Quick thank you to you all for reading this I can't believe some of you are really reading this far, so much blessedness going on right here. Now, I'm going to leave the rest of my comments for later so I don't give anything away. Oh, but please note that a fair bit of this chapter looks exactly like what it is in the show, but know that there's some added stuff in there that's important info (or just little added quips for some, just for grins) so please don't just skip over it :)

Chapter 10

They next day, John and Sherlock went to breakfast with the promise of binging me back some flapjacks and links. Mum was back to her own apartment, so I was being left alone while they worked. Well, there was still Mrs. Hudson, but despite how nice she is, she's still an old lady.

Just as promised, Uncle had come by with some food for me. However, it was just a quick drop off. As John looked around for stuff, I decided to ask Sherlock about what he knew right now.

"So… Who died?"

"Connie Prince."

"What do you know about the person who called?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Uncle John didn't tell you?"

"Tell me that the bomber knows who you are and is specifically attacking people that you're familiar with? No, he didn't mention anything."

"How did- No. I won't ask…"

He grinned. "To answer you previous question, I'm not going to tell you. You shouldn't worry yourself with this. As far as you need to be concerned, this is between the bomber and me."

"Alright. Let's go." Uncle John said as he ran down the steps. "Stay out of trouble." He told me before the two left.

I swung my foot around and began back to my room with the food. "And here I am alone…"

XXX

They'd been gone for twelve hours including the drive back from the station. Well, Sherlock came back for a little while, but I was told to stay in my room. I thought they were being crazy protective, but what could I do about it?

When I came out and saw Sherlock and Uncle John, they looked crest fallen, like they'd failed miserably.

"You…You didn't solve the case on time?"

Sherlock shook his head. "We did, but...He changed his mind somehow, so…"

"Boom… boom." I finished.

XXX

I sat with John and Sherlock the next morning of April 1st. They watched the news as it talked about the explosion, saying it was a gas leak. As I heard more about the area, a tear leaked down my face.

"A whole block of flats… He certainly gets about." Uncle muttered.

"Well, obviously I lost that round. Although technically I did solve the case, so…" Sherlock muted the telly, and a moment later, a thought hit him. "He killed the old lady because she started to describe him. Just once he put himself in the firing line."

"What do you mean?" John asked.

"Well, usually he must stay above it all. He… organizes things but no one ever has direct contact."

"Hmm… What, like the Connie Prince murder? He arranged that, so people come to him to get their crimes fixed up, like what? Booking a holiday?"

"Novel."

I couldn't take it anymore; all this talking like innocent people hadn't just died. It was inhumane. I had to leave the room for my own sake of being. Of course, if I were to be honest, it also had a bit to do with my guilt. It was as though it were partially my fault that this was happening.

From my room, I began to hear my uncle and Sherlock fighting. John was mad that Sherlock didn't particularly care about the people whose lives were at stake. I honestly felt some relief that it wasn't just me.

About two minutes later, I heard the sound of John coming down the steps. There was a gentle knock on my door and then it opened to reveal the ash blonde man.

"You alright? I didn't even hear you leave." As he studied my face for just a split second, he noticed the tear lines and glassy eyes. "Christ, what happened?" he asked me while coming and sitting next to me.

"I know who he took as a hostage- the old woman."

"What? Who?"

"Ms. Jenkins." I told him. "Her name… It was Ms. Jenkins. I haven't seen her in two years, but I used to help her with her shopping."

He tensed up. "No official records or anything I assume?" I shook my head. "Didn't tell Jimmy about that?"

"No, sir."

"He's done his research, then."

"It's all my fault…" I whimpered before burrowing my face into his arm.

"Hey, no!" He repositioned so he could wrap his arms around my small frame and I cried into his shoulder. "It's not your fault, Alice Love. This man is a deranged lunatic. He's been killing for years and was going to completely crack anyway. This was in no way your fault, alright?"

"But- I just- She- He wouldn't have killed her if it weren't for me! None of those people would be dead!"

"Hey, you don't know that, Alice. You don't know that. Sh."

XXX

Naturally, Sherlock and Uncle had to go eventually to figure out the case. I didn't even want to leave the house at this point, so I didn't argue. I just curled up into my bed, a feeling of guilt eating me up inside. When they returned a few hours later, Lestrade was with them.

"What…?"

"This time it was a little girl." Lestrade explained. "Her name was Isabelle Johnson. Do you know that name?"

"Is she alright?" I asked, just wanting to be sure that I didn't get some little girl hurt.

"She's fine do you know her?"

"Um… Maybe? How old is she?"

"She's eight."

"Five years younger…?" The confusion on my face vanished. "Before Harriet… There was a family that considered adopting me. I was the girl up, you know? But…then a baby was put up for adoption and they chose her. The Johnson family. They must have named her Isabelle."

"So he chose her to avenge you." Sherlock muttered. "Well, no matter. That was the last one."

"Right…So… May I go for a quick walk? Just to clear my head, get some fresh air."

"Sure, love. Go on." John mumbled to me. I gave a slight bow of the head to the D.I. before heading out.

I stopped at the same coffee shop as before, getting a hot tea for myself. I suddenly felt like I shouldn't have left- like something was wrong. I considered hailing a cab, but thought better of it. It was just me being paranoid.

So, I got halfway through my tea and headed out, cup in hand. I thought it'd be nice for the walk back. I'd just made it to the next intersection when a government-style black car pulled up. The window rolled down to reveal Jimmy in a crisp black suit, a white button up, and a black tie that had tiny skulls on it. He grinned warmly, but fear filled me.

"Alice Love, want to go for a ride?"

Sherlock slowly walked into the pool room where Moriarty was to meet him. After waiting a moment he spoke saying, "Brought you a little 'getting to know you' present. Oh, that's what it's all been for, isn't it? All your little puzzles, making me dance- all to distract me from this."

John walked out of one of the changing rooms is a large coat. He had an unamused smile on his face as he said, "Evening. This is quite a turn up, isn't it, Sherlock?"

"John, what the hell?"

"Bet you never saw this coming. What would you like me to make him say next? Gottle o' geer. Gottle o' geer. Gottle o'-"

"Stop it." Sherlock hissed.

"Nice this touch- the pool where little Carl died. I stopped him. I can stop John Watson, too- stop his heart."

"Who are you?"

"I gave you my number…" Jimmy whined as he came down the hall from the opposite side. "I thought you might call." He did a check over Sherlock and asked, "Is that a British Army Browning L9A1 in your pocket or are you just pleased to see me?"

Sherlock pulled out said gun, pointing it at Jim. "Both."

Jimmy smirked and walked closer. "Jim Moriarty. Hi~." When he received a look of confusion he asked, "Jim? Jim from the hospital? Huh. Did I really make such a fleeting impression? But then I suppose that was rather the point." He briefly glanced that the gun. "Don't be silly. Someone else is holding the riffle. I don't like getting my hands dirty." He paused, now at the pool's halfway point. "I've given you a glimpse, Sherlock- just a teensy glimpse- of what I've got going on out there in the big, bad world. I'm a specialist you see. Like you."

"'Dear Jim, Please will you fix it for me to get rid of my lover's nasty sister.' 'Dear Jim, Please will you fix it for me to disappear to South America.'"

"Just so."

"Consulting criminal. Brilliant."

"Isn't it? No one ever gets to me- and no one ever will."

"I did."

"You've come the closest. Now you're in my way."

"Thank you."

"I didn't mean it as a compliment."

"Yes, you did."

"Yeah, okay, I did. But the flirting's over, Sherlock. Daddy's had enough now!" Moriarty told him, the last bit in a sing-song voice. "I've shown you what I can do. I've cut loose all those people, all those little problems. Even thirty million quid just to get you to come out and play. So take this as a friendly warning, my dear. Back off." He began to slowly get closer again. "Although. I have loved this. This little game of ours. Playing Jim from IT. Playing gay. Did you like the little touch with the underwear?"

"People have died."

"That what people DO!"

"I will stop you."

"No you won't." Jim sang.

Sherlock to John. "You alright?"

After waiting a moment, Moriarty got right up to John. "You can talk, Johnny Boy. Go ahead." John glanced at the killer next to him and just nodded at Sherlock.

The detective offered the memory stick to Jim. "Take it."

"Hm? Oh, that. The missile plans." He took it and made a face. "Boring! I could have gotten them anywhere." The consulting criminal threw the memory stick into the pool.

At that time, John put him into a choke hold. "Sherlock, run!"

"Oh, good! Very good." The criminal told him.

"Just like that. Pull that trigger, Mr. Moriarty, and we both go up!"

"He's sweet, I can see why you like having him around. But then people do get so sentimental about their pets. They're so touchingly loyal. But oops! You've rather shown your hand there, Dr. Watson. Gotcha!" A red dot landed on Sherlock's forehead and the doctor jumped away. Once his suit was straightened out, Moriarty motioned to it. "Westwood." He rolled his eyes and got back on track. "Do you know what happens if you don't leave me alone, Sherlock? To you."

"Oh let me guess- I get killed."

"Kill you? Eh, no. Don't be obvious. I mean I'm going to kill you anyway- someday. I don't want to rush it though. I'm saving it up for something special. No no no no. If you don't stop prying I will burn you. I will burn the heart out of you."

"I have been reliably informed that I don't have one."

"But we both know that's not quite true. Well. I'd better be off. I have a cute little date to get to. So nice to have had a proper chat."

"What if I was to shoot you now? Right now."

"Then you could cherish the look of surprise on my face. Because I'd be surprised, Sherlock. Really I would. And just a teensy bit… disappointed. And of course you wouldn't be able to cherish it for very long. Ciao, Sherlock Holmes." Moriarty turned on slowly on his heel, not break eye contact with Sherlock until he physically couldn't.

"Catch you… later."

Jim pushed open the door and sang, "No you won't!" right at the last instant before it closed. Now alone, he pulled out his phone to see the unconscious Watson girl sleeping on the plane, waiting for him. "If I were to kill them now, I could keep her…" With a wicked grin, he called up his snipers, telling them the plan. He then went back through the door directly in front of where John and Sherlock would be, watching as they noticed all the red points on them. "Sorry boys! I'm so~ changeable! It is a weakness with me, but to be fair to myself, it is my only weakness." He shrugged apologetically. "You can't be allowed to continue. You just can't. I would try to convince you, but…" He chuckled. "Everything I have to say has already crossed your mind."

"Probably my answer has crossed yours." Sherlock responded, pulling up the gun. However, he then pointed down to where the C-4-covered jacket.

They stayed like that for the longest time. However, Moriarty's cell phone went off, Staying Alive echoing around them. Moriarty groaned inwardly.

"Do you mind if I get that?"

"Oh no, please. You've got the rest of your life."

Grateful, Jim answered the phone. "Hello?"

"Moriarty?" the man on the other end asked, fear causing a shake in his voice.

" Yes, of course it is. What do you want?" He mouthed an apology to Sherlock, who waved it off as fine. He then rolled his eyes in annoyance.

"Sir… She… She's gone. Watson's gone."

"SAY THAT AGAIN!" Jim screamed. He took a breath in and let it out calmly. "Say that again and know that if you are lying to me, I will find you and I will skin you."

"Moriarty, Sir, Watson escaped. She was dead asleep and the guard went to the restroom and when they came back, she was gone. Now, I better get off. She couldn't have gotten far."

"WAIT!" He looked at the detective. "Sorry. Wrong day to die."

"Oh? Did you get a better offer?"

"You'll be hearing from me, Sherlock."He went back to the call and decided that he needed to say what was basically the exact opposite of what was going on just to buy him time. "So if you have what you say you have, I'll make you rich. If you don't, I'll make you into shoes." With a snap of the consulting criminal's fingers, the snipers were gone.

XXX

Moriarty had just gotten back to the jet. Once he was in it, he saw a very angry little teenager tied and gagged on one of the chairs in the family room type area. He shook his head and made his way over.

"How uncivilized." He untied the gag, only for a series of curses to escape her mouth towards him. He cut her off by retying it. "Well, now I see why. Can you be quiet a moment? I have one last call to make before we fly."

The response he received was a sarcastic-sounding muffle.

With an amused grin, Jim dialed up the detective, knowing that this would be the last direct contact for a while.

"Hello?" he heard on the other end.

"Sherlock! Sorry. It completely slipped my mind while we had our little moment together but I decided to get a bit of insurance. I'm sure I'm just going to have a blast with our little Alice. Ophelia. Watson."

Without waiting for a reply, he hit end.

And there was have it! After a while of dragging things on, we have the oddly long chapter 10. Can I just say that I had so much fun writing this, as twisted as that is? While I feel like some parts are a bit weaker than others, I feel pretty good about this chapter. Now, for those of you who have yet to review, I especially beg of you to let me know what you think! I've been posting for almost two months! (With how crazy it's been, I coulda sworn it was like four xD) Anyway, I just love you guys and I want to hear what you think and get to you guys. (Seriously, I reply to every review from this story and my others except like 1 or 2 reviews on some other stories because it was ridiculous reviews like 'this story sucks.' Anyway, but other than if I don't reply and it was actually a nice or constructive review please let me know, sometimes I think I reply and I don't actually or my computer is dumb and I write it all out and hit send and it doesn't actually send and all this possible junk but I really do want to get to know y'all!)

Quick question: Have I made it very clear that this is NOT an Alicex blah blah blah story? (Though later on I'm totally gonna test out some Sherlolly because that's just my OTP.) Because, I figured that making her like 12/13 would be good enough to make it clear that Moriarty is not obsessed with her romantically and that Sherlock caring about her is like in an uncle type way.

Now, I've wasted enough of your time. Have a good week my wonderful little (stealing this from a Moriarty page on facebook) victims!