Part Twenty:
"Good, what a lovely way to go," Moriarty laughs. Kathryn slowly walks to the side of the roof where the rope sits. Moriarty still has his gun on John and Sherlock is standing still opposite them.
"Kathryn are you really going to do this?" John asks as she picks up the rope. She doesn't say anything in response. Her eyes are still full of fear as she begins tying the rope in a complicated knot. With shaky hands the rope drops from her hands.
"Kathryn," Sherlock comforts walking toward her. He picks up the rope off the ground and beings tying it for himself. Quickly, Kathryn pulls the rope from his hands and begins untying and retying the knot. Sherlock looks at her slightly confused as she unties it. If the knot was tied wrong it would change the out come of the night's events, and Kathryn knew it.
"I will not have you making your own death trap," she mutters. She finishes tying it and allows Moriarty's eyes to wander over it. After his nod of approval she travels over to the fire escape that brought them to the roof only moments ago. She tightly ties the rope to the fire escape being sure it won't come undone.
Up above Sherlock begins a slow march to his death. Moriarty's pale lips slide into a crooked, evil smile. Kathryn lets a single tear fall as Sherlock reaches the top of the fire escape.
"No!" John screams from the roof," I won't let you do this!" he fights Moriarty trying to get out of his grasp. Instead of shooting him, the way he threatened, he turns the gun over and knocks him out with a strong blow to the head. As John's body drops to the floor Moriarty makes his way to the fire escape.
"Don't rush," he says with a smile, "I wouldn't want to miss anything."
"Kathryn," Sherlock whispers, "I want you to know, I… I've come to realize how proud I am of you. I never knew another human who could ever compare to my knowledge, but you continue to amaze me. I want you to know that I look at you like a daughter, and I have for a long time."
"Sherlock, stop," Kathryn insists.
"No. Let me speak, because I may never get the chance to again," Sherlock says, not wanting to forget to tell her anything. "I thought the day I met you that you could be something special. Now I know for sure that you are. I want you to take on the role of Consulting Detective. It would only feel right."
"How sweet," Moriarty interrupts now standing on the same level as the other two, "let's get on with it."
Sherlock turns to hug Kathryn one last time. A single tear falls from his eye now. Kathryn slips the rope over his head, her hands lingering over his neck as she mouths the words, "I'm sorry," to him. Her hands slip down and rest on his chest as she looks at him. Neither of them wants to break the stare, but they know that they have to. His eyes glisten a little as he steps over the railing. Looking back at Kathryn the moon hits his face, causing his cheekbones to become even more defined.
"Go on Holmes. You know you have to do it do keep them safe," Moriarty taunts.
"Give me your word you will not harm them," he says with a strong tone of voice. The way he carries himself makes it seem as if he's not afraid to die at all.
"You have my word," Moriarty nods.
Sherlock looks back in the direction of the moon.
"I'm so sorry," Kathryn apologizes.
"Don't be. Tell John that I'm sorry. Tell him not to give up. I don't want him fading into black again. Take care of him," Sherlock stutters now making it plain how scared he is. He takes a deep breath as one foot begins to slide off the railing. This time will be different. He won't feel the impact of the ground. This time, he'll feel the tug of the rope at his throat. Sherlock doesn't have a plan this time to escape death. Last time he was sure of himself. It wasn't by chance that he lived. He planned it. He knew he would live. Now he knew he wouldn't. Now he knew his last step was truly coming. Now he knew he was leaving his friends for good.
With one last breath he takes his final step. Kathryn shuts her eyes in fear immediately as his body hangs limp from the rope.
"Good," Moriarty says looking over the edge of the railing at Sherlock's dangling body, "Now you."