I'm sorry for forcing you guys (those of you who are reading this story, so precious few it seems) to wait so long.

I kinda lost steam for it. Not enough fuel to spur me on, to make me feel like the story's worth writing, worth finishing.

Thanks to those who have taken time to review. Thank you guys so much for that!

I'll try not to give up on this story. I know how it feels to love a story only for it to be abandoned. I don't want to do that to you guys.

Ink…

Chapter 9

The demigods scattered. Jim followed John. They all hid in the basement below the cellar, taking their drinks with them.

"Sir, the coffee pot is still hot."

"It seems that they just left. They have to be somewhere close by. Search the grounds. We're searching for Watson, Lestrade, and Donovan." That was Mycroft's voice.

Jim breathed out slightly. "That sight ability of yours is handy, luv."

John sighed. "Jim, now is not the time."

Jim snickered. John could feel him slap his bum. "No time like the present. Why didn't you tell me?" There was an obvious pout in his voice.

"Because you would have used me to your advantage, again. You would have forced me to tell you every bloody thing that could and probably would happen."

Jim flicked John's ear. "You're damn right. I want to keep you, Jonny Boy." His voice was slightly whiny.

John hissed. "Shut up. I need to think!"

He closed his eyes. His voice carried over to the other demigod adults hiding in the basement. "Go to the wall, backs against the brick. Now."

Jim, and everyone else, did as he commanded. John followed.

Mycroft walked into the room. His grey eyes swept the room and passed right over them. He left the basement. "Nothing up here. I suppose they fled into the woods. Move out! Leave everything exactly as it used to be."

The door closed.

"Wait." John's voice was hoarse. No one moved. No one breathed. "Clear."

Jim Moriarty sighed in relief. "You're very handy to have around, Jonny."

Sally nodded. Molly looked scared. "Come on, there's another way out of here. It leads into the garage."

They nodded and followed her.

John looked around amazed. "Who built this for you, by the way?"

Molly grinned. "Mike Stamford, son of Hephaestus and legacy of Hermes. His mother was too pour to have him travel to America, so he went to Camp Olympus, my camp. We actually grew up together. He was the one that got me the job at Bart's."

John smirked. "Good old Mike. Why didn't he come?"

Greg shrugged. "He's not as tightly linked to us. He can slip under the radar."

The demigods slipped back to London. Moriarty dropped Donovan and Lestrade off at their car. "Listen, Mycroft is after John, you, and Donovan. I'll check and see what he knows and if the rest of the government knows. If they do, then we can't deal with this ourselves, and we'll have to call in Chiron and Mr. D. Okay?"

They all nodded. Greg and Sally left quickly. Molly and John sat in Jim's car, quietly thinking about what was happening. John was actually meditating.

"Take a left!" He barked abruptly. Jim obeyed. He followed John's orders to the letter. John relaxed. "Mycroft was putting up road blocks. We can't be seen together anymore. Molly go back to Bart's. Stay there until eleven. Go immediately home and sleep. Don't go out anywhere."

She nodded. Panic was clear in her eyes.

John turned to Jim. "You lay low. Wait until the shooting and then show the world you live. Make a nation wide broadcast exactly fourteen hours after the shooting."

Jim frowned. "What shooting?"

John grinned. "You'll see. Oh, it will be glorious." His eyes glinted dangerously. He rarely got these moods, but he enjoyed them when he did get them.

Jim looked at John confused. "You know, I don't really like it when someone else holds the cards and knowledge."

John smirked. "When have I ever let you down?"

Jim shook his head. "Never."

"Point made."

Jim sighed. "You're stop. Good luck on the engagement, lover boy." He smirked and drove away. John sighed.

I'm getting too friendly with Jim. Someday that will come back and bite us all. He shook his head again and entered his new flat that he shared with Murderess Mary. He sighed. How in the world was he going to act properly when that came out? I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.

He shook his head again and got himself some tea. There was a letter for him. Mycroft.

I know you are hiding something. Rest assured, I will find out.

John sighed. He texted Moriarty.

Mycroft getting bolder. Too close. ?! JW

Keep an eye on Time for me. Alert if red hot. JM

Got it. JW

John sighed again and sat back in his chair as he watched the letter from Mycroft burn.

He was getting some disturbing visions. Images…John shook his head. 89% chance that Sherlock would die… It was cutting it too close. But that couldn't be helped. There had to be sacrifices if everything were to come out just right… John shivered. His wife was actually going to shoot Sherlock, and John would have to let it happen. He got up and got ready for his dinner with Mary.

After Sherlock gets punched multiple times…hehehe

John growled. So, he and Mary don't like my beard?! I hadn't seen that one coming…must have sifted right over it. John cussed. At least part of his anger had been genuine.

One does not simply insult a man's facial hair.

Mary snickered slightly. He turned around and raised an eyebrow. She's going to ask about Sherlock and me.

"So, should I feel that my relationship with you is being threatened by Sherlock?"

John smirked. "I am not gay." He rolled his eyes. Sometimes mortals could be so awfully dull.

She giggled slightly and nestled further into her blankets. "You're going to go back and join him on his cases again, yes?"

John shook his head. "Not helping that bastard in anything." Can't go to him yet, that would cause Magnussen to act sooner and this time it would be Mrs. Hudson in the fire, and she would die. He shivered.

Appledore six months later…

It was all John could do not to laugh aloud. He asked those questions, knowing it would tick Sherlock off. He asked those questions to bring attention to himself, knowing that Magnussen would flick his face.

It was all he could do not to laugh at the dying man. You just got manipulated, you bastard. He saw Magnussen's eyes widened at the smirk on John's face. The man finally knew what it was like to be a pawn.

Mycroft did everything he could to bring the man back. John even offered to help, knowing that offering to help would seal the man's death.

Molly flashed into his mind as he saw Thanatos entered the hospital room. John stood up. "Just a moment, my lord. May I…?"

Thanatos smirked. "Very well, but make it quick. Lord Hades has a special something planned for this mortal."

John chuckled slightly. He moved over to Charles Augustus Magnussen. He bent low over him. "All your life, you thought that you were the one moving the chess pieces on the board. Well, you're not. You have now met the one who is." John moved back. "Go on and die. You won't be missed."

The man's eyes widened even more. "Who are you?"

John chuckled. "The Chess Player." He walked out of the hospital room. He had to pick up Mary and drive her to the airstrip. Molly had already said her farewells to Sherlock. He check his watch. It was exactly twelve hours since the shooting.

Mary was subdued and ready to go. They arrived at the same time Mycroft and Sherlock did. John took a deep breath. It had to be perfect timing.