A.N: Another update for you lovely people. Thank you for your comments and reviews both here and over at AO3.
This is the penultimate chapter, I thought I'd make you guys wait a little longer for the final chapter. But I've added a cliffhanger for you, just to annoy you!
Beated by sethrox9730
The hum of the traffic filtered into John's mind, gently waking him. He was alone their bedroom. The bed was cold on Sherlock's side, not even a crease dented the sheets. John dragged his body weight from the bed, tiredness still set in his joints. Creaking as he shifted out the room he went in search of a good cup of tea and his lover.
Papers were scattered in a mess over the sitting room, pins and string were also attached to the Baker Street walls. The flat looked like it had been hit by an earthquake. At the epicenter of this shamble; Sherlock sat cross-legged, hands together in his 'thinking pose'.
"Sherlock what's all this about? You didn't come to bed last night," inquired John carefully stepping over the papers towards his partner.
"Sorry, I got carried away thinking," replied Sherlock never once refraining from this thinking pose. Leaning over him, John ran his hand through Sherlock's curls, feeling the soft stands slide across his fingers.
"Oh by the way there's been another murder," added Sherlock.
"What the fuck, why didn't you wake me?" injected John, huffing in annoyance.
"You needed your rest, plus it's all under control I'm working through the data as we speak," Sherlock responded, gathering the papers back up in order to show John.
"Which poor soul is it this time?" asked John quickly preparing himself for whatever sight Sherlock might present.
"Female, aged between 35-45, lives in London. However, no formal I.D, her DNA is being run through the database but so far no matches. The only clues from the body were hundreds of forged bank notes stuffed into her mouth and the fact she was left in the same position as Mike, naked and upside down covered in her own blood," stated Sherlock passing the photos of the crime over to John.
John eyes instantly looked at the woman's face. He knew her. Of course he did, this whole nasty business was targeted at him. John took a sharp intake of breath before starting.
"Her name is Maria Drake, married, no children and shes is about 38. She is another ex-client. She stopped visiting me when she feared her husband was on to her. He's a banker in the center of London with links around the world," recalled John, remembering every detail they had talked about during her visits. Funny how sex makes people open up about their personal lives.
John raised his hand to rub the back of his neck, he was obviously in distress. Sherlock took the photo from John so that it could comfort him.
Wrapping his arms around John, Sherlock held him close; a clear sign that Sherlock was trying to sympathize with John's situation.
Lightly swaying the man in a reassuring effort, Sherlock spoke softly into John's ear.
"I promise once I figure this out, I will do my best to keep you safe. No one will hurt you"
John pushed Sherlock's attempts at moral support back at him in a fit of irritation.
"That's all it is to you isn't it? A puzzle that needs solving, regardless of the fact that these are actual human lives, with actual families and actual feelings."
Sherlock stood back shocked at this outburst. John shouldn't be acting like this.
"Look John, I understand that you are upset, but.."
John quickly interrupted Sherlock, raising his voice more; as if he didn't have Sherlock attention as it is.
"No Sherlock, you don't understand. These people were the closest things I had to friends. It wasn't about the sex, but now some bastard is destroying that just to impress you. And from where I'm standing you are enjoying it. Every blood spatter, every trace of DNA is just like a jigsaw piece to you," ranted John, anger pulsing through his veins, heating his face.
Sherlock was speechless for a moment. John couldn't really think that could he? Sherlock pushed past John in favor of solving the case in the kitchen before he said anything he would regret.
Once John's brain caught up with his mouth, he realized he was the biggest idiot on the face of the planet. Here he had a partner who was only ever trying to protect him and yet he verbally castrated him.
"Fuck's sake. Sherlock I'm sorry. It's a pitiful excuse but these past few days have really hard, I'm sorry for what I said." expressed John, walking towards the kitchen.
Sherlock didn't bother replying, there was something more interesting in the case file.
"Sherlock are you even listening to me?" John questioned, crossing his arms over his chest.
"What do you make of this?" gestured Sherlock pointing to the file.
It took John a moment to realise Sherlock was talking about the case again. John read the autopsy report.
'Death: Blocked airway, oxygen was unable to enter the lungs. The brain due to lack of oxygen would've began to die within four to six minutes. Irreversible brain death occurs in as little as 10 minutes'
"What the hell blocked her airway?" asked John, eyes glancing from the file to the photo.
"The report showed the only contents of her stomach was water as one transparent polymer ball-like form. But this data doesn't make sense" replied Sherlock showing John another photo of the blockage.
"Sherlock I think I might know.." John quickly grabbed the closest laptop, opening up the search engine he began to type.
'invisible water ball'
John clicked on the first page that appeared.
"See here, they are small balls of polymer invisible in a glass of water. She must of went to take a sip of water and swallowed one that caused her to choke"
"John once again you are brilliant"
Whipping out his phone, Sherlock made a quick call to Lestrade. The detective inspector answered on the first ring.
"Lestrade, the body is of Maria Drake, arrest Maria Drake's husband for fraud. He is using his links in the banking world to produce fake banknotes. Maria was killed by a blockage in her airway of a polymer. It's most likely to be murder"
"Thanks Sherlock. I'll let you know if anything else comes up" Lestrade rang off.
"I need to set off for work. I promised I'd put in a few shifts this week. I'll see you later around 4?" stated John, gently finishing his sentence with a delicate kiss upon Sherlock's lips.
"I love you," interjected Sherlock between the kiss. He squeezed John's hand with his, before letting him go.
Throughout the day Sherlock had been trying to piece together to the possible location of Moriarty as well as who in his network he was was using to commit these crimes. Sherlock considered warning all of John's ex-clients to be careful, but in the grand scheme of things that was more troublesome than anything. Turns out Sherlock didn't quite know the true extent of how many people had paid for John's services. There was no way he be able to track everyone of them down without risking John's reputation as well.
Sherlock stretched his muscles, he had lost track of time again. He was still missing a vital clue. he couldn't quite put his finger on what Moriarty was using to commit these crimes. His phone beeped from the other side of the room, incoming message. Three long strides was all it took for Sherlock to reach his phone, snatching the device up he quickly read the text.
'Would you like a clue?- JM xoxo'
That was just downright creepy. Sherlock could of swore there was nothing in the flat to alert Moriarty to what Sherlock was doing. Although the previous text message from Jim did alarm him somewhat.
'If you must..- SH'
'I have the equivalent of - JM xoxo'
Sherlock ran his eyes back and forth over the new information, his mind buzzing storing new information and making connections between old and new data.
John Watson, Doctor, Soldier, Ex-Prostitute.
Doctor, Soldier.
Soldier.
The execution of the murders, the strength needed to perform such tasks. Moriarty had a soldier on his side. Just an hour of searching through national defense and security records provided Sherlock with a name.
John had one last person to see before he could escape back to baker street. John pushed himself from his seat to walk to the reception waiting area of the doctors surgery.
John viewed the remaining people in the waiting area, he quickly looked down at his chart to remind himself of the name.
"Colonel Sebastian Moran?" called John.
One man stood up from the seating area, he straightened his jacket up before pacing towards John. Both their eyes connected. There was something about this man that John couldn't quite make out. Had he seen those cold chilling eyes somewhere before?
John immediately turned, walking toward his office. He pushed the door open and held it for the Colonel. Moran remained standing as John passed him to make his way towards the desk. John was just about to ask the man how he could help him before he felt a sharp flash of pure agony wash over him. His eyes dropped and his world went black.
'Daddy is getting bored now. How about we end this tonight? - JM xoxo'
The message hit Sherlock's nerves, he needed John by his side before dealing with Jim. Glancing up at the clock he noted that it was hours since John's shift finished, but he wasn't back yet. Strange. Sherlock rang John's phone to check his lover's whereabouts. No answer. Sherlock tried not to panic.
Then a new text came in.
'Daddy hates to be kept waiting. Here is a little incentive for you. Solve this next puzzle or John dies- JM xoxo'
Three things happened at once. An image of John badly beaten was sent directly to Sherlock's laptop, Lestrade was ringing him and Sherlock collapsed knees first onto the floor, hyperventilating.
1 missed call, Lestrade.
2 missed calls, Lestrade.
3 missed calls, Lestrade.
Fuck. Sherlock need to pull himself together. More importantly John needed him.
Sherlock's fingers tumbled over the screen as he tried to call Lestrade back.
"Sherlock, I'll come pick you up. I can't describe over the phone but you need to see this."
A.N: HAHAHAHAHAH.
The final chapter shall be with you guys tomorrow. Feel free to comment, telling me how much you hate me. :)