Author's Note: hey, hope everyone had a great christmas etc, sorry this one took so long, i had some technical issues and lost all of my work :( so i have had to re write it at home. please review or favourite as it does me a huge favour (i am having an arguement with Aldura Skalbaka, author of cross my heart, because she has waaaay more views and stuff. thanks!)
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"Well...?" Sherlock stepped back, gesturing with his hand at the flat in general.
"The shops, or the flat?" Jim winked at him and walked back up the steps, going back into the living room and then Sherlock's chair. Sherlock smirked.
"Good choice." As he closed the door behind Jim, he felt a moment of panic before he locked it away, like he usually did with his emotions. Jim made another cold cup of coffee and settled into the chair.
"Another one?" he asked, raising an eyebrow, as he deposited his empty cup in the kitchen.
"nothing else to do as you were sooo persistent."
"You would choose coffee over me? I would find that offensive if I could be offended."
"no, you're here too aren't you?"
"Point taken." Sherlock simply stared at Jim, wondering what do to with himself. He doubted the criminal would appreciate having his coffee interrupted, not that he was being considerate or anything.
"so, what was so important" Moriarty said innocently,
"that I couldn't go to the shops?"
"Well, you see, Jim..." Sherlock strode over to him and stood in front of Jim, appearing to look troubled.
"I want that information you are keeping from me. I know you are my equal; it's unlikely you'll slip and hand it over. So... I'm willing to make a trade."
"ah yes, a surprise for a surprise"
"You do remember. Helpful. Do you agree?"
"well, I might as well, its better than going to the shop..."
"For every thing I do, I want information on your surprise," Sherlock murmured, leaning over Jim.
"That's my move in this game of yours."
"further you go where exactly?" Jim was asking his questions with mock innocence, fully aware of what Sherlock was proposing. The detective swept down and pressed his lips to the skin just under Jim's ear.
"You know full well," he purred. Jim closed his eyes and breathed heavily, not actually aroused, but secretly trying his hardest not to laugh and swat him away again. Sherlock was aware of Jim's irritation; there was slight difference between the type of sighs a person made, and his was definitely not the one a person would make if they were enjoying the situation.
"Your turn," he breathed. Sherlock knew he was making a fool of himself, but he also knew that Moriarty would play the game. Jim swivelled slightly and whispered into Sherlock's ear,
"shall I tell you?"
"Oh, please do," he replied just as quietly, brushing a hand up Jim's arm.
"well," Jim came in even closer
"now there are two things."
"Two? Tell me." Sherlock nudged Jim's head with his.
"which first, the original or the new thing?"
"Whichever is more urgent. I'll get both of them eventually."
"oh, will you? well," Jim pulled away to face Sherlock, secretly pressing a button on his phone behind Sherlock's back, "you have..." he checked his watch
"fifteen minutes to find John before Seb does." Sherlock's eyes widened. He could practically feel the seconds tick, tick, ticking away, but he kept a calm façade. He knew where John was.
"And the other?" Jim looked at his watch again, frowning
"actually, I was wrong, it's five minutes, not fifteen. oops." Jim grinned and walked to the window,
"the traffic's bad today." Sherlock's throat became choked up for a moment before he swallowed, twirling away to put his coat on and tying his scarf.
"Is that it?"
"I did say there were two, but John will probably tell you the second himself anyway. Want me to drive?"
"No, I think this is where I'm going to have to go alone. No doubt you'll manipulate things and make me lose time." On a whim, Sherlock picked up John's handgun. He usually stole it from him anyway.
"no, I want to come, and offering to drive was actually a helpful thing for you... but it's your choice."
"Fine! Drive then!" Sherlock growled, stalking towards the door.
"Just hurry. Don't dawdle. Don't mess me around."
"okay, I was only being nice...oh, you don't mind being illegal" he spat the word with disgust
"do you?"
"I suppose I can let it slide... why? And hurry!" He bolted downstairs, his shoes thundering on the steps. From somewhere below, Mrs. Hudson shouted, Boys! Keep it down! But Jim just chuckled, muttering under his breath as he followed Sherlock. As they left the building, Moriarty led Sherlock quickly down several back streets. Sherlock hurried after him, swiftly crushing any brief moments of panic that made his heart rate increase. He had to stay calm, like normal. It wouldn't help things if he panicked. Grinning, Jim skipped over and opened the passenger seat of a nearby police car, looking expectantly at Sherlock.
"Police car...?" Despite the time he was losing, Sherlock looked at it warily.
"you want to get there with no traffic or not?" Jim called from the driver's seat, turning on the engine.
"Fair point." Sherlock muttered, diving into the passenger seat. He closed the door behind him. He felt trapped in the small space, but he didn't mention it. He wanted to run there ideally, but he knew he'd only waste time if he did that. Jim put another cigarette in his mouth, lit it casually and opened the window. Revving the engine, he grinned at Sherlock,
"we should do this more often Sherly."
"I'd rather not. Just drive, Jim. Quickly. Please." Sherlock spoke in clipped sentences, too agitated to talk further. Jim frowned in mock sadness,
"there's no need to snap..." he slammed his foot down on the accelerator and the car surged forwards towards the main road. Jim pulled into the traffic and was immediately stuck in a traffic jam.
" d'you want to obide by the law," he said, rolling his head round to stare at Sherlock dramatically,
"or have some fun?"
"Whatever gets me to John quicker." Sherlock growled.
"ooh, now that I can do, you may want to make sure you aren't recognised..." Jim grinned even more as he flicked on the sirens. he pulled over onto the pavement and started to drive on it, causing several screaming pedestrians. Sherlock tucked his chin into his coat and pulled his scarf over his face. Grumbling to himself, he also pulled the blasted hat out of his pocket and stuck it on his head.
"Interesting approach," he commented.
"interesting hat." Jim replied simply, "but you did just have to get to John before Seb gets to play, so this is really your fault."
"Of course, hence the use of this damn thing." Sherlock slid down in his seat until he appeared to much shorter than normal, at least to the people who only got fleeting glimpses of them through the car windows.
"I'm only driving you there to give you a fighting chance to get there before Seb, but once we get there I'm not going to help. I'm going there to, and your welcome to join me, but you may want to find John on your own."
"I assume you'll be taking a roundabout route, then? One that will be much too long to get to John before Seb."
"nope, I just thought that you couldn't- actually, I'm not telling you, just make a decision."
"I'll go by myself. I'll admit, I'd prefer not to have you breathing down my neck while I search for John."
"I'll be watching." Jim promptly pulled over in a U turn and climbed out of the car; he hadn't bothered with a seatbelt. Sherlock hopped out of the police car, looking around warily in case any of the passers by had spotted him. Jim's driving certainly wasn't easy to hide.
"Any hint for the right direction?" Jim paused to send a text before answering.
"upwards." he promptly walked up the steps, opening the door for Sherlock. Sherlock rushed past him without thanking him. He broke into a mixture of a jog and a run; he kept pausing to look for any sign that he was going in the right direction. He took a set of stairs two at a time in his haste. John's gun was held so tightly in his hand he had to consciously loosen his grip so he didn't accidentally pull the trigger. Sherlock continued running up the stairs, ignoring his fatigue. he ran out onto the 17th floor, barely able to breathe and allowed himself little rest."I'm... coming..." he hissed and took off running again.
