Shhh... I fix it, 'kay?

First of all, I found a very apropos quote for Sherlock:

"The public is wonderfully tolerant. It forgives everything except genius." ~ Oscar Wilde

Second of all, the quote for this chapter:

"Love is an act of endless forgiveness, a tender look which becomes a habit." ~ Peter Ustinov

Sherlock staggered back up and plopped into a chair across from the irate doctor.
"Alright! No need to get so painfully physical, my dear Watson. It started when I realized the final piece in Moriarty's game: my disgraced death, effectively silencing my protests."

"That – You dick! That was right after we met 'Rich Brook,' wasn't it? Why didn't you say?!"

"It was a dangerous business; I needed our loyal sidekick, Miss Hooper, to sort out the corporeal details should I be forced to try and outsmart him in the end. I couldn't risk telling you and making you even more of a target. It was… nearly unbearable, speaking to you from the roof like that, Jane, but he had snipers on all of you! Well, not Molly. He didn't think she was important, after the way I treated her while he was in the lab. There were men ready to kill Mrs. Hudson and Lestrade. Each man was waiting for the signal from the sniper watching you. If he hadn't seen me fall, he would have shot you, and told the others." He trailed off, watching her expressions change. Surprise, anger, affection, fear, confusion.

"Why were you gone so long, then? … Or why did you come back at all?" she asked quietly.
"At first, I was hiding in the South East of Asia, but in travelling through the Middle East I heard news of the last thread of Moriarty's web to be unraveled: Sebastian Moran, master sniper and close conspirator to that madman. I'd had to contact Mycroft for funds, being cut off from my usual sources, and I may never hear the end of it, but I was glad to have a contact to smuggle me into London quietly. I've already visited Mrs. Hudson – I have a plan in place, and she'll be extremely important. We're lucky to have that woman, Watson. She had quite a shock – cried on my shirt for a bit – but she's quite up to the task. The only missing piece… is you. Will you help me, Jane?"

"I would think I'm more trustworthy than your damned brother. And Molly!" she scolded.

"Oh! Jane, it' not that at all! You are the undeniably the most reliable person I have ever known, but you are an honest soul. Had you known, you could never have convincingly pretended I was dead, and you would immediately have been a target again. They would have assumed you knew where I was," he asserted earnestly, grasping her arm. She sighed, knowing she couldn't resist.

"Right, okay. What are we doing?" For a moment he just grinned at her, eyes shining, but snapped out of it when she suddenly wrapped her arms around him and pressed her face to his chest. "Hallo? Your plan involves more than lurking in a dark corner, right?"

"Ha, ha. Yes… Well. Sort of." She pulled back with a mildly outraged expression.

"For God's sake. Well, you've been punched and berated and you are beginning to look as though you've got jet-lag… When are we starting?"

"Ah, yes. I do, actually, have jet-lag, it seems. My schemes won't take shape until around nine tonight. Mrs. Hudson said you'd moved back into 221B? Could I…" he trailed off uncertainly, not knowing where their relationship was after all the years and heartache. Can I come home?

Jane laughed. "Of course! I'm not letting you out of my sight!" She grabbed her bag and coat, then dragged him by the hand to find a cab. Once inside, he found himself just staring at her, but it took Jane a few moments to notice. "Sherlock?"

"Do you forgive me, Jane? I mean… I do know what happened while I was gone, for the most part. I – the fact that Mark died after you'd managed grief once… It's hard, knowing what I caused." She scooted over to press against his side and smiled.

"I forgive you – even though you're an idiot. When we get home, we're dodging Mrs. Hudson and curling up in your room despite all the boxes everywhere and you'll go to sleep and I'll lay there staring awkwardly at your face. Your stupid gorgeous fucking face." He kissed her briefly as the cab came to a stop, trying to express what he didn't have words for. She understood.