"Oh, for God's sake..."
"why, what's wrong now Sherly?"
"I got the who, the why and the how. That should be it."
"oh? what's the why?"
"You did it to see if you could get away with it. Just because you wanted to. You wanted to test yourself."
"huh, well, close enough Sherly. We've got more important things to do." he stood and walked to wards the door,
"not so stupid after all" he sang.
"Of course not. Just worried." Moriarty started to walk out the door and down the steps,
"good bye Sherly, I'll give your best to johnny boy." Sherlock grabbed the elbow of Moriarty's jacket, his eyes irritated.
"John," he reminded him.
"ah, John. huh, Jawwn." he rolled his eyes mockingly, "what about him?"
"I solved your puzzle. Give him back." Sherlock was agitated: was he intending to keep John?
"oh, that." he was talking loudly, his face about an inch from Sherlock's" I am sooo changeable!"
"Not this time, Jim," Sherlock growled, but Jim merely grinned and span back towards the door, so Sherlock tightened his hold on Jim's sleeve. "John. Now."
"Why would I want to give you him now? You needed so much help anyway..."Jim grinned,
"the game's only just started, Sherly."
"Because I have solved the puzzle, that's what you asked for me to do.- Game?" Sherlock raised an eyebrow, then sighed "I'll be willing to play along if you let me have someone else on my side."
"sure, go ahead. why not have Anderson?" Jim lifted his phone from his pocket and opened up Anderson's number, his finger hovering over the call button.
"Oh, God no!" Sherlock's features pulled into a shocked expression, horrified.
"I can't stand that man. You know full well that I meant John. It's not fair if it's just me against you and all your people, is it?"
"obviously. the odds are stacked against you, but you forget I know about your homeless system, and obviously your contacts in the police give you a threat to use against me as well as a source of resources and information." Jim winked and attempted to pull away, Causing Sherlock to smirk. "Well remembered." He didn't release his grip.
"What now, Jim?"
"well, as you are so needy," Moriarty rolled his eyes", I will just have to help you and make my arrangements on the go."
"I'm not needy," he grumbled, ego bruised.
"do you want help or not?" Moriarty winked and turned to the door.
"I want John, but I suppose you will have to suffice." Sherlock was reluctant to accept Jim's proposal, but he had no choice; John had to come first.
"You're the way to get to him, anyway."
"do you know, Sherly," Jim said, half dragging Sherlock back up the stairs "I'm amazed you're this trusting. you are making this so easy."
"I'm not trusting, I just - want - John – back. You have the information I need. Simple." Jim plopped into "Sherly's" armchair and put his hand in his pocket,
"how do you know I'm not gonna lie?" Sherlock rolled his eyes.
"I can detect lies. And besides, you said you wouldn't lie in your game."he raised an eyebrow suggestively, daring Moriarty to contradict himself.
"that was then, I might if I want to, but then technically, I could have been lying then as well..."
"You're an insufferable fool," Sherlock sighed.
"now that wasn't very nice." Moriarty sent yet another text, this time with a smirk on his face. A few seconds later, his phone bleeped and the smirk became a garish smile. "hey Sherly, I've got a present for you." he held the screen up for Sherlock to see.
"What?" On the screen was a graphic picture of John in his cell, tied up and bloody, most likely unconscious from the blows to his head, torso and legs.
"the incident from earlier did involve John, but he wasn't being bad, Seb had gone too far. you did ask" Sherlock's stomach dropped.
"J-John..." His eyes widened, and he reached out a hand as if by doing so, he could reach John. The hand curled into a fist and dropped back to his side.
"Keep better control of your pets. And release John. Now."
"now now," Jim was grinning gleefully as he saw Sherlock's reaction,
"Only one thing can release John, Sherly, and that's you. Don't worry, I've made it easy for you, even John could do it" Moriarty chuckled at his own joke.
"oh, no, of course he couldn't, I forgot..." Jim grinned again, but this time there was a morbid curl to his lips, staring into Sherlock's eyes, daring him to retaliate in some way. Sherlock desperately wanted to hit Jim, but he guessed that it was what he wanted. He took a deep breath and turned away, unable to look at the picture any longer.
"What do I need to do this time? Just locate him, or is there more to it?" Sherlock's hand covered his face as he tried to compose himself.
"oh no Sherly, I'm standing in for John remember? he doesn't know any more than you. think of this as one or your important cases." Sherlock scoffed, hand dropping again to his side.
"Please, you could never replace John. But, since you're going to be this way..." Sherlock picked up his coat and scarf again, donning them roughly.
"Get ready. We're going out." Jim pulled his hand out of his pocket, a cigarette twisted between his fingers. he put the joint in his mouth and stood. Sherlock didn't wait for him; he strode down the stairs and out of 221B, glancing back and forth before heading left down the street. Jim followed, the unlit cigarette in his mouth.
"Aha," Sherlock said quietly, approaching one of the members of his homeless network. He searched his pockets for a moment before offering him a note, which he took gratefully. Sherlock lowered his voice. "Track down John Watson. Meet back here."
the ragged man nodded and turned, limping slightly as he walked down the street. Sherlock smirked and turned on the spot, walking back the other way.
"Now... next..." After watching this, Jim pressed a speed dial on his phone and half skipped after Sherlock, exhilarated.
"What are you so happy about, aside from your game?" Sherlock eyed Jim's cigarette almost hungrily.
"nothing Sherly. by the way, I do not tolerate cheating. you have to be the one to find John, not anyone else. they can help, but indirectly." Sherlock grimaced, running his fingers through his hair.
"You could have mentioned that. No chance of any hints, are there?" Sherlock glanced at Jim, trying to deduce John's whereabouts from any lingering dirt or scum on his clothes. Seeing nothing, he sighed.
"I doubt you were ever in the same place as him..." "of course I was, I put him there, stupid Sherlock." Jim rolled his eyes melodramatically.
"Hmph. Normally you don't like to get your hands dirty, do you Jim?" Sherlock raised an eyebrow at Jim mockingly.
"this was special." Jim just shrugged, admitting his remote-ness openly.
"Right." Sherlock refocused his attention to saving John,
"He's in a cell... You said Seb was there. Let me see..." Sherlock glanced over Jim's clothes again, his brow furrowing with thought.
"Dust... some, that's unavoidable..."
"I've changed, Sherly."
"Of course. Obvious. Predictable... Boring." he flicked Jim an irritated expression.
"Oh no, far more interesting for me." Jim returned the look with another mischievous grin. Sherlock turned his attention to Jim's shoes. He didn't expect to find anything, but it was worth a try. Noticing this, Jim pretended to kick Sherlock in the face, but Sherlock didn't even flinch.
"Helpful," he commented dryly.
"You did give me a good look at the underside of your shoes, though."
Jim winked cheekily at him, kicking the floor.
"that was the point." he looked around, spinning in a circle,
"where now?"
"Scotland Yard. While they might be imbeciles, they can help."
"ha, using them already?" he started to do an impression of an ape in front of a passer bye,
"stupid Sherlock..."
"They're useful," he replied simply, continuing to walk. He glanced at the cigarette still in Jim's hand.
"Are you going to light that?" Sherlock chewed his bottom lip lightly, craving nicotine.
"maybe, I think I'll wait until I see you try to get me past Lestrade first, though."
"Oh, I wasn't intending for you to come into Scotland Yard with me. I assume if you are captured John will suffer? I don't intend for him to be hurt any more."
"oh, do you need some more help? since you are sooo normal now," he rolled his eyes,
"I will get myself in. shouldn't be difficult..."
"Normal? No. I'm nowhere near normal." Sherlock paused. "In the picture, John was in a cell. He couldn't have been in the pool, where we first met, there aren't any cells there. The same goes for the hospital. Likely to be a prison, but also unlikely; too much trouble, but it would also make a point. You can get anywhere. Possibility of it being a warehouse, however, is much higher."
"hmm, maybe, but then maybe I chose an obvious place to confuse you, or am I double bluffing? or triple bluffing?" Jim chuckled loudly, "you think too much Sherly, too much and yet still not enough." Sherlock spluttered a chuckle,
"Or perhaps you just said all that so I would doubt myself."
"I guess we will never know, will we? what are you running to Lestrade for anyway?" he spat out the name like it was a bug he had swallowed, face frozen in mock disgust.
"While he's not as intelligent as me, he's far smarter than Anderson, and a useful ally will be helpful."
"ah, that's what you're doing..."
"Of course." Sherlock narrowed his eyes,
"Are you going to light your cigarette? Or even offer me one?" Jim tutted,
"oh? I didn't think you smoked."
"Now and again," he muttered.
"John's trying to get me to break the habit. I find smoking helps, however."
"how ironic!" Jim walked a little ahead, still with the unlit cigarette clamped between his lips, "hurry up Sherly." Sherlock stayed still.
"Ironic? How?"
"oh, how normal you are... John hates something you do which could help save his life, stupid Sherlock." Sherlock rolled his eyes.
"It's a habit I can't kick without help, I'm afraid. One little thing like this won't make much difference, I abuse my body enough as it is, in John's opinion at least."
"huh, really? I will have to ask him about that..." Sherlock shot an annoyed look at Jim.
"I don't eat. I find sleep boring. I've done drugs in the past. I smoke. Do keep your mind out of the gutter, won't you?"
"of course, now can we hurry up please Sherly?"
"Fine." Sherlock tucked his chin into his jacket and strode ahead quickly. Jim put his hands in his pockets and waltzed over, apparently now listening to a wireless headphone in his ear. Sherlock decided it would be best to ignore Jim's presence unless he was going to be helpful. He was grateful that Lestrade was so tolerant of him; he would be able to help, and then John would be back.