I totally apologize for all the emails you got about Chapter 10. The site wouldn't properly upload the chapter. Thank God it worked this morning, finally.
Disclaimer: See Chapter one, plus, title from this chapter taken from Metallica's Nothing else matters.
Chapter 11: It couldn't be much more from the heart
2:03 A.M. – Four days to a scandal
Sherlock had rushed in and immediately started working, while John and Sorcha tried to wake Sebastian up. Indeed, he was out cold. John feared he might have a concussion, but was positive that he wouldn't need a hospital, although he strongly recommended it, just because he was a doctor and took this job quite seriously.
When Sebastian finally cracked an eye open, he saw John's finger, followed by the command, "Follow my finger, Colonel."
"…. Jim…." He closed his eyes again, moaning. Suddenly he opened them again and shot upright, "Milverton!" He looked around. "Where is he?" Then he looked at John, "What are you doing here? Where is Jim? And my sister?"
"Sorcha is in the kitchen, preparing tea. Jim…" John hated that again, even years after he had left Afghanistan, he was still the one having to bring bad news to people. Especially people with a temper like Moran's. "Jim has been abducted by Milverton. But don't worry, Sherlock is already at work. He will find him."
"Like fuck he will. SORCHA!" he yelled.
She entered shortly thereafter, "There is no need for screaming like that."
"Is it true what pint-size here said? You called Sherlock Holmes to help find Jim?"
"Well, I wouldn't have had to call him at all if the man paid to protect Jim would do his work properly… Oh wait! That was you!"
"Well, I apologize, but they were six, and I was alone, because Jim told me to dismiss all the others so nobody would know you slept here. I'm good, but even I have limits! What are Milverton's demands?"
Sorcha calmed down again, "Finally you're focussing on the important part. He wants his stick back. I am to meet him at midnight in Clapham Junction. He says he'll bring Jim back."
"I see." Sebastian wiped his face; his head hurt, but he remembered the order Jim had given him in the cellar. "You will not do it."
"I'm sorry, I think I just heard you saying I'm not going to do it."
"Exactly. And send those two away."
"Like fuck I will do that."
"Sorcha, I am serious. I got orders from Jim not to negotiate, even at the cost of his life."
Sorcha understood, "That was what he meant when he said 'Ask your brother what I told him in the cellar'… Sebastian, you can't be serious, this is Jim we're talking about. All we have to do is give Milverton back that stick…"
Sebastian shook his head, "Sister, you are too naïve. Now that he has got his hands on Jim, do you seriously think he will let him alive?"
Sorcha's eyes turned to stone, "I don't care. I don't plan like this, Sebastian. The only thing on my mind right now is doing anything to get Jim back, and if we only stand the slightest chance of getting him back by giving Milverton this stick, I will do it. Even without your help."
John had to admit this was almost as fascinating as watching Sherlock and Mycroft fight. As always, he had no idea on whose side he was. Going with Sebastian's plan was tempting, because it would mean the death of James Moriarty. Then again, he was a human being and, let's face it, he would do anything to get Sherlock back if this had been him missing.
Said Sherlock was just coming in, all coat-swishing and restless. "They got in through the back window."
"No shit." Sebastian murmured. "Why are you here anyways? I don't like you being here."
"Your sister called me because your boss has been abducted, and she wants the stick back. Of course, that won't be happening. But for as long as Milverton got Jim, he's got something to blackmail you, and therefore I am willing to help you find your boss."
"I don't trust you, Holmes."
"Well, you wouldn't have to if you had done your job properly. You should be able to stand your ground even against six. After all, you had a gun. But then again, your whole alarm system failed. Especially someone like Jim should have a fool proof alarm system."
"That's what happens when you think that no one could ever get to you…" Sebastian said.
"He should know better by now. Bad news is, I did not find something valuable. Nothing that could point me towards where Jim is being held. John, we're leaving."
"You do realize that Milverton will come for you next? He knows where the stick is." Sebastian suddenly said. "And everybody knows by now what lengths you go to protect your boyfriend."
"I am not…"
But Sherlock stopped in his tracks. "What do you want to imply?"
"That you fucking better give us that stick back, before something happens." Sebastian knew this would probably cost him his own life, as he was deliberately ignoring Jim's orders. But fuck, he wanted his boss back just as much as his sister did. "We can end this tonight. So what if he continues blackmailing other people? Not our division. You and I, Holmes, we both want the same thing."
"Which would be?"
"Keep safe the people we care about."
"The main difference is that if Milverton gets that stick back, Moran, he will still have the video with John and me breaking into his flat."
"Which he will never use unless you step on his toes again."
"How can you be so sure about that?"
"Because he as well as we will be happy when this is over…" Sebastian took a deep breath. "Sherlock, I beg you. Give me the stick. Give us a chance to save Jim." He hated begging. He was a fucking military man after all, someone who had been taught never to beg for anything. And he wouldn't do it for anybody else but James Moriarty. And for him, he would even crouch in the dirt, if that was what it took.
Sherlock didn't react, but John did. With almost the same history as Moran, he knew what it took the man to do this. "Sherlock, let's do it. We can still get our hands on the tapes. Mycroft can help, I'm sure, and even if you don't want to involve him, he will certainly do it." Of course, he would love to see Jim Moriarty dead today rather than tomorrow. But he wasn't a machine, and he understood Sebastian Moran perfectly: he would do the same for Sherlock anytime.
And Sherlock could never say no to John; not anymore, "Okay. If you say so. Maybe it would be the best idea to involve Mycroft right now."
But here, Sorcha and Sebastian raised their heads, and Sebastian said, "If you involve your brother…"
The corners of Sherlock's mouth twitched, "Still haven't gotten over what he did to Jim? Don't worry, I will not involve him. But for the record, again, if all of this is one of Jim's plans to 'make me dance', and I find out he and Milverton are in fact teaming up, I will not hesitate to tell Mycroft where he can find this nice little house. And this time, he will not let any of you go." He put up the collar of his coat and said, "I'll send one of my friends to drop the stick at Clapham Junction tonight. Let me know how this ends. John…" He motioned John to leave.
Outside, John asked, "Are you really going to give them the stick?"
"Yes. But I will not leave them alone there. This is why I didn't tell them to come and fetch the stick at Baker Street. Get your gun ready, John. This will end tonight. And if we are lucky, we can get rid of the three most dangerous men in London in one go."
John stopped in his tracks, "You want to kill all three of them? Moran, Moriarty and Milverton?" Sherlock didn't answer properly, only muttered something under his breath. John wasn't too sure what he said, but he thought he had heard something along the lines of 'keeping you safe'.
Aw, Sherlock is so sweet.
