I'm so happy that I can finally post this!

Justice.

Chapter Nine.

Mary had never expected the public reaction to her article to be so strong, though she should have. People had always had strong feelings about Sherlock Holmes, whether good or bad.

The editor of The Sun had read Mary's article and slotted it for publication the very next day. It had sold more copies in one day than any of their other issues in the past two years and Mary found herself as a regular journalist for the same paper only a few days later.

People were now speaking out, telling their stories of Sherlock Holmes. D.I. Lestrade had been appointed to head the investigation into the days leading to the consulting detective's death as there had been too many things that hadn't added up, but had been ignored before. Graffiti was appearing all over London, England, the world. All said 'I believe in Sherlock Holmes.'

There were still many who opposed Sherlock and were just as vocal about the matter, but they now had people to argue against who would not just give up and stay silent.

John and Mary were keeping their engagement a secret from all but their close friends and family. Mary and Joe had moved their things in a week after John proposed. Jo had been confused at first, but had quickly warmed up to the man. Every night since they'd told him that they would be married, Jo had asked John for one of the stories of his adventures.

Two weeks after the article was published, Mary was sitting at her desk, working on a new piece. She looked up when she heard the mail cart stop beside her.

"Ms Morstan?" the gingery haired man asked in a youthful tenor. Mary didn't recognize him, but she'd only been there a short time.

"Yes," she said. He handed her a stack of letters and replies to her article.

"You wrote that piece on Sherlock Holmes, right?" he asked, resting his forearms on the cart.

Mary nodded.

"I bet he would have appreciated it had he been alive," he said and stood straight once more. "Congratulations on the upcoming wedding."

Mary nodded her thanks and turned to her mail. She froze with the first letter open before her. No one in the building knew about her engagement.

She stood and whipped her head around, looking for the man, but he was gone. Mary walked quickly from her desk and out into the hall. The cart was by the wall, but there was no one to be seen. Mary ran down the hall and down the stairs till she stood in front of the building.

She stood outside, gasping for breath. The man had completely disappeared.

"Ms Morstan."

She turned and saw a man in a smart suit standing by the wall, umbrella in hand.

"I should introduce myself," he said. "I'm Mycroft Holmes, a fri—"

"Was that him?"

The elder Holmes shut his mouth before replying. "Ms Morstan, I do not know who—"

"Quit with the bullshit. I know you know who I'm talking about," she said, hands on her hips. Mycroft's lips thinned in irritation. "Why hasn't Sherlock spoken to John? Doesn't he know how much John is still hurting?"

"Have you considered that perhaps there is a reason my brother fell that day?" he asked, watching as he slowly turned the umbrella in his hand.

Mary's gasp was nearly inaudible. "Will he come back? To John?"

"I believe that is the end he is working towards," he nodded.

Mary looked around once more, though she knew he was long gone. "What if I tell John? He has a right to know."

Mycroft shifted his weight, the only physical reaction to the discomfort her statement caused. "I do not suggest that plan of action. His life is still in peril and his knowledge may have a negative impact upon that."

She bit her lip, at war with herself. "Keep him safe. You have him return home when he can and I'll make sure he has someone to return home to."

Mycroft nodded and raised his umbrella to his shoulder. "It will be a pleasure working with you, Mary Morstan. Congratulations on soon becoming a Watson," he said as he walked away.

Mary watched him disappear as well before walking back in the building. John was right, she mused as she sat down once more. Life became more complicated when the Holmes were involved.

And that folks is the last chapter of the first act in the story. It's getting larger than I expected. Anyways, I'll be back again next week with the first chapter for the second act.

Time for my warnings for that part! If you don't want to read slash, don't continue. That's been the endgame I've had in mind this whole time. I just like foreplay. Also, the next few chapters are really, really tear-jerking. It almost made me cry when I was writing it and I know just about everything that's going to happen. But if you're still with me and haven't been scared off, meet me back here next week with your box of tissues and ice cream! Be my valentine, leave a review! This chapter was a bit different than my normal type, so I'm a bit unsure!