Returning home Watson watched on as Sherlock hurried from one bookcase to the other, the detective mumbling to himself as he did. Eventually Sherlock headed back to Watson with what appeared to be the salt shaker he'd 'borrowed' from Rona's kitchen, a test tube and several pieces of labratory equipment that Watson couldn't identify. Seeing Watson with one eyebrow raised he gave his friend a tiny smile.
"I borrowed these from a nearby labratory but I will return them." Sherlock promised as he moved towards the garden in front of their home, missing the eyeroll Watson gave him. "Now let's see what this dust contains." He added, kneeling before he started to set the equipment up on the grass. Shaking his head Watson walked over to the bookcase, selecting a book before he crossed the room. Settling into the armchair he glanced at his friend for a moment then with a shrug he started to read.
With the planting done I sat on the edge of the fountain, watching as Gnomeo and Juliet laughed while they walked around the garden.
Probably deciding what to plant next though I'm not so sure there's any room left. It looks pretty though.
Watching them laugh together made me feel a little jealous especially when they kissed briefly and that made me remember that Sherlock had walked out on me. Feeling my eyes well I quickly wiped them hoping no one saw my tears as I swallowed a lump in my throat.
If Sherlock can find a way to change me back what should I do? Do I really want to be human again even if that means losing him? Even when he's the one that walked away from me.
While I sat there feeling lost Sherlock grinned at the test tube in his hand, climbing to his feet. "That's it! I've got it!" Sherlock shouted so suddenly that Watson jumped, dropping the book so that it smacked into the floor. Both eyebrows raised Watson climbed to his feet as Sherlock hurried over. Seeing the test tube in his hands Watson blinked.
"What do you have?" Watson asked, very confused as Sherlock smiled at him.
"It took everything I knew about chemistry but I managed to synthesis a way to change Rona back. I found a mix of chemicals in that box which I used to create this." Sherlock explained, holding up the salt shaker for Watson to see that the shaker contained a brown powder. "If my calculations are correct, and why shouldn't they be, we can change Rona back."
"But who created the chemicals that changed Rona into a garden gnome in the first place?" Watson asked as Sherlock slipped the shaker into his jacket before he moved around the garden, returning the labratory equipment to the shelves and drawers.
"That is one puzzle I hadn't solved just yet." Sherlock answered as he finished returning the test tube to its spot in the top drawer. "But I will get to the botom of that mystery mark my words."
"Of course you will. Should we return to Gnomeo and Juliet's garden to tell Rona the good news?" Watson asked and Sherlock immediately blinked a frown appearing on his face for a brief time until he shook his head. "Sherlock?"
"We should be going." Sherlock answered after a pause heading into the garden and with a shrug Watson followed. After only a few minutes of walking through the streets of London Watson began to wonder just where Sherlock was leading him, having noticed that they'd walked past that same telephone booth twice. Seeing it a third time Watson cleared his throat and Sherlock came to a halt turning to see his friend tapping his foot.
"Yes, Watson? What is it?" Sherlock asked and Watson rolled his eyes at his friend who pointed his cane at something a few feet away. Looking at where the cane was pointing Sherlock saw the telephone booth and with a shrug he turned back to see Watson staring at him. "It's a phone. Your point being?"
"We've passed that same telephone both three times in the last hour. Sherlock, are we going in circles because it certainly feels that way." Watson said and Sherlock just fiddled with his bowtie. "You really don't want to see Rona do you?"
"I am doing no such thing, Watson. I merely thought it might be nice to take our time getting to the garden." Sherlock protested and Watson just sighed, walking past his friend leaving the detective to quickly follow.
After a few minutes of silence Sherlock finally cleared his throat and Watson looked up in time to see him with a frown on his face. "Is it that obvious?" Sherlock asked and Watson nodded watching as the detective fiddled with his cuffs again.
"Of course, Sherlock. You don't want to face Rona not knowing what she will choose. That's why you keep making us run around in circles." Watson replied as they finally started to head back to Rona. "No matter what choice Rona makes you will stand by her?"
"Always. Even if I feel like it's the worst one." Sherlock told him and Watson nodded as they walked side by side. Unaware that they were on their way back I leant over, running my fingers through the clear water of the fountain as a way of distracting myself from making a choice.
"I suppose if the cure works I could go back to being human. I would get to live in my house and work with Alex again. But then that would mean I couldn't spend time with my friends for obvious reasons and Sherlock...okay why should I care what he thinks? He made it perfectly clear that he doesn't want to be with me anymore so his opinion doesn't count." I grumbled not hearing the gate creak open to reveal two familiar faces. "So I take the cure and that's that."
"Rona?" Sherlock called out and I yelped nearly falling backwards into the water as he stepped into my line of vision. Gripping the edge of the fountain I stared at him not blinking until he did. "I...found a way to change you back." He actually stammered and I finally blinked as he produced what looked a lot like my salt shaker in his left hand.
"Really?" I muttered as I climbed off the stone fountain, taking the shaker as he held it towards me. "Um...thank you."
"You are most welcome." Sherlock replied, not meeting my eyes as I examined the shaker. "So now that you have everything you need I will be on my way." He added turning to leave until he felt a tug on his arm and he turned his head to find me staring at him.
"Wait. You don't have to leave." I replied feeling my cheeks burn. "I don't have to..." I began just as something smacked into the fountain, a bottle that I realized I'd seen before just as it smashed into pieces. "Oh fertilizer." I muttered as a dust cloud enveloped both Sherlock and I.
"Not again." I heard Sherlock mumble as I stumbled, falling onto my face at the same time as Sherlock.
Several hours later...
"Ugh...I hate it when that happens." I groaned, opening my eyes with an aching head. "Let me guess...Moriarty?"
"Who else?" Moriarty laughed and I groaned as I struggled to my feet to see the mascot standing over me. "Now that you're finally awake I can ask you a question."
"Figures only you would knock us out and carry us here. What question would that be?" I asked noticing straight away that I wasn't locked in a crate or even bound. "Hey you didn't stuff me into a crate."
"Of course I didn't. I only did that last time to get Sherlock to come to me. Too bad he keeps messing up my plans. Well you and Sherlock." Moriarty complained blinking when I held up my fists, arms close to my body like Sherlock had taught me. "What are you doing?"
"Why did you kidnap me? Where's Sherlock?" I snapped and he just snorted at me, pointing with his rolling pin towards a crate a short distance away. I was all set to race towards the crate until Moriarty blocked my path and I frowned at him slightly curious as to why he wasn't attacking me until he produced my salt shaker. "Hey that's mine!" I shouted trying to grab it and he sniggered when I missed nearly falling on my face a second time.
"You're really funny." He pointed out as I made a second attempt to grab the shaker, falling onto my knees this time when he shifted to one side. "Now that I've had my fun I wanted to finish what I started to ask you until you decided to act stupid."
Slightly curious I straightened, dusting off my jacket as he pocketed the shaker. Seeing me with one eyebrow raised at him he grinned. "Okay so what did you want to ask me?"
"I wanted to ask if you wanted to join me." Moriarty asked and I blinked at him, shocked into silence. Getting a blank stare he sighed. "It's not that shocking is it?"
"Why would I do that? You have nothing I want and besides you keep trying to smash me." I pointed out and he sniggered at me, making me narrow my eyes until he waved a hand in front of me.
"Well I have the cure to what caused you to change into a garden gnome in the first place. Since you're really a human in disguise why would you care about a bunch of gnomes?" Moriarty answered and I blinked, confused as he walked around me.
"Wait a second so you caused this? Why?" I finally asked and he grinned at me, bringing his face close to mine. "It doesnt matter anyway since I won't join you. Not after everything you and your gargoyles put me and my friends through."
"Of really? So you don't want to be human again? Then I guess you won't need this anymore." Moriarty taunted as he held up the shaker and when he started to pull back his arm I hurriedly shook my head at him. "I thought so. So I'll make you a deal. Join me and leave Sherlock and I'll give you back your precious cure."
"You won't hurt Sherlock if I join you?" I asked and he nodded, a huge smile on his face. Sighing to myself I straightened as he stepped back and with a nod I stepped over to his side. While I was distracted I didn't see Sherlock raising his head with his arms bound behind him with both gargoyles a short distance away, watching with interest and twin grins.
"Rona?" He called out and I turned my head finally noticing him staring at me. "You're not seriously thinking about joining that monster...are you?"
"I wasn't...I'm not..." I stamered as he blinked at me and Moriarty sniggered, returning the shaker back to the gap under his waist.
"She's helping me now, Sherlock. Oh don't look so sad. Rona's just joining the winning side." Moriarty taunted as Sherlock struggled to free himself. Shaking my head I looked at Sherlock who stared at me, unblinking. It wasn't until Moriarty turned his back at Sherlock gave me a tiny grin and that threw me until I saw the ropes holding him snap and then I understood. Shrugging I turned my attention back to Moriarty who was twirling his rolling pin around and I pretended to grin at him.
"You know you're right, Moriarty. He's just been holding me back. Besides why should I care about gnomes? I was human until that accident so it's his fault I'm stuck like this." I complained and even though Sherlock knew I was lying to keep Moriarty distracted my words still stung. "So can I have my cure back?" I asked and he grinned at me, all of his teeth visible as he removed the shaker again.
"After you tell Sherlock that you're done with him. I want to see his face when you tell him." Moriarty asked and I just grinned, stepping past him as I walked over to Sherlock. Pretending to still be bound Sherlock watched with both eyebrows raised as I knelt beside him.
"Do you have your magnifying glass?" I whispered close to his ear and when he tilted his head towards his pocket I leant in closer, moving my lips as I rummaged through it. Without Moriarty seeing I pocketed it, giving Sherlock a quick glare.
"Be careful." Sherlock whispered back, grimacing when I gave his goatee a sharp tug. "Easy." He hissed and I just shrugged, releasing him so I could turn my back on the detective. Returning to Moriarty who sniggered at Sherlock I waited patiently for the villain to hand over the shaker. When he didn't make a move I raised an eyebrow.
"I thought you were going to give me the cure?" I asked causing Moriarty to burst out laughing and I blinked at him when he finally calmed down. "You lied to me!" I snapped at him and he just snorted, taking out his rolling pin with his free hand.
"Did you honestly believe I would give you back this?" Moriarty laughed and I snorted, standing directly in front of him with the magnifying glass I'd taken from Sherlock. Seeing the magnifying glass and the slight smirk on my face he blinked.
"Of course I don't trust you, Moriarty. I just pretended so I could get close enough to do this!" I shouted as I swung the magnifying glass and Moriarty jumped back, the rolling pin he always carried knocked from his hands.
Glaring at me he leapt backwards as I swung the glass a second time only to see the villain grin at me and before I could react he snatched my only weapon from my hands, knocking me backwards and winding me with a kick to my stomach.
"Of course I knew you wouldn't turn traitor. You care too much for your precious Sherlock to do that. Though it was amusing watching him squirm." He chuckled as I lay gasping on the ground, a hand pressed to my stomach. "Now what are you going to do?"
"Kick your plastic behind of course." I gasped and he rolled his eyes with a sigh, raising the rolling pin above my head. It swung towards me and I closed my eyes expecting the last sound I heard would be a crack but instead I heard someone shouting and I opened my eyes as the rolling pin was snatched out of Moriarty's hand, the villain glaring as Sherlock appeared with Moriarty's rolling pin clutched tightly in his hand.
"Not this time either, Moriarty." Sherlock snapped as he threw the rolling pin over his shoulder and with a grin at him I stumbled to my feet still holding my aching stomach. "Leave Miss Hart alone." He added as I started to hurry towards Sherlock only to have my legs knocked out from under me and I yelped as I hit the ground hard, my back aching now.
"Oh no. Not this time. I'm not going to lose to you or your girlfriend." Moriarty growled as he reached down and I gasped as he gripped my throat. "Now if you don't mind I'll be going now." Moriarty sneered, snapping his fingers.
A shadow covered us but I couldn't even move my head as Moriarty sneered at me, my cheeks bright pink as I struggled to take a breath. Sherlock rushed foward to help me but Moriarty had already planned for that and he threw me directly into the detective's path, sending us rolling along the pavement.
I stopped rolling a few seconds after to find myself lying across Sherlock's chest, knocking the wind out of the detective as one of the gargoyle henchmen landed a few feet from us. With a grin in our direction, Moriarty hopped on its back and I lifted my head with a groan as they took to the sky, the flapping of the gargoyles wings fading as I tried and failed to stand.
"Miss Hart, are you alright?" Sherlock asked and I coughed, moving off his chest with a grimace. Climbing to his feet he wrapped an arm around my shoulders helping me to my feet as Watson hurried over.
"That wasn't exactly how I imagined it but the plan worked." I coughed again, slipping my hand into my pocket and before my friends' eyes I produced the small tube containing the cure Sherlock had created for me.
"You managed to snatch it back from Moriarty?" Sherlock asked and I gave him a weak grin as I handed it gently to Sherlock who raised it above his head, light reflecting off the shaker. "That was a brilliant move, Rona." He told me and I smiled which instantly turned into a frown once he pocketed the shaker. "I'll just hang onto it in case you drop it." He added and I snorted at him before I pushed past him, leaving him speechless.
"Next time don't make her angry." Watson told him and his friend just blinked, not understanding as Watson hurried over to me. "He means well, Rona." He told me and I nodded though I ignored Sherlock's attempts to apologize to me.
Normally it would have taken only a few hours to return home to their garden though as I limped along Gnome and Juliet noticed how badly I was shaking, wincing with every step I took.
"Maybe we should take a break." Watson suggested, falling into step beside Sherlock and I. I just shook my head determined to keep going until I took another step and my left foot slipped causing me to fall to one knee, making me yelp. "Really we should find somewhere safe to rest. At least for a few minutes."
"I'd like to but I also want to get somewhere safe. I can make it." I coughed as he offered a hand and I took it, even letting Sherlock help me up when he stepped forward as well. This time I leant on Sherlock as we crossed the street once it was clear. Even with their help I could barely keep my legs under me and more than once I needed to take a few minutes to gather what little strength I could so we could keep moving.
To say that I nearly collapsed with relief when we reached the garden would have been an understatement. Even Sherlock raised an eyebrow at me when I sat on the grass beneath my feet. "I think I'll stay here." I sighed, closing my eyes for a brief moment until i felt a light tap on my shoulder and I cracked open an eye to find the detective staring at me with both of his eyebrows raised. "Now what is it?"
"Rona, I believe it would be better to keep moving. Unless you want the human who owns this garden to discover you lying here." Sherlock answered and I groaned, taking his outstretched hand when he didn't move. Helping me up I dusted my knees before I leant on him. "It will not take very long to reach Juliet and Gnomeo's garden."
I opened my mouth to protest until Sherlock shook his head at me and I rubbed at my eyes knowing that he was right. It would be better to return to my friends' garden where it would be much easier to rest without being seen.
"Okay let's go. I want to get back sometime before spring." I muttered and Sherlock opened his mouth to possibly comment until Juliet quickly shook her head and he wisely bit back his answer. As silently as we could we hurried through the neighbouring gardens away from whoever owned this particular garden making our way by to my friends' garden. I barely made it stumbling once we neared the gate and as I leant on Sherlock he gave me a tiny frown his eyes staring into my face until I gave him a weak grin in return.
"Don't worry about me, detective. You faced Moriarty too." I pointed out as Watson and Gnomeo pushed open the gate so we could sneak inside.
"You're probably tired of hearing this but you were very impressive standing up to that monster." Sherlock told me as he guided me inside and my grin grew in size as we walked through the garden hand in hand. "Or maybe you don't mind hearing it again." He added with a smile of his own.
"Of course not, Sherlock. Feel free to tell me that as many times as you want." I replied with a tired smile as we reached the fountain. Taking a seat inches from each other I stretched my legs with a sigh and Sherlock blinked when he felt my head resting on his shoulder. "You didn't believe anything I said before did you?" I asked but he didn't answer and I lifted my head giving the detective a sad smile.
"I didn't believe a word of it, Rona." Sherlock answered and I raised an eyebrow at him until he coughed. "I did at first until I realized that you would never choose to join someone who puts our lives in danger. Or that you would hurt me like I keep hurting you."
"Sherlock, I hurt you too. I was so set on being changed back that I forgot how badly I would hurt you. Can you forgive me?" I asked and he responded by placing his hand over mine.
"Do you really need to ask that?" Sherlock answered as he leant in and my eyes widened when he kissed me full on the mouth. Though it only took me a few seconds to kiss him straight back.