Chapter 4 – Help

A/n: so I'm pretty sure this sequel won't last as long as Shadows did, which I think may be a good thing. Thanks to everyone who reviewed me last chapter, and to everyone else for actually reading it! I really am so grateful!

Anyway here is the next chapter, hope its ok! Xxx

At 3.30 the morning after Lestrade had found the body, I left for Mycroft's office.

I hated seeing Mycroft. He was always overbearing, condescending and ridiculously insistent about my so called 'protection', and seeing him was a chore.

But, I suppose, desperate times called for desperate measures, and when I ever voluntarily saw my brother, I was pretty damn desperate.

I left early because that way I knew John was still asleep and probably still would be by the time I got back, and that saved me the hassle of explaining my actions to him.

At least that's what I was hoping for.

Mycroft was waiting for me when I got inside. He nodded his head at me and led me silently through the double doors and into his office.

And then he sat, and I sat opposite, and silence fell, both of us waiting for the other to cave in first.

To my great pleasure, it was Mycroft.

"I don't know what I can do Sherlock," he said finally, looking incredible wary.

I glared at him for a moment, before pinching the bridge of my nose with a sigh.

"I wouldn't have come if I didn't think you could help," I admitted, looking up at him again.

"Oh you're saying that now are you?" a sly smirk spread across his face and I shot him a look that should have clearly stated that I wanted to hit him. Now really wasn't the time for pride, or indeed, sibling rivalry, to get in the way. Not where John was concerned.

I'd promised myself that time in the hospital that I'd never let him get hurt again. And that promise was something I very well intended to live up to. Even if I had to consult Mycroft to do it. I suppressed a grimace.

"It's not funny; I just need your help!" I said, irritated, "I know you can!"

He threw his hands up in the air exasperated, "what can I do that im not already doing? I have a full team watching every surveillance camera in London 24/7, and a whole other team watching John 24/7- Grade 3- active by the way, I have people out there looking for anything that may point us in Moran's direction, but nothings turning up! All we have so far are the things he's given us! The letters, and now a body! All checked for fingerprints, DNA, but nothings turned up there either! And really Sherlock, I do have a job to do as well!"

"Oh and you call that helpful do you?" I retorted icily.

He raised his eyebrows condescendingly at me.

I sighed. Perhaps that was a bit not good.

"Sorry," I forced.

Silence fell again. This time more awkward than last time.

"Look," I said, voice subdued, "I can't lose John, not again, not like last time,"

Mycroft sighed, stood up and went over to the window, watching the many cars and crowds of people drift by. I watched him silently.

"Have you told him yet- about Moran?" he asked calmly.

I knew what he was talking about.

"No," I whispered.

"You have to tell him Sherlock, you know he won't be happy if you don't," he turned to survey me and I realised what he was doing.

I restrained myself from shouting out angrily at him reading me. I bloody hated it when he read me.

"There's more isn't there? That's why you're so scared," Mycroft announced finally.

"I am not scared!" I snapped.

He cocked his head to one side. I gave in.

"Moran wants to kill him," I sighed, "that's what he'd planning to do- that's why the man he shot had the same name,"

Mycroft's expression cleared. He nodded, eyes closed.

"Of course, Moriarty's last game- John,"

He came back over to the desk, where I still sat.

"You have. To tell. Him," he said, putting deliberate pauses between words.

"What am I to say?" I matched his tone, voice clipped.

"Tell him the truth, all of it. You owe him as much-," his rose again, challenging me, "he needs to know. You can't keep this from him- it's his own life you're messing with here,"

"But I don't want to put him in danger,"

"Believe me Sherlock; you're putting him in more danger by not knowing,"

I lifted my head from where it had been resting in my hands, and surveyed the surroundings. His office. It was too neat, too tidy for me.

"Moran was so difficult to track last time," I said absently, though Mycroft already knew, "he's good, very good. At least then, the surprised had been my advantage. This time, he has the advantage. He's playing with us. Making us nervous. I don't like being in the dark,"

It was Mycroft's turn to pinch the bridge of his nose, brows furrowed.

"What do you know so far?"

"I know he's close, very close, he knows his way around as he can get away pretty quickly," I began immediately, "all the letters were placed strategically so clearly he can navigate our flat well too. He shot the man straight through the heart, though I need to observe the body for myself, and he uses windows to get in and out of the flat. He wears casual shoes, probably trainers and he's had them for a while. In the week before the last letter, he had been to Waterloo, Marylebone, some sort of muddy backstreet and also Regents Park, according to the mud and pollen residue he's left behind. He's a size 10 feet. That's all I know and it's not enough!"

"Sherlock you know more than the whole of Scotland Yard put together! And you say you're in the dark?"

"I am!" I said, frustrated.

"Sherlock, I think the reason you're finding it hard is because you're letting the worry of John getting hurt cloud your vision! You need to focus! And telling him will honestly help!"

"Fine!" I snap, "Fine I'll tell him!"

"Good," Mycroft looked satisfied, and he flicked his hand at me.

"I'll do what I can Sherlock, but there's only so much I can do! Now go, tell John everything!"

I got up and checked the time. It was 5.00. Plenty of time to get back then.

Only it wasn't.

When I got back, John was sitting in his armchair, arms crossed, frowning at me.

"Do you want to tell me what you've been doing this morning Sherlock? Or are you going to just ignore me like you have the last couple of days?"

I blew out a deep breath. Now was the time to tell him everything.

A/n: I hope it was ok, a review or two would be lovely! Xxx

Oh and for anyone who's interested, I put up a new one shot, How To Make You Laugh, so if you want, go check it out!

Anyway, I hope it was ok! I'll try to update soon! Xxx