I kind of felt... sickened with myself after the last chapter, and didn't want to write again for a bit. However, better times are coming for our two favourite boys, sooo... As always, reviews please!
A taxi pulled up within a minute of them leaving the flat. Within twenty, they had pulled up outside New Scotland Yard. As they got out of the taxi, John paused, glanced up. Sherlock paused beside him.
"We've been here before." John murmured. He looked to Sherlock for confirmation. "Right?"
Sherlock nodded. "Correct."
"That detective... Lestrade..."
"You're remembering more and more." Sherlock's tone was approving. "Come on."
As they entered Lestrade's offices, John saw, from the corner of his eye, a few heads turn. Great... He thought. Then a female officer came up to them.
"What do you want, freak?" She asked, none too nicely. Sherlock gave a bland smile.
"To talk to Detective Inspector Lestrade, Sally, surely you're accustomed to my little visits by now?"
Sally gave him a glare. "He's in a conference call right now."
"Then i'll go and wait outside his office." Sherlock strode off. John went to follow, but Sally spoke.
"I told you getting involved with him is a mistake. Or... do you remember that now?"
She sounded awkward. John glanced at her.
"Yeah, I do. I also know that right now, he's one of the few people I know I can trust."
Sally didn't answer. John gave a nod to her, before following Sherlock. He was stood outside Lestrade's office, waiting. Lestrade had his back to the door. He appeared to be talking animatedly, his hands were moving as he talked.
"Perhaps we should... come back later?" John suggested, but Sherlock shook his head.
"He's only done that because he's been getting distracted by someone we know. He'll been done soon."
Sherlock glanced across the room and John, following his gaze, saw a stubbled, grouchy looking man, his eyes on his computer. As he watched, the man glared in their direction.
"He looks familiar, but I don't remember his name." John murmured. Sherlock gave a chuckle.
"That's the best thing i've heard all day. He'll love that."
After another minute, Lestrade finally put the phone down. He stretched, then turned his chair round the right way, and spotted Sherlock and John. After a moment's shock, he quickly gestured them in, getting up as he did so. As they entered, he came forward with a smile, shook Sherlock's hand, then John's.
"John, good to see you again."
"And you." John said, genuinely meaning it. Lestrade gestured them to chairs. John sat, but Sherlock stayed standing.
"Is it a good idea though, having him back on cases when... well..." Lestrade gave Sherlock a disapproving look.
"He wanted to come. We're not going to be running around half of London, Inspector. Or at least, you're not." He looked at John. "But I felt it was a good idea he came here given... events."
"What do you mean?"
Sherlock glanced to John. Your choice... John swallowed.
"I've remembered some things that happened. When I left the flat this morning, two men followed me in the street. They stopped me on a sidestreet and..." John paused for a second. "I recognised one of them. I'd had nightmares, flashbacks involving him. They grabbed me and... it came back, the memory." His voice had gone shaky. He couldn't go on.
Lestrade hesitated for a second. Sherlock could see the question burning in Lestrade's mind, but to his relief, he didn't ask it. Perhaps he didn't need to.
"Which street was this? What time?"
It took John a moment to think. It felt like it had happened years ago.
"It was... just off Ottowa Avenue. About 10.30. I left the supermarket at 10.15."
Lestrade nodded, making a note of it.
"I'll get Sergeant Donovan to get hold of the CCTV footage in the area. We'll be able to identify them from that. Stay around, i'll call as soon as there's news."
XOX
They spent the time waiting in Molly's lab. Molly had been delighted to see them both. Sherlock hadn't come down much since the pool incident, and she had missed his visits. After greeting them both, she had largely left them to it. Sherlock could see her filling out reports across the room.
John was feeling drained. The reliving of the memory had taken more out of him then he'd initially realised. He leant forward over the laboratory counter, rubbing his eyes for a moment.
"If it's too much being here, you should go back to the flat."
He'd thought Sherlock's eyes were focused solely on the computer he was using, but evidently not. John straightened up, cleared his throat.
"I'm fine. Just feeling the effects, I guess."
"You've had a pretty rough morning."
John gave a faint chuckle.
"Pretty rough week. Pretty rough few months, if you think about it." He glanced towards Molly, then stepped closer to Sherlock. "If that's just... one part of it... what happened over the rest of the time?"
Sherlock looked at him at that. "I don't know. But we'll find out." He sounded sure, confident of that.
"You're so confident of these things. You always seem so sure and... well, detached."
"I can understand how overwhelming this must be for you, and believe me when I say i'm angry. But getting emotional whilst on the case will do nothing but hamper judgement." Seeing the slightly uncomfortable look on John's face, Sherlock spoke more gently. "We'll get this sorted. After that... well, give it time."
The sound of Molly's footsteps made both of them look round.
"Sorry, um... John, Inspector Lestrade just called to say they've got footage. He asked if you'd come up."
John nodded.
"Thanks."
"Do you want me to come?" Sherlock's voice came from behind him.
"No, it's OK... either way, we'll find out who this guy is."
"Alright. I've got something I need to follow up. I might not be here when you're done, so if not, head back to Baker Street."
John frowned slightly, obviously wondering, but he nodded before leaving the room. Sherlock turned back to the computer screen. To the message he had been writing. It seemed the best method to get in touch with the man he wished to talk to.
I need the truth. Meet me. Under your terms, your location. I'll come alone. SH.
He sent the message. It took all of a minute for his phone to beep. A postcode, and the words. Don't be stupid. M
"Molly." Sherlock called as he got up. "I'm going."
"What?" Molly looked up, looking startled.
"I've got an appointment to keep." Sherlock said grimly.
XOX
Upstairs, John was sat before a laptop in Lestrade's office as Donovan ran him through the events. Lestrade was beside him, his brow furrowed as he watched.
"The men were standing on Baker Street. They arrived early, just after 6am. It looks like they were waiting. The f- Sherlock left the flat at 8.02..." She showed CCTV of Sherlock leaving the flat and flagging down a taxi. "But they didn't try to follow. They were waiting specifically for you."
John felt a chill. The men were on the opposite side of the street, and a few shops down. They barely looked away from the direction of the flat as Donovan fast-forwarded the footage.
"At 9.08am, you leave." It felt slightly weird seeing himself on film like this. "The men follow, but with the traffic at the time, it takes them longer then intended to cross the street."
"If they'd got across the street sooner, do you think they'd have done it then?"
"I don't know. Probably." She answered softly. John stayed quiet. His head felt like it was spinning. Lestrade interjected.
"What then?"
"They followed him to the supermarket. You arrived at 9.27am, and were in there until you left at 10.12am. The men follow. The footage shows you looking back."
John nodded.
"I was aware of them. I saw the blonde man in the supermarket and recognised him immediately. When I left, I glanced back and saw them following."
"Following, but not catching you until a certain point. They were faster then you, but intentionally kept their pace about the same... until you made for Ottowa Avenue." Donovan clicked a new clip. It showed John turning the corner towards Ottowa Avenue. The two men then ducked into a side road and disappeared.
"I believe they went through side alleys or even gardens to intercept you. They knew where you'd go, and they knew what they were doing." She paused. "I have footage of the actual assault but..."
"I'll view that later Sally, thank you." Lestrade said. John was thankful for that. Donovan put two pictures from the CCTV footage on the table.
"This is the man you recognised, yes?" Lestrade asked, pointing to the picture of the large blonde man. John gave a nod. "Right. I have a feeling he'll have appeared on our radar before. We'll look into the other man as well."
Sally closed the laptop, and left the room. When she had done so, Lestrade spoke quietly.
"How're you doing?"
John shrugged.
"I've been better. It's all a bit..." He gestured, unable to find words, but Lestrade understood.
"I can imagine. Well, I can't, but... I can take a guess." He gave a slight smile, then said. "You've got us on your side, mate. And if this sod's on our systems, i'm going to come down on him like a tonne of bricks, that I can tell you."
XOX
Sherlock stood, looking up the building he'd come to. The postcode had led him to what appeared to be a rundown factory. A faded sign beside the boarded up door told him it used to be a biscuit factory. He hesitated. Surely this was a mistake? He turned to go, wanting to check but, as he'd expected, his phone beeped yet again.
Round the back. M. x
"Making me play ring-a-roses then, are we?" Sherlock murmured as he put his phone away. He walked around the back of the building, and found that a back door had been forced open.
The inside was dark, damp and lonely. Clearly, this place had been abandoned a long time ago. The room he stepped into was huge, perhaps had been the main production room, but now it was bare.
Sherlock waited. Then, the double doors at the far end opened, and Moriarty stepped inside. He looked quite delighted to see Sherlock.
"I knew you'd come see me. It was only a matter of time. And you're not being stupid either, that's wonderful to see."
"Same as in the hospital." Sherlock said. "You wouldn't have just walked into a hospital unarmed and alone, same as you haven't met me here alone." His gaze flickered momentarily around them, to the door, the windows. There was no sign of the snipers that he knew were there, but then that was their job. Moriarty gave a laugh.
"There I was hoping your emotions would overtake your great mind, just for once. Yes, there were two hired men in the hospital. Mercenaries. Had you tried to accost me, they'd have opened fire. That would have been a waste."
"Hm... and how many snipers are here right now?"
"Four. They've been on you since you got out of that taxi. Actually, my men have been watching you since you left Baker Street. Wise of you, by the way, to not let Mr Watson know you were coming here."
At Moriarty's use of John's name, Sherlock's face contorted with anger. Moriarty's smile widened.
"Ahh, how quaint. You want to protect him."
"Considering what I learnt today? Yes. I knew you were cold and cruel, but to this level? Having that done to a man?"
"And what does dear John believe took place?"
"You know what he believes! You planted it!"
"I also know you don't believe it." Moriarty said softly.
"I believe it's what he's seeing. I don't believe it's what happened."
"It really is annoyingly difficult to keep things from you." Moriarty sighed. He didn't look disappointed though, he looked almost ecstatic. He moved a few steps closer, and lowered his voice to a stage whisper. "Fine, yes, that's a false memory. The true memory will come back to him... at the appropriate time."
"How? Drugs? Hypnosis?"
"Oh please Sherlock, you really think i'd resort to hypnosis? No no no, far too selective, not everyone responds to hypnosis."
"Then how?"
"Drugs, mixed with old-fashioned torture. The slow way, but the best."
Sherlock shook his head slightly. He could see the logic, could see the path, the different ways this could go, but couldn't understand it.
"Why?"
For a moment, Moriarty looked away. When he looked back, there was a bitter, almost loathing look on his face. It utterly transformed his face, made it suddenly frightening.
"I told you i'd burn you, Sherlock. Trusting in others, caring for others... is a foolish flaw. You'll see soon enough."
"As opposed to needing to rely upon those seeking money and notoriety? Those with no allegiance? That's the foolish option. I trust those I work with, because they work with me for no other reason then because I ask."
"Then you are a fool." Moriarty hissed. For a moment, the two of them glared at each other. Then, Moriarty's face relaxed, calmed. "I think we're done here. As much as i'd love to end this now, I want to see the rest of the show. Goodbye, Sherlock." He turned to leave.
"Was John raped?" Sherlock asked. That was the one question he needed answering. Moriarty paused, and Sherlock heard a slight chuckle.
"You really do care about him, don't you?" Moriarty glanced back. "Yes, he was. But the actual events were quite different."
"If you want to burn me, why do this? Why not just come for me directly?"
Moriarty gave a smile. It seemed slightly mad.
"Because... that would be no fun to watch." With that, he turned away and strode back to the door he'd come through. As he left, he called "Have fun!" before the door banged shut behind him.
