Hi everyone! Sorry for the long wait, I've been really busy lately plus I got a bit of writers block because now the big Mycroft chunk is done I don't know where to start on the other characters' stories. However, I've decided to start with some Moriarty, Irene will just have to wait ;)

Here's a long chapter, I hope it will make up for my tardiness. Enjoy!

It had been about a month now that John and Mycroft had been dating, and so far things were great. John had never felt happier in his life and the feeling of being in love and being truly loved back was beyond all expectations for him. His only regret was that Mycroft had insisted on them not being official so that meant no holding hands in public, no eating together just the two of them at the cafeteria, no public displays of affection whatsoever. Still, going out with the elder Holmes brother had it's perks. They would see each other every few days after school for some steamy make-out sessions in empty rooms after class, and Mycroft could even help him with his homework when he didn't understand something.

Right now John, Sherlock and Mycroft were in the Detective's Club's room and Sherlock was pacing, bored out of his mind, because so far the only "cases" they had had were misplaced personal objects. Mycroft was browsing the newspaper and broke the silence by commenting "Oh, right. There's Bryan Steven's case coming up soon. You won't forget to go to the hearing will you?"

"Bryan Steven?" asked John. "Wasn't that the psycho junkie's name? The one that injured me?"

"Yes," responded Sherlock, "He's in court of course, and you, me or Mycroft have to be there as witness. Mycroft didn't want to trouble you and didn't want his name attached to the case, so the job befell on me."

John hadn't known about that. He hadn't even heard there was a case.

"Who's prosecuting?"

"The school. A scandal like that was bad for their image so they are suing Bryan for use of illegal substance on their grounds as well as destruction of their property. He's being made an example of. Personally, I would like to make sure that Jim Moriarty's intervention is put into account, since he's the real cause of this."

"What do you mean? What's Jim got to do with this?"

"Everything. He was Bryan's drug supplier. He suggested the little fiasco at the Halloween ball and he gave Bryan the knife that injured you, even though I'm sure he had hoped Bryan would use it on me."

John was flabbergasted. Jim? He's wasn't the nicest or most transparent person he knew, and even though he did act a little weird sometimes, surely that didn't make the young man a criminal mastermind…

"Do you have any proof of that?"

"Nothing that could be used in court, but I am sure of what I say. I am always sure." Sherlock sat down and crossed his legs dramatically. He joined his hands together, staring at the air in front of him. "Now, what I would need is a confession from Bryan. If Bryan says the truth then we will have a eligible reason to throw Moriarty into this."

"And if that is the truth, how do you plan in getting him to do that?"

"By having a little chat with him of course. In fact, I might pop over and talk to him tonight."

He suddenly stood up and marched to the door.

"Where are you going?"

"To Bryan's house. It's five thirty, by the time I'll get there it will be six o'clock. It seems like a good a time as any to visit. Mycroft please just say I got busy on some project if I come home late."

"Sherlock, you know I don't like lying to mummy…"

"It's not a lie, just don't say it's a school project. Although, it is school-related…" and with that he was gone.

Mycroft sighed. "One day that boy will cause me to become prematurely grey…"

"Oh cheer up. At least he's finally left us alone…" said John, advancing slowly towards Mycroft in what he hoped was a seductive manner. "And I think that you would look very handsome with grey hair." He planted a kiss on his boyfriend's lips.

Mycroft smirked as he embraced John. "Oh really? I'm not so sure about that. I would look like a grumpy old man and you would leave me in a heartbeat." He took John's hand and kissed it.

John chuckled. "I would never leave you. And face it Mycroft, on the inside you're already a grumpy old man…"

Mycroft slapped John lightly on the thigh. "Careful John," he purred, "I've destroyed lives for weaker insults than that."

John laughed it off and proceeded in making out with his boyfriend. He wasn't sure if Mycroft was serious about the 'destroying lives' but he somehow felt he didn't want to know…

Meanwhile, Sherlock had determinately made his way to the Steven household. It was a nice house, in a nice neighbourhood. The kind of place where a drug scandal is not very well tolerated.

Sherlock ringed the bell, and stood patiently at the door as the electrical chime could be heard. About a minute later, a worried-looking blond woman opened the door.

"Yes?"

Sherlock pulled on his brightest fake smile. "Hello! You must be Bryan's mum. I'm a friend of his. I've been a bit worried and nervous on his behalf about the hearing on Friday so I decided I would come and cheer him up a bit."

Bryan's mother stared at him suspiciously. "You're not one of his crackpot friends who encouraged him into getting into this kind of trouble in the first place?"

Sherlock's face was the very picture of sincere solemnity. "Oh no ma'am, never. I was really concerned by Bryan's downward spiral. I told him that taking these drugs wasn't safe. In view of the recent events, I just wish I had done something more drastic to get him to stop…."

The woman's expression softened. "Oh honey, don't we all. But where are my manners? Come in, come in."

Sherlock was positively gloating about the success of his ploy as he entered the Steven household.

"Follow me, he's in his room. He never comes out of it now…" She lead him up the stairs. "So far, only Jim had been a dear, and took the time to come visit him.

"Jim? You mean Jim Moriarty?"

"Well yes, you're Bryan's friend, you probably know he is Jim's closest friend."

"Yes I do, but I didn't know that he had come here so often since the accident. How nice of him…"

Bryan's mum nodded then stopped in front of Bryan's room.

"Bryan?" She knocked on the door. "Bryan, are you decent?"

"Yes, ma'. Wait a sec'"

They heard the sound of an unbolting lock then Bryan opened the door. He looked terrible. He was wearing a crumpled pair of pyjamas that looked like they hadn't been washed in weeks. His hair was a mess and a short wiry beard had been left to grow freely. When he saw Sherlock, Bryan's eyes widened in surprise.

"You!" he growled.

"Well Bryan aren't you going to say hi to your friend? He made the effort to come here and see you especially. That's saying much in comparison of all your other 'friends'."

As Bryan just glared at him, John said "Don't worry Mrs. Steven, Bryan and I have left off on bad terms since the last time we saw each other. But I think we can make things right again. Would you mind leaving us? We have much to say…"

"Of course honey, take as long as you boys need. I'll be downstairs if you need me." And she left them alone.

Bryan was still blocking the doorway, looking like he was ready to explode.

"May I come in?" asked Sherlock coolly. "A bit of privacy might be best for what we have to say."

Bryan nodded tensely then moved back inside the room. Sherlock entered and closed the door behind him. Bryan sat on his bed, staring him down like he was a dangerous animal. Sherlock calmly made his way to the chair in front of Bryan's desk and sat down. He rested his hands on his knees and silently evaluated the boy.

"So," he finally said, "Firstly, isn't there anything you would like to say to me?"

Bryan barked with laughter. "You've come all this way for an apology? Bit silly isn't it?"

"I don't think it's silly at all. You did attack me for no good reason. In fact, while we're at it, the one whom you owe an apology to the most is John. Contrarily to me he got hurt that night."

Bryan leered at him angrily. "I got hurt too, if you will recall. Your brother was not tender to me."

"Yes, but he was defending a friend from a violent drunk addict, you on the other hand acted rashly and without control. I know you are still angry that I outed your drug usage to the school, but I think you'll agree now you're clean that I hardly merit what you had in store for me that night…"

Bryan looked away shamefully but kept silent.

"I'm waiting."

Bryan sighed. "I'm sorry ok? I'm sorry I chased you and your friend with a knife, and I'm sorry I injured him. I was drunk, I was on way too much stuff at the same time, I was angry and I acted like a dick ok?"

Sherlock nodded. "Apology accepted. Now, I want to talk about your hearing this week. I will be there as witness. But if I am honest, while I think you deserve a harsh punishment I think you should get less than what is probably waiting for you. Because I know that you share the blame with Jim…"

Bryan stayed silent so Sherlock went on. "He's the one who gave you the pills and the knife, am I right? He also suggested that you destroy the power unit so as to ruin the party. And he heavily hinted that if I appeared, all it would take to get rid of your misery would be to stab me. So far so good?"

Bryan nodded.

"Of course. I'm always right," Sherlock commented to himself, "Anyways, what I want you to do on Friday is denounce Jim. I want you to tell the truth about why you did what you did. I can back you up. You can lessen your verdict that way."

"No!" shouted a horrified Bryan. "I can't do that to Jim! He's my best friend, the only one that has ever stood by me."

"Let me guess, he was also the one who gave you your first dose of illegal substances?"

"Well yeah, but that's because I was in a dark place man. Things were already bad back then. I was depressed after my four year girlfriend dumped me for some jerk. Jim said the stuff would help. And he warned me to be careful with it, not to take too much of it or to take some too often."

"Oh you idiot. There is no 'safe' way of taking hard drugs. Sooner or later it won't seem enough, your doses will increase and happen more often in time, and before you know it you're hooked. Jim knew that. He didn't have your well-being in mind."

"That's a lie," Bryan shouted. "You don't know him."

'Better than you do' Sherlock wanted to say but he knew it was pointless.

"Listen Bryan, whatever you say, Jim did encourage you into doing the acts that caused you to land in court. If Jim's such a good friend he will take the blow to help you avoid prison. He has to face his responsibilities. Just think about it. If you get the blame for having premeditatedly destroyed school property and attacked a pair of students you will get in big trouble; but if Jim speaks up for having encouraged you, you will both have reduced penalties. Jim gets to face his wrongdoings and you both get a lesser but fair punishment. Trust me, it's for the best."

Bryan contemplated Sherlock's words. "Well… Maybe… I mean, I see your point… But how can I ask Jim to do something like that?"

"Just ask. Think about your great friend Jim. What do you think he'll say to that?"

Bryan broke into a smile. "I think he'd agree with you. He's willing to protect me. I know he is."

"Good. If Jim wants to he can confirm it for you at the hearing. If he's against it and gets mad, then he's a bad friend and is acting incredibly selfishly. In any case, you should testify about his actions on Friday."

Bryan nodded. "I think you're right. Thanks Sherlock, this is really helpful actually. This would make things less worse."

"No problem," said Sherlock. He got up. "Now if you'll excuse me it's time I went home."

"Sure," Bryan said. "I'll see you on Friday!"

As Sherlock made his way down to the main entrance he saw Bryan's mother again.

"So sweetie, how did it go?"

"Very well. I think Bryan and I are completely reconciled now."

The next day, Sherlock told John about his visit to Bryan's house over lunch, at the school cafeteria.

"But you're not afraid that all Jim has to do is convince him otherwise? From what you've been telling me, he did seem pretty brainwashed about him."

"He is, but right now he is clean and facing jail. I think the shear fear of what lies ahead should sober him up. When Jim refuses to tell the truth for him at tomorrow's hearing he will be very upset that his amazing best friend is willing to let him go to prison. He'll get angry and testify against Jim anyway."

"But what proof has he got if Jim denies that?"

"The phone call he had with Jim that night when he called him drunkenly after his expulsion. Maybe the knife. It might still have Jim's fingerprints on it or one of Jim's parents might recognize it. It was originally Jim's after all. If we were so lucky as to get Jim's house searched some interesting things might be found. I know it's not exactly solid but it's a small something. And Bryan's mother knows how much time they have spent together, she could also talk about how Bryan was willing to go through hell and fire for his great 'buddy'."

John frowned. "I don't know Sherlock. I'm not sure it will work. Maybe it will if Bryan testifies against Jim but I'm not sure he will." He paused. "Speak of the devil…"

Sherlock turned around to face a very angry looking Jim Moriarty making his way towards him.

"Hello boys," he said with a fake smile in his sing-song voice, "Mind if I join you?"

"Of course not," Sherlock replied coldly. "Please, sit down."

Jim sat very closely next to Sherlock. He lost no time at all, immediately bending over to whisper angrily at Sherlock.

"Could you please tell me what you are playing at?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." Sherlock stared back unblinkingly. Jim made a gesture of annoyance, waving Sherlock's sentence away.

"Don't act stupid Sherlock. You went to Bryan's house last night to tell him a nice little tale about how I should be taking responsibility for certain acts that occurred on the night of the Halloween party, that -according to you- were partially my fault. Next thing I know, dear Bryan is calling me up, babbling excitingly about how I could help him escape the prison sentence. Except, you see, that really isn't convenient for me. It would mean being filed as a delinquent and getting punished as well." He paused then to increase the dramatic effect. He leered just a little more at them. "And now I find myself in a bothersome situation as, when I tried to make Bryan understand that all this would not be in my best interest, he got flustered and took a whole twenty minutes to explain to me that I would be doing it as a friend because he was in trouble and I was partially responsible after all. I told him I would in the end, just to shut him up. But don't you dare think I will go to his hearing tomorrow. There is no way I am getting entangled in this."

"Don't play the victim," John snapped, now convinced of Jim's guilt in the matter. "You were already entangled in this from the very beginning. Now it's time you get the judgement you deserve."

Jim sent him a murderous gaze that made his skin prickle. "We'll see about that," he whispered venomously before standing up and leaving the cafeteria.

Oh oh, what is Moriarty up to? ;p

Poor Bryan. I just wanted to use that character once and then have some other guy attack Sherlock and John on Halloween (some guy from another school that would be a violent friend of Jim's) but in the end I decided to use and abuse Bryan again. He's not that bad either so I kind of feel sorry for him…

I had to laugh to myself when Bryan said "the stuff", it reminded me of Reefer Madness (if you haven't seen that movie you must watch it, it is hilarious).

I hope you guys enjoyed this. Next up will be more of Moriarty followed by an arch involving some light smut ;) Please review if you liked it! And thank you so much to all the readers who are following this story I really love that you like this story. I promise you there is much more to come ^^