Author's note: Thanks for the reviews and the follows.

Also, shorter chapter. Again. My apologies.

I don't own anything, please review.

„Why would he kill a minister if he could just wait for he right opportunity to kill us?" Dean asked.

"Because he doesn't want to kills us, at least not yet" Sherlock explained, putting on his coat. "You have read his file, you know he likes to play games."

Dean obviously didn't have an answer to that, so he simply nodded.

"So what now?" Sam inquired and Sherlock rolled his eyes.

"We investigate the case. Obviously".

Sam seemed confused by his calm demeanour, but Sherlock didn't have the time to care whether or not the Winchesters thought he was a machine or not.

"John and I will go to the crime scene..."

"And why can't we come with you?" Dean wanted to know.

"Because it is difficult enough to get other police men than Greg to tolerate me and John at a crime scene – and he won't be the highest-ranking officer there. This isn't just a normal murder. Somebody killed the Minister of Foreign affairs."

"We understand" Castiel replied, surprising both Sam and Dean. "We will endeavour to make your flat demon-proof in the meantime. Since Moriarty knows we are here and working together there is no reason to occupy a hotel room any longer".

"Thank you" Sherlock said; John shot him a puzzled look but nodded.

"We'll be in touch".

With these parting words, the consulting detective turned around and left.

John followed him as always.

When they were seated in a cab, driving to the mansion of Thomas Melville, Minister of Foreign Affairs, John asked, "Should we tell Greg?"

"You mean should we tell him that my brother is possessed by a demon and responsible for the Minister's murder?"

John sighed. "He's not going to believe us, is he."

"He is Mycroft's friend, possibly is only one." He didn't have to elaborate what he meant. He knew John was remembering that he had refused to believe Sherlock a fraud, just as he was. Mycroft and Greg weren't exactly as close as him and John; their relationship was built on long conversations over brandy. And Mycroft wasn't exactly someone who shared his thoughts. In fact, he was even more closed off than Sherlock had ever been.

But somehow Greg didn't mean. They had been something like comfort for each other during the time the consulting detective had been gone – regardless of what John might think, Sherlock was sure telling Moriarty his life story hadn't been easy for Mycroft – and they trusted one another.

It had certainly been Mycroft – Moriarty – to send Greg to the crime scene. He had probably considered it a proof of their friendship, when in reality –

It had been a message to Sherlock.

See the control I have over your friend, Sherlock?

Suddenly a thought came to his mind, and he swallowed. He should have thought about it sooner. He had let emotions cloud his judgement.

What if Greg was already possessed? What if most of his friends were already possessed? He was reasonably sure there was no demon in John – he couldn't have failed to notice – but other than that...

That's your weakness. You always want everything to be clever.

He relaxed slightly. Moriarty wouldn't enjoy playing a game he had already won by making sure each and every one Sherlock could trust was working for the other side. Becoming a demon hadn't changed the consulting criminal much.

"Do you think he left any clues behind?" John asked, startling Sherlock out of his thoughts.

"Yes I do" Sherlock answered calmly. "In fact I am rather sure we will find more than enough evidence to put an innocent man into prison."

John looked at him. "To show his superiority?"

"To show us he can do whatever he wants. I have no doubt that the new Minister of Foreign Affairs is going to be – "

"Possessed" John finished the sentence. "But why kill the Minister at all?"

"For fun" Sherlock said simply, "Plus, if we are at the crime scene, we can't help the Winchesters and Caswork out how to exorcise him".

""Cas?""

Sherlock shrugged. "He offered us to call him by his nickname".

"I'm glad you had someone to talk to" John commented, "This can't be easy for you" and the consulting detective realized his friend felt guilty because he'd slept last night.

"It isn't". There had been a time when Sherlock wouldn't have said anything else and instead concentrated on the case, but ever since he had come back, he had made an effort to let John know what he was feeling, mostly because his friend couldn't help but feel worried when he kept something from him.

"He is my brother. But we have to stop Moriarty at all costs".

John nodded. "What aren't you telling me?"

Sherlock wasn't surprised and answered, matter-of-factly, "Cas told me that, if we can't exorcise Moriarty, we can burn his bones to kill him."

"It would kill Mycroft too." It was a statement, not a question, and Sherlock nodded.

"Sherlock, I – " John bit his lip. "We won't let it get to that" he finally continued firmly and the consulting detective gave him a small smile. He knew that John couldn't know that, couldn't predict what would happen, but he felt better anyway.

They arrived at the mansion and made their way through the police cars Donavan was standing in front of the crime scene tape. As always, she wasn't pleased to see Sherlock, but since she had made an effort to be more polite to the consulting detective since he had come back, she simply greeted them with a nod and held up the tape for them.

Greg was waiting for them in the living room where the body lay; with him was the Chief Superintendent, and Sherlock suppressed a sigh.

"Sherlock" Greg greeted them, "John. Minister Melville was found this morning by his secretary who came to check on him when he failed to keep an appointment with the Prime Minister. His throat was slit. No sign of forced entry".

There wouldn't be, not when Moriarty could transport himself wherever he wanted.

The cut was clean, precise; the victim must have died instantly.

Almost as if he had been there, Sherlock could see what had happened; Mycroft suddenly appearing in the house, Mycroft's hand clutching the blade, Mycroft pulling it over the man's throat with a smile on his lips... He took a deep breath.

"Sherlock, is everything alright?"

He looked up to find Greg looking at him with concern and John with barely hidden understanding. The Chief Superintendent stood in a corner, clearly annoyed, and Sherlock would have felt the same if he hadn't other matters to attend too.

"I'm fine" he answered coldly, "just thinking". He stood up. He knew the truth, but he also knew what Moriarty wanted him to do, and that he would have to play along for now. Until the Winchesters and Cas figured out how to send Moriarty back to Hell. If they didn't –

Sherlock didn't want to think about the alternative.

"He let the murderer in" he said even though it was not true. "It must have been someone he trusted, someone intelligent enough to avoid leaving evidence."

He already knew that there had to be something in this room that would lead the police to Melville's secretary and that Anderson or another idiot would find it eventually, but he would worry about exonerating him after they had stopped Moriarty.

He stood up.

"That will be all for now." He would have left if Greg hadn't grabbed his arm.

"Sherlock – " he was obviously going to ask for more information, but stopped when he saw Sherlock's expression and instead began, "Is this about –" his eyes darted to the Chief Superintendent, who was still fuming in a corner "about the other case?"

"In a way" Sherlock answered cryptically. "I will keep you informed."

"Sherlock – "

"I said I will keep you informed."

Greg looked at John, who shook his head, and sighed.

"Alright. Of you go. Just stay safe."

Sherlock hardly thought Greg would consider going after a demon "safe", but he certainly wasn't going to tell him that.

John followed him as always. As soon as they had left the crime scene, Donavan shooting them a curious look – apparently she realized he was acting differently, so maybe she was slightly less idiotic than he had supposed – the doctor stated, "It was him".

"Yes."

"But still – just for fun? I mean, Moriarty is certainly the type to kill for the sake of it, but – "

"John" Sherlock explained impatiently. "Think. There were no signs of forced entry. He just appeared behind Mr. Melville and slit his throat. It is another demonstration of power".

His friend understood.

"No one is safe".

"Correct".

They didn't say anything else until they arrived at 221B. They opened the front door to find a sign sprayed onto the floor.

"Mrs. Hudson is going to love that".

Sherlock shrugged. "It can't be helped. And it matches the one in front of her door, at least".

John looked over and realized that the hunters had indeed made sure Mrs. Hudson had a sign in front of her door too.

There was another one in front of their flat; others were carefully painted on the floor under the windows; and, strangely enough, salt was strewn on the window sills.

Sam was sitting on the sofa, a laptop in front of him.

"Hey John, Sherlock."

"Hello, Sam. What is all of this?" the doctor asked, gesturing towards the salt.

"It prevents demons from getting in. Even powerful ones."

"I guess the signs – "

"They are called sigils" Cas explained coming out of Sherlock's bedroom. "They serve the same purpose. Sherlock, your room should be safe now. Dean is busy with John's".

"Done!" the hunter called out at this moment. A few seconds later, he appeared in the living room.

"And not only that. We came up with a plan to trap Moriarty".

"Yes?" Sherlock asked.

"We need his bones" Sam said slowly.

"To kill Mycroft?"

Both Winchester brothers shot Cas disapproving looks. Sam sighed.

"I know you don't like the idea, but this isn't just about killing him. It's about – "

"Leverage" Sherlock said, suddenly understanding.

"Exactly" Cas confirmed. "If we find Moriarty's bones he will have to come when we call, if only to prevent us from igniting them."

John looked like he wanted to protest, but one glance at Sherlock told him not to.

The consulting detective bit his lip before asking in a determined voice, "What are we waiting for?"

Author's note: Demonstrating his power with a pointless kill just seemed like something Moriarty would do.

I hope you liked it, please review.