Chapter Six
"Moriarty. What, Sherlock? No that's impossible. Moriarty was pronounced dead." John questioned and answered.
"Yes, John, he was pronounced dead but neither of us actually saw his body." Sherlock shot back at John.
"Great. This is fantastic. Moriarty is back too. Of course. Just what yo- we need." John muttered. Sherlock took a step back from the curtains and thought about what John said.
"Too?" Sherlock asked.
"Two? Two what?" John asked, not understanding Sherlock's question and felling it very unimportant at the moment.
"You said, 'Moriarty's back too.'" Sherlock clarified.
"Yes, right. Uh, hm." John cleared his throat. He was at a loss for words, knowing that he had screwed up.
"Who else is back?"
"No one."
"John!" Sherlock said moving towards John.
"I-Irene Adler." John hesitated. Sherlock stopped in his tracks, sort of relieved.
"Oh." Sherlock simply said.
"Oh?" John astonished, asked,
"Yeah, I already knew she ws back." Sherlock made his way back to the curtains.
"What, but how?"
"She texted me." Sherlock said. He began thinking about the situation.
"And you didn't bother to tell me?" John was offended.
"No, It didn't seem relevant. How did you know?" Sherlock said, turning, once again away from the curtain-covered window. "Of course. Lestrade." Sherlock answered himself. John stood in the background, unsure of what to say or do.
"I didn't tell you that." John managed to get out.
Hours quickly passed. John sat quietly waiting for Sherlock to return from his mind palace.
"John, I'm going out." Sherlock returned.
"I'm going with you."
"No." Sherlock put on his coat and left.
"Not again." John whispered, he walked to the window, pulled back the curtains and watched Sherlock walk away; Each step making his heart sink.
"Something weird has been going on with Sherlock." John told Ms. Hudson.
"I agree. I'm a bit worried." Ms. Hudson sat her tear down. The the two looked up at each other.
"Are you think what I'm thinking?" John asked.
"Perhaps." Ms. Hudson answered.
"It's for the best."
"Yes, for the best." The two raced up the stairs.
"Molly." Sherlock said from the shadows of the lab causing Molly to jump.
"You always do that." Molly laughed.
"I need your help." Sherlock said, seriously, causing Molly to stop laughing.
"What is it?" Molly quietly and sacredly asked. She began to remember the last Sherlock had asked for her help.
"I need you to tell me every possible way someone can be pronounced dead, but come back." Sherlock asked. Molly just stared at him and then began to explain all the possibilities. "Are you sure that's all of them?" Sherlock questioned after Molly finished her lesson.
"Yes."
"Thank you." Sherlock said and then left. Molly stood in the lab, staring at the door, and thinking what Sherlock could be up to.
"Sherlock." John quietly said when Sherlock reached the top of the stairs. Sherlock studying John's face for a moment and then realized what was going on.
"You went through my room. Did you mess up my sock index...again?" Sherlock confronted John.
"I found these." John sighed and then threw an opened box of cigarettes on the table.
"I know what you're thinking." Sherlock said, "I'm clean!" Sherlock pulled his sleeve up to show he was still using nicotine patches.
"They're opened, Sherlock." John argued.
"I'm clean, John." Sherlock began to defend himself. "What's the use, you're not going to listen to me regardless of what I have to say." Sherlock began to angry.
"You haven't given me any reason to trust you the past few days." John stated.
"We were just worried about you." Ms. Hudson entered.
"You too!" Sherlock said
"It was for the best." Ms. Hudson tried to explain.
"Well you didn't find anything of use. Mind your own business." Sherlock demanded.
"You are my business!" John yelled.
"Sherlock, you're behav-" Ms. Hudson tried to say.
"SHUT UP!" Sherlock lost it. A terrified expression came about his face, once he realized what he hd done.
"Sherlock." John whispered.
"I'm sorry... Ms. Hudson." Sherlock apologized.
"It's okay dear." Ms. Hudson hurtly said. "We're just worried about you."
"Thank you-but there's no need." Sherlock said and then turned to walk to his room.
"There obviously is." John said with more concern than ever. Sherlock turned his head to look at JOhn. The strange felling was beginning to approach Sherlock again, but he was too tired to run from it. "Tell me what's wrong." John begged.
"I can't." Sherlock tried to make John understand.
"Why?" John asked, not understanding.
"I can't bare to see you hurt." Sherlock answered, leaving John speechless, and then went to his room.
"Oh deary, It'll be all right." Ms. Hudson tried to cheer John up. "Its been a rough week. I'll make tea." Sher offered nd then went downstairs.
"Sherlock sat at the end of his bed with his hands clasped beneath his chin. He was confused. Why couldn't he find the will to fight the feeling he once before hated? Was he giving into it?
Ahh~
Sherlock's phone moaned. Sherlock wiped the single tear he had unintentionally allowed to fall and then retrieved his phone from his picket.
"We need to talk." The message read.
"I know." Sherlock sent back.
Ahh~
"Dinner?" Irene suggested.