Did I say something about angst...oh yeah... I did!
Chapter 34
"Happy birthday, Laura! " John bent down to kiss the birthday girl. Mary went to sit down beside Molly. "
After all that had gone on, Sherlock and Molly wanted to make up a lackluster birthday last year with this.
And did they go all out!
Or should they say, it was another stellar Violet Holmes production.
Fortunately Sherlock had enough property to cover it. There was a carousel, pony rides, magicians...no clowns. Laura hated clowns. Molly had tsked her telling her it was her own fault for continuing to sneak movies. This time, it had been Molly's copy of Poltergeist.
Molly had also taken to watching Laura's favorite show with her. She'd purchased each season of Supernatural. After the baby was brought home, both Sherlock and Molly did what they could to make sure Laura didn't feel left out from all the attention the baby needed.
Sherlock was getting nowhere with Moran, so Molly insisted he start taking cases again. Before he went mad and took her with him, she insisted. This left Sherlock out late working many nights. So, while Addison slept, Molly and Laura had their special time with the Winchesters.
Sherlock, however, was not amused at Molly's crush on Sam.
"Spends too much time at the gym. " he grumbled, passing by the screen.
The family adapted to the duality of Sherlock. When he was on a case, he was his old self now. He tended to be cold, not very affectionate, distant and constantly snapping at people. Laura got used to it, and didn't take it personally. When he'd make some kind of rude comment, she would roll her eyes and say " Whatever, daddy. "
But even in his consulting detective mode, Sherlock tried his best to come home long enough to at least kiss his children goodnight.
"Addison, NO! " Molly yelped and went to grab her son. He was heading towards her rose bushes. His own first birthday was two weeks ago. They thought maybe to combine the two parties, but thought something smaller would be more appropriate for a child too young to remember it.
Molly placed her son safely on her lap.
"So... How much longer? " Molly said, placing a hand on Mary's protruding belly.
"About three weeks. Gah, these boys have to time everything, don't they? "
"Seems that way. Have you picked out a name for her? "
"Margaret, after John's mum. Maggie for short. "
"Oh, that's pretty! Be glad it wasn't a boy, aye? "
The women looked at each other.
"Hamish" they both said at the same time and shuddered before breaking out into laughter.
It had indeed become a running gag.
mmmmmmmmmm
John and Mary welcomed their daughter to the world two weeks and four days later.
John still followed Sherlock on cases, at Mary's insistence. While the men worked, Mary started hanging around with Molly at her home.
Soon, Sherlock laughed at John when he'd gripe about Dean. The women had each started crushing on a brother.
"See? "
"Guy spends too much time at the gym. " John grumbled.
"That's what I SAID! "
mmmmmmmmmm
John sat in his chair at Baker st, going over the paper as Sherlock went over possible cases on his website when Mycroft came in.
"What is it Mycroft? Im working. " Sherlock said, not looking at his brother.
"Sherlock... "
Something in his voice made both Sherlock and John spin around to look at him. He sounded..hollow.
"What is it? Is it mother? "
"No. She's fine. Listen to me. "
"Im listening. "
"We found Moran. "
Both men jumped up from their seats
"Where? " Sherlock said, already grabbing his coat and scarf.
"Ireland. We have him under surveillance. But ... "
"But what? "
" He knows we are coming. We have to be prepared. He's already killed two of my...men "
"So, no element of surprise. "
"No. He's not stupid, Sherlock. He doesn't want to get put in prison. "
"Excellent! " Sherlock said with fake cheeriness. "because I have no intention of putting him anywhere but six feet under. "
"It won't be that easy, Sherlock. You have to consider your family now. Let me take care of this. You have a wife and children who love and need you. You can't risk that. "
"The hell I can't! I am better capable of this, Mycroft. Better than you. Why don't you go take a holiday with Roger...again. " he said with a comical eye widening.
Mycroft sat down heavily, causing Sherlock to frown down at him.
"Roger...was one of the men killed. "
Sherlock sucked in his breath, but wasn't sure what to say. Thank God for John.
"Mycroft...we are so sorry. We really thought... "
"So did I. Probably was. He went for my sake. He adored Laura. Wanted to help. Moran broke his neck while I was helpless to do more than watch him do it. "
"Wait... you were there? " Sherlock shouted, still in his mode.
"I wanted to get the layout. I... "
"Yes. Alright. But Mycroft, you can't honestly expect me to sit back and let others do this. Not this. "
"I suppose not. "
mmmmmmmmmm
They waited until Laura and Addison were in bed, and Maggie was asleep in her pram before they broke the news to the wives.
They took it better than expected.
"Why now? " Molly asked.
"What do you mean? " Sherlock asked with surprise.
" He has stayed so well hidden. Think Sherlock. Why would he let himself be found now? "
"I don't think it was intentional. I think he has been running so long and slipped up."
"Will it be finished? Finally? " Molly asked, her face masking her fear.
"I intend on it. " Sherlock replied trying to deduce her true feelings. She was getting too good at hiding them.
"Then just do it. Do it and come back to us and we can go on with our lives. "
John was silent. He held tight to Mary's hand but was looking at he sleeping form of his daughter.
"John? "
"Im sorry Mary. "
"Don't. Don't do that. He needs you. I told you I understand that. This is all our fight. We will keep the home fires burning. Just go do your job. "
mmmmmmmmmm
Two days later, Sherlock and John stood looking down at the small cottage down by the cliffs overlooking the sea. dow the hill from the house they were currently hiding in to observe. Sherlock briefly thought snug quaint little place like it would be nice to take Molly to, if they ever managed to take that holiday together.
Of course, in better weather.
The storm outside was bellowing. Rain poured down in sheets. Sherlock wrapped his coat closer around her. The weather had taken out the power anywhere in sight. Sherlock was thankful for the cover. He could see through the windows, Moran had lit several candles. Smirking to himself, he stared steely eyes at the shadowed form that traced past the windows now and again.
' Comfy, Moran? Good. Yes. No one would be crazy enough to be out in weather like this, now would they? ' Sherlock thought to himself. ' Welcome back, element of surprise. '
Slowly he made his way around the room. He glanced over at the table in the next room, where John and Mycroft were busy playing cards. Mycroft's men were sleeping, taking a rest during the storm. Perfect.
Quietly, Sherlock considered his brother and best friend. They were going to be angry, but Sherlock wouldn't risk anyone's life this night but his own.
No one noticed when Sherlock quietly slipped out of the house.
Moran sat down on the wood chair and picked up his mobile. Still no reception. He had been stuck here waiting for his men to arrive. They had been delayed and Moran was getting edgier by the moment. He knew he was being watched. He had to get out of there before the weather cleared and Holmes made his move. He had to risk it. Putting his coat on, he headed towards the door.
"Going somewhere, Moran? " A deep voice came from behind him.
"Holmes. How did you get in? "
"Window. Back room. Locked rusted. Easily broken. You slipped up. "
"I didn't... "
"You did. But here... since we are now stuck here together in your snug little hideout, how about we have a chat? "
Sherlock still blocked Moran's exit. He motioned for the chairs by the table.
"A chat? Im not telling you anything. "
"No? Fine. I will talk. "
Moran sat down and gave Sherlock a gruff laugh.
"Nothing you have to say will interest me, Mr. Holmes. "
"No? Well, what else do you have to do? " Sherlock sat across from him, leaning back in the chair and crossing his legs.
"Cards? " Moran suggested casually, trying to match Sherlock who seemed utterly at ease. Didn't he know how close he was to getting his neck snapped?
"Boring. "
"Drink? "
"No thank you? "
"Hard to please, aren't you, Mr. Holmes. "
"Sherlock...please. I see no sense in not getting to use the given name of the man who will take your last breath. "
"Says you. Jim was right. You are cocky. "
"I prefer arrogant. Sounds less pornographic. "
"Whatever. But its true. Only one of us is leaving this place alive tonight. "
"Agreed. But just out of curiosity, since no one other than those in this room will know, why don't you answer a few questions. "
"You're wired. "
"Search me. I'm not. "
"No. I don't think I will... I don't trust you. "
"Ah! Another thing we have in common. "
"Think you're funny, do you? "
"Hilarious. " Sherlock said with a sarcastic look, but lethal voice.
"Ok, makes no difference I guess. What do you want to know. "
"Why? What did Moriarty want my child. "
"He thought you were wasted, doing good. Had quite a thing for you, you know. "
"Is that a fact? "
"Yeah. He wanted someone like you but smarter. Faster. The fact that the little one looked like you was a bonus. "
"Why? "
Moran grinned cruelly.
"He was thinking after a while to wait till she grew up. Then take her. A child with both sets of genetics... would be unstoppable, he said. "
Sherlock's brows gathered just above his nose.
"He planned on impregnating my daughter? "
"Eventually, yeah. But then you screwed that up. You messed up his game plane, and he had to abort. But he still wanted to have Laura continue. I was to keep her treatment going. train her to be ... "
"Him? "
"Yeah. Truth is, I think he kinda got bored waiting. He got bored easy. "
Sherlock's mind was reeling.
"You know, I think after I kill you, I will find little Laura. I bet she's gonna grow up real pretty. Or maybe your little Molly can ease the lonliness until the little girl is old enough to take on a man.
"You will not TOUCH my family. "
"Keep on thinking that...Sherlock. "
Moran didn't see Sherlock's fist come at him. He stumbled back but didn't fall. It was as if he was made of stone. Sherlock fought the urge to shake the pain from his knuckles, showing a sign of weakness.
Moran swung on Sherlock, but was thrown off and slammed into the table. Sherlock took advantage of the man in pain and gripped Moran's neck with his long fingers, pressing tight. The still wet curls of his hair dripping down into the man's eyes.
"Damn you! DAMN YOU! " Sherlock screamed.
mmmmmmmmmm
"Did you hear that? " John suddenly looked up.
"Hear what? " Mycroft replied not looking up from his hand.
"I thought...I heard a shout. "
"Its the storm, John. You always try to distract when I am winning. "
"You are not...Sherlock? "
When there was no response, Mycroft looked up too.
There was a loud crashing sound and both ran to the window. They saw the silhouette of two might fighting in the house below.
"Bloody hell! " John yelled, heading for the door, Mycroft and his men on his heels.
mmmmmmmmmm
Moran was fighting for his breath, but Sherlock wasn't letting up. The larger man lifted his knees and used them to push Sherlock off him. They grappled and punched at eachother, breaking furniture and eventually tumbling out a glass window. After just seconds, Sherlock was back on his feet, Reaching up to pull Moran close enough to hit.
When he did, his foot slipped on the wet pathway and they broke through the wood fence beside them.
John had gotten most of the way down the hill just in time to see both men fall.
"SHERLOCK! " John screamed, running towards the edge.