Hi everyone! This chapter is full of action and drama, so strap yourselves in! To be honest, the ending scene in this chapter is what got me started on writing up this story. I really hope you enjoy it.

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Chapter 14

It was just as he remembered all those years ago when James Moriarty first became known to Sherlock Holmes. The pool area was dark; the low, scattered lights reflecting off the slightly murky water that filled the swimming pool. Abandonment and disrepair showed clearly as Sherlock scanned his eyes about him; left out equipment; cobwebs collecting in doorways and corners; broken light fixtures. The only noise that filled the high ceilinged room was the sound of their echoing footsteps and the gentle lapping of the water.

Sherlock walked to the edge of the pool, John standing beside him. Neither man said a word but cast their eyes about, taking in every detail they could of their surroundings. It wouldn't do to let their guards down now. The sound of a heavy door opening from above had both men looking up to the balcony that ran along the right wall. Sherlock's breath hitched and his heart pounded when his eyes landed on his pathologist, the young woman held tightly in the arms of Jim Moriarty, her hands bound tightly before her.

"You made it!" Moriarty exclaimed joyfully, grinning widely at the two men below him. He turned to Molly beside him and pulled her close, his hand sliding into her hair and tugging it painfully until her throat arched.

"See, love? I told you he would make it. After all, one needs their heart to live, right Sherlock?" The madman's eyes flickered back to Sherlock, the manic grin still spread across his cheeks. Sherlock glanced at Molly who was biting her lip harshly to hold in the pain filled whimper at Moriarty's tight hold on her hair, her dark eyes bright with tears. His hands clenched into fists at his sides as he tore his gaze away from her, knowing that the plan to save her hinged on keeping his focus on Moriarty. It seemed he took too long to answer for the grin on Moriarty's face vanished into a blank expression, his shark like eyes widening as he yanked hard on Molly's hair, tearing out a few of the strands. A small cry escaped her involuntarily.

"Right, Sherlock?!" The criminal mastermind screamed, spittle flying from his mouth, his hand pulling Molly's head back further. Sherlock flinched imperceptibly as another cry escaped her and he felt John shift beside him. Taking a deep breath Sherlock exhaled slowly before meeting Moriarty's mad stare.

"Of course, Jim," Sherlock answered blandly, projecting a calmness he did not feel. "Basic anatomy; in order to function as a living being one would require a heart." Moriarty threw his head back as he laughed, his dark eyes glittering with mirth.

"Of course, he says! Do you believe him, Molly? That Mr. Consulting Detective actually believes he has a heart? And I bet that you don't even realise that you carry it, do you dear?" When Molly didn't answer, her eyes wide and wet as she bit her bottom lip, Moriarty's expression darkened. Lightning quick Moriarty backhanded Molly across the face, her head whipping sharply to the side with the blow. Sherlock growled low in his throat and John moved quickly beside him, withdrawing his gun and aiming it at the consulting criminal. Moriarty pulled Molly up against him once more and flicked a smirk in their direction.

"Ah, ah, ah, Dr. Watson; let's not be too hasty now," as he spoke Moriarty withdrew his own gun and pressed it beneath Molly's chin. "I usually don't like to get my hands dirty but in this case," he nudged the underside of Molly's jaw with the tip of the gun. "Putting little Molly here out of her misery would be a pleasure but maybe after I've given her a go. She always makes the most delightful little noises." He chuckled ruthlessly when he pressed the gun harder into her jaw, a squeak escaping the pathologist. He glanced down at the men below him, his lips stretching at the infuriated expressions on their faces.

Moriarty's smirk widened as he looked pointedly at John's chest and the doctor followed the glance, taking in the bright, glowing red dot that rested upon his chest. His features hard, John slowly lowered his weapon. The glowing dot originated from Sebastian Moran who had just then stepped out from the shadows of the balcony beside Moriarty, his weapon poised and ready.

"It really does help to have a faithful sidekick, doesn't it Sherlock? Seb here's been with me for years, happily doing the leg work and giving you the run-around when we took Dr. Hooper the first time." Sherlock's eyes narrowed when he took in the blood trickling from the corner of Molly's mouth where Moriarty had hit her but this time, though she didn't make a sound, he could see the determination in her gaze when her eyes landed on his. He was reminded of the time when he had asked for her help and Sherlock found, just as he had that night, that Molly was beautiful. Staring into her glowing eyes he was suddenly overcome with the fear that she would attempt something stupid and knowing that his plan was already unravelling at his feet Sherlock took a step closer to the pool.

"Let her go, Jim," Sherlock said firmly, his deep baritone echoing in the large center. "She has nothing to do with this. This is between you and I." His eyes narrowed when Jim chuckled.

"On the contrary, Sherlock, Miss Molly here has everything to do with this. After all, I did say I would burn the heart out of you. And besides," and here Moriarty paused, trailing the tip of the gun along the arch of Molly's soft throat. "I've always wanted a taste after she denied me when you told her I was gay." Molly's strangled gasp was cut off when Moriarty crashed his mouth against hers, plundering her mouth as she struggled against him. Sherlock shouted in rage, his vision turning red, John's firm hand on his arm the only thing holding him back from scaling the wall and climbing onto the balcony, Moran's presence be damned.

With a quiet groan Moriarty lifted his head from Molly's, smacking his lips and then grinning down at the little pathologist. He laughed when he saw the hate that filled her face, her eyes practically burning him they were so filled with disgust and rage.

"I always knew she was a little spitfire. Really, Sherlock, you should have given her a go when you had the chance, but I guess I'll do the gentlemanly thing and gladly do it for you. Well," Moriarty sighed, "this has been rather pointless. I really thought you were better than this – falling in love? Sentiment? It's all well and good to have a plaything but caring for them? I'm truly disappointed. You really should have stayed dead, Sherlock, it would have saved you the effort and I wouldn't have had to come back just to put you out of your misery." He flicked his gaze to Moran who had moved closer. "Kill them."

With those words, and the consulting criminal moving to take Molly away, all hell broke loose. With an angry scream Molly reared her head back and slammed it forcefully into Moriarty's, the man's head flinging back with the blow and the sound of crunching bone could be heard. Sherlock's eyes widened in shock at her actions, his heart thundering in his chest when Moriarty turned to face her, blood dripping from his nose.

"You bitch!" He snarled, backhanding her with the butt of his gun. Molly turned with the blow before whipping around and spitting in his face, her eyes burning with hatred. "Killing you would be so much more satisfying than screwing you." He threatened and made to follow through with the threat by bringing the gun up and pointing it in her face. With a cry she lunged at him, lifting her bound hands to grasp the gun and push it away from her. The shout of her name from the men below went unheeded.

John and Sherlock watched in shock and horror as Moran turned to break up the struggle but as soon as he move a muffled thump sounded and the man dropped to the floor. Knowing that at least Mary's part in the plan had been carried out John lifted his arms and aimed his gun at the struggling pair on the balcony, his finger tightening over the trigger. While Mary could take the shot just as well as he could the struggling pair made it difficult to keep Moriarty as the target.

"Shoot him, John!" Sherlock demanded, his eyes locked on the struggling pair. They fell against the railing of the balcony, the rail shuddering under their combined weight.

"Don't rush me, Sherlock! I could hit Molly!" John grunted through clenched teeth.

The gun Molly and Moriarty struggled over was now between them, Molly pushing desperately against Moriarty's heavier form though the strain on her bruised body was taking its toll. Her eyes widened when Moriarty gave her a heavy shove, his finger tightening on the trigger as her back hit the railing once again. The bang of the gun firing was loud next to her ear, and pain flared in her shoulder where the bullet entered just as the railing beneath her gave way. It felt like she was floating for a moment and, as another bang filled the air, she watched as Moriarty's head snapped back, a bullet lodged between his eyes before he crumpled.

It was as if she fell in slow motion; the fall seemed to take forever. Her head turned and her eyes made contact with Sherlock's, his expression more openly vulnerable and fearful than she had ever seen it, even on the night he had told her he was going to die.

Time rushed forward, her eyes slipping shut as her back hit the water. The weight of the water was heavy and sucked her under; the last thing she heard over the rush of liquid was Sherlock's desperate scream.

"MOLLY!"

Whew! That was exciting! Please let me know what you think and I would love to know your thoughts on what's going to happen next. :)