Chapter 33: Rekindling Friendship

Holly silently sat in the car and waited. He hadn't gotten the chance to talk to TC last night. By the time they had talked through the performances of the recruits they had decided they needed to cull a couple of people. So, they got the recruits up after only 45 minutes of sleep to eliminate 3 of their number and then lost another 2 after asking who else wanted to VW. The following beasting had thinned the herd some more.

Now they were off on another great yomp, even further than yesterday's and with heavier 'equipment', though this one was on hardened roads most of the way. Holly, who had led yesterday's yomp, had taken the offer of rest for a change. Not that he needed it but with the hardened roads John was stuck in the sweeper car, following behind to pick up anyone injured or those who would Voluntary Withdraw from the course. Holly knew that wouldn't happen for at least an hour in so it was the perfect opportunity to talk.

Not that there was much talking going on. 15 Minutes they had been driving now and John hadn't said a word yet. Holly had been quiet beside him knowing that whatever had happened to TC in the last few years, it was hard to talk about. He could see the emotions flicker over John's face, anger and sadness being the dominant ones. He was about to give up and talk about the good old days when, with an angry determined set of his chin, John finally opened his mouth.

"You remember my file was eyes only, so I could function as a surgeon at Bastion between missions? Well, it seems they hid it a little too well. The wound had become infected and which left me delirious for days and by the time I woke up, some stupid RAMC bean counter had already pushed through my medical discharge. As a doctor, not a soldier." John went on describing how he had fallen between a rock and a hard place. His pension had been processed as a normal RAMC soldier, lower than that of a normal soldier because of his education, he had gotten stuck in a miserable bedsit and when he went looking for some support, he hadn't found it with the charities who helped reintegrate soldiers into civilian life.

"By the time I got out of the hospital the dreams had started. They were intense and left me feeling so alert and alive, but the screaming had the doctors stamp PTSD on my forehead and hand me over to the first therapist available, who, obviously, hadn't been cleared for my file at all. Bloody useless. For months I had to fucking bullshit her about what I actually had been doing. By the time I met Sherlock, I was starting to believe my own bullshit."

John continued on about meeting Sherlock and how Sherlock had cured him seemingly overnight. He spoke with such passion about the people he met, the adventures, the fun moments, the frustrations that it amazed Holly that John was here and not back in London with the people he loved. That changed when he heard the heartbreak of Sherlock's fall and the enormous setback John had had because of it. Though then John told him about Mary and how they had connected and how she had been the one who had saved him this time. The love was so thick in John's voice Holly was surprised he hadn't put a ring on the girl's finger yet.

"But why are you here, John? Why aren't you with her?" And a look of such intense fury passed over John's face that it startled Holly.

"Because Moriarty is taking over the government and London is going to shit at the moment, that's why. And if I hadn't gotten away, I would've been in prison for fucking murdering the bloody bastard by now." Holly startled. It took a lot to get John irritated enough that he was likely to break someone's nose. But he was talking about bloody murder and by the look of it, TC wasn't exaggerating.

"Okay, I don't understand half of what you've just said. Start at the beginning." Holly said. John sighed.

"You've heard about the fusion of MI5 and 6?" He asked. Holly's eyes narrowed. That wasn't public knowledge yet and officially he didn't know anything... but he had contacts in that world and word had gotten out on this one.

"I've heard rumours." He said cautiously.

"The Director warned me. The man in charge of it all, who is going to lead the Joint Security Services, is an exact lookalike of James Moriarty, the man who drove Sherlock to suicide and if I were in London right now, that man would be dead." TC's voice became more and more menacing as he spoke until he almost spat out the end of it.

"Christ." Holly cursed, both of the situation and the realisation of just how high TC's security clearance had gotten. "The Director warned you? Personally? Christ TC, how the fuck did you get involved with him?"

"He kidnapped me the day after I met Sherlock." The amusement was clear in John's voice. Holly gaped.

"What the fuck?"

"Yeah. With a show of power and everything. Introduced himself as Sherlock's arch enemy and offered me a bribe to spy on Sherlock for him." TC laughed quietly at the memory. Holly was still gaping in disbelief, both at the ridiculousness of the situation and the thought of John accepting a bribe. If there was anyone with a strong moral fibre, it was John.

"It was a test, right?" Holly hesitantly asked. The director was powerful. If that man was corrupt in any way...

"Course it was." John said casually. "Sherlock was a person of special interest and anyone who got close, got checked. The surveillance and security on us were huge. Camera's, tails and everything. 221B Baker Street was the most secure flat in London. It was all a pain in the ass really, but at least my discharge paperwork was corrected."

"All because of Sherlock Holmes? Why?" Holly was amazed that that much effort and money was expended to check up on one man.

"Can't tell you that, I'm afraid." John answered regrettably. "That's classified. But it meant I've had a lot of interaction with the British Government."

"Christ, and I thought my clearance had skyrocketed." Holly said. John Laughed.

"How did that happen anyway?" He asked.

"Got approached by a woman named Moneypenny. MI6 was looking for an outside trainer to evaluate the new recruits. It's only once or twice a year and usually not when we're having our own selection so it's fine. Off course, then I get called in right when we're doing the Fandance." He grumbled the last sentence, still a little grumpy that he'd missed it. John laughed.

"Don't laugh." He grouched. "The whole thing was a pain. The guy was much better than the recruits normally were. And when I asked about it, I got chewed out by the assistant in a full room because I had made an assumption about the training officer. Never mind that I got called in at the last minute and hadn't had the time to find out her file was classified so high, I didn't have the clearance. I mean I know all of their training officers by now. Most of them are old farts so I just assumed they had finally hired a new one." John laughed full heartedly at his expense before falling silent as if a thought had come to him.

"This recruit? Young guy? Caucasion? Black straight hair? Small scar under his chin?" John asked curiously.

"Yeah, how'd you know?" Holly answered with a frown.

"I think I've met him." John said slowly, in deep thought. "And if his training officer is who I think it is, it's no wonder he's good." Then John seemed to snap out of it. "Never mind."

"So not only dealings with the Director but with MI6 as well? Always did think you made an excellent spy." John snorted at the thought but Holly wasn't kidding. John had been the wolf in sheep's clothing. He always pretended to be just the doctor and the soldier, never the special forces operator and was always underestimated because of it.

"No, it's not like that." John quickly assured him. "I've never worked for them in an official capacity. It was just a couple of favours... And an incident..." John became more and more embarrassed as he went on. Holly felt an evil grin form on his lips. This was definitely a story he wanted to hear.

"Oh, now you've got to share." He goaded John who sent him a look before ducking his head again.

"I might have gotten annoyed with one of their agents. He was hitting on my friend, who had had a bad previous experience. The guy was bored and looking for a one-night-stand and that was definitely not what Molly needed." John's voice took on a fierce edge that Holly knew very well. It seemed someone had gotten the special.

"So, you broke his nose." Holly answered drily while grinning. "Then what?"

"Got us both arrested like usual. Met that guy you just tested when he and his training officer were guarding the official that was getting us both out. MI6 just wanted it forgotten so forgotten it was." John said casually but Holly had the feeling that there was much more to it than that. From his tone of voice and because he said the incident was forgotten. Which was a feat to accomplish within the British legal system. It smelled like the director's influence.

"Uhuh, just like that, huh?" He said, his voice dripping with sarcasm and disbelief.

"Yep." John just said, but his tone belied him. It carried the underlying threat of 'eat my bullshit, or else…'

"Okay okay, peace." Holly said, hands raised in surrender. TC chuckled, which turned into a full laugh when Holly punched him in the shoulder. The laugh had an edge of relief to it. It got lighter and lighter the longer it lasted. Finally, John got his mirth under control.

"God, I missed you, Matt." John said.

"Then don't be a stranger again. Marleen and the kids have missed you." Matt insisted. John just smiled and nodded. They fell silent, happy in the knowledge that they were friends again, until the first recruit dropped out grabbing his ankle and it was back to business.