Ripple

By: Raven612

Chapter 8: Domestic Bliss

Summary: Serial killer caught, but now all the problems begin.

A/N: I have no idea why it's taking me so long to update, oh wait, I do, all these new Sherlock episodes and my emotions! Anyways, bloody brilliant Hounds and ASiB were, I just want to say I love you all and enjoy this next thrilling installment of Ripple!

*Day 6 of Hell*

John leaned back against the hard bench with a sigh. He rolled his shoulders to ease the stiffening of the muscles there and tipped his head back to gaze up at the slowly darkening sky. He blinked slowly as shouts and laughter reached his ears. Somewhere in the distance a child had started to cry. He should really look to see if it was Anna or James, but he couldn't find the energy.

Between watching the twins and dealing with his ever excited lover, John Watson has not gotten a lot of sleep under his belt. He closed his eyes just as an airplane moved across the sky over his head. He can hear the distant rumble of the jet as it fades into the distance. His arms relax completely at his sides and soon his whole body follows suit and just sags into the bench.

"Uncle John?" a young male voice suddenly intrudes on John's quiet musings.

John sighs and sits up to look at James, who is standing before him, "What's up?" John asks and muffles a yawn with his hand. He had taken the twins out of the flat and to the park to give Sherlock some quiet time to think on the case he and New Scotland Yard are dealing with. There had been another body this morning, a homeless man and his dog. It was graphic, much like the other scenes, but Sherlock assured them all that it was nothing compared to what would be done if they didn't catch the man.

James looked shy all of a sudden, "I need to use the loo," he said and looked over his shoulder as the small brick building.

John sighed; he wished that James would be more like his sister in cases like this. He put his hands on his knees and pushed himself up from the bench. He held his hand down to James and led the boy towards the loo. As they passed by the park John found Anna swinging. He caught her attention to let her know where he and James were going. He walked into the smelly bathroom and cringed at the odor as he led James to an empty stall. His eyes moved along the graffiti in the small building and shook his head at how unoriginal all the slander was.

"Alright then, let's hurry up," John said as he stepped into the small stall with James. John turned his back on his nephew and read the words painted on the inside as well. It wasn't like he enjoyed the harsh comments or ads to call someone; he just needed something to do with his eyes and the bright paint immediately caught his attention; one phrase in particular. It was a bright red color. It didn't take up a lot of room on the stall door, but it stood out. He squinted just to make sure he read it right.

Hello Johnny boy, ready to have some fun?

John involuntarily shivered at the phrase. It damn well chilled him to the bone. He hated the coincidence of the phrase and the very real threat of Moriarty hanging over Sherlock's and his heads. Sherlock probably would have discounted John's fears about the implications the graffiti might have; John could almost hear him now ticking off the reasons it wasn't Moriarty and the first being, how would Jim know John would come to this park and use this very stall. Also to be extra smart and smug he'd discuss the loopiness of the letters and the arches of the o's or the p's. To sum it up, Sherlock would huff about John being paranoid and turn around with his dark coat billowing dramatically. John frowned; it was just like Sherlock to act that way.

"Uncle John, I'm done," James announced and brought John back from his thinking.

"Good, c'mere," John said and used his hip to push the stall door open.

When he had James outside of the smelly building he pulled a small bottle of hand sanitizer from his coat. He put a dollop into James' hand and then into his own. He made sure the boy had thoroughly rubbed it in before he sent him back to play for a few more minutes. John figured he'd let Anna and James play themselves out at the park so that they would fall right to sleep back at the flat, though John wouldn't be having sex with his lover, what with the case still going on; he'd damn well enjoy a quiet night catching up on other things. He checked to make sure the twins were in sight before shoving his hands into his coat pocket and resuming his seat on the wooden bench. He shifted a bit; the damn thing was uncomfortable, until he found an acceptable pose with his back slouched slightly and his legs kicked out in front of him.

John was enjoying his little bubble of relaxation on the bench when he felt a sudden shift in the atmosphere. He narrowed his gaze and scanned the park. Nothing seemed to be amiss, the children were still running about and playing and the gaggle of mothers across the way were still discussing book club or whatever it was moms discussed. The wind had shifted direction and the air was growing a bit icier. He shivered and found James and Anna climbing up to go down the yellow slide.

"Fancy meeting you here doctor," came a male voice from next to him. John could hear the grin in the other male's grin.

John heaved a sigh, "Sebastian," he muttered and didn't turn to acknowledge the man sitting next to him.

"I never pegged you for a park kind of guy, John Watson, but then I never pegged you as one for the blokes either," Moran sniggered a bit with the last comment and elbowed John in the ribs.

John shot him a glare and scooted further away, "Well we all have our off days, don't we Moran, some of us more than others," John allowed himself a small smug grin at the dig.

Moran didn't let his mask falter, "The kids sure are cute, didn't think a bloke and another bloke could produce things like that," he chuckled and pulled a cigarette out of his breast pocket.

John stiffened and narrowed his gaze ahead of him. He would not give Moran the satisfaction of meeting his gaze, "You can fuck off now, please," John seethed.

Moran chuckled and waved his match in the air to extinguish the flame, "It's a public place mate and I aint done sitting here yet," he replied and a long thin line of smoke escaped his lips as he spoke.

John glared at nothing, but kept the twins in his sight. He didn't like that Sebastian had found him here and he was a little put off by the way the man was sitting, as if he was preparing to pounce on something or someone.

"What are their names?" Moran asked and sucked on the end of his cigarette and leaned lazily back against the bench, his elbows propped on either side of his chest.

"I said you can bloody well bugger of Moran, I am not in the mood to deal with you," John spat and bunched his fists tighter in his coat pockets.

Sebastian chuckled and plucked the half smoked fag from his mouth and threw it on the ground, "I really hope you've taught them not to talk to strangers John, you know the state the world is in today," he said and patted John on the shoulder as he got to his feet.

John cringed away from the man as he patted him and looked down at his feet disgusted, he didn't respond to Moran either, instead he got to his own feet and marched straight for the twins while Moran took off down the path in an opposite direction.

John and the twins arrived home just before supper and Sherlock, it seemed, had left at some point. John sent the kids to wash for dinner and he fished his cell phone from his pocket. He punched out a quick text to Sherlock to see where he was and what he was doing. He set it on the counter and began digging around the kitchen for something to eat. He finally settled on a box of cheesy noodles and some small sausages he found in the fridge. He got everything cooking on the stove when his phone vibrated. He picked it up and read the message.

Be home soon. Just arrested the killer.
SH

John sighed; he was relieved to know that Sherlock had finally caught the mad-man. He typed out a response and set his phone back down. He'd finally have his lover to himself again. Nothing could wipe the smile from John's face, which was true until he heard a crash from the living room and Anna yelp. He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. He'd seriously have to think about watching the kids next time Harry and her wife left for a holiday.

"James, Anna, what did you do this time?" he demanded as he walked into the living room. Immediately he couldn't see what they twins had done until he spied the skull on the floor and the familiar pink phone sitting next to the pieces.

"We're sorry Uncle John, but we heard it beep," James said quickly.

Everything was forgotten as John's gaze focused entirely on the phone. Sherlock had sworn that he had thrown the thing out ages ago after the pool incident. John's fists clenched, "Go sit down for dinner loves, I'll be in in just a moment," he told them evenly.

The twins nodded in unison and scampered towards the kitchen. John heard the chairs scrapping as they got into them and then scooted up to the table. John bent and picked up the phone; well sex was off for the night and in its place was going to be a very serious chat. He unlocked the phone and read the message.

Tut tut Sherlock, so you found my man. No matter, now the real fun will begin. Just how safe do you think your sick little dog and his litter are?
JM

John shivered as he read the message a second time. He absolutely oozed with hate for James Moriarty. His hand clenched around the phone and he pocketed it. Sherlock would have some penance to do until he was back in John's good graces again, and John was almost proud that his precious skull had broken into three pieces. Served Sherlock right for keeping such a huge secret from him, and thinking he could get away with it too. John then picked up the broken skull pieces and brought them into the kitchen. He knew Sherlock would most likely be brimming with anger when he saw it, but John didn't care. He joined Anna and James at the table for a silent meal.

Two hours after John had tucked the twins in for the night, Sherlock finally arrived home. He brought the smells of London in with him. John didn't look up from his laptop. He had the phone sitting on his knee and he was waiting for Sherlock to notice it.

"We got him John, poor bloke fell to pieces when Lestrade knocked on his door, it was brilliant, all the sniveling and begging," Sherlock beamed as he removed his coat and hung it up.

John didn't answer or look up.

Sherlock furrowed his brows and walked into the living room, "Joh-" Sherlock froze when he saw the phone on John's knee.

"Well, when were you going to tell me you've been keeping in contact with your boyfriend?" John asked calmly and snapped the lid to his laptop close.

Sherlock glared and looked at the mantel, "Where's William?" he asked choosing to focus on the lesser of two evils.

John snorted, "He's drying out in the kitchen, Sherlock don't you try and focus on something else, we are discussing this," John said and picked up the phone as if the detective needed a reminder.

Sherlock slouched as he walked over to the couch and plopped down, "John I know you're upset and I know I told you I got rid of it but…I couldn't just throw it away, not when he was still out there. It's the only way he keeps in contact and the only way I'll know for sure just what he's up to or has his hand in."

John nodded, what Sherlock was saying did make sense. This cell phone with its unassuming pink case was their only link to the master criminal, "Sherlock, how come you feel like you need to hide things from me?" John sighed and rubbed his eyes.

Sherlock wanted to pout and not talk about the phone. He hated when John was upset or disappointed in him. He didn't care about anyone else, but if John ever felt negatively towards him, Sherlock always felt a little bit of hate for himself. He turned his head to stare at the wall, "I don't want you to be disappointed in me or with anything I do," he finally answered after a beat.

John frowned, well that was not the answer he was looking for, he sighed and deflated in his chair, "Sherlock, you truly are only human, no matter what you think, and sometimes people will be disappointed in you. You just need to realize what you did wrong and learn to fix it and apologize and move on. Life comes with disappointments, it's something everyone faces. I will get disappointed in you, but that doesn't mean I don't love you or care for you, it just means we both need to try harder to not do things the other doesn't like. I know I'll disappoint you too, it's life Sherlock and it happens."

Sherlock blinked and looked down at his shoes, "I'm sorry John I just…I didn't want you to know because I knew how upset you'd be," he sighed and drew his knees up to his chest. He clasped his arms around them.

John frowned; Sherlock was going into protective mode. John got up from his chair and moved to sit beside the detective. He leaned against him slightly, "Sherlock, from now on there will be no more secrets, especially ones you think might pertain to me and my safety, those are ones I utterly need to know," John said and put and arm across Sherlock's back.

Sherlock closed his eyes and pulled a breath in through his nose and just let himself fall against John, "Understood," he finally muttered and then turned his head a little to look up at John.

John nodded, "Right, good then, that being said, you've got another message," he said and handed Sherlock the phone.

Sherlock frowned and uncurled himself and grabbed it. He unlocked it and went to the inbox; he read the message and his frown deepened. He put the phone into his pants pocket, "He's a dead man if he tries to lay one single finger on you John," Sherlock muttered and cuddled into his side.

John grinned and lifted his arm to settle his fingers in Sherlock's curls to softly card through them, "You're a total wanker, you know that, always get me so worked up and then wind me right back down all in a matter of minutes," John mumbled with a grin and leaned over to press a kiss into Sherlock's curls.

Sherlock chuckled, "Part of my charm, John," he rumbled into the shorter man's neck and closed his eyes. He was utterly exhausted and all he truly wanted was to curl up with his John in their bed and sleep for a week. The case had taken more out of him then he'd imagined it would. He wanted to forget himself and forget the threats Moriarty was making towards his family, if just for one night, he wanted it, craved it, needed it, but a sudden beep erased all that hope.

John stiffened, "Don't Sherlock, wait until tomorrow," he said and turned his head to look down at the detective.

Sherlock's brows were set and he was holding himself rigid. He needed to see what Moriarty had said now, though he truly didn't want to, he needed to. He straightened up from John who rose from the couch. Sherlock only blinked when John bent and pressed a kiss to his forehead and told him to come to bed. Sherlock absently nodded as he pulled the phone from his pocket. He unlocked the phone and opened the message.

Tick tock Sherlock, how adorable you and your pet snuggling on the couch. Johnny makes such an adorable lap dog, do you think he'd be as obedient to me? Shall we find out? Who do you think will scream louder; your pet or the two little elves in the next room over?
JM

A/N: Goodness me this chapter took entirely too long to pump out. I lost my muse for a bit there guys, but no worries; he is back and sexy as ever! Please review, it will help me be faster in the future! As usual no beta or Brit-pick .;;