Chapter 19
Smoke and Mirrors
Irene Adler
Irene watched Molly Hooper go. She felt a flare of respect for the woman despite her obvious missteps. She would never have guessed that the woman had it in her. It had taken guts to come here and go against Mycroft Holmes. Irene wondered what the iceman would do about her. There was also DI Lestrade, the man had been dragged into a situation that went much deeper than he had been led to believe. The poor man, he would suffer from Mycroft's wrath as well. "Do you think your brother will make them disappear?" Irene asked with a glance in Sherlock's direction. The man didn't look at her as he scanned the document carefully, but did reply.
"Possible, if he learns the full extent of their involvement, but he's has bigger problems right now. There is still an unknown. Moran. The one thread left in Moriarty's web. If they keep their heads down and mouths shut, he may not go digging. I did warn Molly before she left." Sherlock sighed and Irene could see the guilt in his eyes. "Do you think there's something wrong with me?" Sherlock asked in a voice that was barely above a whisper. Irene took a moment to consider before she answered truthfully.
"I think you're damaged, delusional and believe in a higher power, in this case it's yourself." Sherlock's eyes darkened with emotion and Irene wished that she could take the words back, but she couldn't. So she went on attempting to explain. "The masks that you wear, the ones that you believe hide your pain; they are nothing but a self portrait." Sherlock sighed seeming to accept the words without further comment. Irene struggled to read him. In many ways, it had been easier before the fall. The masks were easy to see through. Now, she stared at the man behind the mirror and he was a complete mystery to her. "How did John Watson do it? Capture your heart?" Sherlock looked at her blankly for a moment before he replied.
"I have been reliably informed that I don't have one." Irene raised an eyebrow in disbelief. The words were hollow.
"You've already admitted that you love him, don't try to deny it now. For all of your deductions, did you really fail to see it? Don't tell me the great Sherlock Holmes hasn't figured it out. Show me what you're made of. After all, brainy is the new sexy." Irene had been aiming for levity, but it clearly fell flat. Sherlock frowned looking quite put off by her prodding, but remained stubbornly silent. Irene huffed in frustration and before thinking better of it blurted out. "He loved you, you prat! Despite him proclaiming that you were not a couple, he loved you and if he is still alive, I would bet that he still does! As the old saying goes there are none so blind as those who will not see." Sherlock looked at her in shock disbelief written all over his face.
"No, John's not gay." Sherlock claimed. Irene sighed wondering if she had just made a fatal mistake. Some things were better left buried and this may have been one of them.
"What is it with men and their labels? Not gay? Hardly, bisexual at the very least." Irene insisted. "Denial, Sherlock. He was in denial." Sherlock shook his head and his eyes flooded with pain and regret. Irene cursed herself again. The man had suffered enough and rather than give him solace as she had expected; the revelation only served to increase his pain. "Sherlock…" She trailed off unsure of what to say afraid of unintentionally causing more pain to a man that was hanging on by a thread.
"Go! I saved your life and now I wish that I hadn't." Sherlock shouted as the pain quickly morphed into anger. Irene could tell by the murderous look in his eyes that he was serious. She nodded and slipped away wondering what would become of him. He had sent everyone away. Molly, Lestrade, and now Irene.