A/N: The Great Game, Sherlock is facing his odds and carries on.

Chapter 15 where our hero Sherlock is faced with heartlessness and decides he likes heart better.

Sherlock was too close to losing for comfort. He kept talking to Moriarty keeping his head in the conversation but it was hard to think clearly, John was standing there all strapped in explosives, he couldn't just run like they use to do. He kept his gaze steady on Moriarty but his eyes swayed towards John, Moriarty had to notice that in his mad genius. Strapping John up showed he knew already, but Sherlock didn't have to admit it, not here anyway.

"You're alright?" he allowed himself to check, John's silence made him uneasy, his retorts and rants became the necessary background for his thoughts. Sherlock kept his dance with Moriarty after all that was the point to keep him entertained so he wouldn't blow them all up just out of boredom. Of course, he threw away missile plans, even if he wanted them there would be too much to admit it in front of the audience. Keeping the advantage was more important to him than any gain or plan.

There was some flirt inside Moriarty's mad banter but his tacky interpretation of gay man just made it clear he had to mock everything. Sherlock had a broad sense of irony and disdain for the world around him, but he understood that the ways of the world didn't care about his estimations. On the other hand, Moriarty despised everything and he was out to punish the world for its boring nature. That made him fairly dangerous. Nevertheless that wouldn't bother Sherlock much because he would simply be convinced that he would win if only there wasn't matter of John in explosives. That made weight work against him, he didn't like odds laid out that way and he suspected that was the point of tonight's demonstration.

Of course, John had made his bold move and shouted for Sherlock to run. Not a muscle moved when he heard that, he stayed fixed to his spot, John couldn't run so that suggestion was pointless. It wouldn't be so pointless if someone else offered that kind of trade, but the stakes weren't in their hands. Red dots appeared and John backed away. Moriarty talked some more starting to bore Sherlock, they both knew he would go away; this was the show to announce the future fight.

"I'll burn the heart out of you," said Moriarty and to Sherlock discontent somewhere inside he felt fear from madness in his eyes.

"I have been loudly informed that I don't have one," he said evenly his biggest victory; he loved when people saw just his cold front.

"But we both know that is not quite true," Moriarty said jauntily and Sherlock hated him for his truly unattached heart. Sherlock always wanted to have one like it but up close it didn't look appealing at all, John looked better at his worst days.

"Catch...you...later," Sherlock said as Moriarty finally exited. As soon as the door closed behind him Sherlock was on his knee taking that damn explosive vest out of John, it shouldn't be there at all. He tossed it away feeling how adrenalin is making its spiral down, he discovered himself to shake. Too much was at stake, he should have been more careful.

"That thing, you did, that you offered to do, was good," he said to John trying to regain his evaluating nature pacing to calm his nerves, he was mad at himself for bringing this situation on them in the first place.

"I'm glad no one saw that," said John with a shaken voice.

"Mhm? What?" Sherlock's mind was slow; he didn't follow his train of thoughts because he was still all wrapped up in exploding scenarios looking at all the angles.

"You, ripping my clothes off in the darkened swimming pool. People might talk" John said with shaken humour and Sherlock finally stopped and smiled, John was ok.

"People do little else," he said in return feeling warmth returning to his hands but then Moriarty decided he has to be the centre of attention some more. Sherlock was tired of that deal of cards; he was ready to teach him some fear. He looked at John to find acclamation for his decisions and John nodded giving him the freedom to do what he has to. John had that in him; he was ready for the outcome whatever it was. Moriarty kept talking in the background of predictability of their game and how Sherlock could look at all his angles.

"But everything I have to say has already crossed your mind," he said with boredom demining their game so he could cut to the dying part.

"Probably my answer has crossed yours," said Sherlock evenly again cold and controlled, if they have to die here, Moriarty would surely join them. Moriarty looked at explosive weighing how important is to him not to back down. Then the tense moment was cut through by most ridiculous ringtone ever. Moriarty acted like spoiled teenager mimicking to Sherlock like they were friends. Sherlock mimicked back mocking him in the process when they were mad they were mad as hell. Soon Moriarty muted the phone and informed them they'll die another day. With that, he exited like true disturbed genius talking about shoes. Sherlock was suddenly worried by that call like it was personal peril for him, something he can't see but have to solve anyway. Sherlock looked at John still sitting on the floor. This has exhausted him more than he wanted to show.

Following days were boring again but filled with activity Sherlock needed. Just refusing cases was something energetic, but an unsolved mysterious case of a man in a trunk made his mind work trying to fight the void of information. It was good as long as things kept coming no matter how mundane they were. Activity was good for him and John because the pending threat of Moriarty would make them too nervous in another case. That's why he even started to read some of John's blog, to keep track of his companion. John seemed fine; he had that ability to forget everything that was out of reach. On the other hand, Moriarty's presence out of grasp scratched Sherlock's mind. He didn't like the way Moriarty singled out John, it was too close to the truth to be comfortable. It was the reason Sherlock considered he might lose in their final fight; he had to arm against that.

But that had to wait like he had to wait. In meantime, there was work to be done and sometimes it took him nowhere. Frustrating enough John felt the urge to put even that to his blog. Even worse were his titles, since Study in Pink, he resented the way he put their cases simply and bluntly, like Speckled Blonde. Sherlock could get snippy as he wanted but John seemed to retreat to his blunt rubber nature, he just didn't care for Sherlock's disdain as long as other people read him.

Then there was that stupid man with a car that backfired, it was simple enough. In a situation like that, with a limited number of variables and simple witness that wouldn't make up something like that it was a simple number of options. All he needed is to find an offending object to explain it and he made John go there. It wasn't hard; John was easy to persuade to stretch his legs, he was quite fond of walking since he could do that properly. When he was alone he stripped down and covered himself into a sheet. He liked to do that when John was away, it gave him a certain dose of physical and mental freedom, and even he needed sometimes to feel corporal. Having John grunting on the other side of the camera made it even more fun.

"We agreed," Sherlock said simply when John objected.

"When did we agree on that?" John was ready for a fight.

"We agreed yesterday," he said looking for clues in the grass.

"I wasn't even at home yesterday. I was in Dublin."

"It's hardly my fault you weren't listening" answered Sherlock simply; it wasn't like John's being there would change Sherlock's decision. But John liked to fuss about it anyway.

"You just carry on talking when I'm away?" John wondered.

"I don't know how often you are away?" Sherlock answered irritated, his mind had working habits, and talking to John became part of them.

After that John threatened him with a mute button and then men in sharp suits came and tried to make him dress up like he was their puppet. Of course, he kept his sheet; it was an opportunity of a lifetime to walk around in sheet to show his respect of the Queen and Country.

I can't really hear what Sherlock says before he states he doesn't have a heart so I went with loudly if you can hear it please do tell. Thnx.