Here you go guys... the last chapter for a week. I'll update Saturday afternoon/ Sunday morning depending on plans and what not. I'm hoping to find time to write a few more chapters through the week... I've sort have come to a mini conclusion at the moment; but it ain't over yet.

I think I'm looking at 35- 40 chapters in the end. :D

Enjoy and have a wonderful week...

Chapter Fourteen: The Piano Knows Something I Don't Know

'What do you want for tea?' John was being annoyingly clingy since my return from my disastrous trip to the tea shop and my unsuccessful attempt at reconciling with Sam.

'Peace and quiet,' I answered from my position, laid out on the couch; eyes closed to the world. 'But as that seems impossible a bottle of merlot will have to make do.'

'Why don't you go back, talk to her?' I inwardly groaned; he was a broken record. I'd suggested that he put his thoughts into fixing his own relationship when he'd piped up last night and he went to bed early. I somehow imagined that it would lose its impact if I used it again tonight.

'Because I'm not ready to talk to her about Moriarty and she-'

'I know what she said.' John interrupted. 'But can't you just tell her that you will, but just not yet. Girls like that-'

'Since when has Sam been a cardboard cut out? No, she said if I respected her I was to stay away.'

'Why, now of all times, do you learn the meaning of respect?' John moaned, I heard him plonk the bottle of wine and a glass on the table.

'Maybe, she's the first person who's been worthy of my respect.' I snapped. It wasn't true, I respected John an awful lot, but he was annoying me so I said it for effect. He just ignored it and continued talking; he'd sat down in his seat.

'I don't get it.' You often don't, I thought to myself. 'She told you. She wants you to know; she just can't remember that she told you. Surely it'd be better to do it now before Moriarty forces you both to confront it. He's got eyes everywhere; he'll make it out to be a betrayal on your part.'

'I know! I just-' I hissed. I didn't want him to know. I didn't want to admit it. I didn't want him to think less of me.

'You're embarrassed you didn't figure it out for yourself?' John laughed and I looked him in the eyes and nodded. 'I somehow think you're the only one that's going to care about-' He stopped mid sentence to retrieve his ringing phone from the table. His face flushed and froze as he saw the name on the screen. I saw him contemplate moving into another room but decided it was better to stay where he was. 'Hello aunty.' It came out strangled and force. He was lying, which could only mean it was Sam. '-wait, wait, wait. Slow down.'

He was on his feet now. I followed suit and tried t place my ear next to his but he slapped me away and moved to the other side of the room.

'What, when?' He was silent on his end. I could hear a voice but couldn't make out words. '-I'll come straight over, where are you?' He began collecting his things together. I felt ill when he checked the condition of his gun before concealing it. 'Yes, he's here.' He threw me an angry look. '- No I won't bring him. Stay where you are.'

Before I'd even had chance to compose my thoughts his fist connected with my jaw and I landed on the floor in a crumpled heap.

'Moriarty?' I questioned from the floor. John was rubbing his knuckles.

'Moriarty.' John replied, storming out. He'd got halfway down the stairs before returning. He couldn't say what he wanted to. Instead he threw up his hands in fury, turned on his heels and left without another word.

I pulled myself up and headed straight for the bathroom in search of my nicotine patches. I mused that even if I covered every inch of my skin I would still not get the relief I needed. I opened the cabinet and pulled out the box; empty. I sighed in frustration.

What did I know? She was alive; it was her on the phone. She was out of the company of Moriarty; John was off to collect her. She was scared and full of adrenalin; John had to tell her to slow down because she was talking too fast. She could still be in danger; John had prepped his gun and he'd forgotten to take his cane.

That final thought brought me to the conclusion that I needed more than nicotine. I carefully lifted the cabinet off the wall; setting it down on the tiled floor. I eased one of the bricks out of its position in the wall and retrieved my tin. I put everything back in order and took myself back to my sofa.

I loaded the syringe and prepared my arm and medicated myself. Morphine raced through my blood as I removed the strap that had pumped up my vein. I would have to abuse Molly's affections for me soon as my supply was running low.

The pain I felt was unlike anything I'd ever experienced and I was unsure if it would even work. I was hoping that the fear that had crept into my soul would soon be replaced with euphoria; or at the very least unconsciousness.

If it didn't have the desired affect I would be in my own personal hell until John returned with either Sam in tow or news that she was safe. I entertained the highly unlikely thought that he might bring her right back here and give me an opportunity to comfort her to ease my guilt. Guilt was such a crippling emotion, I thought as I curled into the foetal position on the sofa.

Moriarty is in the country. How had that not been acknowledged by my brain before now? I felt the drug take effect as my heart rate quickened. I found my phone and text both Mycroft and Lestrade the same message:

Moriarty has been seen in London. SH

A moment later my phone rang.

'I know because he's gotten to Sam.' I answered his question before he'd asked it.

'Now that's unfortunate.' My brother actually sounded sincere. I reasoned with myself that it could have been the morphine altering the tone of his voice. 'Is she safe? Is she relatively unharmed?'

'I don't know brother.' I whispered into the phone; all inhibitions gone. 'She doesn't want to see me. She called for John after it happened.'

'So you worked it out?' He asked me. Of course he would have known he always was more insightful than me; He just chose a different path.

'She told me.' I admitted shamefully.

'You were always too close to see it.' He reassured me. 'I tried to get you both to walk away before you found out. You can't abandon her now. He has orchestrated for her entire life and I can't imagine he's too happy that you've brought her back into play.'

'But why? Why was her family targeted?' I was thinking out loud more than anything.

'That, I can't tell you. I can only guess. Very little is known about James when he was starting out. Perhaps he was affected by some of the policies put in place by her father. Whatever it was; he wanted her cut off from society; Isolated.' I took in his words of wisdom. If Mycroft didn't know why; the motivation would die with Moriarty. 'Sleep off the morphine Sherlock; she's going to need you in the morning.'

'Will you help? Will you find out what-'

'-you don't even have to ask.' Mycroft cut me off. 'Sleep well little brother.'

The line went dead.