Out of the frying pan and into the fire, Sherlock thought as he stared at Moriarty on the small tv screen of Mycroft's car. John and Mary stood behind him looking at the screen in shock, John put his arm around Mary protectively. After a few moments watching the screen, trying to make sense of what he was seeing, Sherlock turned to them, with a look they had never seen him wear before, pure confusion.
"Whats going on Sherlock?" John asked, looking at him expectantly. "It can't be true, he died on St Barts rooftop."
"Well so did I...officially" Sherlock responded after a moment.
"What are you saying? That he is back?" Mary asked.
"I don't know" Sherlock responded. "But if he is back. We're all in great danger"
Sherlock walked over to John and Mary's car and got into the back seat. Mary and John got into the front, they both looked back at Sherlock, speechless and expectant.
"Baker Street, at once if convenient" Sherlock said, looking out the window. The journey back to Baker St was quiet. Sherlock thought about John, about Mary and Mrs Hudson, Lestrade and Molly.
Happy New Year Molly Hooper
He remembered texting her just as the plane lifted off the runway, heading for eastern Europe. He thought it would be the last thing he ever said to her. He couldn't even manage to say goodbye.
He was relieved, to say the least, to not have to say goodbye after all, to Molly or to anyone. 'England needs you' Mycroft had said. He looked out the windows at the busy streets and the london skyline. England was his home and if it needed him, he knew he would do anything to protect it.
"What are you going to do?" John said suddenly, turning around to look at his best friend. Sherlock continued to look out the window, lost in his own thoughts. "Well what ever it is Sherlock, I'm coming with you"
"What...No!" Sherlock said sternly, turning to John.
"Let me guess, it could be dangerous" John said mockingly.
"It could!"
"Sherlock!" John said angrily.
"You are going to stay and protect your family. If Moriarty is back, they are who you should be with. Mary and Sherlock" Sherlock said.
"For the last time, we're not naming our child after you!" John shouted, losing his temper.
"Calm down boys" Mary said. "Sherlock is right John. The best place for you is with us"
John went silent for a moment. "I'm only a phone call away Sherlock. Keep us updated" He said quietly.
"I promise I will John, and I'll tell Mycroft to increase your security, just stay out of trouble" Sherlock said as the car pulled up to Baker St. As Sherlock jumped out, Mary opened the window.
"Please keep yourself safe Sherlock" Mary said. Sherlock nodded and smiled. Sherlock watched as they drove down Baker St. He noticed a homeless man lying on the pavement, with long dreadlocked hair, wearing tattered clothes with a small jack russell on his lap. Sherlock took out a twenty from his pocket and a little sheet of paper, on which he wrote:
Eyes & Ears.
Jim Moriarty, back from the dead?
He folded up the note in the twenty and handed it to the man. He took it graciously. Sherlock then turned, expressionless and headed back to 221b.
As Sherlock entered, a flash of purple and red whizzed in front of him, it was Mrs Hudson, she fell into his arms in shock and fear.
"Oh Sherlock! He's back! I don't know how! I don't know! Oh Sherlock...! I saw him on the television...!" She wailed against his chest as she held him, as he put his arms around her in an awkward effort to soothe her, she wailed louder.
"Mrs Hudson. I know, It will be fine. I promise" Sherlock said, trying to sound calm.
"Oh my boy, what are we going to do?" She sighed, her crying had stopped but she was still gasping, she looked up at him, fear filling her pale face.
"I think it would be best if you'd stay with your sister for a bit Mrs Hudson. I'll get someone to keep an eye on you, okay?" He said calmly.
"Alright, but you have to keep yourself safe alright?" She said, hugging him again.
"I will Mrs. Hudson. Don't be worrying about me" He said patting her back. He walked her back down the hallway to her flat.
"Would you like a cup of tea Sherlock?" She asked, smiling weakly, but a look of shock still etched on her face.
"No thank you Mrs. Hudson." He relied, smiling back.
"I'd better go call my sister then. Good night Sherlock"
"Good night" Sherlock said.
Sherlock made his way up to his flat, scared that he'd find Moriarty waiting for him with the kettle boiling eating an apple, but he wasn't. Who knows what he had planned for England; murders, bombs, kidnappings and who knows where he was hiding, Sherlock was dreading finding out. But whatever he had planned and wherever he was hiding, Sherlock was determined to bring him down, once and for all. As Sherlock walked across the living room staring at John's empty armchair, Sherlock knew that for the second time he would have to face Moriarty alone, that was how he preferred it. Alone protects people.
"No friends protect people" John's voice echoed around his head.
He had never felt so alone, than in that moment sitting in his chair, with his head in his hands. Alone in 221b once more.