It's only in the deepest, darkest recesses of Sherlock's mind palace can Moriarty be found. In order to find the crazed Irish man you must trek past the murders, the unstable men and the manic criminals until to come to a room more harrowing than the others. The door to this room is a shiny steel triple bolted sheet of metal, which just shows how truly horrific this man is to even the most intelligent of people like Sherlock Holmes who is too afraid to let the mental version of Moriarty get out of control. To allow the man out of his cell would mean giving over the keys to his palace to an utter mad man, something Sherlock knew he couldn't let happen.
"Sherlock, are you listening?" asks John, snapping his fingers in front of Sherlock's face.
John's voice pulls him from his mind palace; images of the dark cell like room fade fast as he is lugged back into reality. Sherlock continues to stare blankly at John. He knows Sherlock is still coming out of his palace and needs a few more moments to register his surroundings.
Blinking a couple of times, Sherlock glanced at John trying to remember what he had said.
"Hmm?" muttered Sherlock, while both Irene and John stared at him.
"Sherlock what are we going to do about Moriarty?" interrupted Irene before John could reply.
"Ah yes back to subject at hand. We; meaning John and I are doing nothing but going home, you however do whatever you want. Moriarty's conviction is with you not us. You will not drag us into your power games with that psycho. Come along John" hissed Sherlock toward Irene while gesturing for John to step out of the room.
"Please Sherlock I'm begging you to help me" pleaded the woman clutching onto Sherlock's arms in order to shake some sense into him.
"I already saved your life once, I'm not doing it again. Goodbye Irene" spat Sherlock. Irene immediately released her grip and crumpled to the floor in defeat. Sherlock took one last look at her before shuffling himself and John out of the room.
John took the stairs two at a time, despite the twinge in his leg. Sherlock followed him out onto the street, thankful to be out of that place.
"What now?"
"Home" Sherlock simply replied.
Both men spent the taxi journey home in quiet stillness with occasion interlinking of hands. Neither spoke of what had happened at the brothel nor did they speak about the man that they both knew would be coming back to haunt them.
Sherlock knew that Irene had little chance of escape from Jim, but that didn't mean that they had to get involved. Sherlock had to keep John safe at all costs. As the taxi pulled up to the curb next to 221b Baker Street John handed the driver a few notes and proceeded to follow Sherlock out of the cab and though the door. Sherlock yanked the flat door wide open, watching it pound against the wall behind it.
At least he's not shooting the walls, thought John as he rolled his eyes. John carefully shut the door behind him and watched Sherlock flop onto the sofa, back turned against the room. John stepped towards him, crouching so that he could run his hand though Sherlock's unruly curls.
"Sherlock we need to talk about this at some point" John stated.
"I won't let Moriarty hurt you; I refuse to let that man anyway near you. I will die protecting you John" whispered Sherlock, still facing the sofa. It wasn't quite 'I love you' but Sherlock's declaration made butterflies in John's stomach.
John leant forward to press a single kiss onto Sherlock's temple. Leaning back on his balls of his feet, John pushed himself up from the sofa to make them tea.
As he boiled the kettle John just hoped it would be a while before they saw the dreaded psychopath again.
Just a short quick update for you lovely people! Sorry if there is any mistakes.
In reply to Elimayz; Thank you! Just hope you like this update :D
In reply to Katsy17; Thanks! :)
Have run reading!
Kt x