Sherlock story
Deleted Memories, Chapter 150
Warning: post Reichenbach spoilers. Hope you enjoy
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A/N: I posted part of this a little early because of private and public requests. I hope it lives up to your expectation. Love you all. Good luck to all graduates and those taking final and entrance exams. Let's all do well and survive!
Love and Lots and Lots of Coffee, Zacha :)
"Shall I tell you what the real evil is? To cringe to the things that are called evils, to surrender to them our freedom, in defiance of which we ought to face any suffering." ~ Seneca quotes
Present Day
Ayyad looked at Sherlock in disbelief, so many had died by his hand. How did this man not only outplay him but apparently Moriarty as well?
"Clearly I did underestimate you. I thought you were broken but I was wrong," Ayyad confessed now.
"Clearly," Sherlock agreed
Ayyad steeled his eyes, and sighed, "Well it would appear that I am out of options. At least I get to take you with me."
"Dull," Sherlock said.
"Seems that you're willing to rush in here, risking your life even torture to save him…," Ayyad motioned with the gun to John, "… maybe I'll shoot him and let you live, knowing you've failed."
Sherlock eyes narrowed his voice became dangerous, "You must know I'd never let you do that."
Ayyad smiled.
"It's me you want, and have wanted for a while. Don't you want to beat me to a bloody pulp? Don't you want to touch me, to punish me, hurt me since I've deprived you of your little… entertainment? What's stopping you? Let's see who's really tougher. Without the guns, of course. Can't have you changing your mind and shooting Doctor Watson, now can I."
Ayyad fingers twitched at the thought.
Sherlock noticed again."For the final push," he thought. "Shift the focus from John back to me."
"You are the Criminal Mastermind, the most dangerous man in the world since Moriarty's death. One annoying man, that's what you think I am is it not. Surely you're not… afraid." Sherlock smirked as he stressed the word afraid, "I've caused a lot of trouble, would you not like to get your hands around my neck?"
Ayyad's eye blazed with anger.
Sherlock observed the delicate shift on his face; he knew he had the criminal's undivided attention again. Ayyad's focus and gun was now off John.
"What do you propose?" Ayyad eyes narrowed as he asked with caution.
"That we slowly walk toward each other with one hand up. We both hold the other's free arm, we both drop the gun at the same time and then… have a go at it. I certainly want my hands wrapped around your neck as much as you want your hands around mine."
Ayyad nodded, held up one hand, and started to walk. Sherlock did the same. They walked to the middle of the large sized room. Sherlock arrived first and waited for Ayyad, he wanted to get him as far away from John as possible. They slowly put their hand on the other person then both guns made clattering sounds, as they were dropped to the ground.
Ayyad started before the gun had even hit the ground. He swung his whole body backward full force and elbowed Sherlock in the Kidneys. Ayyad smiled at the resulting grunt of pain.
Ayyad's actions caused Sherlock to stumble sideways. Sherlock's already abused and battered body was momentary disoriented from the pain. Ayyad advanced on Sherlock to deliver another blow.
John who was perfectly quiet throughout the ordeal, now became vocal and grunted a warning to Sherlock as best he could with a gagged mouth.
It was unnecessary. Sherlock had recovered enough to notice him and barely duck the next blow as he swept the criminal's legs out from under him. Ayyad fell sideways but unfortunately grabbed at Sherlock's coat and took him down with him.
Both men were stunned from the fall, but Sherlock at this point was weaker. Ayyad recovered first. He had his hands around Sherlock's neck and was squeezing.
Ayyad eyed the gun that was outside of both of their reach. He could not reach it without letting Sherlock go. He did not intend to let him go. Sherlock's eyes widen, he knew that he did not have much time before he passed out from lack of oxygen.
He quickly kneed Ayyad in the groin at the same time as he took the palm of his hand and with the remaining energy reserve punched full force upward toward his nose.
Sherlock did not have time to notice as he flipped Ayyad so that he was now the one on top. Ayyad was moaning stunned and unmoving on the floor.
Sherlock did not notice him anymore as his hand came up. He did not see Ayyad but all the pain that he represented as his fist came down and the room melted away.
The fight was vicious but brief.
It ended with Sherlock on top of Ayyad repeatedly hitting him in the face even when it was not necessary.
The sounds of John muffled voice floated through the fog in Sherlock's mind. He did not remember getting his gun that he now held with the trigger pulled back, to Ayyad's head; despite the fact that he was on the ground moaning and bloodied.
He blinked a few times and looked at John who stopped making the strangled noises and looked relieved when he saw recognition in Sherlock's eyes.
He looked at his bloodied fist and was shocked because the blood was not his own. Sherlock swallowed hard and stumbled off the moaning man. He wiped the blood from his hands on his suit jacket violently.
Sherlock quickly picked up both guns and ran to John. He started to attempt to loosen the ties. They both chose not to comment on the fact that his fingers were trembling.
"Are you ok, John," Sherlock asked shakily after he loosened the gag up enough to push it down to his neck. He then continued to un-tie the piece of cloth.
"I'm fine, Sherlock"
Sherlock's fingers froze. He looked John in the eyes.
John instantly knew his friend's concerns.
"I'm really ok Sherlock apart from a little roughing up. He changed his mind, he took me to the room and went into great detail about…,"
John paused for a moment wondering how much to say. In the end, he would be completely honest. He always was, eventually. "…what would be done to me. About having you watch. Breaking you then having me watch while you were tortured. You arrived in time. I am really ok, I promise."
Sherlock said nothing further as he concentrated on untying John again.
John paused briefly before adding, "By the way, the only reason I tried to stop you, is if you continued you would have killed him. Not that I wouldn't want to kill Ayyad myself . It was for your benefit, Sherlock. I know you. You've shot plenty, but you've never killed a man . I know it would have troubled you, if you knew that you had a choice."
Sherlock in his own mind had committed the worst of all sins, he had lost control because of emotions, yet John's voice did not reveal the smallest hint of judgment only comfort.
Sherlock nodded gratefully as he concentrated on loosening his bonds.
Sherlock blinked and after a few seconds spoke as the shock started to subside.
"W… We have to hurry Thomas was hit." Sherlock's hands continued to shake. This frustrated Sherlock. It made untying to ropes more difficult.
John noticed as he frowned and looked Sherlock in the face. Sherlock was avoiding his eyes now.
"Sherlock?" Sherlock said nothing but continued working with the ropes.
"Sherlock would you look at me please," John grew more concerned.
"Bit of a hurry, John." Sherlock seemed to be concentrating on the ropes. On the other hand, maybe, John considered, he did not want to look him in the eyes again.
"Are You OK?"
"I'm…," There was a pause, "fine."
"John bit his lower lip as he closed his eyes tightly and took a deep breath. He made a decision.
"Well that's a relief, for a moment there, I thought you might have actually been hurt." John smiled at Sherlock with a raised eyebrow.
They both were relieved to hear the siren. It sounded as if they were right outside now.
Sherlock finally managed to get one of the knots free. Sherlock did not hide the fact that the corners of his mouth turned up into a slow smile, he looked at John now amused without slowing down his work on the ropes. John could always make him feel better, Sherlock realized.
Car door slams and shouts and urgent voices were heard outside the building.
Some sounds echoed as if it was coming from inside the building as well now. It sounded as if the reverberations were still a short distance away from their immediate area.
"What's with the rope, didn't they hear of handcuffs?" Sherlock wondered aloud as he sighed relieved.
"Let's face it the man was disturbed, look at his bloody awful taste in neckties." John offered with a smile.
Sherlock chuckled now. John joined him in a giggle.
John smiled at Sherlock, "I guess we made it, Sher…" It was a split second. John eyes widened as he simultaneously opened his mouth intending to say something but did not have time.
Sherlock was already in a turn with his gun drawn the second he saw John's eyes. Sherlock's last thought was to shield John with his body from what he had sensed was coming.
The silence was broken as the popping sound of gunfire echoed in the enclosed space.
A/N: Hope it was worth the wait, let me know what you think. This is part I. Lots of Love.