(7) John Watson
"Alright," Nero put everything into his suitcase. He looked again at the last envelope. His father's hand was resting on it, obscuring the name. His mother held up a hand, commanding silence.
"Nero," Sherlock finally spoke, taking the envelope in both hands & looking down at it. "This last one. Be extremely careful with him."
"Is he one of those dangerous spies?"
"No," Sherlock replied in a low voice. "He's an army doctor. Afghanistan. He ... he is my best friend, but," He could not look at Nero, so he stared at the name written down. "I have caused him a lot of grief in the past. He will not take kindly to this. My suicide, fake as it was, really affected him. Few people knew I was still alive. He was not one of them & that was a grave error on my part." He slowly handed the envelope over & took his time letting go. In low whisper, Sherlock added, "He is the other half of my heart. Please be gentle with him."
Nero looked down at the name.
Doctor John Watson.
This doctor was the last person to find. Nero was now currently in a limo provided by Sherrinford Holmes along with several others to meet this man. Next to Molly was a woman he had not seen yet, but she was apparently John's twin sister, Harry. Molly had gone to her while Nero met up with Mrs. Hudson & now she was in the limo with everyone else. Beside Harry, was another man, Mike Stamford, who had known John & Sherlock for years, as well. Nero was also vividly aware that he was seated next to Rosie, the doctor's daughter. The limo parked on the side of the road instead of going into the driveway for there was no place on the property to turn such a long car around.
Rosie was the first to get out & she hurried to the house looking for her father. He didn't answer the door but she saw his car was in the garage so she went around to the back to find him sitting at the patio table, reading. "Papa?"
John nearly jumped out of his chair. "Gees! Rosie! Trying to give your old man a heart attack or what?" He pulled her into a hug.
Rosie hesitated a moment before asking, "Why did you never tell me about Sherlock Holmes?"
John pushed her away. "What do you mean?"
"He was your best friend, wasn't he?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," John turned to go into the house.
"Papa!" Rosie stood in his way. "There's something you need to know."
"No! Nope. There isn't," John brushed her aside with his cane. "I don't want to talk about this any more."
"Well, you have to," Rosie tried, following him inside.
"Rosie, I don't have to do a damn thing I don't want to do," John said. "Now, who put this silly idea into your head? Was it your Grandmother?"
"No, it was Nero."
John was momentarily at a loss. "Who's that?"
Rosie opened her mouth to answer but there was a knock at the door. She locked eyes with her father before both started scrambling for the door. John was able to get there first since he was closer but part way through opening it, Rosie pounced on him, slamming the door shut again.
"Wait, um," Rosie stammered. "We're all here."
"Who is all?"
"Uhh," Rosie leaned on the door. "How come you don't know who Nero is?"
John glared at her. "Rosie. Stand aside. Now!"
"John?" A voice sounded through the door. "Are you alright?"
John glanced at the door, then back at Rosie. "Is that Sherrinford?"
"You know him?"
John grabbed hold of Rosie's arm & pulled her away, then opened the door at last. "Sherry, what did you do to my daughter?"
"It wasn't me," Sherrinford stepped inside. "John, let's go sit down."
"I'd rather not," John replied stubbornly.
"I'd rather we did," Sherrinford just as stubbornly moved to the living room without waiting. Rosie took her father's hand & followed. John refused to sit. Sherrinford sighed before saying, "I have recently found out that Sherl—"
John closed his eyes. "Don't mention that name!"
"He has a son," Sherrinford pressed on. "Nero. He's about eighteen years old, now."
"A son?" John was suddenly all ears.
"Yes," Sherrinford said. He pressed something on his mobile.
"You could have just called to tell me," John pointed out.
"I thought it would be better in person," Sherrinford leaned back in the couch. John narrowed his eyes at him. That man was stalling for time. He looked around as he heard someone else at the door. Sherrinford stood up as a young man came in. "This is Nero."
"My God!" John stared at him. "He looks just like his father."
"You are Doctor Watson?" Nero moved closer, offering a hand.
John quickly grabbed it. "Just John will do." He looked past Nero as others came in.
"John?" Sherrinford put a hand on the doctor's shoulder. "There's more."
John raised a hand to silence him as he watched Molly, Kate, Enola with Mrs. Hudson, Mike & Harry (who avoided meeting John's glare) all come in. "No." He glared at Sherrinford, missing the last person to show up. "No. Absolutely not!"
"John?"
The doctor turned to see Lestrade come in. "You're not welcome here!"
"Really?" Lestrade glared at him. "I see. Well, that's too damn bad!"
"Lestrade!"
The ex cop came to within an inch of the war doctor's nose. "I am so sorry for what I did to Sherlock. I had no choice! You know that!"
"I'm glad you're not a cop, anymore!" John ground out through gritted teeth. "Which means I can do this!" Suddenly, Lestrade felt himself go backwards & slammed into the wall. John had just punched him hard.
"OH MY GOD!" Kate yelped, running to Lestrade to help him up as Molly immediately went to stand in front of Nero to shield him from John's wrath, just in case. She kept her eyes on the angered doctor, watching his every move.
"John, calm down!" Sherrinford ordered as Mike grabbed the doctor from behind to hold him back. "You know he tried not to! YOU KNOW IT! None of this is his fault!" He stood between the two men & glared at John.
"John, seriously, stop it!" Mike fought hard against the struggling doctor still wanting Lestrade's blood. "We are all in this together! There is a reason we are all here. It's for you!" He slowly stood straight, but kept a firm hand on John's collar.
"Just listen to us!" Lestrade pleaded, holding his bruised jaw with one hand.
"NO!" John threw his cane down the length of the hall. "There is only one reason why you'd all be here!"
"Sherlock is—" Lestrade tried.
John turned sharply to twist out of Mike's grip & punched the wall before sliding down it to kneel on the floor. "I waited two years, just in case! Hmm? I waited for him! Then I thought, what's another two years? I waited again. Ten years later, I give up waiting! Now twenty years later, you all dare come into my home with HIS son & tell me—tell me! Oh God! WHY?" Sherrinford knelt down on the floor & tried to put his hands on John but the doctor pushed him away. "NO! DON'T!" John shoved himself back to sit against the wall & put his face to his knees, sobbing.
"This is why we're all here," Harry finally dared to speak. "It's not the first time he's done this to you."
"I hate him," John said in a low voice. "I hate him so much!"
"We all do," Molly agreed, still holding Nero behind her.
"Well, I for one, am not surprised," Mrs. Hudson said. "After all, Sherlock's done this before."
"Do not mention that name in my house!" John put his head back against the wall & banged it a few times.
Lestrade came up to John & sat next to him. "Now, we are dealing with the real problem. He took off again & left you in the dust." He slowly reached out to John. "I am so sorry for the mess, but it wasn't my fault! It's his."
"... Greg ..." John whimpered, using the first name again after all this time. "Ohh!" He sighed, feeling dizzy. "Ohh. Hmm. I do not feel good, right now."
"Take a deep breath, John," Lestrade finally put a hand on the doctor's shoulder. He was not shrugged off. "I'm here. We all are. I came anyway, knowing you were mad at me. I'm still here, ok?" Finally, after nearly two decades, he pulled John into a hug & held him close.
"Hmm, mmmm," John panted. He clung on to Lestrade's shirt. "Ohh boy! Ohh this is not good!" Why were there three Lestrades all of a sudden?
"John?" Lestrade stared at him for a moment. "JOHN!" The doctor had just fallen sideways, head in Lestrade's lap, in a dead faint.
Sherrinford grabbed John's wrist. "Still alive."
"I'm amazed he is," said Lestrade. "I honestly thought he would die."
"Don't cheer yet," said Sherrinford. "We need to revive him." He lay John flat out on the floor & knelt by his side while Lestrade began administering breaths of CPR.
"Come on, John," Lestrade said before covering John's mouth with his own once more for another breath.
"Here," Kate passed a wet cold cloth. "Put that on his forehead."
Harry & Kate both took turns wiping his brow as Lestrade continued to breathe for John. "Come on, old friend," Lestrade patted John's face. "Don't give up on us, now!" He pressed his lips to John's once more, but quickly pulled away as John finally came to.
John moaned softly as his eyes fluttered open for a moment. He closed them again & put both hands over his face. He pushed Lestrade away. "Just leave me alone for a bit. Please?"
"Ok John," said Lestrade. "We'll be close by." He got up & moved away with Sherrinford. "I want to punch that bastard's face in," he rubbed his own eyes for a moment.
"Get in line," Sherrinford said. He turned away, working on his mobile again.
"I'm going to kill him," John declared from his place on the floor.
"We're right behind you," said Enola.
Nero slowly stepped around Molly & looked down on John. "I've heard quite a bit about you. I thought you guys were friends?"
John slowly pushed himself up & leaned back against the wall. He looked Nero over & finally managed a small smile. "You look a lot like him."
"So I've been told. This is for you," Nero gave John the final envelope. "It's from Dad."
"Oh really?" John muttered. "I do not want to talk to him, right now."
"Dad said to be careful with you," said Nero. "Take your time."
"Alright, we're going," Sherrinford walked back into view, looking down at his mobile. "Seven hours. Don't be late."
"Going?" Harry stared at him.
"Going where?" asked Molly.
"We're going to see Sherlock," Sherrinford said. "All of us. I've already taken care of all your passports, VISAs & first class plane tickets. Everything is online."
"What?" Molly gaped at him.
"Well, I can't go," Mrs. Hudson began.
"Nonsense," Sherrinford waved it away with his free hand. "I've got you covered. We're all in first class on the next flight & it's round trip. I'll take care of you."
"Oh Sherry!" Mrs. Hudson blushed.
"How do you know where we are?" Nero asked.
"Simple," Sherrinford shrugged. "I looked your name up. Found your flight into England & worked backwards from there. I even know which school you went to. Perks of the Secret Service, m'boy."
"Um, I don't, uh, no," Nero said.
"Oh believe me," Sherrinford said. "We're going."
"They can," Nero glanced around. "But I don't want you any where near my mother. You'll kill her!"
"Oh come, come now," Sherrinford began. "I'm not Mycroft. I wasn't involved in their little scandal."
"Promise me, you won't kill her?" Nero wasn't so sure.
"My dear boy," Sherrinford said. "I've got my own scandals to deal with. I was never involved with Irene Adler."
"IRENE? Oh HELLLLLL no!" John exclaimed, putting a hand to his brow as so many things suddenly made sense. "Oh no, no. No." He laughed. "No, no. Oh, my head!" Harry passed him a fresh wash cloth.
"Sherlock saved her," Lestrade said. "It's in the letter, which you really need to read." The sooner John would read the letter, the sooner Lestrade felt he would be vindicated for all the unnecessary hate he had to deal with for years.
"Read it on the plane," Sherrinford said, then looked back at Nero. "She'll be fine. I promise. Right now, I'd be more worried about Sherlock's life if I were you." Nero continued to glare at his uncle, but didn't say more. Sherrinford worked on his mobile for a moment longer. "It's done. We're all going!"
John was still sitting against the wall, recovering. He had one leg up & rested his left wrist on it, clutching the damp cloth while looking up at Sherrinford. "You're freaking insane." He shook his head.
"Pack light," Sherrinford ordered. "We're only there for three days to knock some sense into him. If any of you want to visit on your own time, do it later. I'll send the limo around for all of you & we'll meet up at the airport."
"I'm supposed to be here for another week & a couple days," said Nero.
"Mhm, cancelled," Sherrinford said. "You can come visit England some other time. I expect you to." He gave his nephew a look. "I will pay for it to make up for this. Right now, that numpty I have for a brother is in a world of trouble!"
"Oh my!" Mrs. Hudson fussed. "Well, I never expected to go on a trip at my age."
"You'll be fine," Sherrinford smiled at her. "John? You do want to be a part of this, right?"
John took his cane back from Rosie who had retrieved it & pushed himself up to his feet. "Wouldn't miss it for the world."
"That's what I like to hear," said Sherrinford.
John leaned against the wall, close to Lestrade. "Sorry about your jaw." They shared a look, John feeling rather guilty. "It's uh ... good to see you, again," he finally said.
"I understand how you feel," Lestrade said, accepting a fresh cool cloth from Kate.
"Oiks," Kate grumbled. "Both of you." She glared at John before leaving the two wankers alone.
"Ok, ouch!" Lestrade watched her walk away as he pressed the new cloth to his bruise. He turned back to John, who was also staring at Kate. "I've been waiting almost the same amount of time you were waiting for him, for you to come to your senses."
"I needed someone to yell at but he wasn't here so I lashed out at someone else," John shrugged. He awkwardly looked away. "Sorry it had to be you."
"John," Lestrade began, taking up the doctor's free hand into his own. "I really did try to stop it."
"I know," John closed his eyes for a moment, letting a few tears fall.
"It's kind of why I retired," Lestrade went on. "I hated that case. That's why it was my last one. I got out of a system that would damn him instead of save him. But um, you really need to read that letter on the plane.
"I will," said John. "Um, thanks," he added. "For ... well, you know."
"Saving your sorry arse while you were passed out on the floor?" Lestrade said with a short laugh.
"Yeah," John finally managed a laugh.
"I had no intention of giving up on you," Lestrade said. "One of us giving up was enough. I never let go of you."
"I don't deserve that," John muttered.
"No, you don't," Lestrade agreed. "You were a horrible person these past two decades. But I waited for you, anyway."
"Thanks," John let go of Lestrade's hand & pulled him into another hug. After a few minutes, they released each other & John moved towards Sherrinford. "Can I talk to you privately for a moment?" He jerked his head to the back door.
"Nope, you will just try to back out of it," Sherrinford didn't trust him.
"No, no. I AM going," John assured. "It's something else. Has to do with the planes." He moved for the door. Sherrinford followed. They returned a few minutes later.
Sherrinford looked at everyone, finally sharing a long silent look with Molly. "See you in seven hours."