John felt like everything was happening so fast, like a dream. Just last night he had told Mary about Sherlock. Since that conversation they shared more than kisses and now John was thinking about a serious future with Mary. He told Harry about it later that morning, leaving out details from the bedroom, obviously. Harry was thrilled, she pulled John into another one of her infamous bone-crushing hugs, she was happy that John had taken a big step in his relationship with Mary. Harry could see the difference that Mary had made in his life, she could tell that John was happy, and telling Mary about his recent loss would help him in the grieving process. Harry's tea-making skills were improving, so she made him a cup and called Clara.
There seemed to be romance everywhere. John was in a serious relationship with Mary, and Harry was starting to see her ex, Clara, again. Now that Harry was making a serious effort to end her alcohol addiction, she seemed willing to try at love again. Both Watsons had seemed hopeless with love and romance in the past, but things seemed to be getting better.
The snow had melted and now it was April. Life with Mary seemed perfect, John had almost forgotten that he wanted to talk to Mycroft, about the assassins. He no longer saw danger everywhere, he no longer had the nightmares about guns, falling, blood, Sherlock. He even thought that he could move back to Baker Street soon, get out of Harry's way so that she could have privacy again. She'd like that, and maybe Mary would like Baker Street…
"John!" Harry called from the kitchen one evening a week later, "I'm going out with Clara, don't know when I'll be back!" John leaned against the threshold of the kitchen door with his hands in his pockets, "Okay, I won't be doing much tonight. Might go to Mary's."
Harry turned towards her brother and gave him a little spin in her evening dress. The skirt flared out when she moved and sparkled in the light. "Very nice," John said admiringly with a smirk. "Thanks, it's Clara's favourite." Harry blushed a little and smoothed her hands down her dress.
She stepped toward the threshold and kissed John on the cheek, "Be good, and don't go nosing around for anymore expensive wine, okay? I still don't forgive you about the last bottle you chugged," she laughed as she moved past him, John followed her to the front door. "Sorry about that, I don't know what came over me… I won't be doing it again though." Harry laughed again and slid her shoes on, "I hope not. Anyways, lock up behind me and don't wait up."
John nodded in agreement and waved her off as she drove down the dark street. As he locked the door, he pulled his cell phone out of his pocket. It didn't take long for him to find Mycroft's private number in his contacts list.
Now that John had sorted things with Mary, he would have to ask Mycroft about the assassins from the files. He wouldn't settle down with Mary until he knew that they would be completely safe. It only took a couple rings before John heard Mycroft sigh and greet John.
"Hello, John. To what do I owe the pleasure of your call? I hope you are well?"
Mycroft sounded a little disinterested and preoccupied, but John was determined to get information from that prestigious bastard.
"I'm fine, Mycroft," he wanted to get to the point, "I was actually calling about some information you gave me last spring. About the assassins on Baker Street?" He waited to see if Mycroft would respond, but he only heard dead silence on the other side of the line, there was a faint breathing sound but nothing else. "Mycroft?" John called into the receiver, he was starting to feel a little nervous by Mycroft's reaction. Mycroft usually didn't do this, there had always been instant replies so that he could end the phone conversations and get back to whatever he was doing before.
John was about to try speaking again, but Mycroft finally spoke, "Yes… What about them?" Mycroft didn't say anymore, his returning question was quick and sharp. "Uh… I've been feeling really uneasy lately… As if someone's watching me. It's probably nothing, but I wasn't sure if you knew about the remaining assassins. Is there a possibility that they are after me now? And what about Moriarty?" John ran his hand through his hair and sat on the sofa. He was starting to feel really nervous about Mycroft's long silences.
Mycroft always had an answer.
To everything.
Why not now?
There was a shuffling of papers on Mycroft's side of the line, he seemed shaken and unsure of how to respond. Did that mean that the assassins were after John?
John started to get frustrated, "Listen, Mycroft, you told me that I can trust you, that I'm going to be safe. You told me that you had everything sorted, so why aren't you telling me anything? What are you hiding? I'm not just worried about my own safety here, what about Mrs. Hudson, and my sister, Harry?" John paused, "I'm with a woman now… Mary Morstan… I want to be with her, I want to move back to Baker Street with her, and I want to propose to her, but I can't endanger her or any of the people around me, I won't.
"So tell me now, tell me what I need to know, Mycroft. Or so help me I will seek everything out myself. I'll leave my safe little bubble and endanger my own safety to protect the others. I'm not going to take anymore of your guessing games, your tricks, I'm not going to sit on my ass and wait for trouble to find the people I love. It's happened before…"
Sherlock.
"Please, tell me if I'm in danger, now. If so, tell me what to do. Just… talk to me, Mycroft!" John was standing again, his left hand clutched at the phone, his right hand was in a tight fist. John didn't care if danger was after him as much as he cared about the other people he'd be endangering. He couldn't risk Mary, Mrs. Hudson, Harry.
"John…" Mycroft spoke calmly, "I'd hold off the proposal if I were you. I cannot say that you are in danger, or that the others are in danger. I can tell you with ease that you are safe in your current destination, but don't make any commitments that you might have to break." Now it was John's turn to be silent.
Of course John felt a little better knowing that he was safe… but was he really? Was Mycroft covering something up? He tended to do that, keep people in the dark. He especially loved keeping John in the dark. John had so much more to say, so many more questions to ask Mycroft. But before he could say another word, he hung up.
Maybe he shouldn't have moved so fast with Mary. This wasn't good. If Mycroft wanted John to break up with her, there had to be something wrong. Something was threatening to put Mary in danger, and John didn't want that.
John had known that Sherlock was in trouble.
John had tried to save Sherlock, but it was too late.
He lost Sherlock.
Now there was the possibility that he could lose Mary.
John still didn't know about the assassins.
But he had a feeling that there was danger close by.
Without a second thought, he walked to his room and looked at his suitcase. It was so empty, vacant. He'd have to fill it up again, he'd have to go back to Baker Street. There was no time to play games now, John had to look for as much information as he could. He needed to find that file about the assassins back at the flat. He needed to find a way to stop anyone from taking away the people he loved.
After throwing his small collection of belongings into the suitcase, he pulled it to the door, leaving it beside the coat rack. John left Harry's house, locking the door behind him and walking into the cool early-spring weather. It was late, the puddles from recent rain left wet stains on the bottoms of his jeans. John got to Mary's door and she let him in.
John told her about his suspicions, how they could be in trouble. Mary listened to him, tight lipped and nervous. John didn't want her to come with him anymore, he could be getting her into more danger. Mary should stay here. But before he could stop her, she was packing her own suitcase, determined to go to Baker Street with him.
"John, I'm not going to let you walk into danger like this. I want to help you, we can find everything we need together. I understand the dangers in our way, I know the risks. I'm not going to let you face them alone, we're a couple, a partnership. I'm staying with you!" John stood by her bedroom door, speechless. He watched her pick out what she needed, she was quick and efficient.
John tried to convince himself that having Mary with him would be better, he could keep her safe, with him. Mycroft had said that John was safe, that everything was fine. But why had he seemed so unsure? John wasn't stupid. They'd stay at Baker Street for now, John was ready to go back. Mary would help the transition become easier.
They would take their time, there was no rush. John would look for all the information he could get his hands on, Mary would help him. Mycroft had cameras everywhere, he'd know that John was back at the flat before Mrs. Hudson would. This could work out.
It could.
It would.
It had to.
"Let's go," Mary smiled at John, some of the nervousness was gone from her eyes. He took her suitcase and they went back to Harry's house, next door. John wrote a quick note to Harry, leaving it on the kitchen counter.
I'm going back to Baker Street, Mary's with me. Thank you for helping me out. If you need me, just call. I'll answer my phone. There's a check under this note. Keep the money, consider it pay back for the expensive bottle of wine I drank awhile ago.
Love, John.
"Okay, my suitcase is at the door, did you call a cab?" John turned to Mary, she was looking at her phone. "Yes, I also called my mum and let her know. She's going to watch my house for me." John had forgotten that Mary would be leaving her house behind, empty. He felt a little guilty for having her come along in a rush like this, but then remembered that this was what Mary wanted.
They'd have a new life together.
He'd keep her safe.
He wasn't going to let Mary fall through his fingers.
Not like Sher-
"The cab's here, John. Come on." She stood by the door with her suitcase. John followed her, locking the door behind them and packing their suitcases in the boot of the cab. John opened the door for Mary, letting her in first. John sat beside her, he held her hand.
"Take us to 221B Baker Street."
