Three Days

Sebastian Moran was used to moving about.

He went everywhere, wherever Jim needed him. He did jobs all over the world.

But now was strange. Different. He usually had orders. Today, he moved on instinct. He made the orders. There was no one left to give him orders anymore.

He remembered their last conversation. Hours before he carried out the plan. Right after debriefing the other snipers on whom they would kill if Sherlock Holmes refused to jump.

Seb had hung back as the others filed out.

"You didn't say who you wanted me to deal with," he'd said.

Jim had grinned. "I would've thought that's obvious, Seb."

True enough.

"I'll take Watson."

He'd started to leave when Jim grabbed his arm and leaned in to talk in his ear.

"You know you've always been my favorite. Right, Seb?"

It was true that Seb seemed to be taken into his Boss' confidence more often than anyone else. And he seemed to be the only constant factor in Jim's network. He nodded.

Jim released his arm and took a step back to look at Seb.

"If I don't come back," he said, "You're in charge."

His tone of voice had changed completely from the teasing one he'd had a second earlier, as it often did. But this time, coupled with the statement he'd just made, it made Seb's head begin to spin.

Serious. He was serious? The whole network…what did he mean, not coming back?

"Don't say that, Boss," Seb had said. "You'll come back. You're not going to let Holmes beat you, are you?"

Anyone but Seb would have paid for the small jab. But as it was, Jim just began to grin again.

"Exactly, Seb," he'd said. "Exactly."

And there the conversation ended, and Seb never spoke to Jim again.

Seb had known. He'd known right then.

He didn't try to talk Jim out of whatever he was planning. You could never talk the boss out of something once he set his mind to doing it. He expected the news that came later that day. He'd anticipated both deaths.

But anticipation doesn't always prepare you. There was no preparing for losing Jim.

And damn it, he hadn't expected to miss the bastard.

Now, three days later, Seb sat on a plane bound for the Czech Republic.

He had a whole criminal web at his fingertips. Ready for his command.

But first, he had a lot to sort out. With the web and with himself.

So for now, it seemed best to disappear.