[Fic] Come Out (Wherever You Are): Chapter 2 - Mistakes (bigbang_mixup, Sherlock (BBC))
Title: Come Out (Wherever You Are)
Chapter Title: Mistakes
Rating: PG-13
Chapter Word Count: 1,994
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.
You can’t fly these wings
You can’t sleep in this box with me.
Let me save you, hold this rope
John winced as he woke up and blinked a few times to clear the spots in his vision. Once he could see, the first thing he noticed was that they were high up. He could easily see the Eye but he couldn’t fully make out the other landmarks that they were close to. The fact that they were high up meant that one idea for escape was cut off to him. He slowly got up, amazed that he wasn’t tied to a chair, and looked around for his cane. Not seeing it in the room, he used a bit of furniture here and there. He got to one of the doors in the room and tried it, opening up to a bathroom. He closed it quietly before moving over to the only other door in the room. He pressed his ear up to the door and heard voices on the other side.
“He’s going to ask me if I’ve seen him,” Irene said. “You know that.”
There was a chuckle. “Which is the reason that I’m not letting you see him,” Moriarty said. “I want his mind to wonder what is happening.”
“Fine. May I at least tell him that he’s alive?”
“He knows that,” Moriarty replied. “Give him the package and then you’re done, Miss Adler. At least with me for the moment.”
John heard the sound of Irene’s heels walk away. He stood a bit back from the door, expecting Moriarty to come in. When that didn’t happen, he counted to ten and then tried the door. He swore under his breath, as the door was locked, and stepped back as the door was opened. He was about to rush at whoever came in but stopped short as he noticed the gun. “That’s a bit unfair.”
“I really don’t care,” Moriarty said. “Back to your chair, John.”
“And if I don’t?” John countered.
“I’ll give you a real reason to have a limp,” Moriarty replied. “It’s up to you.”
John looked at Moriarty before slowly moving back over to the chair. He sat down and leaned back. “So, what is this about?”
“You are so boring, John.”
“I don’t think so. I’ve figured out that Sherlock is alive, which is something I always thought. There were eyewitnesses that said there were two men on the roof, but there was only Sherlock’s body. I was close enough to the police that they let me look at the report. There was blood on the roof. They determined that the blood came from a blood pack, something an actor or someone playing an actor would be able to get his hands on.” John paused. “I think you’re just pissed that you couldn’t use Richard Brook after you made Sherlock jump so you wouldn’t be hindered by him.”
“Maybe you’re not boring,” Moriarty said. “Or maybe you’ve just been trained well.”
John shrugged. “The way that I see things, you’re being the boring one. Sherlock still has to play dead and you could have done what you wanted. With this, you’re making him come back to chase you. He’s not going to like that.”
Moriarty picked up one of the newspapers on the table and handed it to John. “At the bottom.”
“… Oh,” John said and looked up at Moriarty. “I’m still not going to play your game.”
“Yes you are, John,” Moriarty said as he pulled out his cell phone. He brought something up on it and showed it to John. It was the ward where Harriet was staying and the camera zoomed in on her. “It is a shame that it took her nearly hitting a kid to get help, doesn’t it? She’s doing very well, considering that it took her a few days to open to the people there. One call and her meds will be changed and you’ll have never said goodbye.”
John watched the video that Moriarty was showing him. He looked up at the consulting criminal and debated if he could wrestle the phone away. Possibly also get the gun before getting shot. Apparently he was taking too long as he heard the gun click. “Fine. What do you want me to do?”
Moriarty grinned and handed John a cell phone. “Call him.”
“Going back to something you did before?”
“It’s a gun instead of a bomb this time. A lot faster and a lot less deadly for me,” Moriarty said. “The number is already dialed for you.”
John swallowed and pressed the send button.
*~*~*~*
“It’s good to have you back,” Molly said as she came up to where Sherlock was working on the microscope. “I think we all kind of missed you.”
Sherlock didn’t look up from what he was doing. “I think you missed me. I doubt that others did.”
“No, Lestrade did,” Molly said. “He was the one who questioned me about what you did in the lab. We talked about you. I did wish that I could tell him, but I’m glad I didn’t.”
“I’ll put a word in with him so you don’t get in trouble.” Sherlock looked up from the scope. “There’s everything and nothing there. It’s too neat. Of course, they would send a professional after him, but why wait until now? It doesn’t make sense. I know that he doesn’t have any debts to settle and I paid off the Afghans that were after him.”
“Why would they be after John?”
“Because John was good at what he did,” Sherlock said. “He wasn’t just a medic, Molly. He killed when he had to and he lost lives from time to time. Do you know if they’ve gone through any sort of patient list?”
“He wasn’t practicing,” Lestrade said as he came into the lab. “And I’m not sure if I should ever let the two of you be alone again.”
“A trick cannot be done twice,” Sherlock pointed out. “Do you have anything?”
“Just a woman asking to see you,” Lestrade said. “She has a package for you and won’t let us scan it. Said that she’d only give it to you. She also says her name is Irene Adler.”
Sherlock smiled. “Let’s go see her then.” He followed Lestrade up to the office proper and to the room where Irene was waiting for them. “Irene, I seem to have misplaced a friend.”
“Lucky that an acquaintance of mine wants to help you find him,” Irene said and gave over the box. “I didn’t have anything to do with the kidnapping. I was just contacted by my acquaintance due to the fact that I failed in my last mission. He decided that my debt wasn’t fully paid off.”
“So you’ve become a delivery woman,” Sherlock said. “Quaint.”
“Just open it already,” Irene said.
“Sherlock, we should scan it,” Lestrade said.
“It’s not a bomb,” Sherlock said. “Irene doesn’t want to die, so she would have made her excuses and left already. This is something of John’s. Considering the size, it’s his missing cane.”
“It’s not the only thing in there,” Irene said.
Sherlock raised an eyebrow and opened the box. He grabbed a pair of gloves, lifting out the cane and looking it over. He noticed the slight bent and there was a bit of blood on it. “Thought so.” He looked down at the box as it started to ring. He moved the newspaper and found the cell phone, answering it. “Hello?”
“Hello Sherlock,” John said, his voice breaking.
“John, where are you?” Sherlock asked.
“That would make it too easy. This call is to show that he is alive. I would think, Sherlock, that with your mind, you could easily figure out who is giving him the words to say. I do not like using the same trick twice, but you forced my hand, honestly.”
“…that’s not possible,” Sherlock said. “You put the gun in your mouth and fired. You died.”
“You never checked for a pulse. John was able to figure it out. You should be able to as well. Or is your brain just too big for you?”
Sherlock was quiet for a moment. “Oh.”
“Good boy. Now, a bit of rules. There is no overall time limit this time, considering that I have the best leverage at the moment. I want you to do a series of tasks for me, Sherlock. When those are done, I’ll release John. It will be up to you if he is whole or not. Finish the tasks on time and he won’t be hurt. Finish them before time is up and he gets a bit of a reward. Finish late and.. well, the leg will be the first thing. He likes the cane so much; why not give him a real reason to use it?”
“What’s the first task then?” Sherlock asked.
“In good time,” John said. “Ta for now.” And the line went dead.
Sherlock looked at the phone before looking at Irene. “You’re going to tell us where you were when you got this.”
“A tall building that gives a great look out to the Eye,” Irene said. “I can’t give you more than that, Sherlock. I was blindfolded and my ears were plugged going in and out of the building. He knew that you were going to ask me. He made sure that I can’t answer.” She paused. “I tried to get into the room where John is, so I could give you more. I wasn’t let in. Which means that there was a signifier in the room. You’re going to have to go on the clues you have. However, I am ready and able to help you.”
“You don’t have to repay me for saving your life,” Sherlock countered.
“I’m not,” Irene said. “John is an innocent, Sherlock. You drew him into your life without a thought about what would happen to him. I’ve done it before too. We don’t fully think about what we’re doing to others, just that we want them there. But it’s different for the two of you, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” Sherlock said. “But you’ve known that since you met us.”
“OF course I did,” Irene said with a smile. “When I didn’t have any clothes on, you watched John being uncomfortable. It amused you but you were also very willing to give me your coat to stop him being uncomfortable.”
“Didn’t realize it was that obvious,” Sherlock said and thought about it. “Lestrade - “
“I’m already putting people on looking for a building with a good view of the Eye,” Lestrade said. “With only that to go on, we’re going to have a lot of results.”
“But it’s a start,” Sherlock said. “I’ve got to get back down to the lab. He’s given us a clue - not sure why.”
“He didn’t see the blood?” Irene offered.
“Maybe,” Sherlock said. “Either way - care to join me?”
“I’d love too,” Irene said and followed Sherlock down to the lab. She smiled at seeing Molly and kissed Molly’s cheek. “How are you?”
“Good,” Molly said with a smile.
“Now that I didn’t see,” Sherlock said. He went over to the machines, letting Molly and Irene catch up as he started to figure out who had been hired to take John. Thankfully, even though the blood had dried, it was easy to scrape some off and use that to put through the machines to get a match. He pulled up a chair as the computer sped through different people. He touched John’s cane before picking it up and holding it close to him. He had noticed that Molly and Irene left the room to leave him alone and he was grateful for that. He wanted to be alone just in case he started to break down. “I’m sorry,” he whispered as the computer just clicked on through the different people for a match.
Chapter Title: Mistakes
Rating: PG-13
Chapter Word Count: 1,994
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.
You can’t fly these wings
You can’t sleep in this box with me.
Let me save you, hold this rope
John winced as he woke up and blinked a few times to clear the spots in his vision. Once he could see, the first thing he noticed was that they were high up. He could easily see the Eye but he couldn’t fully make out the other landmarks that they were close to. The fact that they were high up meant that one idea for escape was cut off to him. He slowly got up, amazed that he wasn’t tied to a chair, and looked around for his cane. Not seeing it in the room, he used a bit of furniture here and there. He got to one of the doors in the room and tried it, opening up to a bathroom. He closed it quietly before moving over to the only other door in the room. He pressed his ear up to the door and heard voices on the other side.
“He’s going to ask me if I’ve seen him,” Irene said. “You know that.”
There was a chuckle. “Which is the reason that I’m not letting you see him,” Moriarty said. “I want his mind to wonder what is happening.”
“Fine. May I at least tell him that he’s alive?”
“He knows that,” Moriarty replied. “Give him the package and then you’re done, Miss Adler. At least with me for the moment.”
John heard the sound of Irene’s heels walk away. He stood a bit back from the door, expecting Moriarty to come in. When that didn’t happen, he counted to ten and then tried the door. He swore under his breath, as the door was locked, and stepped back as the door was opened. He was about to rush at whoever came in but stopped short as he noticed the gun. “That’s a bit unfair.”
“I really don’t care,” Moriarty said. “Back to your chair, John.”
“And if I don’t?” John countered.
“I’ll give you a real reason to have a limp,” Moriarty replied. “It’s up to you.”
John looked at Moriarty before slowly moving back over to the chair. He sat down and leaned back. “So, what is this about?”
“You are so boring, John.”
“I don’t think so. I’ve figured out that Sherlock is alive, which is something I always thought. There were eyewitnesses that said there were two men on the roof, but there was only Sherlock’s body. I was close enough to the police that they let me look at the report. There was blood on the roof. They determined that the blood came from a blood pack, something an actor or someone playing an actor would be able to get his hands on.” John paused. “I think you’re just pissed that you couldn’t use Richard Brook after you made Sherlock jump so you wouldn’t be hindered by him.”
“Maybe you’re not boring,” Moriarty said. “Or maybe you’ve just been trained well.”
John shrugged. “The way that I see things, you’re being the boring one. Sherlock still has to play dead and you could have done what you wanted. With this, you’re making him come back to chase you. He’s not going to like that.”
Moriarty picked up one of the newspapers on the table and handed it to John. “At the bottom.”
“… Oh,” John said and looked up at Moriarty. “I’m still not going to play your game.”
“Yes you are, John,” Moriarty said as he pulled out his cell phone. He brought something up on it and showed it to John. It was the ward where Harriet was staying and the camera zoomed in on her. “It is a shame that it took her nearly hitting a kid to get help, doesn’t it? She’s doing very well, considering that it took her a few days to open to the people there. One call and her meds will be changed and you’ll have never said goodbye.”
John watched the video that Moriarty was showing him. He looked up at the consulting criminal and debated if he could wrestle the phone away. Possibly also get the gun before getting shot. Apparently he was taking too long as he heard the gun click. “Fine. What do you want me to do?”
Moriarty grinned and handed John a cell phone. “Call him.”
“Going back to something you did before?”
“It’s a gun instead of a bomb this time. A lot faster and a lot less deadly for me,” Moriarty said. “The number is already dialed for you.”
John swallowed and pressed the send button.
*~*~*~*
“It’s good to have you back,” Molly said as she came up to where Sherlock was working on the microscope. “I think we all kind of missed you.”
Sherlock didn’t look up from what he was doing. “I think you missed me. I doubt that others did.”
“No, Lestrade did,” Molly said. “He was the one who questioned me about what you did in the lab. We talked about you. I did wish that I could tell him, but I’m glad I didn’t.”
“I’ll put a word in with him so you don’t get in trouble.” Sherlock looked up from the scope. “There’s everything and nothing there. It’s too neat. Of course, they would send a professional after him, but why wait until now? It doesn’t make sense. I know that he doesn’t have any debts to settle and I paid off the Afghans that were after him.”
“Why would they be after John?”
“Because John was good at what he did,” Sherlock said. “He wasn’t just a medic, Molly. He killed when he had to and he lost lives from time to time. Do you know if they’ve gone through any sort of patient list?”
“He wasn’t practicing,” Lestrade said as he came into the lab. “And I’m not sure if I should ever let the two of you be alone again.”
“A trick cannot be done twice,” Sherlock pointed out. “Do you have anything?”
“Just a woman asking to see you,” Lestrade said. “She has a package for you and won’t let us scan it. Said that she’d only give it to you. She also says her name is Irene Adler.”
Sherlock smiled. “Let’s go see her then.” He followed Lestrade up to the office proper and to the room where Irene was waiting for them. “Irene, I seem to have misplaced a friend.”
“Lucky that an acquaintance of mine wants to help you find him,” Irene said and gave over the box. “I didn’t have anything to do with the kidnapping. I was just contacted by my acquaintance due to the fact that I failed in my last mission. He decided that my debt wasn’t fully paid off.”
“So you’ve become a delivery woman,” Sherlock said. “Quaint.”
“Just open it already,” Irene said.
“Sherlock, we should scan it,” Lestrade said.
“It’s not a bomb,” Sherlock said. “Irene doesn’t want to die, so she would have made her excuses and left already. This is something of John’s. Considering the size, it’s his missing cane.”
“It’s not the only thing in there,” Irene said.
Sherlock raised an eyebrow and opened the box. He grabbed a pair of gloves, lifting out the cane and looking it over. He noticed the slight bent and there was a bit of blood on it. “Thought so.” He looked down at the box as it started to ring. He moved the newspaper and found the cell phone, answering it. “Hello?”
“Hello Sherlock,” John said, his voice breaking.
“John, where are you?” Sherlock asked.
“That would make it too easy. This call is to show that he is alive. I would think, Sherlock, that with your mind, you could easily figure out who is giving him the words to say. I do not like using the same trick twice, but you forced my hand, honestly.”
“…that’s not possible,” Sherlock said. “You put the gun in your mouth and fired. You died.”
“You never checked for a pulse. John was able to figure it out. You should be able to as well. Or is your brain just too big for you?”
Sherlock was quiet for a moment. “Oh.”
“Good boy. Now, a bit of rules. There is no overall time limit this time, considering that I have the best leverage at the moment. I want you to do a series of tasks for me, Sherlock. When those are done, I’ll release John. It will be up to you if he is whole or not. Finish the tasks on time and he won’t be hurt. Finish them before time is up and he gets a bit of a reward. Finish late and.. well, the leg will be the first thing. He likes the cane so much; why not give him a real reason to use it?”
“What’s the first task then?” Sherlock asked.
“In good time,” John said. “Ta for now.” And the line went dead.
Sherlock looked at the phone before looking at Irene. “You’re going to tell us where you were when you got this.”
“A tall building that gives a great look out to the Eye,” Irene said. “I can’t give you more than that, Sherlock. I was blindfolded and my ears were plugged going in and out of the building. He knew that you were going to ask me. He made sure that I can’t answer.” She paused. “I tried to get into the room where John is, so I could give you more. I wasn’t let in. Which means that there was a signifier in the room. You’re going to have to go on the clues you have. However, I am ready and able to help you.”
“You don’t have to repay me for saving your life,” Sherlock countered.
“I’m not,” Irene said. “John is an innocent, Sherlock. You drew him into your life without a thought about what would happen to him. I’ve done it before too. We don’t fully think about what we’re doing to others, just that we want them there. But it’s different for the two of you, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” Sherlock said. “But you’ve known that since you met us.”
“OF course I did,” Irene said with a smile. “When I didn’t have any clothes on, you watched John being uncomfortable. It amused you but you were also very willing to give me your coat to stop him being uncomfortable.”
“Didn’t realize it was that obvious,” Sherlock said and thought about it. “Lestrade - “
“I’m already putting people on looking for a building with a good view of the Eye,” Lestrade said. “With only that to go on, we’re going to have a lot of results.”
“But it’s a start,” Sherlock said. “I’ve got to get back down to the lab. He’s given us a clue - not sure why.”
“He didn’t see the blood?” Irene offered.
“Maybe,” Sherlock said. “Either way - care to join me?”
“I’d love too,” Irene said and followed Sherlock down to the lab. She smiled at seeing Molly and kissed Molly’s cheek. “How are you?”
“Good,” Molly said with a smile.
“Now that I didn’t see,” Sherlock said. He went over to the machines, letting Molly and Irene catch up as he started to figure out who had been hired to take John. Thankfully, even though the blood had dried, it was easy to scrape some off and use that to put through the machines to get a match. He pulled up a chair as the computer sped through different people. He touched John’s cane before picking it up and holding it close to him. He had noticed that Molly and Irene left the room to leave him alone and he was grateful for that. He wanted to be alone just in case he started to break down. “I’m sorry,” he whispered as the computer just clicked on through the different people for a match.