A Dish Best Served Cold
Summery: Moriarty is out rule the world once again and he's had it with Sherlock Holmes's interference. He has a plan, but the detective's friends may pay the ultimate price.
Disclaimer All Publicly Recognizable Characters, Settings, Ideas, etc. are the Property of DiC Entertainment and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The Original Characters and Plot are the Property of the Author. The Author is in no way Associated with the Owners, Creators, or Producers of DiC Entertainment. No Copyright Infringement is intended.
Okay let me say right off the bat that these have had minimal editing, as in my editors have not gone over them. Most take place after epilogue, and were written solely because the scenes popped up in my head. Most of them involve Mace and Holmes which is one of the reasons I decided to take them out. It was all character development for an OC, and fanfiction is about having fun with fandom characters. Deleted Scenes…
I'm not happy with this scene, I wanted more banter with Moriarty and Lestrade but…I just couldn't make this work. This whole scene is poorly written with a few Out of Character moments, but hey, the part with Holmes at the end is funny. And I really wanted Moriarty to get a beat down courtesy, Lestrade, I really miss that part. Anyway takes place at Moriarty's third base, other reasons I didn't use this scene is one, I've had enough torture, second, couldn't find a place to put it.
Moriarty beats Lestrade
Moriarty's third base
"Greetings Lestrade," said Moriarty as he entered the inspector's room. "I'm afraid Holmes is in rather poor shape, however I am determined he shall not have a restful day. Therefore I was hoping you would volunteer once more to take his place."
Lestrade glared at the criminal and nodded curtly, she did not feel much like conversing. Moriarty smiled turned and walked out the door, Lestrade shrugged and shoulders shagged followed. She quickly realised that they were not heading to Holmes's cell. "Where are we going exactly?"
"Come now Lestrade you know I have a room devoted to this aspect of my business and before you ask no… Holmes will not be joining us, today it will be just you and me"
Lestrade said nothing wondering why the sudden change in tactics. They continued to walk in silence until Moriarty reached a heavy metal door, "Soundproof" he told her over his shoulder, as he opened the door and gestured her in side. It was a plain room with a few cupboards that were padlocked, stone walls and a high ceiling. Lestrade saw the shackles hanging from the ceiling and failed to suppress a shudder fortunately Moriarty was to busy closing the door to notice, though he would no doubt notice when he watched the recording later.
"You know how this works Lestrade" he told her as he gestured to the shackles Lestrade stone faced walked up to them and allowed Moriarty to place the shackles around her wrist. Her hands were above her head but her feet were still firmly planted on the ground.
"Now seeing as I cannot risk further nerve damage…" he said as he causally shrugged his shoulders then punched her as hard as he could in the gut.
"Ooomph" Lestrade reeled she still had not recovered from her near death experience.
"You know Lestrade these shackles are truly wonderful devices however, I do so miss the old ways" he told her cheerfully before delivering another two blows to her rib cage. Lestrade held her tongue.
"Well that's enough of that" he partially purred as he cupped her chin. Lestrade kneed him in the groin it wasn't a very powerful blow but it did force the criminal back.
"That wasn't very smart." he said coldly as he took out the remote and caused the shackles to retract further into the ceiling so Lestrade's toes were millimetres off the floor and the shackles dung into her wrist. "Arrgh"
"Don't struggle Lestrade you'll only cause yourself harm, and I want that pleasure." He took out the remote and the shackles lifted the inspector higher into the air. When her feet were fifteen feet above the ground the villain smirked and pressed another button. His victim came crashing to the ground.
"Ahhh!" Lestrade had landed feet first and the sudden pain made her think her legs may have been broken, or at least fractured she tried to move 'Yep they're fractured and my ribs aren't exactly in great shape either' attempting to orient herself she looked around the room and saw Moriarty approached her with a crowbar in hand.
"You know I really must remember to ask Mace why she carries this around with her. What possible use could she have for a crowbar?" By this time he was standing next to Lestrade, he smiled as he brought it down on her left leg. "Aaaaahh!"
"I'm sorry did that hurt?" he questioned,
"Believe me your jokes are worse."
His smile never fading he kicked her in the side and sent her rolling across the floor. As far as the shackles would allow, which wasn't very far. Moriarty shrugged, "I don't believe we'll be needing these shackles you are in far to poor a shape to be a viable threat."
'We'll see about that.' thought Lestrade.
Moriarty used his remote to unlock the shackles and started towards her, Lestrade tried to get up but all she managed to do was get to her knees before falling flat on her face.
"Don't bother trying to get up Lestrade." He told her as he knelt down and grabbed her wrist he then raised the crowbar, but before he could bring it down on her fingers she reach out with her free hand and grabbed it, annoyed Moriarty swung it directly into her face. Lestrade reeled, before she could orient herself however she felt the agonizing pain of two broken fingers, Moriarty had brought the crowbar down on her hand, "Argh-" she barley managed to suppress another cry.
"This time Lestrade you decide when the session ends, all you have to do to end this is say 'Please stop.'"
Lestrade said nothing she hadn't heard, the room was spinning from the blow. Moriarty rolled his eyes and reached for her throat. Forcing her to face him. Once he was sure he had her complete undivided attention he continued. "As I was saying, all you have to do to end this session is say 'Please stop'"
"All I have to do is beg." 'so that's what this is about making me beg to help my friends is one thing my pride can take that I don't have the right to make then suffer for my stubbornness, but making me beg to help myself is another story entirely.' Thru her quickly swelling right eye the inspector glared. "Rot in hell"
Moriarty smirked he was in no hurry. He grabbed her other wrist and brought the crowbar crashing down on the middle and index fingers of the left hand "Arrgh"
'Broken leg and broken fingers on both hands no way to get up, well maybe if I put the pressure on my palms…'
Moriarty smiled as Lestrade tried to rise, he stood and took a few steps back, he decide to see if the good inspector could manage the feat, slowly, agonizingly Lestrade rose. Standing mostly on her good leg, which, though not broken was fractured. Groggily she got into a fighting stance. She knew actually landing a punch would hurt like hell but she was determined to fight back, this had nothing to do with Holmes it was about her, she knew Moriarty would not take anything she did here out on her friend.
"Ah such fighting spirit… truly it is a small wonder Holmes admires you so."
"You know why you always lose? You spend way to much time gloating."
Moriarty glared and ran towards her as he tried to tackle her. Lestrade managed to pivot on her good leg, dodging the criminal grimacing in pain she managed to grab hold of Moriarty's shoulder and using his momentum as well a little of her own force, she sent the criminal sprawling to the floor. Unfortunately for her he landed rather close and kicked her broken leg.
"Aaahhh!" cried Lestrade as she fell flat on her back. Moriarty rose and standing over his victim brought his right boot down on her sternum. "Arrgh"
"Well Lestrade I must say you're not one to disappoint." He rested his right arm on his knee as he bent forward to get a good view of her face, he applied more pressure.
"Arggh I'm so glad to have your approval clonehead, really, it means a lot." Lestrade could feel her sternum begin to crack.
"Must you be so obstinate?" more pressure.
"Argh-"
"It is after all common courtesy to say please." he continued, increasing the pressure with every word.
Lestrade was panting she barely heard the criminal, she couldn't make out what he was saying but she could hazard a guess "Assault… on… an officer… of the law is a…is a… serious offence… Iorder you to stop now"
"Does that ever work?"
Lestrade hated how much Moriarty sounded like Holmes.
"I thought I made it clear Miss Lestrade" the villain continued in a dark tone "You are in no position to give—Orders!" he shouted the last word as he kicked Lestrade in the side and sent her crashing into the wall.
Lestrade once again tried to rise Moriarty decided not to wait for her to do so he walked up to her, by this time she was on her knees he reached down and grabbed a turf of her hair and pulled her upwards Lestrade's hands went to her head as she furtively crawled the master criminal's hands as he forced her to rise.
'My leg…' "Arrgh"
"This is nothing compared to what I am about to do to you." He snarled. He grabbed her right arm with his, then her left shoulder he shoved the forward while puling hard on her arm forcing it to dislocate.
"Aaahh!—" Lestrade was starting to breath heavily due to the pain, her eye was seriously beginning to swell, she could barely see out of it and she was still dizzy from the blow to the head, that, in combination to the mounting pile of broken bones was leaving her incoherent. She started to hyperventilate.
'Calm down… Beth you need to… to… calm…calm down. Breath… just focus on… focus on…on your breathing'
All of a sudden Lestrade felt a knee ram into her chest hitting her sternum. The next thing she knew was darkness.
Lestrade's eyes fluttered open despite the fuzzy mind, she tried to observe her surroundings. She saw a few medics surrounding her they put her in a stretcher and started to carry her out of the room. As they passed Moriarty, Lestrade managed to mutter.
"I win."
Moriarty stopped the medics and leaned over the barley conscious detective, he whispered in her ear.
"Tomorrow is a new day with new horrors for you my dearinspector."
00o00
Holmes had watched the whole thing from his cell, throughout the whole episode he had said nothing, only his skin which became increasingly paler and his eyes which would widen or shrink to little slits as he glared, betrayed his emotions.
Though when Lestrade had ordered Moriarty to cease the detective had come closer then ever to partake in the new ritual he had learned in this century called 'whooping', he hadn't of course, but the desire had been there.
He knew it would be some time before Moriarty came to visit. The criminal would wait untill he had information regarding Lestrade's state and would no doubt want to watch the recoding of Holmes's reaction as well as Lestrade's beating. Holmes estimated an hour before he would have to endure a conversation with the villain, an hour of waiting to know if Lestrade would be alright.
An hour later true to the detective's premonition, Moriarty entered. "Ah Holmes did you enjoy today's entertainment?"
Holmes was sitting crossed legged on the floor, he smiled, closed his eyes as if picturing something in his head, he brought up his hands and fingertips spread and touching said "I must admit I found the part where you fell flat on your face due to being unable to successfully tackle an opponent with a broken leg, a fractured leg, four broken fingers, capable of only seeing properly out of one eye, as well as I suspect a few cracked ribs…highly amusing."
Moriarty's smile froze momentarily, then he shrugged and walked out the door. Holmes realised he would have to wait a long time before he found out if Lestrade was alright. He sighed this was not a good day.
00o00
These three scenes take place after Epilogue and before my next Fic 'Power play'. Unlike the previous one these scenes actually happen. They tie up a few lose ends. I considered turning them into a separate one shot but… What's the point?
I love this scene, happens after epilogue and brings out Mace's puckish nature. Also it allows Holmes to forgive himself for losing his temper which I think is important. Mace confronts Holmes Mace's apartment
Holmes knocked on the door he was slightly nervous, and wondering why Mace had invited him over to her place, in his day this sort of thing was considered inappropriate. I hope she has not reconsidered forgiving me for losing my temper. Holmes was still worried that Mace would never fully forgive him for what he put her through.
Mace answered the door and upon seeing Holmes smiled. "Come on in Sherlock" she told him as she turned Holmes stepped into the apartment. It was smaller then he expected he knew it was not unusual for Mace to make 100,000 credits at the high stakes poker games she attended, and many people paid good money to know the going ons of the underworld.
It was a very nice apartment. There was a sitting room with a desk for writing a fire place the walls were a reddish mauve colour, and the window was ideal for observing the happenings on the street. It seemed to radiate warm, and he immediately felt relaxed.
He turned to Mace who was by the vidphone. "You know Sherlock I was rather curious as to what you did to Moriarty, I couldn't help but wonder how you of all people could lose your temper, when you knew what, would happen to me as a result" her voice was soft and her tone had a hint of betrayal to it
Holmes griped his cane She is mad at me…I can hardly blame her.
"Naturally" she continued, Holmes raised his eyebrow, Mace's continence had resumed it's usual playfulness, she wink before continuing "I didn't think you would do the story justice, so I asked Tennyson to do some hacking for me he was able to get the video, did you know you were been recorded?" Mace grinned and turned on the vidscreen, and Holmes saw Moriarty insulting Watson and he saw himself leap up and strangle Moriarty, he smiled at the memory and Mace whooped.
"Man that never gets old! Want to watch it again?" before Holmes could answer Mace rewound the recording and played it again. "That was so cool!" Mace clapped her hands. "I'm surprised you didn't do that earlier. Anyway the reason I asked you over was because I did a little zooming and came up with this." The screen zoomed in on Holmes and Moriarty, the fear in Moriarty's face was plainly visible. "I froze one of the frames printed it out and framed it." Smiling she opened a drawer and removed a framed photograph which she handed to Holmes.
"May I have a copy?" inquired Holmes grinning impishly
"That's why I asked you over. That copy is yours, consider it a thank you, this picture" she said as she turned to the screen "Wasso worth the two hours of tortured, hell it would have been worth ten…Hmmm." A sadistic grin spread across Mace's face and she began to laugh maniacally "Hehehe Hahahaha Mwahahahaha!"
"What are you laughing about?" asked Holmes relief that Mace wasn't angry with him, flooded his voice.
"I wonder what will happen to Moriarty's reputation if I post this picture on the net…"
00o00
Also takes place after epilogue, I had a few people comment on Holmes praying, he was never actively religious in the books, though hinted that he believed there was something, I decided to go into the issue a bit here. We also get to find out how much the yard learns about Holmes' and the other's' imprisonment.
Mace and Holmes Talk
Mace's Apartment
Holmes was getting worried, he had knocked on Mace's door three times and still had not received an answer. He knew Mace was inside, he could hear her throwing that infernal ball of hers against the wall and catching it. Sighing the detective decided to ignore the usual pleasantries and let himself in.
He walked behind the couch in the sitting room where he found Mace seated on the floor with her back to the rear of her couch tossing her pink ball against the wall repeatedly. "bump-bump-catch, bump-bump-catch, bump-bump-catch" went the ball over and over and over, again. She had not yet made any indication that she knew he was there.
"This is the reason you missed our meeting?" he inquired not that he was complaining, it was the meeting in which he was to tell her what happened to him at Moriarty's base. He had not been looking forward to it, however he knew Mace had. When she had not arrived an hour after they were scheduled to meet he had rushed to her apartment as fast as he could, and had been greatly relived to hear her ball, banging against the walls.
"Sorry Holmes I had no right." she told him wearily
Holmes knew she was not apologising for missing their meeting and sat down on the floor beside her. He said nothing merely observed her and took in her profile, as was usual with Mace when she wasn't smiling her face appeared haggard and worn she appeared to be almost 40 not 25. Her expression was weary and even slightly guilt ridden. Not only that, it appeared she had been crying. He waited for her to continue.
"I've always prided myself on a number of things, one of them is the fact that I respect the privacy of others. I don't even know the real names of half my kids."
Holmes nodded to show he understood, he had met a few of Mace's children, kids she found on the streets and took in, temporarily. None save Mickey every stayed with her for more then a month. She kept them until she could find a good home for them, usually a childless couple she knew or even a single man or women she knew to have a big heart, she would then pay for the child's expenses, food, clothing, currently eight children were dependent on her, five of which she was putting thru collage. He knew Mickey was the only one who actually lived with her for any large amount of time, five years actually.
"I don't like making friends tell me about their past, I like hearing about it of course, I'm curious but to force them makes me feel like I am betraying their trust. You are an exception in some ways I don't make you tell me about anything personal just cases you've dealt with. I let you chose which cases to speak of, I haven't made you tell me about anything personal though I would dearly love to know more."
Holmes nodded she was stressing the "I don't make you talk about anything personal" portion. He realised she felt guilty about forcing him to speak but so long as it was nothing personal, she felt justified. After all he was willing to trade the information.
"But with this last case… I have no right to make you talk to me about it. What you went through, that something no one should have to. I have no right to make you relive it, especially when Greyson, and I don't know who else, has been pestering you for the details so they can put them in the report. At first I told myself that you talking about it would help you but… Talking is overrated and if it is forced it never helps… Quite the opposite actually." she muttered as an afterthought
Throughout her speech she had tossed her ball against the wall, and continued to do so now. He waited for her to continue but she appeared to be waiting for him to leave. He knew there was more to this incident then simple guilt, there was a reason she hadn't come to their meeting and told him he could talk about another cases if he desired, she was missing an opportunity for a story.
She was extremely upset about something.
So the great detective continued to sit and wait. It was not until a half an hour had past that Mace spoke
"I miss it you know" Holmes waited for her to elaborate which she did a few minutes later. "My name, been called by the name my father gave me. I miss it."
BANG-BANG-grab, BANG-BANG-grab. Mace was throwing her ball against the wall with a great deal more force. Holmes noticed her arm was shaking.
"But when your on the streets you don't own anything, except your secrets so you keep them to yourself not because you don't trust anyone, but because they want to know your secrets, part of you wants to tell them, talk, ease the burden, but then their not yours anymore. And they're all you own. My name and my past were the only things I could call my own, that made them precious." Mace chocked back a sob and Holmes heard her stomach growl.
She continued to throw the ball against the wall. BANG-BANG-grab. They sat there for several minutes before Holmes rose and went into the kitchen. Mace's kitchen was well stocked, but Holmes was not much of a cook, quite the opposite, but even he knew how to make spaghetti and Mace had some sauce in the fridge.
While Holmes waited for the water to boil, he went to Mace's desk, for some odd reason her wooden stirring spoon was on it. As he picked it up he noticed a picture of a redheaded girl who could only be Mace, she was wearing a red soccer uniform and was covered in mud, and she was hugging a rather annoyed looking redheaded boy who could only be her brother. Despite appearing annoyed he seemed happy and Holmes had the sense that the two were close. He realised the brother was dead, or he would have met him. 'Probably died with her parents' he thought. 'she has never mentioned him before…' The photo was worn and had obviously been handled on numerous occasions. It smelled salty, 'Tears...' Holmes put the picture back down on the desk, and grabbed the spoon he had no right to go thru Mace's affects, especially when she was being so merciful.
Holmes managed to cook the meal without burning anything or setting the kitchen aflame. When he was done he walked over to Mace. "Mace?' BANG-BANG-grab, BANG-BANG-grab "Mace!"
She turned and seemed surprised to see him, he handed her the plate of food and a fork she pocketed her ball and accepted the offering, Holmes sat down and Mace pushed the food around her plate instead of eating it.
He sighed he wanted to talk to her about what was upsetting her but he had no idea what that was, instead he decided to get her mind off the matter, whatever it was.
"How old is your eldest child?"
"Twenty-eight"
Holmes raised an eyebrow her child was older then her?
"I met her when she was 21 brilliant girl but hard on funds, she had scholarships but still she didn't have enough to not have to work a part time job, I was eighteen at the time, and was earning a good amount of money at the tables so I helped her out, she didn't know it was me, I simply acted thru the university, it was funny she would always talk about her mysterious benefactor, and wonder who it was. Didn't tell her it was me till after she graduated. She's a forensic anthropologist now."
The two continued to talk about Mace's children eventually moving to the table a sitting down to tea. Holmes had learned that, like any proud parent she could talk about them for hours and hours on end. After an hour or so Mace's mood had improved and she was back to her usual self.
"So Sherlock, I've been doing all the talking so far and you still owe me a story for today."
Holmes sighed and rolled his eyes but he couldn't stop himself from smiling it was good to have Mace back to her old self.
"Heh if you don't want to tell a story right now you don't have to, with all the time I spent with Watson… I have a few good stories to think about, but there is something I want to talk to you about, it's about another recording."
Holmes raised his eyebrows.
"I saw the recording of you praying" she looked down at her tea "Faith is privet… for most people at any rate" muttered Mace as she glared at some invisible force to her left. Holmes remembered she would often complain of Christian fundamentalist who tried to convert her Mace hated dealing with such people; they annoyed her to no end.
"But I am curious as to your point of view, you never seemed the type to believe in something without proof, though you did say to Watson that you don't believe in chance and that there is a higher order to things."
"I do not believe in faith Mace, it is not based on logic or experience, which I hold above all else. Experience has taught me that there are too many coincidences for things to be chance, everything is in someway connected, there are patterns."
"What object is served by this circle of misery and violence and fear? It must tend to some end, or else our universe is ruled by chance, which is unthinkable. But what end? There is the great standing perennial problem to which human reason is as far from an answer as ever." quoted Mace with a smirk.
Holmes smiled and nodded "To answer your question Mace, I believe there is something out there, perhaps more then one something, but a all seeing all forgiving God as depicted by those fundamentalist who annoy you to no end? No I do not believe in that."
"You prayed"
"I was forced to attend church when I was a child and attending service was mandatory when I was in university, after having prayers instilled in my brain for so many years… it was all I could think to do, and though I do not believe in God as depicted in the bible I do believe in something."
"So you were just asking this something for help?"
Holmes nodded. "How many recordings have you viewed?"
"Hmmm…" Mace looked down at her tea guiltily "All of them..."
Holmes glared but Mace wasn't looking at him. "It was the fist thing I did when we got out, was to get Tennyson and another hacker I know to copy and delete everything they could find with regards to sessions. I then glanced over them. I left the yard with a few fragment copies so they would think Moriarty had tried to delete them. So practically every yardie will be able to see you getting tortured but they won't… hear a word of your conversations with Moriarty, well they'll hear the occasional fragment but nothing much. I figured you'd rather have me see them then the yard. My hacker hasn't seen much all he did was get me the recordings he didn't watch them, and Tennyson…"
She sighed and rose from her chair, she went to her desk and got a brown wooden box, she then returned to her seat and gave it to Holmes. "This box contains the recordings of every session you were forced to participate in or view. When I told you I glanced over them I meant it, I needed to see what should be deleted and what the yard should have. When I saw what was a private moment I pressed the fast forward button so I wouldn't hear what was been said." Her tone indicated how much will power that feat had required. She looked at Holmes who was no longer glaring. "This box contains the unedited versions, they are yours to do with as you please, like I said I would like to watch them and know what happened but…" she shrugged "It's not my business"
Holmes gingerly took the box between his hands. "Thank you"
00o00
This scene is just cute.
Mace and Watson converse
Watson's room
Watson sat in his room reading a book normally he would read in the sitting room with Holmes for company but the detective had comeback from a meeting with Mace in a less then amiable mood. He had said nothing upon entering simply taken his violin and begun to play, and his music was as foul as his mood.
Watson sighed, he wished Holmes would tell him more about what was upsetting him but he knew better then to ask. Watson thought over to matter, he was certain the detective was not upset with Mace herself but with news she had given him. Holmes acted differently when upset with friends or co-workers, he would usually talk to Watson about such things especially when it came to the fairer sex seeing as Watson tended to be better at dealing with people. 'Must have failed to find Moriarty again' the droid concluded. Holmes had been out in disguise every night trying to find the villain, he had seemed hopeful when he left.
Tap-tap-tap
Watson turned towards the sound it was coming from his window. Puzzled the droid got up from his chair and moved the curtain to see… nothing. Confused he opened the window and stuck his head out he looked to the right and still did not find the source, then he turned his head to the left and nearly fell.
"Mace! What are you doing!"
"Standing" stated Mace eyebrow raised as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
It was true Mace was standing… with her feet on the wall. She wasn't wearing her usual grey trench coat and Watson could see the climbing rope attach to a clasp on her belt. Mace smiled, or at lest Watson assumed she was smiling her long red hair was obscuring half her face but her eyes were expressive.
"Why are you out on the wall instead of on the ground? Surly the ground is safer."
"But nowhere near as fun" she chuckled
Watson sighed and smiled.
"I have a lot of phones tapped Watson as well as some cameras set up in interesting locations; climbing equipment comes in handy for setting up."
Watson nodded to show he understood and decided to ignore the fact that, Mace had just confessed in a rather casual manner to trespassing and other crimes he would rather not think about.
The women crouched and asked "How is he taking the news?"
"If his playing is any indication, which I know it to be, not well. What did you tell him?"
"That I can't find anyone who knows anything about Moriarty's current location."
"I thought as much" sighed the droid.
"Watson."
"Yes my dear" Watson smiled slightly as he noticed Mace's smile broaden at being called 'dear' she did that when ever he or Holmes called her that.
"I came pretty close to dying on our latest venture… I don't want my tombstone to say Mace." She dug into her pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. "I don't want you to read this until after I die… make sure it goes on the tombstone." She handed him the piece of paper.
"I give you my word as a gentleman, and I have never broken it before."
"I know"
"I'm sorry Mace where are my manners? Would you like to come in for some tea?"
"Very much thank you"
Well that's it no more... This story is COMPLETE. Good news is I got the first draft of my my next fic done, but it'll take months to edit. I hope you all enjoyed the read.