A/N: Sorry for the delay in posting. Christmas intervened and also natureocs and I may have been getting excited and writing ideas for future plotlines and chapters!

I hop you all had wonderfully festive fun with your families and friends...also HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone!

Thank you to all the new and returning readers, reviewers and favourite alerts, it really is exciting every time an e-mail arrives in my inbox.

Chapter 28 - The King's Revenge

Jim:

"I'm scared." Whispered Percy. My blood boiled. No one, nothing had the right to scare her. What was worrying me was what could possibly scare her, other than snakes, she was unflappable. She could stare into the eyes of the most hardened crime bosses and still appear bored. I held her closer to me; I would do anything to stop her tears.

"Shh, you're okay now. I'm here. There's nothing to be scared of." I uttered quietly. She took a deep breath and said in a hollow voice.

"There's something in the dark. Whenever I close my eyes I can feel it, trying to pull me under. Something was different, it wasn't me, someone or thing added the heroin, I'd never take it voluntarily. I can't shake it even now; it feels like it's just waiting to attack again." She sounded terrified. I'd seen her relapse before, in an odd way, she knew what she was doing. She wasn't scared of her addiction. I needed a word with Duke. He knew exactly who we were; he was playing a foolishly stupid game.

"It'll go away. You'll be fine. I won't leave your side. You'll be okay." I told her. I would only leave her if totally necessary. People knew, they knew not to hurt her. She had my protection. She had the British government behind her. She was so well protected she was almost vulnerable.

"Promise to be here when I wake up? I don't want to sleep alone, I don't want it to take me again; it hurts." Percy admitted, looking so small in my arms. I looked her right in her silver-blue eyes.

"I will stay right by your side. I won't leave for one second. I promise. Now get some sleep, you need rest." I stood; let her get comfortable and lay next to her. Her head rested on my chest, my arms around her.

"Thank you." She whispered it took minutes for her breathing to even out. She was asleep and safe.

I looked down at Percy; she was so beautiful. She was intelligent and crazy and frustrating and challenging. I was going to make this right. I was going to exact revenge on the person who'd hurt her. They would meet a painful end. I carefully pulled my phone out of my pocket and sent a text to someone who could help.

Duke's 4pm tomorrow. We need to dispose of excess waste. JM.

I received a swift reply.

Agreed. I'll have the necessary tools available.

I put my phone back into my pocket and looked back down at my wife, she was quite incredible, and she kept me human. She twitched in her sleep; her brow furrowing and she began to mumble.

"No…stop...hurts…home…" I kissed her forehead and kept her close. This was killing me to see her upset. If someone were aiming for me then they'd found my ultimate downfall. I would tear the world apart for this woman. She wielded more power than she could ever understand. She started to settle, I could feel my own tiredness creep up on me. When I'd been home, I didn't rest I was seeking answers. I resisted murdering Angie's sister; Percy didn't need to be upset further, she'd especially annoyed if I hurt Angie. I paced the house like a caged lion. When I returned I again found the cold reception of Sherlock, who looked through me, his acted disinterest made me smile. I was fighting the need to sleep. I wanted to watch over Percy. After another hour I succumbed to sleep.

The next morning, Percy forced me home again, telling me she was fine. I acquiesced her request. I arrived home, showered and chose Percy's favourite suit. I stood in front of the mirror tying my tie. I could feel the mask slipping down, eradicating the man; I was becoming Moriarty, the criminal, and the monster.

I left the house and stepped straight into the waiting car. This meeting wasn't going to be fun, well that wasn't strictly true; it would be fun for me. For her I would happily get my hands dirty.

Percy:

I glanced at the clock, two hours. Two hours and I would be home. I couldn't wait. It was only one more hour to endure constant questioning and analysis. An hour then I could talk to the doctor before I went home. Come on, I can do this. Do it for him.

"So Percy would you say you suffer from abandonment issues?" My ears pricked up this question.

"Maybe?" I replied.

The short drive to Duke's was oddly calming for James Moriarty; it gave him a brief moment to pull the mask round himself securely. He exited the car and straightened my suit jacket; none other than Mycroft Holmes met him, Mycroft waiting with his customary smirk and umbrella. They had strange partnership, it all hinged around Mr. Holmes's younger siblings.

"Shall we finish this?" Mycroft drawled.

"After you." Replied Moriarty.

They descended into the club, patrons stopped when they saw them. Both men had connections across all layers of society. Seeing them together set nerves and fear running. Moriarty and Mycroft walked in confidently. They could break every person here without blinking.

"Get out, all of you." Said Moriarty darkly. Chaos erupted around the two men, who surveyed it with different levels of satisfaction.

The now empty club was filled with an eerie and heavy silence. Duke stood trying to look unfazed by the day's happenings. He swallowed thickly. He knew he was about to meet his end. That stupid woman had remembered. He should've upped the dose; she was close to dying when the Detective saved her, a fraction more and she'd be gone.

"An honour to see you again Moriarty, Sir, and Mr. Holmes. How can I be of service?" Sniveled Duke.

"There are questions that need answering, you are going to give us these answers." Threatened Mycroft.

"Now, gentlemen, you both understand, I have to respect my client's confidentiality. This is risky business." Evaded Duke.

"Now you don't want to disappoint do you Duke?" Asked Moriarty coolly. He enjoyed the fear that flashed across Duke's face.

"D-d-disappoint Mr. Moriarty, no Sir." Stuttered Duke.

"Good." Smiled Jim evil pouring out of body language.

James Moriarty used every method he could think of that induced pain, but didn't kill Duke. He needed to be alive for Mycroft's own forms and methods of interrogation. Thinking of what Mycroft could do sent a small shiver down Moriarty's spine, he remembered the weeks locked away. Duke sat pitifully tied to a chair, a black eye, bleeding nose, three missing teeth, a bruised cheek and a fractured wrist.

"So Duke, I am getting woefully bored, I will ask you again, who are working with?"

"No-one, just the usual clients."

"Now, we both know that's not true. Do you like your finger joints?"

"Y-Yes."

"Too bad." Moriarty snapped two of Duke's fingers. Duke yelled in agony.

"One last time, before I start removing limbs. A name, and you can rot away hidden for the rest of your pitiful life."

"James…A-a-lex James." Panted Duke through the pain. "He came in weeks ago, told me he was MI6, he said he was taking out a terrorist, that I would be paid."

"Interesting." Replied Moriarty. Alex James, he's heard that name before, long ago, where?

"Are you going to kill me? I can help you, I'll bring you good clients, lots of business." Sniveled Duke. Moriarty resisted rolling his eyes. This man was pitifully weak.

"Kill you? No, that would be too easy. I don't need your pathetic criminal wannabes. I'm going to send you somewhere far more fun. Although before you go, perhaps a taste of what you did to my wife." Spat Moriarty. He picked up the two syringes and injected Duke with the potent cocktail of cocaine and heroine. Duke's body convulsed and then sagged. Moriarty checked his pulse, satisfied he wasn't dead, and then he clicked his fingers. Two burly men dressed in black came in and took Duke's body away. Moriarty re-entered the bar to see a grinning Mycrfot.

"I hope you didn't kill him?"

"No, he's just getting a taste of his own medicine."

"Fitting. Scotch?"

"Don't mind if I do."

Both men sat in the debris of the club, letting the events of the morning file themselves away and settle. They could here someone enter and search around, they sat quietly waiting for the person to reveal themselves.

"Miss Watson, what a pleasant surprise. Do join us." Smirked Mycroft.

"Oh. Um, hello, Mycroft. Wouldn't expect you in a place like this." Replied Angie. She was surprised to see Mycroft Holmes and Moriarty sipping whiskey together in the remnants of the demolished bar.

"It was a matter of a delicate nature." Answered Mycroft cryptically.

"Angie, what brings you to this fine establishment?" Asked Moriarty.

"I told Percy I'd do a bit of investigating." Angie responded, looking around her. Moriarty smiled at her words.

"The mystery is solved." Moriarty's words held an air of finality.

"And?" Questioned Angie; frustrated she only had half the answers.

"It has been dealt with. For the better of many involved." Reiterated Mycroft.

"Your help was much appreciated Mycroft." Thanked Moriarty darkly.

"So you found out how the heroin got mixed in?" Angie asked again. She had had enough of their cryptic words.

"Most astute Miss Watson. It was a join effort, I found the man, James...extracted the information. The person in question will be dealt with." Answered Mycroft slowly and deliberately.

"He was quite resistant, but everyone has his or her price, it's finding where to put pressure." Smirked Moriarty. He was pleased with his work. He sat on a bar stool, tie off and sleeves rolled up. There were small blood splatters on his white shirt.

"So Duke mixed the heroin in with the cocaine?" Asked Angie, she was getting more frustrated by the second.

"Perhaps." Quipped Mycroft with a raised eyebrow.

"So you're not even sure he's the one who did it? Did he say he did it?" Demanded Angie.

"He apparently made a mistake, got confused when he administered his medicine." Said Moriarty cynically.

"He confessed. He has paid the price and will do for a very long time." Replied Mycroft, his tone almost reassuring.

"Are you sure about that? Someone who has been dealing drugs in this manner for years suddenly starts making mistakes like that? And I'm sure he's had to deal with questioning plenty of times before, he probably knows how to deal with 'interrogation'." Stated Angie. She was going to get to the bottom of this.

"Depends who's doing the interrogating Angel. His mistake was more deliberate than he cared to originally admit." Replied Moriarty darkly, his fists clenching in anger.

"James's methods of persuasion are most effective." Added Mycroft. Angie nodded. She understood, she didn't want to understand, but she did.

"Alright, so what was his motive? Why would he want to kill someone who could potentially come back as a customer? Or was someone paying him to do that?" Questioned Angie, hundreds of little thoughts racing through her brain.

"Again, most observant. I can see why my brother liked you Miss Watson. Care to deduce further?" Offered Mycroft with a wry smile.

"Well, as I said, it's very unlikely he would want to kill her himself, there's nothing to gain. So who does want to kill Percy, who would also know about her drug habits, maybe even that this is the exact place she would come for drugs?" Angie announced.

"Now you're asking the right questions Miss Watson." Complimented Mycroft.

"To knock off a few...suspects, no-one who is present here would want to kill Percy, nor would your darling detective. Percy's more observant than the rest of us she said something was coming. She tells you everything Angie, has she mentioned anything?" Asked Jim, his mask slipping away. He was a husband protecting his wife. Angie took a deep breath before she answered.

"The person I'd put this on is Moran. She's scared to death of him. He keeps going after her for some reason, killing her parents, stalking me, her best friend, he has something planned about Sherlock, I'm not sure what. For some reason he has something against her, he's told me himself."

"I'll have him watched." Said Mycroft firmly. Moran was becoming a nuisance.

"No need, I'll watch him. He's on the payroll. I've had my suspicions of late." Said Jim darkly.

"This time, don't use an 18-year-old." Sniped Angie. Mycroft's widened in surprise. He gave Angie a curt nod.

"She told you, interesting. She hasn't forgiven me for that." Mycroft replied. He turned to look at Moriarty.

"Could you try and keep him from Persephone?"

"She'll be safe." Moriarty's tone left little reason to argue, but Angie tried nonetheless.

"That wasn't answering his question." She demanded.

"Miss Watson, keeping this incident private is of upmost security. I'm sure you understand; it's a matter of near national security." Cajoled Mycroft.

"As important as Percy is in our lives, I doubt she's important to national security. More likely, a matter of maintaining your reputation." Snapped Angie. She was irritated with the whole affair.

"You'd be surprised Miss Watson, Persephone has done many interesting things during the course of her young life." Replied Mycroft.

"I'm sure, helping you two with your 'business'." Sniped Angie.

"Never doubt how important Percy is, she is more important than you'll ever understand. Remove her and all hell will break loose." Barked Moriarty.

"She chose to help, she was offered a way out a long time ago." Defended Mycroft.

"Well, of course, you two have worked together before. I'm sure it was nothing new." Sighed Angie. She had had enough of Morn and his games. Mycroft and Moriarty working together was not a good sign.

There was a silence, all lost in their own thoughts. Mycroft suddenly stood, looking at his phone.

"Miss Watson, soon the necessary authorities will arrive, it would be prudent for none of us to be present. You may visit me at my office if you have further questions. James, I think it's time to take Percy home; your help was much appreciated." Mycroft delegate. Moriarty stood, putting his suit jacket. He shook hands with Mycroft and left out the back door.

Percy:

The panic was rising. I tired to keep my breathing even and stop my fingers twitching. My chest was getting tighter by the second. I didn't want to pass out. I had to stay awake. I had to go home. I wanted peace and my own bed. I wanted to just be alone with Jim in our bubble. Keep breathing Percy; he'll be here soon. Just breathe; it's going to be fine. Minutes felt like hours as I waited. All of sudden the world fell back into place, there he was. He stood in the doorway smiling at me. I smiled back. I dived off the bed into his arms.

Home. I was home.