Next Chapter is depending on your reviews on this chapter, So please! ;)
The tunnel was a long forgotten subway with a notorious reputation for housing various criminal activities. The moment John herd of the destination was the moment he knew what he was going to walk into and what may be in store for him, from Sherlock.
His heart felt heavy not because of fear, because of the realisation that maybe Sherlock was after all some kind of an antisocial. But now was too late for that thought. The priority was to meet Sherlock. To ask him what exactly was that they had and why did he react the way he did the last time they met.
But mostly it had become necessary for John to see that the man was alright. Maybe not in his best of health but still alright. It had become as important as breathing. His identity, his homelessness, this emotional mess could be dealt with later, if fate allowed it.
John set about his destination after dinner which he had barely managed to force down his mouth. He had taken his gun with himself knowing full well that if he really was walking into a trap then it would be of no use whatsoever.
The streets were cold and dark, there was no moon and there was that well known mist that indicated every fateful meeting with Sherlock. John took it as a sign. He was going to see Sherlock today, the mist had whispered to him.
The tunnel was a different world right under the bustling, bright, lawful London. It was dark, hushed, and a sanctuary for everything illegal. John saw young boys slumped together in heaps drugged, he saw kids selling drugs, he saw two strong men holding a pale faced gentleman by the collar. John looked at everybody and everybody in turn looked at John. They were intrigued and annoyed at the same time a bit amused to see a man like him just walking in and walking about a place which others like him would for the love of dear life run out from. It was just a matter of moments before he was attacked. The only light in this underground sanctuary was the fire burning here and there for warming bodies closely huddled together. There were hurried footsteps and close breaths but nothing could be seen clearly except for occasional shadows and silhouettes. John was in a scary house, only this time the horrors were real. As real as life itself.
John walked with conviction, like he knew the place like the back of his hand, keeping his nervousness in firm check. He knew that Sherlock must be a recognized name here, if he could send a messenger asking him here then surely it was so. He just had to keep going until someone stopped him. He would then have to ask for him.
It didn't take any longer. Suddenly out of nowhere a firm lean hand had twisted itself around his neck making him halt immediately. A silver gleam at his throat menacingly told him not to try anything stupid.
"What do you want?" A gruff but young voice asked from behind.
"Sherlock." John said with some effort, the hand was tight around his neck but the owner didn't reply.
The reply came from the darkness before him as he saw a long dark silhouette in a long coat standing there. Nothing else was visible but his voice and appearance was proof enough.
"Billy." The voice commanded and the hand around John's neck instantly loosened. He was released.
"What do you want?" asked the voice.
John swallowed before speaking. He couldn't see him yet he knew he was alright.
"I wanted to see you." He said tentatively.
"I thought I clearly told you that I didn't."
Oh! How could John forget? That is exactly why he was here. He wanted to know why. He had risked his life to come here and god only knew if he would be able to go back alive so he wasn't going anywhere without some answers. He needed to be bold. So he was.
"But I wanted to." He said with determination.
Silence for a few minutes.
"Do you know where you are Dr Watson?" The voice asked in an amused voice.
No, that is not going to intimidate me Sherlock. If it did then I wouldn't be here. You know that very well.
"Call me John. And I know perfectly well where I am." John said plainly.
Stunned silence this time. Now it was John's turn to feel amused.
"Why were you looking for me?" The voice was cold.
Now that's gotten a bit difficult.
"Can you please show yourself?"
"No." said the voice gruffly.
John let out an exasperated sigh as he rolled his eyes. Always with the mystery!
"I haven't got all night." The voice hissed.
"I wanted to tell you that you were right."
John felt the figure in the dark folding his arms over his chest.
"I was lying." John said and licked his lips. "I was lying to everybody and to myself."
Silence.
"You were also right about the things you said that others told me about you."
Silence.
"I don't want to lie to anyone anymore."
Silence.
"I broke up with my girlfriend." Pathetic John really!
Oh please say something!
"So?" the voice asked incredulously.
No matter how much John thought but he was not at all ready for this reaction. What was this? a rejection? Clear nonacceptance of his earlier acts? A trick? Or sheer change of mind? Whatever it was John's life depended on it.
John tried to steady himself for further questions with some effort, who knew when he would see this man again, if at all, he couldn't lose this opportunity.
"Sherlock, why did you react the way you did the last time we met." John asked, voice steady.
"I made it clear that day that I didn't want to see you anymore and meant just that Dr Watson. You should have listened to those who told you to stay away. I'm a very dangerous man Dr Watson and it's sheer misfortune that you have crossed my path. Just because you had helped me once I'm letting you go unharmed this once and this once only. If you continue to pursue me any further I can't promise to be this generous again."
With that he turned to leave.
John tried one last time. It was needy, it was undignified, it was extremely unlikely of him but he had gone this deep with no chances of resurfacing, he might as well go deeper.
"Sherlock." The man stopped in his tracks but didn't turn.
"What you said that day at the restaurant about me was true."
"What you thought about me in that alley, the next night was true." The baritone spoke and with these final words left John in the darkness.
"C'mon sir, lemme take ya out." Said billy to a stunned John and grabbing him by the arm led him out of the tunnel unceremoniously.