As John walked into Scotland Yard, it soon became apparent Lestrade was not completely briefed about the nature of the case. Bloody Mycroft.
"I don't understand, this is definitely not my area. I work homicides and abductions, not paedophilia and rape for goodness sake." Lestrade exclaimed. The detective inspector had pulled John into his office, demanding to know what was going on.
"I'm sure it will all become clear, Greg. All you need to know is this involves the Holmes brothers." John placated. "Only you were trusted to take this case."
Lestrade exhaled loudly. Running his hands through his greying hair. "I'm too old for this. And I definitely do not like being given orders from above in this way."
John sympathised with Lestrade, but he knew once the detective inspector understood the complexity of the case, he would calm down.
"Right then. The team of specialists who will be assisting us have briefed me, and we're ready to start. Victor Trevor is in the interrogation room." Lestrade said, shaking into detective mode. He led John to the room, and the doctor felt his stomach roll at the sight of the man in the room.
Victor Trevor looked completely calm and polite. He was leant back gracefully on the wooden chair, looking intriguingly around the room. Even sitting, John could tell the man must be taller than Sherlock, and he was definitely well built. His dark hair was styled effortlessly, and his suit screamed money. Looking at him through the mirror, John could see straight away the man who had a hold over Sherlock. He was arrogant yes, but when Victor's eyes met the two-way mirror, John saw a glint of the darkness.
"Are you coming in or viewing from the mirror?" Lestrade asked.
Even though he was shocked to be granted the invitation, John declined, knowing he would not be able to remain impartial. As Lestrade moved to enter the room, a woman he did not recognise followed after the detective inspector, and two other unrecognisable faces joined John in room with him. As Lestrade started speaking, Donavan also joined them in the room.
"I hear Sherlock works with you?" Victor asked, ignoring Lestrade's probing opening questions.
"Sherlock has nothing to do with this. We have statements from fifteen-"
"Sherlock has everything to do with this." Victor cut in. "I will only talk to him."
Victor leant back in his chair and crossed his arms loosely over his chest. He refused to answer any questions, or even look at the inspectors after his request. Soon, Lestrade was forced to end the interview.
Seconds later, Lestrade was at John's side. They watched the man smirk, never once breaking his relaxed composure,
"You don't understand Greg, Sherlock can't do this. I won't allow it." John choked, shaking slightly.
"I know I don't understand, but I do know Sherlock can save fifteen people, some of them children, from having to stand up in court. He's our only chance, John. We have to ask him." Lestrade pleaded.
Unbeknown to them, a man had entered the room after the detective inspector. He caught their attention by clearing his throat impatiently. Turning, John's eyes filled with horror, and Lestrade looked relieved. Sherlock was surprisingly composed, his cold mask of indifference firmly in place.
"It's ok John, I need to do this." Sherlock consoled. He then turned to Lestrade. "What's the plan?"
"Well-".
"Wait! I need a second alone with Sherlock please." John insisted, his tone indicating he would not take no as an answer.
After a nod from Lestrade, everyone left the room, leaving the two flatmates in private.
"I already knew this was going to happen, and I have prepared myself for it." Sherlock stated.
John moved forwards and took the consulting detective's hand. "I can't let you go in there Sherlock. I can't-" John's voice broke with emotion. Felling completely helpless.
"John. John, look at me." Sherlock insisted, lifting his partner's face with a single finger under the doctor's chin until their gaze met. "I need to do this. I have sat feeling helpless for too long. This is my chance for closure, and I'll get closure for all the others too. Do you understand that?" Sherlock asked, visibly determined.
John did understand it, but it did not make him like the idea one bit.
"One promise, Sherlock. If things get too much, say 'red' and I will have the interview stopped straight away, ok? Promise me?" John pleaded.
"Of course." Sherlock promised, placing a soft kiss on John's lips before steeling himself for what was ahead.
John watched his partner walk into the room. The doctor clenched his fists, feeling completely helpless. He wanted to take Sherlock far away, refuse Lestrade using Sherlock in this way. He wanted to protect him from this. Logically, he knew this was the best thing for the case. If anyone could crack Victor, it was Sherlock. But at what cost to the consulting detective?
Lestrade and Donavan stood beside him, and he knew they were going to finally understand exactly why the case was put their way.
"The Sherlock Holmes." Victor purred, uncrossing his arms and leaning forward onto the table.
Sherlock took the sat opposite, perfecting the air of calm and looking extremely bored.
"Really Victor? You always were pretty dramatic, but not speaking until I arrived? Surely you haven't become boring after all this time." Sherlock drawled.
John saw a glint of anger in Victor's eyes, but he quickly supressed it, playing the charismatic, innocent businessman.
"It's been too long, Sherl, but you haven't changed one bit." Victor winked, making John physically recoil away from the two-way mirror.
"Come on, Victor. We both know how much I despise small talk. Just tell me why you did it and I can go back to forgetting your existence again." Sherlock retorted, knowing exactly how to play the man.
"Oh Sherl. I know you never forgot my existence. Do I still have pride of place in your dreams? You still fill mine." Victor tormented. Thankfully, Sherlock did not seem to show any reaction to the man's words, instead simply rolling his eyes.
"Well, this is boring me as usual, Victor. See you in court. You should probably get yourself a lawyer." Sherlock fired, getting up from his seat and walking towards the exit.
"How dare you walk away from me you slut?" Victor screamed, breaking his well-practiced demeanour.
John heard everyone in the room gasp, eyes glued to the two men in the room. He could basically see the clogs turning their heads, finally understanding.
Meanwhile, Sherlock remained unaffected, merely turning around back to face Victor with a raised eyebrow.
"Do you not understand? I still own you Sherlock. And I was right wasn't I? No one but me will ever want you. No one but me would put up with the freak. I have watched you, you know. No one stays around for long." Victor mocked, standing up. He was beginning to become desperate for a reaction, forgetting completely where he was. When he got no response, Victor increased his taunts.
"I still remember the way you screamed, Sherl. None of those others even slightly lived up to you. As I fucked them, all I saw was your petrified face. I still remember the expression perfectly, when you realised what I was capable of; when you realised I owned you." Victor provoked, his voice dark and menacing.
"You were clever, Victor. Not one of the fifteen boys went to the police. How?" Sherlock questioned, pretending to be interested and jealous to extract a concrete confession.
"The same reason you never said anything, Sherl. And you underestimate me. I made eighteen pretty little boys scream just as you did. Made them plead me to stop." Victor crooned threateningly, beginning to gain distance on Sherlock. John felt his heart beat out of his chest, preparing himself to run in and punch the man if he touched Sherlock.
"You're pathetic." Sherlock said in a low voice, making Victor stop in his tracks. "All this time, I let you have a hold on me, and I finally see you for what you are: pathetic. Rot in jail, Victor."
Sherlock calmly made his way out of the room, walking blindly to the back room to find John. The soldier kept his distance, cautious of making a wrong move that would trigger his partner. Their eyes met, and Sherlock's knees buckled. Once again everyone left the room to let the two men have their private moment. John thanked them, and then moved forwards, kneeling down to match Sherlock's height and tried to convey how proud he was in just looks.
"I did it." Sherlock whispered. "I did it, I did it." He repeated, like he was trying to convince himself rather than tell John.
"You did." John admired. "I am so, so proud of you, Sherlock."
At that, Sherlock stumbled forward and clung onto John as if his life depended on it. Maybe in that moment, it did.
"Take me home, John."
I really need to thank everyone who commented/favourited after that last chapter update. I was only trying to explain my late upload, but confiding in you all that I have been having problems with viewing my own writing has sparked a lot of lovely comments and I felt much better editing this chapter for uploading, so I cannot thank you enough for your support 3
The story is unfortunately coming to a close very soon. However, this is the beginning of a series of stories that will deal with our favourite boys overcoming and living with struggles such as suicide, self harm, sexual assault, domestic abuse and drug addiction. If you enjoyed this story, please do subscribe to me and look out for 'The' Verses to read more by me!
Hope you enjoyed this chapter!
