[Fic] Come Out (Wherever You Are): Chapter 3 - Return (bigbang_mixup, Sherlock (BBC))
Title: Come Out (Wherever You Are)
Chapter Title: Return
Rating: PG-13
Chapter Word Count: 1,691
Overall Word Count: 13,103
Spoilers/Warnings: Spoilers for all of Sherlock.
Summary: John Watson is attempting to get on with his life until life is turned upside down - being kidnapped, being tortured - but the light at the end of the tunnel is worth it.
Author's Note: I do not own Sherlock or any of its characters.
I can’t stand the distance - I can’t dream alone
I can’t wait to see you - Yes I’m on my way home
Sherlock was away from the microscope, leaning back in the chair with his eyes closed as he tried to think. He was trying to get to his mind castle, wanting to be able to look at what he already knew. He sighed and opened his eyes, looking around the lab. Molly went off with Irene to talk about something and he knew that he was alone. He just never realized how quiet the lab could be, which is probably why he liked it so much.
It just wasn’t helping that every time he closed his eyes, he saw John. That only made his mind wander to the last time he really saw John and then the time before that. He still believed that it was a good idea to let John see him jump, even though it meant going backwards for John. He had even seen the limp when John was at the grave, so he wasn’t surprised at all about the cane. He opened his eyes when Molly came in and handed him a journal in a plastic evidence bag. “What’s this?”
“John’s journal. Lestrade asked me to keep it safe.”
He raised an eyebrow. “So you’re giving it to me?”
She also tossed him a box of evidence gloves, which he caught easily. “Yes. And not to make you feel more guilty. You don’t have to read it. I just thought - well, I thought that you would want it.”
“Thank you.”
She smiled at that. “Do you need a cup of tea or anything?”
“Tea would be nice.”
“I’ll get it,” she said and left the lab.
He put the evidence gloves on the desk by the microscope and just looked at John’s journal. He had a feeling that he wasn’t going to like what he found in there. However, he still put on a pair of gloves and opened the evidence bag, gently pulling out the journal. He flipped open to the first page and smiled as he saw I still believe in Sherlock Holmes. He closed the journal, just holding it in his hands as he leaned back in the chair again.
This time, the details of what he knew to find John came crystal clear. What he didn’t expect was to find himself at the memory of being at the graveyard, watching John and Mrs. Hudson and not being surprised that Mycroft didn’t come. Knowing that it was better that way as Mycroft would have known in an instant that something was off. But his attention was drawn back to John, standing alone and focusing on his words.
You told me once that you weren’t a hero… um.. there were times I didn’t even think you were human, but, let me tell you this: you were the best man and human… human being I’ve ever known, and no-one will ever convince me that you told me a lie, that’s… uh. There.
I was so alone, and I owe you so much.
Look, please, there’s just one more thing, one more thing, one more miracle, Sherlock, for me. Don’t. Be. Dead. Would you do that, just for me, just… stop it. Stop this!
His eyes snapped opened as he heard the door to the lab open. He turned to the sound and saw it was Irene.
“Molly had to run a quick errand.”
“Ah,” he said and took the cup of tea. He sniffed at it first. “Thank you.”
“If I wanted to drug you, I’d do it in a better place than this. And with less people around.”
“Good point,” he said. “So, why are you still here?”
“You already know that.”
“Yes, but it’s easier if you just tell me. I really doubt it’s just because of John.” He sipped at the tea. “I had nothing to worry about - Molly made the tea.”
“And what if it is?” She leaned against the counter. “Or would that make you jealous?”
“Didn’t you ask John a similar question when you were annoying me with all your tests?”
“Oh you liked it.” She smiled as he looked away from her. “It’s not a bad thing to admit it. And I knew you were doing it to get a rise out of John and I don’t mind in the least. I thought that I had taught you to keep those you care about close to you.”
“Moriarty had three different gun men - one on John, one on Mrs. Hudson, and one on Lestrade. I was not about to let any of them die in my place.”
“Well - I guess I have to forgive you now,” Lestrade said. He came into the lab without Sherlock noticing for once. “Your brother is here to see you. He’s also cross and yelling at anyone who comes into my office.”
“That does sound like Mycroft,” Sherlock said. He got up, putting the cup of tea next to the microscope. “Feel like coming with?” He asked of Irene.
“And see the Iceman in all his fury? Love to.”
Sherlock and Irene followed Lestrade up to the office. He stopped as they got into the bullpen and stopped to look at Donovan. He noticed the two different phones with one tinged with a bit of pink. He started to walk again as Irene came back for him. He waited until they were in the office with the door closed and Mycroft was on the phone. “Lestrade - has Sergeant Donovan taken on any undercover work?”
“Not to my knowledge, why?”
“She has two different phones. One of them has a smidgen of pink around it,” Sherlock replied.
Lestrade was about to reply but stopped as Mycroft got off the phone. “Sir.”
“Yes,” Mycroft said and looked to Sherlock. “I believe you have an explanation about this.”
Lestrade decided not to ask anything. He dialed his phone instead, calling a contact in a different department.
“I heard that you were yelling. Are you done?”
“I may or may not be,” Mycroft said. “Sherlock - “
“Noble cause and no, you don’t get to ask more than that. What did you and John argue about?”
“What?” Mycroft asked.
“When John got out of the car, he slipped. Now, a man like him, using a cane, knows how to place his feet. He’s going to know not to slip, unless it’s raining, which it wasn’t. It was dry. So there was nothing to slip on, but he placed his feet wrong because he wanted to get out and in a hurry. So, what did you two argue about?”
“We weren’t arguing. He was just cross,” Mycroft said.
Sherlock smiled. “Was he now?”
“You didn’t let him in on the fact that you allowed me to tell Moriarty everything, did you?”
“I never thought it would come back to hurt me in the end,” Sherlock replied.
“And you didn’t want John anywhere near him,” Irene said. “Oh you’re good in the end.”
Sherlock grinned.
“Miss Adler, what are you doing here?” Mycroft asked.
“She brought the box with John’s cane in it. Which included a cell phone with Moriarty telling us that he has John. And that he’s going to want me to do something but we don’t know what yet. So, what do you want, brother dear?” He paused for a moment. “And you shouldn’t fire your assistant. It’s not her fault the newspapers print everything all wrong.”
“I am not firing her,” Mycroft said.
“So it’s the one that doubles for your driver?” Irene asked.
“Alright, thanks,” Lestrade said. “She’s not doing any undercover work. All of you, stay here.” He left the office.
Sherlock moved to watch out of the window of Lestrade’s office. He waited for a full minute before stepping out of the office and over to Donovan’s desk.
“I told you to wait,” Lestrade said.
“I don’t have any second phone,” Donovan said. “He’s just doing this because he knows I’m the one who reported him.”
“Yes, I do, but I did see you use another phone. So, the question then turns to what are you hiding?” Sherlock asked.
Donovan bit her bottom lip. She was about to say something when the sound from the bottom drawer of her desk gave away the phone’s location. Lestrade got the phone and went through the text messages and through the call log. “I can explain.”
“I doubt it,” Sherlock said.
“Anderson,” Lestrade called.
“Sir?” Anderson asked as he came over.
“Escort Donovan to an interrogation room,” Lestrade answered. He handed the phone to Sherlock, letting him look through the texts. “It seems like they were planning this for a while.”
“It’s got to be more than just the two of them. We don’t know how many Moriarty has in London.”
“What about her?” Lestrade asked, meaning Irene.
“If she truly wanted to leave, then she would. If she truly wanted all of us to die, then she wouldn’t be in the building. I know she seems suspect - “
“And having an argument with Lord Mycroft.”
“Lord?” Sherlock asked and wrinkled his nose. “Try Duke.”
“Do I want to know how connected your family is?”
“No,” Sherlock replied. “At least, not from me. I hate talking about it.”
“Not surprising. From me, personally, I’m glad you’re back.”
Sherlock nodded. “The log and the texts seem to start around the same time as the Fall happened. So she hasn’t been working for him long.”
“Sherlock.”
“I’ll attempt to be normal after we get John back,” Sherlock said.
“I won’t hold my breath then. I’ll get what I can out of her. Otherwise, we’re going to just have to wait until he contacts us.”
“I know,” Sherlock said. “I’ll try to get Mycroft out of your office.”
“Thank you,” Lestrade said as he went off to deal with Donovan.
Sherlock took a step towards the office before turning on his heel and going back to the lab. He wanted to look at the cane one more time before he went back in and dealt with Irene and his brother.
Chapter Title: Return
Rating: PG-13
Chapter Word Count: 1,691
Overall Word Count: 13,103
Spoilers/Warnings: Spoilers for all of Sherlock.
Summary: John Watson is attempting to get on with his life until life is turned upside down - being kidnapped, being tortured - but the light at the end of the tunnel is worth it.
Author's Note: I do not own Sherlock or any of its characters.
I can’t stand the distance - I can’t dream alone
I can’t wait to see you - Yes I’m on my way home
Sherlock was away from the microscope, leaning back in the chair with his eyes closed as he tried to think. He was trying to get to his mind castle, wanting to be able to look at what he already knew. He sighed and opened his eyes, looking around the lab. Molly went off with Irene to talk about something and he knew that he was alone. He just never realized how quiet the lab could be, which is probably why he liked it so much.
It just wasn’t helping that every time he closed his eyes, he saw John. That only made his mind wander to the last time he really saw John and then the time before that. He still believed that it was a good idea to let John see him jump, even though it meant going backwards for John. He had even seen the limp when John was at the grave, so he wasn’t surprised at all about the cane. He opened his eyes when Molly came in and handed him a journal in a plastic evidence bag. “What’s this?”
“John’s journal. Lestrade asked me to keep it safe.”
He raised an eyebrow. “So you’re giving it to me?”
She also tossed him a box of evidence gloves, which he caught easily. “Yes. And not to make you feel more guilty. You don’t have to read it. I just thought - well, I thought that you would want it.”
“Thank you.”
She smiled at that. “Do you need a cup of tea or anything?”
“Tea would be nice.”
“I’ll get it,” she said and left the lab.
He put the evidence gloves on the desk by the microscope and just looked at John’s journal. He had a feeling that he wasn’t going to like what he found in there. However, he still put on a pair of gloves and opened the evidence bag, gently pulling out the journal. He flipped open to the first page and smiled as he saw I still believe in Sherlock Holmes. He closed the journal, just holding it in his hands as he leaned back in the chair again.
This time, the details of what he knew to find John came crystal clear. What he didn’t expect was to find himself at the memory of being at the graveyard, watching John and Mrs. Hudson and not being surprised that Mycroft didn’t come. Knowing that it was better that way as Mycroft would have known in an instant that something was off. But his attention was drawn back to John, standing alone and focusing on his words.
You told me once that you weren’t a hero… um.. there were times I didn’t even think you were human, but, let me tell you this: you were the best man and human… human being I’ve ever known, and no-one will ever convince me that you told me a lie, that’s… uh. There.
I was so alone, and I owe you so much.
Look, please, there’s just one more thing, one more thing, one more miracle, Sherlock, for me. Don’t. Be. Dead. Would you do that, just for me, just… stop it. Stop this!
His eyes snapped opened as he heard the door to the lab open. He turned to the sound and saw it was Irene.
“Molly had to run a quick errand.”
“Ah,” he said and took the cup of tea. He sniffed at it first. “Thank you.”
“If I wanted to drug you, I’d do it in a better place than this. And with less people around.”
“Good point,” he said. “So, why are you still here?”
“You already know that.”
“Yes, but it’s easier if you just tell me. I really doubt it’s just because of John.” He sipped at the tea. “I had nothing to worry about - Molly made the tea.”
“And what if it is?” She leaned against the counter. “Or would that make you jealous?”
“Didn’t you ask John a similar question when you were annoying me with all your tests?”
“Oh you liked it.” She smiled as he looked away from her. “It’s not a bad thing to admit it. And I knew you were doing it to get a rise out of John and I don’t mind in the least. I thought that I had taught you to keep those you care about close to you.”
“Moriarty had three different gun men - one on John, one on Mrs. Hudson, and one on Lestrade. I was not about to let any of them die in my place.”
“Well - I guess I have to forgive you now,” Lestrade said. He came into the lab without Sherlock noticing for once. “Your brother is here to see you. He’s also cross and yelling at anyone who comes into my office.”
“That does sound like Mycroft,” Sherlock said. He got up, putting the cup of tea next to the microscope. “Feel like coming with?” He asked of Irene.
“And see the Iceman in all his fury? Love to.”
Sherlock and Irene followed Lestrade up to the office. He stopped as they got into the bullpen and stopped to look at Donovan. He noticed the two different phones with one tinged with a bit of pink. He started to walk again as Irene came back for him. He waited until they were in the office with the door closed and Mycroft was on the phone. “Lestrade - has Sergeant Donovan taken on any undercover work?”
“Not to my knowledge, why?”
“She has two different phones. One of them has a smidgen of pink around it,” Sherlock replied.
Lestrade was about to reply but stopped as Mycroft got off the phone. “Sir.”
“Yes,” Mycroft said and looked to Sherlock. “I believe you have an explanation about this.”
Lestrade decided not to ask anything. He dialed his phone instead, calling a contact in a different department.
“I heard that you were yelling. Are you done?”
“I may or may not be,” Mycroft said. “Sherlock - “
“Noble cause and no, you don’t get to ask more than that. What did you and John argue about?”
“What?” Mycroft asked.
“When John got out of the car, he slipped. Now, a man like him, using a cane, knows how to place his feet. He’s going to know not to slip, unless it’s raining, which it wasn’t. It was dry. So there was nothing to slip on, but he placed his feet wrong because he wanted to get out and in a hurry. So, what did you two argue about?”
“We weren’t arguing. He was just cross,” Mycroft said.
Sherlock smiled. “Was he now?”
“You didn’t let him in on the fact that you allowed me to tell Moriarty everything, did you?”
“I never thought it would come back to hurt me in the end,” Sherlock replied.
“And you didn’t want John anywhere near him,” Irene said. “Oh you’re good in the end.”
Sherlock grinned.
“Miss Adler, what are you doing here?” Mycroft asked.
“She brought the box with John’s cane in it. Which included a cell phone with Moriarty telling us that he has John. And that he’s going to want me to do something but we don’t know what yet. So, what do you want, brother dear?” He paused for a moment. “And you shouldn’t fire your assistant. It’s not her fault the newspapers print everything all wrong.”
“I am not firing her,” Mycroft said.
“So it’s the one that doubles for your driver?” Irene asked.
“Alright, thanks,” Lestrade said. “She’s not doing any undercover work. All of you, stay here.” He left the office.
Sherlock moved to watch out of the window of Lestrade’s office. He waited for a full minute before stepping out of the office and over to Donovan’s desk.
“I told you to wait,” Lestrade said.
“I don’t have any second phone,” Donovan said. “He’s just doing this because he knows I’m the one who reported him.”
“Yes, I do, but I did see you use another phone. So, the question then turns to what are you hiding?” Sherlock asked.
Donovan bit her bottom lip. She was about to say something when the sound from the bottom drawer of her desk gave away the phone’s location. Lestrade got the phone and went through the text messages and through the call log. “I can explain.”
“I doubt it,” Sherlock said.
“Anderson,” Lestrade called.
“Sir?” Anderson asked as he came over.
“Escort Donovan to an interrogation room,” Lestrade answered. He handed the phone to Sherlock, letting him look through the texts. “It seems like they were planning this for a while.”
“It’s got to be more than just the two of them. We don’t know how many Moriarty has in London.”
“What about her?” Lestrade asked, meaning Irene.
“If she truly wanted to leave, then she would. If she truly wanted all of us to die, then she wouldn’t be in the building. I know she seems suspect - “
“And having an argument with Lord Mycroft.”
“Lord?” Sherlock asked and wrinkled his nose. “Try Duke.”
“Do I want to know how connected your family is?”
“No,” Sherlock replied. “At least, not from me. I hate talking about it.”
“Not surprising. From me, personally, I’m glad you’re back.”
Sherlock nodded. “The log and the texts seem to start around the same time as the Fall happened. So she hasn’t been working for him long.”
“Sherlock.”
“I’ll attempt to be normal after we get John back,” Sherlock said.
“I won’t hold my breath then. I’ll get what I can out of her. Otherwise, we’re going to just have to wait until he contacts us.”
“I know,” Sherlock said. “I’ll try to get Mycroft out of your office.”
“Thank you,” Lestrade said as he went off to deal with Donovan.
Sherlock took a step towards the office before turning on his heel and going back to the lab. He wanted to look at the cane one more time before he went back in and dealt with Irene and his brother.