Moira and Sherlock sat in the flat in utter silence. Sherlock sat in his chair lost in thought. Moira sat on the arm of the couch. Neither moved and neither said a word, and as John and Mary stepped into the room, he realized just how similar they were. Sherlock was a man of science and reason, and Moira was a woman of history and theory, but both loved to work a case. While he was gone, John had actually taken the time to look up this Moira Holmes. She was a historian studying ancient religions, and had left the university where she worked around the same time that she had left Sherlock in order to focus on some major theory she had in mind.
"Wow," Mary breathed, shaking her head as she went to the kitchen to make some tea. John looked from Sherlock to Moira. They were posed the same way from the waist up. John took some time now to study this new woman. She was not tall and not short, but a fair height and weight. She had dark brown hair that hung in curls around her shoulders. Her eyes were a steel blue. Sherlock finally took notice of John and Mary, and looked over at Moira.
"Oh, you're here," Sherlock muttered to John as he stood up to stretch. "Lestrade and Rory should be back soon."
"You know your sister isn't that fond of me," Moira groaned, finally breaking her silence as well. She fell onto the couch and grabbed her laptop.
"So what exactly is this case?" John asked. So far Sherlock had said all too little on the subject.
"A man was found dead rather early this morning with a strange tattoo on his shoulder. The killer shoved the man face down and tore the shirt down enough to show the tattoo," Sherlock explained.
"The tattoo is an ancient symbol, one I haven't seen on a human being in years. The symbol dates back farther than written record, and seems to be the head symbol of an ancient religion, one I've been studying for years," Moira added as she adjusted her glasses.
"Okay, so how come you haven't been to the crime scene?" John asked.
"There is no need, John. The symbol will be our main hint in the matter. Who the man was doesn't matter. The fact that he had recently had the symbol tattooed does matter," Sherlock argued.
"This religion is the most secretive I've ever seen, and it's older than any other known to man. Someone is trying to expose the religion, and more than that, they are killing its followers starting with the newest," Moira explained, setting her laptop aside. "I've been working on understanding this religion, savassi it's called, and decoding its history. That will be key to finding out what group of people would do what our killer is doing, thus narrowing down the search."
"That sounds interesting," Mary cut in as she entered the room with a tray of tea.
"When I saw the symbol I knew I had to get Mo involved. She is the expert on the subject. I don't usually bother too much with history, particularly not religions, but she's fascinated by it," Sherlock remarked as he took a cup of tea. Moira grabbed one as well and sat on Sherlock's knee.
"It's been my life's work ever since I was first introduced to savassi. Many historians only know the most surface parts of the religion, but I've been able to get a decent handle on it. I'm almost done with my work," Moira sighed. Sherlock looked up.
"You are?" he asked. Moira quickly nodded. "Well, I suppose I should say congrats."
"That's unlike you," John huffed. Moira chuckled.
"There is one thing you need to know about Sherlock Holmes: You never will really know him," Moira pointed out. Sherlock just glared at her but said nothing.
"What should we do now then?" Mary asked as she took a seat.
"I'm not quite sure yet," Sherlock sighed. "Let's wait for Lestrade and Rory to get back."
Rory had snuck out saying she was going to the bathroom. Instead she called Jim. "I'll meet you at the café down the street," she breathed.
"Rory, stay safe," Jim warned.
"What's going on?" Rory asked as she turned the hall.
"I'm not sure, but I don't think we're safe," Jim sighed. Rory bit her lip. She could hear the worry in his voice, something so unlike him it sent chills down her spine.
"I'll do what I can," Rory assured. "Just meet me at." She was cut off as a hand clapped over her mouth. Her phone clattered to the ground. She tried to scream, but soon found the world turning black.
"She's not there," Lestrade panted n the other end of the line. Sherlock felt his blood turn cold. Where was Rory? He kept himself calm.
"Get back here then," Sherlock growled. He tossed his phone to Moira who plugged it in to charge. "Where the HELL could she have gone?"
"She's missing? Do you think she could have been meeting with Moriarty?" Moira asked.
"Wait, so he's really back then?" Mary inquired. They all nodded.
"My worst fear at the moment is that she went to see him," Sherlock sighed. "Particularly under the circumstances."
"What circumstances?" John asked. Sherlock and Moira looked at each other.
"Moriarty is a savassi based name," Moira explained. "If he actually practices the religion, then there is a large target on his head. Moreover, Rory will be at risk as well."
"God, this is just getting more complicated," John sighed. Mary rested a hand on his shoulder.
"We should get Rosalyn under stronger watch," Moira suggested to Sherlock. A sudden knock came at the door. Sherlock jumped to his feet. Mrs. Hudson had gone out shopping for the day, so Sherlock wondered who it could have been. Lestrade was too far away to have been here now. He went over and opened the door.
"I come in peace," Moriarty panted. "Rory's been taken."
"What makes you think that?" Sherlock growled. John looked to see who it was and picked up a gun on the table. Sherlock raised a hand to have John wait.
"She called me. She wanted to see me, but as she was talking she dropped her phone. That's not like her, and I could have sworn I heard her try to scream," Moriarty explained. Sherlock thought for a moment.
"Set down the gun, John," Sherlock ordered with a sigh.
"Are you mad?" John exclaimed.
"Set it down," Sherlock growled. John finally caved. Mary and Moira just looked at each other.
"Let's, um, get another cup for tea," Mary coughed. The two women left the room. Moriarty stepped inside and shut the door behind him.
"I only came here because I had nowhere else to turn," Moriarty confessed.
"All these years and you didn't try to do anything," Sherlock pointed out.
"Things change, Sherlock Holmes. People fall in love," Moriarty explained.
"You wouldn't," Sherlock argued. Moriarty just laughed.
"How do you think I met Irene Adler?" Moriarty asked. "I'm a man, same as you, and I see you look at that one girl a certain way. By the way, congrats on the wedding, John."
"Shut up," John spat. The two women came in.
"You know about the killings," Moira remarked. "That's why you're concerned."
"You know about savassi?" Moriarty inquired.
"I've been studying it most of my life," Moira replied, resting a hand on Sherlock's tense shoulder.
"That seems like a difficult task," Moriarty sighed. Moira just shrugged. Sherlock was just studying the man across from him. Moriarty's eyes narrowed suddenly. "Wait, I've seen you before. You're that singer at that one bar downtown, aren't you?" Moira blushed.
"You sing downtown?" Sherlock asked.
"It's a cover to keep you and Mycroft off my ass," Moira defended herself. Sherlock just shrugged.
"You're rather talented," Moriarty pointed out. Moira just rolled her eyes. She looked down at her husband.
"When Lestrade gets her, perhaps I should explain the situation to him," Moira suggested.
"Yes, do it in the hall," Sherlock agreed. She squeezed his shoulder.
"So how long have you two been together? Rory has mentioned you, but not often," Moriarty cooed.
"Shut up," Moira barked. She was getting tired of his voice. Just then Lestrade knocked on the door and Moira went out to talk to him.
"Moira… It's good to see you," Lestrade muttered. "What's going on?"
"We think Rory was taken. Her sole client came by saying she had called him and something happened," Moira explained.
"What's with the tone?" Lestrade asked.
"Her only client is Moriarty," Moira sighed.
"You have got to be kidding me," Lestrade growled. Moira shook her head.
"He's part of savassi. It's tied to the murder, and he knows that," Moira explained.
"So the mark is what we think it is," Lestrade assumed. Moira nodded. "Rosalyn should be watched then."
"You should too. Your family adopting her puts you all under the same risk. Why do you think Moriarty is so scared about Rory?" Moira replied.
"Can we go inside?" Lestrade asked.
"Will you not try and kill Moriarty?"
"He's in there?"
"Why do you think I'm out here with you?"
"Fine, I'll leave him be," Lestrade sighed. Moira opened the door and they both stepped inside. Lestrade just glared at Moriarty.
"Does everyone have to hate me?" Moriarty groaned.
"Yes," everyone else replied in unison. Moriarty just frowned.
"I'll send a team to keep an eye on Rosalyn," Lestrade offered Sherlock.
"I'll be in touch Mycroft," Sherlock sighed.
"He's going to hate you. You can't even keep an eye on your own sister safe for 24 hours! By the way, where the bloody hell is your damn ring? If you and I are really going to be together again, you should be wearing it," Moira lectured.
"You're acting like my mother," Sherlock groaned.
"Go," Moira growled. Sherlock glared at her but got up and followed the order. John and Moriarty both started chuckling.
"I never thought I'd see him listen to another human being like that," John laughed.
"You'd be surprised the power we women may have," Mary pointed out.
"I think you and I will be getting along just fine," Moira sighed. The two women smiled as Sherlock reentered the room.
"I forgot how annoying this thing is," Sherlock sighed. Moira looked down at her wedding band and shrugged.
"Moriarty, what can you tell us about who is targeting those who follow savassi?" Moira asked, fixing her glasses as she grabbed her notebook and pen.
"I'm not exactly sure. It's some old organization, a secret society I believe. I've only heard rumors," Moriarty explained.
"Come sit with me over here. Perhaps you can help me with some of my notes," Moira offered. They went to the kitchen to work.
"So you two finally set aside your problems," Lestrade sighed as Mary handed him a cup of tea.
"What problems were those?" John asked as he cleared his throat.
"You know I was very much into drugs before, right?" Sherlock sighed. John and Mary both nodded. Lestrade just looked down. "It dealt with that."
A/N: Hi... Sorry I didn't post yesterday. I've been working on a fan fiction for a friend and I've become absorbed by it. So that's where I stand now. Yay. I'll keep this short and sweet. I think the plot is very much thickening now and I'm excited to keep this rolling (when I remember to post aka when I can drag self away from other work) and show you guys what comes next. That's what I've got for now, so check out my profile as always, hope you enjoyed this chapter, and please leave a review!
