Chapter 5
Thank you again for all the reviews they mean so much to me! Please keep them coming I love to know what you think and to know that you are reading this! Thank you!
Disclaimer:
I still own nothing!
"Bored!" Sherlock announced for the umpteenth time.
John bit back his frustration, "alright how about this," he said trying a different angle.
"Boring!" Sherlock announced cutting him off before he was even a third of the way through his suggestion walking over the furniture as he made to walk out of the room.
"Sherlock, would you just shut up and listen to me! You are the one who repeatedly pointed out that we have a lot to do and yet you are refusing to actually work with me to get it done!" John snapped frustratedly as Sherlock headed towards his room.
"Sherlock, what are you doing! Come back," John yelled following Sherlock.
"John leave me alone!" Sherlock snapped as John made to enter the room.
"Why? What are you doing in there?" John demanded.
"Nothing just leave me alone I'll be back in a second," he said curtly.
John made to argue with him but then understanding set in. "Sherlock, it's not a big deal, it's hardly a matter requiring such secrecy," he said as he realised Sherlock wanted to be left alone so he could take the tablets to control his epilepsy.
Sherlock emerged from his bedroom his eyes dark. "Just leave it John," he said.
"No I wont just leave it. We have already discussed this, you need to stop shutting me out and actually let me help you," he said.
"People don't help me," he said evenly,
"Well now they do, so stop being so bloody stubborn and get over here so we can actually get some work done," John said.
Sherlock hesitated uncertainly for a moment, he wasn't used to letting people close to him, but then John wasn't most people, he was his friend."I'm used to hiding it, people don't understand, they fuss, treat me differently or try to define me by it I wont have that," he said firmly.
"That's not what's happening here, trust me," he said wondering why Sherlock was acting so defensively.
"I know but I refuse to allow my epilepsy to be used against me as a weakness again," he said.
"When was it used against you?" John asked carefully. It was so rare for Sherlock to open up. He didn't want to risk saying the wrong thing and having him close down again. Sherlock was very quiet for a while making John think he wasn't going to answer. "Sorry, I shouldn't have..." he began before Sherlock shook his head cutting him off.
"Moriarty," Sherlock said with a venom John had never head in his voice. He was used to his condescending impatience with the world at large but never had he heard such deep hatred even in all their previous discussions regarding his Arch Enemy.
"How?" John asked watching Sherlock closely.
"Think about it John, really think about it," Sherlock said forcing some of the hostility from his tone.
"I, I don't see Sherlock, tell me, please?" John said softly worry for his friend building steadily again.
"Think about where his two biggest attempts to beat me have been, a swimming pool and the top of a building," he spat hatred saturating each word. John looked at him in confusion until he looked in his eyes, then he understood. "I see from your face that you now understand."
"He made it in places that you..." he couldn't quite get himself to finish the sentence.
"That I fear most yes! Swimming pools and heights, two places that it could be deadly for me to have a fit. I don't feel comfortable in water or with heights so naturally it was the perfect place for him to make his attack," he said darkly.
"You said the swimming pool was because of that kid...I, I can't remember his name. Why the hell didn't you tell me?" John demanded.
"Carl Powers, his name was Carl Powers, anyway that was part of it but there was more to it that made it all the more perfect. He knew it was the perfect place to catch me off my guard. You know why I didn't tell you, I don't like people knowing," he answered.
"Well it's not being used against you here it's fine, it's all fine," John said calmly.
Sherlock nodded slowly. "Thank you, now shall we get to work?" he asked.
"In a second, just one more thing, then I swear we can get right to work," John said hurriedly upon seeing Sherlock's face.
"What?" Sherlock asked impatiently.
"I have another theory," John announced.
"John, this can wait till we are finished!" Sherlock said abruptly.
"No, no it can't, we can get to work just as soon as you hear my theory. I really think I've figured it out this time Sherlock!" John said excitedly as he explained his latest theory. When he was finished he looked at Sherlock expectantly.
"I think your answers are getting worse John," Sherlock said after a moment.
"Then give me another clue!" John argued.
"I've already given you a clue this week!" he stated.
"It's not my fault your clues are bloody useless," John muttered.
"No, it is not my fault if you cannot interpret the clue to help you arrive at the solution. Now we are going to get to work!" Sherlock corrected.
"Fine, but I will get this Sherlock!" John said determinedly.
"I'm sure you will," Sherlock said in an unreadable tone before they set to work.
"Right, well lets get to work. The first thing I am going to do is post a new entry to my blog explaining that you are alive and are ready to work and how sorry you are for fooling everyone into thinking you were dead," he began.
"I'm not sorry I fooled them," Sherlock stated rolling his eyes.
"Sherlock! Would you stop making this so bloody difficult? You must apologise to the public to allow them to trust you again. For once can you stop being so stubborn and trust me on this," John said.
"Are you aware of how often you use the word bloody? It averages at around three to five times a day, more when you are angry or trying to make a point and less when you are trying to make a good impression such as round potential girlfriends or clients. You are an educated man John you really should try to extend your vocabulary," Sherlock observed.
"Sherlock for the last time will you focus! Unlike you I actually do need to get some sleep tonight!" John said starting to get impatient.
"Fine," Sherlock agreed, much to John's surprise he was aware how long it could take Sherlock to get back on track when he had something else to say.
"As I was saying, I will write a blog saying you are sorry and that it was all part of your plan to bring down Moriarty and that you will be providing proof that everything he said about you was a lie. People will see the proof and be that amazed that you are alive that we are bound to find work again," John said with a satisfied smile as he felt the old excitement beginning to stir within him again.
"Have you written the blog yet?" Sherlock asked.
"Yes I have," John said opening the document and turning the laptop towards Sherlock so he could read it.
Sherlock read the blog and nodded slowly,. "Seems alright, though I still can't believe people actually read this thing!" Sherlock said shaking his head.
"Well they do. Have you got the proof about some of Moriarty's claims that you said you were going to send to Lestrade and I need to post on the blog," John said looking to Sherlock.
"Already sent it and if you had checked your emails you would have noticed I sent a copy to you as well," Sherlock said shaking his head at John's lack of observation.
"Oh right," John said finding the email and opening the link.
"Observe John! How many times do I need to say it," Sherlock said.
"Yeah, yeah alright, lets move on shall we," John said cutting him off.
"To what, we have the evidence, isn't that enough?" Sherlock asked irritably.
"We need to go over the statement you will make to the press," John answered.
"Why? We don't need to bother with them, they are all idiots," Sherlock said dismissively.
"You have a bit of a nerve telling me to expand my vocabulary, the amount of time you use the word idiot as an adjective," John stated.
"It is the only word apt to describe them, that or morons would you like me to provide you a list of alternatives adjectives?" Sherlock enquired mildly.
"No! Please don't!" he said quickly.
"I thought not," Sherlock said smugly.
"We need to work on your statement to the press. We need them back on our side Sherlock," John said somewhat nervously. He was all too aware of Sherlock's terrifying lack of social skills at times.
"Then what do I need to say to them?" Sherlock asked wearily he had no interest in saying anything to the press, well anything that John would be happy with him saying to them. "Wont the blog and the police clearing my name be enough? The public are stupid enough to trust what the police say aren't they," Sherlock pointed out.
"People do trust the police yes but they need to hear it from you Sherlock. You know that so will you stop fighting me on this and we can get your statement ready. You have said yourself we have a lot of work to do," John said.
"Alright, alright lets just get on with it shall we," he said relenting.
"That is what I've been trying to say. I think we should keep it very similar to my blog entry saying how you are sorry to fool everyone but it was necessary as part of your plan to take care of a criminal. If they ask you for details just say you can't provide full details but they can see the evidence of your innocence my the blog and that you are now ready to return to work again," John said.
"Right fine it seems pointless but you are so insistent on this I will do it. I need the cases, I need my work!" Sherlock said as he stood to leave the room.
"Hang on, we're not finished," John called.
"Yes we are, it is hardly a soliloquy I am sure I can remember what you have told me to say," Sherlock said.
"I am sure you can but we need to talk about how you present yourself to the press," he stated.
"I'll just be myself," Sherlock said as if this resolved the issue.
"I thought we had already resolved this, you being well, you doesn't always come across very well," he said wearily.
"Then what do you want me to do?" Sherlock demanded testily.
"You need to be nice Sherlock. You need to sound sincere even if you don't mean it, act it. I know you can act any part that you need to. I have seen you do it on various cases so just do the same thing here. Trust me on this Sherlock, this is what we need to do," John said.
"What about you? Where do you plan to fit yourself into all this if I do it?" Sherlock asked.
"Apart from the blog I will also release a statement to the press about how I never lost faith in you and how we all need to trust you now and again help remind everyone that you are innocent and ready to accept cases again," John answered.
"Interesting cases only. I didn't come to work to accept the mindless pointless problems people come to me to complain about," Sherlock muttered.
"You haven't changed a bit," John said laughing slightly.
"Of course I haven't! Why would I change," Sherlock retorted.
Later that night after John posted the blog Sherlock's phone rang. "Ah, Lestrade what took you so long?" Sherlock demanded.