CHAPTER 66. CHECK MATE

Moran wasn't stupid despite what everyone thought, he could think for himself he could read Jim better than most. And he knew something was coming, Jim was acting more and more erratically. Since the pool the man had slept less and he'd become more unpredictable.( If that was possible?)

Last week Jim shot twelve men without hesitation, which were twelve henchmen they had to replace. Well they were cheap to come by, but still something was wrong.

Jim seemed obsessed with that Holmes and his precious little Doctor.

"Look at them Sebbs. Their little house of cards will fall soon. He'll learn like we did there is no escape from the dull boredom. From your demons."

"Jim why are we even focusing on Holmes? Just let me slit his throat or I can get a clean shot off."

"Sebby that wouldn't be fun. No no no, not fun at all. I promised to burn him, to burn the heart out of him. He thinks he's untouchable; we've only given him a taste of what we are capable of. He thinks he's better than us, above us, more clever, he's not. He is me. Once he comes to terms with that the faster the game ends."

"And then what Jim?" Sebastian wondered now over his friend's sanity, the kid was losing it.

Sebastian did worry, what happened after this distraction ended this game as Jim put it. They were well off, the business was bringing in more money then they could spend. Still Jim wasn't happy, he wanted Holmes to suffer. Sebastian didn't like the prick or his loyal dog but he could care less if they lived or died at this point. What he cared about was Jim.

"Don't you see Sebastian. He's taunting us. He thinks he's untouchable and above it all. He's not. Is he Sebastian? He's not. And I'll show him exactly what I am capable of, what I can take from him. And he'll be just like me. Just like me."

Sebastian didn't dare ask questions instead he sighed heavily "Jim come on you need to eat."

James had refused food, he glared at Sebastian, crossing his arms he stood in the empty study.

Sebastian felt as if he were trying to coax that kid out from under the table again, except it was a table and James wasn't frightened. He was frightening, and stubborn Sebastian rubbed his temples and sat down on the black leather sofa and Jim continued to glare at his sniper.

"Why do you care Sebastian? Why are you still here?" the dark haired man crossed his arms over his chest.

This threw the sniper off, he was used to Jim's tantrums but there was no malice or anger just curiosity. The brown eyes sharp and probing.

Sebastian leaned his head back into the soft leather of the couch, "I just do. You're my brother James, of course I'm going to worry. You're working too much, and this vendetta it's taking a lot out of you. Don't think I haven't noticed you aren't sleeping and when you do…" Sebastian was talking to the ceiling he wasn't even looking at his friend. The blond soldier shook his head not wishing to continue with the conversation. He didn't want to say that James had nightmares that he pulled out of screaming.

"What is it about this idiot freak you cant let go James. You've beaten him already at the pool. And now this whole dramatic game of follow the bread crumbs the man's reputation is ruined and you did all of that. So why go any further?"

The skinny young man turned to his desk, his fingers tapping against the cold marble top, "You were never good at chess my dear Sebby. I have him at check and I will have him a check mate."

Sebastian felt a chill run up his spine hearing his friend's cool words, something in the tone told the sniper that James would win whatever the cost.

~0~

Sebastian watched through the scope, James had given him one order "If Sherlock Holmes doesn't jump then kill John Watson."

The sniper could do this except he was watching the roof across from where he was positioned; James had his back to the scope so Moran couldn't read the man's lips. He could see the color drain from the detective's face.

That was priceless, watching Sherlock Holmes finally lose some of that haughty superiority. He viewed Sherlock step up to the ledge and smile smugly as if he had a secret the man turned towards Jim. That's when the cab with Doctor Watson pulled up.

Sebastian was too busy watching Jim, there was a manic smile crossing the Irishman's lips and Sebastian didn't understand why his hands started to shake, why his heart sped up and his mouth went dry.

He knew he should be watching the Captain but the image through his scope was so clear and crisp everything moved so slow and fast all at once.

Jim with the gun to his mouth and the blood, the blood that exploded from his temple. Moran dropped the riffle; he dropped it and screamed "JAMES!"

His heart in his throat, he'd kill Holmes, kill him with his bare hands, he would see him die slowly. First, first he had to get to James, had to be sure he was alright. So what if a head shot was fatale 97 percent of the time. So what if survivors were never the same. James had to be alright he had to be alright.

Heart pounding through his chest and ears as the Colonel pushed through the doors of the hospital bumping into the hospital staff running out. On some level he understood someone outside was hurt, Sebastian vaguely recalled stepping through the blood on his way into the building but never registered it.

All that mattered was James. His friend was on the roof, hurt and needing help.

Sebastian could hear the echo of a young boy's haunting words "For someone who cares so much you would think he'd keep a better eye on his brother."

It was too late when Moran reached the roof James was dead, Sherlock that tosser was no where to be found. The sniper searched the building for him and then glanced down the side he could hear someone yelling, several people were running around a figure a broken figure. He then understood, glancing down at the broken body being lifted onto a gurney Sebastian found John Watson wasn't so far away.

The ex soldier was sitting head in hands, a female Doctor kneeling down next to him trying to keep him calm. But Moran understood the man's emotional state, and through the snipers rage he found this consoling. His hands itched to find his rifle to shoot the doctor through the heart, but no, let this be his punishment. Let the man suffer for failing to save his friend.

Again James's words from long ago echoed in his head, "For someone who cares so much you would think he'd keep a better eye on his brother."

Moving back to look at his only friend Sebastian crouched down closing those wide brown eyes, at least James went out with a smile.

"Oh, James you mad idiot." Sebastian allowed the sob to break from him, he couldn't see the man bleeding and dead. The ex-army Colonel could only see the figure of a young boy wearing state issued clothes, faded jeans and a plain white t-shirt.

Sebastian remembered the scared child hiding under the kitchen table of that boys home. The way dark hair had fallen into the kid's blinking eyes. Sebastian moved the strands from the closed eyelids, his calloused hand moved down the thin shoulder past the forearm until his large hand fell over the smaller one, still gripping the gun.

Already cold, the hand holding the gun's grip was just as cold as the metal, the sniper sniffed loudly, his memory still holding to the feeling of James's warm fingers brushing against his knuckles. The way the boy had snatched the candy from him. The look he'd been given still fresh with him and now it started to fade until all that was left was this. A cold body lying in a puddle of blood.

Check mate.