A/N: This chapter follows The Reichenbach Fall, so I should probably say that anything that doesn't look familiar belongs to me. Everything else belongs to the geniuses that are Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat.
Chapter Sixteen
Kayla's POV
It was late when Nick left and I wasn't as tired as I thought I would be. So, to help myself fall asleep, I sat on the couch with one of my favorite books and a cup of tea. I was finally getting into reading when Sherlock came into the living room and stopped in front of the couch. "What are you doing?" he asked and I glanced up for a moment. He was already dressed for bed, but looked like he was in the same boat as me.
"Reading." I answered and went back to my book.
"Boring." he mutter and moments later I felt the couch shift under his weight as he sat down. A moment later, I had to look down and raise an eyebrow. Sherlock Holmes didn't seem like the 'touchy-feely' type, but for some reason, I was the exception. I couldn't help but grin. I reached down and ran my fingers through his hair.
"Comfortable?" I asked, grinning the entire time.
"Hmm. Quite." he muttered, closing his eyes as a small smile graced his lips. It was odd, the position he'd put us in, but it was comfortable. Sherlock Holmes laid on his back, his legs perched on the opposite end of the couch, while his head rested in my lap. "Read to me?" he asked, his voice a little above a whisper. He still hadn't opened his eyes and I couldn't help but think he looked more relaxed than he had in weeks.
"I thought reading was boring?" I asked, a little surprised by his request, and he opened his eyes to look up at me.
"Reading is boring, though it does pass the time. When someone reads out loud to you, it's as if they're talking to you, telling you a story." he said and I smiled.
"Alright. I'll read to you. But on one condition. You may not interrupt me or try to correct what I've read." I told him and he gave me an odd look.
"What could you possibly be reading that would make me do that?" he asked and I grinned. The cover of the book was blank, so he couldn't tell what it was. But when I told him, I knew a snide comment was waiting.
"Harry Potter. The first one." I told him and, just when I thought something was going to come out of his mouth, he snapped it shut and readjusted himself. "No comment?" I asked and he only shook his head. "Still want me to read to you?" I asked and he made a sound that sounded like a 'yes'. Flipping back to the first page, I began at the beginning. I wasn't about to admit it out loud, but I found reading to Sherlock extremely relaxing. Apparently he did as well because when I finished the second chapter, I glanced down and found the raven haired man fast asleep.
Marking my place in the book, I set it on the coffee table and leaned back again on the couch. I ran my hand through his hair again and smiled softly down at him. "You're special, you know." Came a soft voice from the doorway causing me to jump a little.
"What?" I asked, looking up to see John standing in the doorway in his robe with a towel around his neck.
"You're the only person I've ever seen him act like this with. When he's with you…he seems calmer. It's like he's not bored when he's with you." John said and I looked back down at Sherlock.
"That's why I left. Last time. Before I knew you." I said, just above a whisper and then looked up at the older man. "I left because I was getting too close. I didn't want to see him get hurt. I do love him, John, but I don't…I don't want to get too close and then something bad happening. I can't lose him. Besides my brother, he's the only one who knows almost everything about me. And it's not because he's deduced it. It's because I've trusted him and told him everything. Sooner or later, I know I'm going to have to leave again. I won't risk his life. Or yours. I have enemies, John, and I don't want them finding out I have weaknesses." I told him and he smiled at me before walking over and kissed me on top of the head.
"I love you too, Kayla. You're like the little sister I never wanted." He said and I chuckled. "And I believe Sherlock loves you too. He's just too afraid to admit it too himself." He added before heading upstairs.
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"Mr. Crayhill, can we have your first witness?" the judge asked and the defending barrister rose to his feet.
"Your honor, we're not calling any witnesses." He stated, causing a series of gasps to ring out through the courtroom. I looked to John and he gave me the same confused frown I was certain was plastered on my face as well.
"I don't follow. You've entered a plea of Not Guilty." the judge stated, just as baffled as the rest of the courtroom.
"Nevertheless, my client is offering no evidence. The defense rests." the defending barrister answered and sat back down. Moriarty then turned in his seat and looked up to where John and I were sitting, shrugging at us.
"That's a bit creepy." I said once Moriarty turned back around and John sighed.
"I'd say more than 'a bit'." John answered.
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"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury. James Moriarty stands accused of several counts of attempted burglary, crimes which-if he's found guilty-with elicit a very long custodial sentence; and yet his legal team has chosen to offer no evidence whatsoever to support their plea. I find myself in the unusual position of recommending a verdict wholeheartedly. You must find him guilty."
"They're coming back." I said, nudging John in the side to get his attention.
"That's six minutes." John said, sounding a little baffled.
"Surprised it took them that long, to be honest." I grumbled a little and John chuckled. Standing, he braced himself for a moment before we headed back for the courtroom. A few minutes later, the clerk rose to his feet and turned to face the jury.
"Have you reached a verdict on which you all agree?" he asked and one of the jury members lowered his head, shaking it in tiny despairing motions as the foreman stood and stared at the clerk unhappily.
A/N: I'm so sorry it's taken me so long to update anything. I've been through a rough time this past month and I haven't felt like writing anything. My parents just split up and it's really put me down. The only reason I've gotten this one finished is because it was partially finished to begin with and I had absolutely nothing else to do. I'm not sure when I'll update again, but I promise that I won't abandoned any of my stories. It just might take me a while to get back into the interest of writing again. Again, I sorry for taking so long.