Chapter Twenty Five: Rehabilitation?

"What happens next, Mycroft?" John was sitting across from Mycroft, who had taken Sherlock's leather chair. The British Government was sipping from a cup of tea. John had felt compelled to get the good china out; somehow one of their usual chipped mugs did not suit a man in a hand-tailored three piece suit. Culture clash.

Mycroft put the cup down into the saucer. "Now that Sherlock is out of immediate post-operative care, it is safe to move him, so we will be taking him tonight to a secure government clinic. He will need time to recover. And there will be locks on the doors, and guards in the building to make sure he stays for the required duration."

Mycroft scrutinised the doctor. He'd clearly spent the last three nights recovering from the sleep deprived period when Sherlock went AWOL. "Time to choose sides- again, John. His recovery process will be better if you are there with him. If you choose not to go, then he is more likely to resist any proper treatment- both physical and mental. He will be calmer if he knows that you are safe. You know what they say- misery loves company. And I will be able to get on with things, knowing that both of you are no longer at risk."

John contemplated the idea, and shook his head. "You will have one hell of a time keeping him locked up, Mycroft. And you over-exaggerate my influence on him. Watching him bounce off the walls of a rehab clinic is just…well, it's hard to imagine it lasting any length of time, whether I'm there or not."

"There is no alternative, John. I meant it when I said that he has pushed me to the limits of what I can do. There will be…voices…. arguing that I have already been too lenient, too connected to Sherlock to be objective about his behaviour. I am not the only one to worry about a Holmes in Moriarty's camp. I have to be seen to be absolutely correct in my handling of this."

"What will you be doing while we are out of circulation?" With that question, John realised he was answering Mycroft's request. It would not be easy, coping with Sherlock in this state. And, John knew that his patience with the detective's foibles would be tested to the limit when Sherlock was unable to work, bored out of his mind, in pain and being forced to deal with transport issues. But, the idea of watching from afar as his best friend self-destructed on his own was even worse, so John was prepared to try. He looked the elder Holmes in the eye and said "You'd better take advantage of the time, or when Sherlock gets out we will be straight back at square one again."

Mycroft lifted his chin and gave one of his manufactured smiles. "It's time I had a conversation with James Moriarty, which I intend to do in the confines of one of her Majesty's more secure units."

"If it was that simple, then why the hell haven't you arrested him before now?" John was indignant.

"We haven't known enough about him until now, but thanks to Sherlock, I think I might be able to catch him. It may take a little while, but I am now very, very motivated. That said, arresting him has never really been the problem, John; it's holding him for any length of time, being able to get anything incriminating out of him, and actually being able to prosecute him successfully that has always been the problem. Every one of the 32 countries that have been investigating him has come up against the same barrier. He's perverted the course of justice too many times; he has so many people in high places who owe him favours, or over whom he has some leverage, that until now no one has been willing to risk taking him on."

"Are you saying that you're now ready to take that risk? Can't you just…I don't know, make him disappear once you have him in custody?"

Mycroft looked sternly at the doctor. "Contrary to contemporary television and film fantasies, the British Government does not condone assassination or murder. There is no license to kill in the real world, John. Whatever I might think of the social merits of keeping a psychopath alive, the judicial process is what it is and even I cannot overturn it in such a public manner. Worse still, there will be people in high places that he will use to pressure me into releasing him. Furthermore, we have no idea what contingency plans he might have put into place if he were to be arrested. And if in the process of capture, he were to be fatally injured, well, I expect he will have a suitable revenge planned. One can hardly expect him to be unprepared for the possibility. The uncertainty of what would happen in those circumstances has been his protection against all those governments, ours included, that would like to see an end to him."

"So, how can you be confident of winning, if you have to play by those rules?"

"John, this is…war. And I take it very personally now. I regret that my brother and you have been damaged by the crossfire of this early skirmish. With you both safe on the side lines, it's time for a full frontal assault, whatever the cost to me personally. I am the right person to do this, and I won't let Sherlock be caught up again in what should be my fight. Consider it a fortuitous combination of national security and personal need. If I can arrest Moriarty, and at the same time expose those who are shielding him here in the UK, then I will be protecting Sherlock, as well as doing what I am paid to do."

"This is my job, John, and it is time for me to do it." With that, the British Government got to his feet, collected his umbrella and went down the 17 steps out onto Baker Street where his car awaited him.

oENDo

Author's note: As ever, reviews are really, really welcome. Now that the story is complete feel free to pick it apart, tell me what you liked, what you didn't like, what you wanted more of, what you wanted less.

In a week's time, I will be posting a new story "Talking when you're not there, revisited." After a ten day break, there will be a shorter sequel to Collateral Damage called "Side lines" that looks at what happens when Sherlock recovers consciousness in the rehab centre, followed by a longer sequel called "Level Up" which explores Mycroft on the warpath and the pre Scandal in Belgravia fall out between the Holmes brothers, and how the battle with Moriarty develops. I might squeeze in a multi-chapter story called "Musgrave Blaze" and another one called "The Stockbroker's Courier" before Christmas. In the meantime, I will be posting a series of ficlits under the title "ExFiles", to keep you amused while I get enough of the longer stories written to be able to post regularly. This is because in my book, there is nothing worse than getting hooked on a story that isn't updated regularly, unless it is reading a chapter that isn't well enough thought out because it has had to be rushed. For those who have been following this story, thanks for the reviews and feedback- all fuel to my fire. If you don't want to miss any of the above, then follow me as an author to be sure that you don't miss them when they do come.