AUTHOR'S NOTE: Please observe friends! This chapter requires the addition of a new tag for "simulated rape" (nothing actually happens) and for psychological torture. That is all. Thank you all so much for reading as always.
The sound of a door closing amid resounding silence woke John. His head still felt quite fuzzy and it took a few moments to focus and orient himself to his surroundings. "Typical," he mumbled to himself, "Though it has been a while now." He was sitting on a chair in the middle of what had to have once been an office of some kind but was now in disrepair. Papers and empty drawers littered the floor, an old desk was pushed against one wall, and the windows were boarded over. He could at least see his wallet, phone, and keys laying on the desk. His hands were bound behind him but not to the chair and his feet were left free. Either his captor thought he would be out longer or they were idiots. The oddity of the fact that he could comment on the skill level of his unknown kidnapper and his overall lack of kidnappings these past months did not escape John and he chuckled ruefully to himself.
Careful flexing of his wrists determined simple zip ties as his restraint. Rolling his eyes at the rampant idiocy he stood up and walked to the desk. Leaning backwards against the desk, he gave a push to his phone and found it on. Definitely idiots, Mycroft would already be tracking his phone and Sherlock would not be far behind. Grabbing his keys in his hands he returned to the chair, selected a sturdy key and began working at the plastic tie around his wrist. In ten or fifteen minutes he had worn his way through the tie and freed his hands. Quickly pocketing his things, he tried the door but found it locked. He resigned himself to waiting beside the door for the return of his bumbling jailer. It was another fifteen minutes before John could hear a single set of footsteps, approaching far too casually, unconcerned, and a key being fit to the lock. The door swung open and in stepped his would be thug. John could just make out the stunned surprise at the empty chair in his profile view of the young man. And he was young, possibly college aged and either new or ill trained to his task. He almost felt sorry for what he was about to do.
Just as the thug turned to raise the alarm, John made his move. His military training had never had a chance to lapse given the work he did with Sherlock. He quickly disarmed and incapacitated the youth, "Sorry bout this mate, but I don't intend to stick around for the festivities." He grabbed the gun still stuck in the man's waistband and made his way carefully out of the room. He was on the second level it appeared so he made his way slowly toward the stairs, pausing to check each open door for assailants lest he be caught from behind. He encountered only one sentry at the head of the stairs, quickly dealing with him as well, dragging him away from the stairs into a nearby room. The stairs could be the most dangerous as he had nowhere to hide, so he stayed low and made his way down as swiftly and silently as possible. The exit was clearly marked and he did not see any further henchmen but he didn't take their absence for granted. Still crouched low he started to inch toward the exit. He didn't see the man waiting cooly beneath the stairs, nor did he hear his approach until the cold barrel of a gun pressed into the base of his skull.
"Please lose the gun and stand up slowly Captain Watson, and don't tempt my hair trigger. The boss would be terribly upset with me as he is most anxious to talk to you." the cool clipped voice instructed.
John couldn't stop the internal "Dammit!" that crossed his mind, but maintained his military stoicism as he did as he was told. Curious that the man called him Captain, most would refer to him as Doctor Watson. Military man then. He didn't try to turn, simply stood and waited. The gun eased up from his skull but John knew good and well it was still pointed at him. A large hand gave his shoulder a push as the gun gestured toward a nearby door. "This way Captain. Let's not keep the boss waiting." John followed his commands and approached the door. "Be a good man and open it Captain, we have an appointment to get to." John opened the door and stepped into the office. This one better lit than the others and boasting only a single old, high backed, swivel chair facing away from them at the moment. "Christ these villains and their sense of drama," he thought.
"I've brought our guest along Boss. He seemed to be a bit restless upstairs," the cool voice spoke with an audible smirk.
John remained silent, watching as the chair predictably turned slowly towards them. However, when he could see his host he could not stop the frisson of fear that raced down his spine as he hoped fervently that Mycroft and Sherlock were closing in fast. Much as he tried to maintain his bland expression, his widened eyes and flared nostrils belied his response.
"Hello again…..Johnny boy. It has been far too long, hasn't it?"
John had briefly hoped for some trickery or illusion, but that voice was unmistakable. Alive and in the flesh, James Moriarty sat before him. John did not bother to reply, knowing the madman would demand a response if he wanted one. They stared at each other in silence until the sound of a text alert drew their attention.
"Check Him!" Moriarty snapped.
He got his first glimpse of his guard as he rifled John's pockets and pulled out the phone. He was older but still military fit and precise. John recognized Colonel Sebastian Moran from his own sniper training days, an excellent shot with a rather grey sense of ethics. He recalled hearing news of his dishonorable discharge for questionable behavior in the field. He watched as Moran checked his phone.
"It was left on Sir. We'll have to move….quickly."
John saw the nod Moriarty gave to Moran just before the butt of the gun hit his temple with sharp direct force rendering him unconscious instantly.
Sherlock could not believe they had lost John. He was furiously pacing Mycroft's office, wearing a path in the expensive Persian rug. He replayed the past hour or so looking for clues. Mycroft's security detail had been temporarily confused by the ambulance but one unit had dutifully followed keeping the ambulance in sight for miles through the London streets. About the time Mycroft was figuring out his men had not taken John, the field unit lost the ambulance due to traffic and a red light between them. They notified Mycroft at once but the trace on John's phone had already began at any rate. For once Sherlock applauded the lack of intellect among the criminals of London, anyone with an ounce of sense would have shut off the phone as soon as John was inside the ambulance. They had closed in on a derelict building in the warehouse district without difficulty before the signal was cut off. Entering the building as swiftly and silently as possible, they had found only the bodies of two men killed execution style with single gunshots to the head. Sherlock had found a single chair in a room with zip ties frayed open in the floor behind it. He was certain John had escaped his bonds but not what had happened afterwards. John would have merely sought escape, incapacitating his captors long enough to do so. He wouldn't have killed unless necessary. No, far more likely that the two men died at the hands of another, perhaps for some failure in service. If John had escaped he would have contacted him immediately also. The fact that John was not found, had not contacted him, and that the signal was turned off implied John was still held by someone.
Which is why they were now back at the Diogenes club, Mycroft pouring over CCTV coverage for the areas around the building. It had not been proving helpful as the area was only sparsely covered, still his brother searched. Sherlock appreciated it but was resigning himself to the fact that he was at the mercy of whomever took John in the first place. The Alpha snarled and raged inside in impotent fury as Sherlock acknowledged all he could do was wait to be contacted with demands. He focused on demands because the prospect of finding a body instead was simply unthinkable, so he refused to follow that train of thought. Mycroft had already set up a trace on all incoming communications to his phone, so he waited. It had only been half an hour since they left the building, when his phone rang with an unknown number. Sherlock nodded calmly to Mycroft as he answered the phone.
"Hello?"
"Hello…..Sherlock."
Sherlock sat down hard in the chair nearest him, recognizing the last voice he ever wanted to hear on the other end of his phone again. A voice he was certain he couldn't be hearing again. He simply waited to see what that voice would say while Mycroft looked on worriedly.
"It is so good to hear your voice again after all this time, Sherlock. I must say your little pet has certainly gotten far more interesting during my absence. I can't even imagine how you managed to keep so much from me, Sherlock. I never thought you would allow yourself to sink to the baser level of the rest of humanity. I thought you would be above such things, however it is proving to be quite an entertaining distraction I must say."
Sherlock finally seemed to find his voice, fighting to keep the Alpha's snarl subdued, "What do you want Moriarty?" He noted Mycroft's flinch of surprise out of the corner of his eye, followed by movement at the computers.
"The game begins anew Sherlock. I will be in touch."
The line went dead before Sherlock could say anything further. Moriarty. The most dangerous man he had ever known had John. The hand holding his phone dropped to his lap as he looked to Mycroft.
"He's still moving. We have a direction but not an exact location. We will continue to search and follow that particular signal. We will find him Sherlock," Mycroft insisted, "we will find John."
Sherlock let his head fall back against the tall, leather, wingback chair and released the howl of fury and frustration he had been bottling up for hours. He did not understand it entirely himself, the noise served no purpose, got nothing done, yet he felt better for the release it gave him. Mycroft did not even bat an eyelid in surprise merely leaving him to it until he had howled himself out. There was still little he could do until they either tracked Moriarty's signal or he was contacted again. Mycroft was already tracing intel for any hints of Moriarty's activities while they all thought he was dead. With a sigh Sherlock went to help him, anything to keep himself busy until the next volley came.
Waking up was much harder this time, his vision blurry and his head still throbbing. Though when he was awake enough to be aware of his surroundings and remember the situation he was in, he wished for the return of oblivion. For one thing, best he could tell, he was nude, the chill air of the room sending up goosebumps across his flesh. He was also bound, apparently to a large bed, face down. He couldn't move enough to make out much more of the room. Both hands were spread above his head and held in leather shackles, as were both ankles to the other end of the bed, there was a pillow under his hips pushing his ass up in the air and a ball gag silenced him. He blinked his eyes slowly and tried not to think of what this looked like. Surely James Moriarty, the man who didn't like to get his hands dirty was not about to do what it looked like he might.
John's subtle stirrings finally got a response from the figure he could just make out lounging casually in a chair to the side of the bed. "Welcome back Doctor Watson, I was growing quite impatient…...can't start the show without its star now can I. You'll have to excuse Sebby though, he doesn't always know his own strength and it was a rush job that. Wouldn't have been necessary if those simpletons had done their job properly. It has been so hard to get quality help since Sherlock took apart my well organized and well trained organization." Moriarty set his jaw and ground his teeth a moment before continuing, "But we will fix that…...in time."
John could do little but growled against the gag and kicked against the restraints anyway. Somehow he knew the poor young men who failed to keep him bound would be dead by morning if they weren't already and he couldn't help feeling a little bit guilty about that.
"Tut, tut, tut, no need to strain yourself so Johnny boy. I can hear the gears grinding themselves to death in your head. Why is he doing this? What does he want? Really Johnny, it's so simple even you should be able to figure it out. But just this once, I will tell you. Obviously I can't destroy Sherlock's career, for one he doesn't care about public opinion and two, he just bounces back no matter what I throw at him. No the only way to destroy Sherlock once and for all is to destroy the mind he holds sacred. You, Johnny were always a weakness, but Now…...now you are the very weapon that will let me ruin that brilliant mind!"
John was beyond furious, that Moriarty wanted to bring harm to Sherlock was no surprise but that he thought he would be able to use John to further his cause was insane. He struggled violently against the restraints wishing he could just get his hands around Moriarty's throat.
"Oh don't worry Johnny, I don't need you to do anything at all. You've already done it. I really don't know how the two of you managed to keep such a secret from me, but you did. You can't imagine my astonishment when I returned to find that you, just little old army doctor you, had brought Sherlock down to the realm of the mere mortal. Because of you Sherlock has allowed himself to yield to his baser instincts, and of all imaginable things, taken himself a mate. Now those baser, primal instincts will be his undoing. And this is only round one, Johnny Boy."
As Moriarty finished his speech, John could just see him rising from his bedside perch and moving toward the end of the bed. His stomach was churning and his muscles tensed not knowing what to anticipate but dreading it nonetheless. There was silence for a moment, before he heard a click and saw a faint flash.
Across town, Sherlock's phone chimed as an incoming message arrived. He opened it quickly to see John, naked, bound and gagged to a bed with his hips in the air. The Alpha raged as Sherlock forced himself to read the message.
He certainly is a lovely Omega. Bit feisty but simply delectable. I'm going to enjoy this game Sherlock...but will you?-JM
Sherlock passed his phone to Mycroft before lifting a small table and smashing it against the fireplace with a roar that shook the building. It was a while before Mycroft got to look at the message as he had his hands full trying to calm Sherlock's Alpha, even with using his Pack Alpha voice.
Moriarty chuckled as he sent the picture to Sherlock, imagining the footage he would see later. But now, to make it even better. "Seb, come and give us hand here." Moran joined Moriarty at the foot of the bed.
John heard the sound of a zipper and the click of a cap opening and closed his eyes as if he could make this all go away. He flinched when he felt fingers and the cool wetness of lube touching his asshole. He clinched tight in protest.
Moriarty actually chuckled, "Not to worry Johnny, this is all for the show, you might say. If you are going to set the stage, then you have to dress the part as well….don't you?"
The fingers smeared lube all up and down his crack and around his hole wetting it completely. Then John heard another click and flash before Moriarty spoke, but not to him, "Come on Sebby give Daddy a hand here...or a mouth, whichever you prefer."
John couldn't see behind him at all but soon heard very familiar wet sounds and low hums one might associate with a hand job or blow job. That was only reinforced by Moriarty's low whisper, "Oh yes Sebby…..yes…..just how Daddy likes it…..Mmmmm…..I'll make sure and thank you properly later."
This had gone on for some moments, so that John squeaked in surprise when a hand gripped his ass and he felt the pressure of a blunt head against his asshole. Nothing more. Another click and flash, John was slowly getting the idea of what was happening and where these pictures were going. He could imagine exactly the hell it was putting Sherlock and his Alpha through too, he growled and bucked in anger and frustration. He understood just how Moriarty thought he could use him to destroy Sherlock now. He could torment the Alpha until Sherlock went insane. He heard the slick sounds of a hand rapidly stroking a cock and was not surprised to hear a low grunt and feel hot cum squirt across his cheeks and down his crack, covering his asshole and balls. Another click and flash.
"Perfect!" exclaimed Moriarty. "Now Sherlock and his dear brother have been busily tracking my phone since the first message. I shall send these last three as they get closer. Just imagine the torment for poor Sherlock when he sees what he will think is the defilement of his precious Omega when he is so close but unable to stop it. Oh and then when he finds you here! Ho,ho, HO! I am going to love watching the chaos! I have everything bugged, everywhere has a video feed. Mycroft's office, your flat, here…..I will get to see the Great Sherlock Holmes fall apart like a beast. And this is only the beginning, just consider it a dry run if you will. I can watch you so closely, perhaps I will take you right from under Sherlock's nose just before your heat comes and breed you myself the whole time before letting you go. Would That be the final straw do you think? Or will I actually have to kill you to drive him over the edge into madness?"
John shuddered in fear for Sherlock and revulsion for himself, fighting the nauseous feeling building in his gut. How would they fight this insane madman and win?
"Now. We can't have you telling them the truth as soon as they arrive now can we? That would simply ruin all my fun and defeat the purpose of our little show. No...we certainly can't have that."
John felt a knee pressing against his back keeping him still and a hand held his head firmly against the bed as he felt a needle press into his neck. He groaned around the gag but was powerless to do anything. The last thing he was aware of was that mercurial voice whispering in his ear.
"Nighty night Johnny boy, until next time."
John regained consciousness this time to the persistent beep of a monitor. Blinking in the low light he let his head loll over on the pillow with a groan. He was met by the sight of Sherlock. He appeared to be asleep on the guest bed but his hands were cuffed to the rails. There were obvious signs around his wrists where he had struggled as well as traces of a nosebleed among the scratches and bruises on his face. Allowing his gaze to travel further around the room, he encountered Mycroft. Sitting sentry over his brother and looking the worse for wear himself, he sported numerous scratches, cuts, and an impressive bandage around his hand and wrist. That brief look was all it took to tell him Moriarty had gotten what he wanted and the swear left his mouth before he even had another thought.
"FUCK!"
Mycroft only raised an eyebrow at the outburst. He had just opened his mouth to speak when John's raised hand and a finger shushing across his lips silenced him.
"Has the room been swept?" John asked. His tone and gaze so direct and firm with purpose that Mycroft did not question him. He merely nodded once firmly. But John was not satisfied, somehow Moriarty had access to their lives. "Thoroughly and completely, Mycroft? A full sweep, top to bottom, wall to wall, trojan slave programs on phones or other electronics? Everything, Mycroft?"
Mycroft was concerned now. "Yes John. A thorough sweep as always, this room is clean, we are secure. What is wrong?"
"First, how is he," John indicating the still form of his mate. He suspected but he needed Mycroft to tell him what happened.
Mycroft sighed but understood the need. "Tranquilized. Quite heavily actually. I have never in all of his life seen his Alpha unleashed in such a violent manner John. He is quite strong and remarkably fierce for one who denied his Alpha for so long. Even with My voice, control was difficult to impossible."
John bowed his head and swallowed against the nausea he still felt. "If you have not deduced it already then you should know he was baited and lured into such an outburst on purpose. I will explain in a moment, but please….tell me what happened."
"After he received the first picture and message from Moriarty it took me the better part of half an hour to prevent him from destroying my office and calm him enough to focus on tracking the message. We were following the signal and closing in on the location when there were three pictures but no messages, spaced apart but following one after the other. The set of his jaw at the first one had me already ordering him to calm, even before the others arrived. I was able to hold him as long as we were in the car, but once we arrived he was off to find you. The team was hard on his heels of course." Mycroft paused to glance at John, "Are you sure you want to know?" John nodded.
With a long-suffering sigh Mycroft continued. "When we found you…..as you were, he completely lost all rational function. The team were treating it as any scene and sought to collect evidence, but the Alpha only wanted to get you and get away. He smashed the camera of the man photographing the scene against the far wall. It was in pieces from one blow. The man who dared to touch you, trying to collect DNA evidence? He received a broken arm, fractured wrist and a concussion when the Alpha threw him into another wall. Once he had his hands on you he would not let anyone else near. He snapped your restraints apart with his bare hands. He wiped you clean and I believe he was on the verge of mounting you right there to re-stake his claim on his mate. You were unconscious. We didn't know if you were drugged or injured. You needed medical attention but the Alpha would not be reasoned with." Holding up his bandaged wrist with a rueful smile he said, "Believe me John, I tried. But he was completely lost in the rage of the Alpha, he was beyond my power to control. The team is always armed with tranquilizers for irate Alphas…...it took two doses to even slow him down, three to put him under. He has been out ever since and likely will be for a while still. The doctors have checked him over well and assure me he will wake on his own without any undue effects." Once John request was discharged he addressed him in a firm and serious manner, "Now tell me what happened and why you are concerned with being overheard."
John nodded, "Certainly. But first will you dispatch a team to sweep the flat, just as thoroughly as I asked before. Not for your surveillance. I have every reason to believe there are other devices or methods in place, audio, video, electronic. Just have them check everything Mycroft…..Please. It needs to be cleared before we can go home. And I think it would be best for all of us if we could get Sherlock out of here and home in bed with me before he wakes from those tranquilizers." The Omega wanted to preen with pride at the ferocity of his Alpha protecting him but John squashed it down violently. Now was not the time to indulge their primal natures any further.
Mycroft agreed and quickly sent a text dispatching his team. Once that was done he turned his attention to John. "Before you begin, you might want to know they did a rape kit once we got you here," uncharacteristically Mycroft shrugged, not knowing where to go beyond that statement.
John waved his unease away with a hand and a small shake of his head, "Not necessary but I understand the protocol. John took a deep breath and told Mycroft everything from start to finish. Everything Moriarty did and everything he said. He finished nearly on a whisper as he told Mycroft the depths of the criminal's insane plan. "He said he would take me from Sherlock as my heat starts and breed me. Said he wondered if that would do it or if he would have to kill me to finally push Sherlock over the edge. The last thing he said was until next time. This was only the first move Mycroft and it played out just as Moriarty wanted."
Mycroft looked grim. "You are right John. Moriarty got exactly what he wanted this time. He knows he can use you to get to Sherlock and he won't hesitate to do so to reach and win his endgame, which as he sees it is Sherlock's utter destruction it seems." Mycroft's phone vibrated with an alert. Quickly looking it over he addressed John, "The team has finished and there were several items removed but the flat is clear. I shall go and see about your immediate discharge so we can get you and Sherlock home." Then he was off to the nurses desk.
John felt fine once the drugs had left his system and he was in no mood to wait on protocol. He removed the wires monitoring him and cut off the machine. He found some gauze and tape and removed his own IV, then went in search of his clothes, hoping they had made it here with him. He found them in the small closet and dressed quickly. When Mycroft returned, the doctor on his heels with discharge papers in hand, they found John curled up behind Sherlock. His wrist held to the Alpha's nose to offer the comfort of his scent.
The discharge was handled quickly and Mycroft summoned one of a fleet of private ambulances to take them home. With Sherlock safely secured to the stretcher, John and Mycroft rode alongside him, as they made their way to Baker street. The ambulance personnel got Sherlock upstairs and onto the bed before departing. It took John and Mycroft together to undress Sherlock and get him under the covers safely. Mycroft watched over him while John took a quick shower to rid his body of any foreign scent. Once he was ready Mycroft was freed to leave them alone.
"Are you sure you can handle him John?"
"Yes…..I'll be fine. He will need to sent me and he probably will need to re-stake his claim before he starts to come around fully. A little rough sex never hurt anyone Mycroft." John smiled at his brother-in-law, "We'll both be fine, Mycroft. Go home and rest. When Sherlock is himself again we will discuss how to approach this problem."
Mycroft nodded solemnly as he left the flat and John locked it securely behind him. Judging by Sherlock's vital signs and pupils he still had a couple of hours before he remotely began to wake. John quickly put on the kettle for tea, made up a sandwich and grabbed an apple. It had been hours since he ate and he would need his strength. He tried to keep his thoughts away from the helpless state Moriarty had had him in, away from what he had done, and even worse what he threatened to do in the future. He was hardly successful and shuddered, shaking himself to throw off the thoughts. He finished his tea and food, even brushed his teeth to get rid of all but his own taste. Then climbed into bed naked next to his mate. He curled up next to Sherlock managing to doze off quickly.
He was roused two hours later by a rumbling growl as the Alpha rooted into his neck, rubbing against his scent gland. Hands roamed his body possessively and a large erection pressed into his back. John instantly gave his Alpha more access by baring his neck and throat. At the same time he began to speak softly, seeking to soothe the injured psyche of his mate. "Shh…..shush now. It's okay. It's all over. Nothing happened to me, I'm right here with you." The growling got louder but John just kept at it, "Shh….don't worry. No one claimed me….no one but you. I'm still yours…...all yours." He thought he was making some progress as the growl settled into a low rumble. Still his soothing talk could not sate all of the Alpha's need. The insistent scenting continued, the Alpha smelling and tasting across John's body until he reached the groin and buried his nose deeply, inhaling the comforting scent of his mate and nothing else.
John knew where this was headed and it wasn't about pleasure. It was all about reassurance and had to happen. Hands held his hips as mouth and tongue lapped over his half-hard prick, imprinting the taste of him anew for his Alpha before he was unceremoniously flipped onto his stomach. The hot searching tongue probed his ass while the mouth clamped down over his puckered hole and suckled, a low purr sounding when the only taste was that of his Omega. John couldn't stop the moaning that left his mouth as he pressed himself back into that tongue and mouth seeking more of the pleasurable sensations. He gasped however, when teeth bit down around his pucker, just before withdrawing. Two fingers quickly replaced the mouth, burning slightly without more than saliva to ease the way. Two quickly became three as the Alpha stretched him perfunctorily, before bringing the head of his cock to bear and thrusting home in one stroke.
John knew it was coming and panted into the pillow, forcing himself to relax as the Alpha fucked into him hard and deep. The Alpha wasted little time claiming his mate, a low grunt signaling his climax while his hot seed filled and marked John. The deed done, the Alpha remained well seated inside John but began to calm, letting an equally traumatized Sherlock resume control. John felt the comforting weight as Sherlock stretched across his back, placing tender kisses to his neck and shoulders.
"I'm sorry," whispered its way across his skin, encompassing so many regrets. And John understood each and everyone as Sherlock kissed behind his ear and suckled his earlobe.
"Shhh….it's okay. It had to be done love. We're both fine…..we will be fine. We will rest, then we will talk about this new development. We will work with Mycroft, deal with it, and be fine, do you understand Sherlock?" There was no response except for Sherlock's body trembling against his and the near silent crying he was trying to hide. "Sherlock? Hey? Come on…..talk to me…." The shaking only got worse and John was at a distinct disadvantage with his face in the pillow. He elbowed Sherlock, urging him to move now so they could face each other, "Oi! Come on now! Get off!" Sherlock complied slowly and though he had softened, John winced sharply at the motion, but that could be dealt with later. Sherlock was more important now. Quickly turning over, he was met with the sight of Sherlock sitting on his knees in the middle of the bed; one hand still clamped firmly over his own mouth to stifle the sobs that shook his body. John held out his arms, motioning Sherlock to him. In a flash John's arms were full of weeping mate, the curly head nestled beneath his chin, one arm tight around the thin shoulders while the other rubbed long soothing strokes over the tense back. John was glad Sherlock was letting it out for once, instead of bottling up everything. This was not something they could let fester between them. They were safe at home and together, so he shushed and soothed and let it run its course until Sherlock was calm and sleepy.
"I'm so sorry John," he mumbled into the damp spot he'd made. "I don't even know what came over me. I've never responded like that for any reason in my life…..but you….you've made it all different….and it…..it terrifies me John. Moriarty never frightened me before, but those…. the….he…."
John swiftly silenced him with a slow, tender kiss. "Nothing Sherlock. Those were nothing. You were manipulated with the implication of something that never happened. He did it on purpose to see you lose it because he knows we're bonded. He knows he can use me more than ever before to hurt you, but he didn't do anything to me Sherlock. Do you understand?!" At Sherlock's questioning look he hastily added, "Drugged me-yes, kidnapped me-yes, had his crony pistol whip me-yes, strip me and restrain me-yes, but he did not rape me Sherlock! It was all a scene set up for the sole purpose of driving you insane and he got what he wanted! He got his show! I was awake while he played his games but he drugged me just before you arrived so I wouldn't be able to tell you what happened."
Sherlock's eyes narrowed as he assimilated the new information John was giving him but at length he nodded. "So he...Moriarty….he didn't?"
John's firm NO seemed to settle Sherlock's mind at last. "Let's get some rest now okay. We'll go over all of this after a good nights sleep when we can think more clearly, alright?"
Sherlock couldn't help but stare at his mate in wonder as he brought the world around them into order once more. How often did he wonder where he would be if John Watson had never entered his life. He quickly shook off those thoughts, thankful he did not have to worry because he did have John. "We can sleep, as soon as I take care of you." When John moved to argue, he quickly spoke over him, "I know the Alpha had to do it John, but I also know I may have hurt you. Now if you don't need to go to the bathroom, then you will lay there and let me tend to you properly as a good mate should. Then we can sleep." John opened his mouth to speak but he knew Sherlock was right. He lay back on his pillows without another word.
Sherlock went to the bathroom and returned with supplies in hand. John spread his legs and allowed Sherlock to clean him with the warm cloth. The heat felt good but the washcloth felt rough against swollen and tender skin. He was not surprised to see traces of blood on the cloth either. Sherlock glanced at John apologetically but he only received a nod to continue with what needed to be done. Once clean he applied some medicated cream that cooled and soothed the area, before tucking John under the covers. He placed a couple of pain pills on the bedside table and retrieved a bottle of water
from the kitchen. When John gave him a curious look he replied with, "You may not need anything right now but you may by morning. I just thought I would have them ready."
John smiled warmly, "That's fine Sherlock. Thank you for thinking of it. Now, you have taken excellent care of me and it's time for bed. Get in here!" He pulled back the covers, grabbed Sherlock by the hand and pulled him into bed. Quickly arranging himself with his head and hand on Sherlock's chest, he sighed and soon fell asleep.
Sherlock held John close and watched him sleep for long time before he could settle his own thoughts and find some rest.
Morning found them both in Mycroft's office going over everything he had been able to collect so far. CCTV showed the ambulance stationed in a nearby alley, apparently waiting for John's collapse. John still had no idea what had happened but was assuming drugs of some kind, it was just a matter of figuring out how they got them into him. That mystery was solved when John sat watching the CCTV footage of the ambulance picking him up.
"The coffee!" he exclaimed.
When both Holmes shared blank looks he explained, "The server in the cafe tripped into our table and knocked over my coffee. He then brought Sally and I fresh cups. We didn't think anything of it, but…" zooming the camera in on the ambulance scene, John pointed at one of the 'medics" tending him,"that is the server who brought the coffee." Having his memory triggered John suddenly exclaimed, "Sally! Is she okay? They didn't take her….do anything to her?!"
Mycroft quickly reassured him, "She's perfectly fine John. They only took you then left and she was not drugged or anything else. She is safely at home and most anxious to hear from you."
John sat back in relief. He'd never forgive himself if anything happened to Sally or Christian and the unborn baby on the way. Considering the fact that they would be dealing with Moriarty again, he thought perhaps he should have a talk with Sally for her own safety and curtail their meetings. But that would be later. They still had to come up with a plan. It took all day and still the plan only consisted of increased security and monitoring, frequent sweeps of their flat, Mycroft's office, etc. None of them were happy with the plan, wishing they could take more decisive action but they all knew Moriarty was invisible unless he wanted to be found. After all they did believe he was dead before he chose his rather showy rebirth.
So life went back to normal, or almost normal. Sherlock had a hard time leaving John alone again for a while and they were very aware of the increased security presence around them, but most of their daily activities were the same. John did talk to Sally and explain the danger to those around them when they were dealing with Moriarty. They would still talk and have some more private meetings, but John refused to have her out in public with him again. He even asked Mycroft if he could have some security put on Sally as well. Who knew how long Moriarty had been watching them, he may already know Sally was a friend which made her a target.
A week after the kidnapping found John struggling up the stairs with the shopping, mumbling under his breath that surely it wouldn't kill the security detail to give a guy a hand every once in a while, when his phone started ringing. He swore as he made it up the last steps, managing to drop the groceries on the table and answer his phone only slightly out of breath before whoever it was hung up.
"Hello?"
"Doctor John Watson?"
"Yes. Who's speaking?"
"Oh yes, sorry sir. This is Tom Worthington at Bart's hospital. I'm calling regarding your hospital stay one week ago. You apparently checked out of the hospital before getting the results of your work-up and labs. We were just conducting our standard chart review and found the discrepancy. There were some results you should be made aware of sir. That is why I am calling. Is it okay to give you the results by phone or would you like to make an appointment to come by the hospital and get them?"
John realized that other than the rape kit Mycroft had mentioned, he had no idea what they had done before he woke up. Then the situation with Sherlock took all of his attention and he never thought about that visit to the hospital again. He figured it was some trivial detail the bureaucrats were covering their asses about but let the man get on with it anyway.
"Yeah sure, you can just tell me. I will assume we are being recorded for quality assurance and all that so yes you have my permission to give me the results over the phone." John hated bureaucratic bullshit. It happened everywhere but was particularly rampant in the medical profession.
"Oh...well, yes. Thank you sir. Let me just pull them up here."
John listened as the man shuffled papers and clicked a few keys, heard when he found the records he was looking for and began giving John the aforementioned results. John listened to the man talk, his eyes blinking slowly the only movement he made until his free hand slowly reached out and gripped hard onto the back of the chair beside the table. Other than that he was frozen in place. The man finished talking….John knew he had finished talking because he could hear the roar of his racing pulse in his own ears. A response….a response was required, what was the response….oh….oh yes.
"Uhh...yes..thank you." that was all he could manage and he hung up on the poor man before he could say anything further. He sunk down in the kitchen chair, staring at nothing as his mind tried to grasp what it had just been told. His thoughts were only a mad jumble of words as he sought sanity. Just one week ago things were sane…..now Moriarty was back….things had never been more dangerous. What was he supposed to do? He couldn't tell Sherlock, not now. He couldn't take the distraction when Moriarty was on the loose. He sat for a long time without any answers before finally concluding he needed help. Without a second thought he dialed the number. When the voice on the other end answered, John's voice was sure and to the point.
"I need to see you. Now."