembered how Sherlock looked before, he looked near death. Now, Sherlock looked even worse.
"Sherlock" John breathed, he was relieved to see Sherlock in a semi-healthy way, even though he didn't know that he would ever see Sherlock again.
"How are you?" John asked, once he had collected his thoughts from the surroundings.
"I feel very low" Sherlock complained, brushing some specks of dust that seemed to be sheltered on his comfortable plush dark red blanket.
"Maybe if you actually go outside, then you may feel a little bit better." John suggested.
"I..I cannot join you. I'm sorry John" Sherlock said, looking quite apologetic "But thank you for the kind offer."
"Ok" John said.
"I would love to invite you for a longer chat" Sherlock paused "The flat is not.. really tidy."
John remembered that the flat that they both used to share, was never tidy. Why was he now bothered?
"Why cannot we just chat from where we are?" John suggested.
Sherlock smiled. It was a genuine smile, that John had never seen before. It brought a smile to John's melancholy face.
Out of the blue, Sherlock's featured changed. Sherlock froze in an expression of hopeless terror and despair. His expression was swift and so despicable.
John and Mycroft were stunned, their blood froze. They had to stop their jaws from dropping from the confusion.
Sherlock dropped the ground. Then a hand rose and slammed the window viciously.
Without a word, John and Mycroft looked around, searching for witnesses. They didn't want rumours in the media spreading that 'Sherlock was finally going mad'. Mycroft did not want his brother's 'business' to tampered Being, satisfied that no one had seen what had happened to Sherlock.
As they walked quickly down the street, they did not speak. They were too shocked from the scene at Sherlock's flat.
"What happened?" John said, finally breaking the awkward silence that was making John nervous.
"I have no clue" Mycroft said honestly. John couldn't believe this. The man that knew everything, possibly in the world, had no clue about his own younger brother. John couldn't believe his ears.
"What is happening to Sherlock?" Both men said at the same time, trying to make sense of what they had just witnessed.
Sherlock, writhing in pain and agony. Who hid from them, when instead, Sherlock could have called for help but he hid out the way, out of sight. Out the way of getting help.
This was an event that changed everything. They wanted to believe that Sherlock was okay. Inside, they both did not want to believe that Sherlock was going to be fine. They knew they were lying to themselves. They couldn't bear to believe what was staring them right in the face.
Something had happened to Sherlock. They couldn't help him. They didn't know what. But, did they want to?
~OooO~
John walked up the path to his house. He unlocked the door, walked through, then slammed the door with frustration.
"John?" Mary said, walking in the direction of the front door.
"Mary." John said, happy to see her comforting smile.
"What is wrong?" Mary said, her smile morphing into a frown.
"Sherlock. He was sitting by the window, looking longingly outside. After a short conversation, he suddenly was overcome with pain. He ducked down, out of sight, then closed the window" John said, realising that Sherlock could have had a stroke or even dying, but why did he not call for help?
"That is definitely odd. But, John, Sherlock has been acting strange lately. This abnormal behaviour must be expected." Mary suggested.
"Your right." John said, sighing "I should have suspected this."
He walked over to his comfy arm chair, he almost fell into the chair. It was similar to his old chair back at Sherlock's unkempt flat.
'Yikes, that feels like a lifetime ago. Where did everything go?' John thought, trying to recall past memories, but they were hazy and cloudy.
John could barely remember the flat. He hasn't been there for a couple of months. It was coming up to a year, John wanted to find a magic lamp and talk to a genie, he would ask for everything to go back to normal.
He would erase the Moriarty nonsense and try to eradicate the source, he would kill Moriarty. He would watch the life leave Moriarty and thrive in the knowledge that he would never again harm his best friend; Sherlock Holmes.
Although, if he used his wish to jump forwards in time, to when Moriarty had died, his friendship with Sherlock would have grown stronger, since they would have been through a rough ordeal. That would have change them forever.
To get to the best parts of life, you have to go the abominable times. John felt as if his life was clouded with atrocious times, that was bringing, his once bubbly soul, down.
Life was unsatisfactory for John. It was unacceptable. Everything needed to change. Everything led back to James Moriarty, John's fantasy world where he met a genie and change the timeline of events. Some events, were valuable, like when he, Molly and Sherlock were analysing the woman's death. That was John's most recent favourite memory. He treasured this as it was his lifeline, as if he forgot it, then he would die a painful excruciating death.
John would remember it for years to come. As it was his last memory with a semi-normal Sherlock and an existing Molly. This would get him through the darkness that was creeping up on him. And it was haunting him. It was ready to strike. And it will strike with considerate force.
Authors Note:
This is a key chapter. This is the last chapter that is low key and isn't fast paced. Hold on, its a rocky ride from here on out.
I am really looking forwards to the next chapter.. It was my favourite chapter apart from the last one. So much happened. SOME ONE MAJOR DIES! YOU WILL NEVER SEE IT COMING! Lets just say that you will be screaming at me for answers, which you will get in the next chapter. (chapter 9) I feel mean for torturing you. Mwwaahhaa! Anyone want to guess who dies? :)
What is happening to Sherlock? Anyone want to hazard a guess?
Disclaimer: I do not own Sherlock, if I did, then I would force the actors to do season 4 right now. Anyone want to join me? :) Dreams….
This chapter was originally 598 words, so this took me ages…. I really wanted to skip this and change it completely, but it would effect the plot of the story.
Thank you for the reviews. I really appreciate them. That review button, right down there, needs you to remind him that he is not alone. He needs friends! He needs you! Lol! ;)
I may be able to update in two days. This chapter took me about two nights. I hope that you can wait until about Thursday. If you are lucky, then I will update Tomorrow!
Any questions, just PM me.
Until the next chapter!
-TwilightMortal
xxx