"How am I a consultant?" A scoff and mocking smirk.

John gave the criminal a look. "You know what I meant. How would you go about it?"

"Weeeeeell," Moriarty said, grinning now, "They underestimate you a lot. But I know some things that they don't!"

A simple tilt of the head was the only indication John gave to continue.

"Like those cameras," the criminal continued, outright giggling now. "You know, they think I did that. But we know better, don't we?"

John said nothing, just looking down instead.

"The fact they couldn't trace your phone for a bit even though you never turned it off is a tell as well. But they can't imagine the good doctor being able to outwit them. Heaven forbid!"

"Are you going to stand here talking or what?"

"We're sitting here talking, Johnny Boy. You and me." Silence for a bit and the criminal continued, "It's been a long time since that's happened, hasn't it?"

"You had me wrapped in a bomb. I don't think it was that long ago." John spoke quietly, still not looking up.

Jim leaned closer to him, ensuring nobody would hear by how close they were and said simply, "I said talking, not threatening or playing a game."

"People's lives aren't a game, Jim."

"You'd know." He softly chuckled, "My first client. What was the job, Johnny? Do you even remember that day or do you just pretend it never happened?"

John clenched his fists, hating his past and the man next to him.

Hating the fact that his life hadn't improved until the day they had met.

"Freshwater West," John said quietly. "Harry was with friends surfing and I was trying to think of how to get us away from our folks. And you were there, analyzing a bit of quicksand. And the first time you saw me, you opened your mouth and said-"

"That you looked as if you wanted to murder someone." A soft chuckle, "And if so, would you like a hand?"

"And I said yes," John said quietly. "You were older than me, about Harry's age, but you didn't act like those idiots. You listened when I laid out my plan about poison and told me how it would fail. But a drunk falling, that wouldn't be odd."

"And it was just so sad he fell the wrong way down the steps and nobody was home to help him," Jim said softly, eyes glittering. "And the price for my help was for you to return the favor. A burglary gone wrong while I was out and who could question our alibis with an entire group of surfers saying we were on the beach?"

John sighed, a long-suffering tired one, "My sister blamed herself for it. She never knew the truth, but felt guilty we weren't home to help him. Began to drink and well, still is to this day." The doctor looked at Jim now, "You have my attention. I'll ask again: how would you go about it?"

A hand across the brim of the hat, "What did they do to you? How did they make you feel?"

"You've got to be joking. I... I don't know." John paused thoughtfully, "Panic. I was panicking."

"You weren't in on it," Jim answered simply, nodding, "and so you panicked. Sheer worry and reaction. Sherlock is in denial, of course, about those reactions regarding himself and I have no doubt his brother would be as well. One thing... after another..."

"Make them panic? But how?"

"They took what you held dear. Do the same."

"What, take Sherlock's violin? Take his experiments?"

A soft laugh, "Johnny, I know better. Do you know what I call them?"

"I'm well aware. What you told that woman, how to get under their skin and mess with them, it was horrible. Yes, I know what your little nicknames for them are."

"Yet she never told yours."

"Who needs to know it? Probably 'Pet-'"

Laughter, real laughter now, causing John to stare at the other man. What was so funny?

"You keep lumping me with those idiots. I know you." More amused chuckling, "I saw your smirk as the old man died-"

"Shut up!"

"-The fact that doctors know people well enough to heal or take apart-" The criminal dodged the punch aimed at him, "and the fact that you weren't just a doctor, you were a soldier. You can heal or kill, best of both worlds."

"This isn't worth it," John said, standing and turning to leave.

"The Wild Card."

John stopped, curiosity getting the better of him.

"If played right, strongest card in the deck... or the weakest." Jim smiled, "I know what you're capable of doing to those that hurt you and those you care about. If they don't care about your reaction to things, what makes you really think they'll show any ounce of compassion for those you care for?"

John didn't move, but he was listening and Jim knew it.

"You've been kidnapped... as I well know," Jim said, grinning and earning a glare from John. "You've been shot at, your old girlfriend threatened, your newer ones insulted... you tolerate a lot, Johnny. How much more before you say enough? How much more before it's too late? You won't get what you want from talking, it's too dull and boring. Might work on the rest of the world, but this time? You've got to go backwards to move forward. And here I am, just like before."

Was it possible to hate someone for telling the truth? Yes, John wanted them to stop taking him for granted, to stop being oh so superior. And yes, both of them probably would tune him out.

Talking wouldn't work with them.

But...

"You said make them panic," John said softly. "But you weren't talking about his things. What then?"

"You." Jim stood with a sly grin. "You're his secret weapon and they don't even realize it. They won't until you're gone."

"I've been gone before."

"Yes, but that was when you were being an idiot like them." There was an insane smile on Jim's face, one that made John rather uneasy. "They used my name in a horribly fake mission that really just shouldn't have been thought of. It was pathetic. And they showed they have no respect for your intellect or abilities. Why are you so worried? Now come on, hurry up before the Iceman finds you. Tick tock."

Jim stood and walked off.

It took John all of three seconds before he decided to follow, "I have an idea as to how to let them know you have me..."

"Nothing wrong with a simple video feed," Jim said back.

"Too easy to fake," John retorted.

"What then?"

The doctor smiled, one that hadn't been seen on his face in a long time, a slow predatory grin, as the two walked side by side into the black car waiting for them before telling his plan.