In Between (11/16)
Title: In Between (11/16)
Author: Greens (marcal_92)
Artist: sarlyne
Beta: sachtastic
Verse: Sherlock BBC
Rating: PG-13
Characters/Pairings: Sherlock Holmes, John Watson, Mycroft Holmes, Mrs. Hudson, Mary Morstan, Victor Trevor, Irene Adler, Jim Moriarty John/Mary, Sherlock/Victor
Warnings violence, character death a la Reichenbach
Summary: After Sherlock manages to get himself and John ejected from Harrods at Christmas, the boys make the acquaintance of Baker Street newcomer, Mary Morstan. At around the same time, a message from Jim Moriarty forces Sherlock to seek help from an ‘old friend’. As Mary and John grow closer, the question of who this ‘old friend’ may be rattles John’s brain. Just who was this man to Sherlock? How exactly was a man who Sherlock hadn’t been in contact with for years going to provide aid to the detective? And what sinister plan does Moriarty have up his sleeve this time? (AU starting during a Scandal in Belgravia)
Author Notes: Written forholmes_big_bang. This is the first time I’ve done a big bang and it’s by far the longest Sherlock fic I’ve ever written. I am in absolute love with this story and I hope you guys love it too. Make sure to check out sarlyne’s art, which is amazing! I also just want to say thanks to sachtastic who stuck with me through this process as my beta/brit-picker. I learned quite a bit. Comments=LOVE! I hope you enjoy this:)
January 12
At approximately two in the afternoon, John stepped up to the door at Mary’s flat. He tugged uncomfortably at his brown jumper, not having remembered how itchy it had been. Perhaps that was the reason why it was shoved to the back of his chest of drawers. At least Mary hadn’t talked him into wearing a tie. John Watson did not pull off ties well.
It was surprisingly warm for the middle of January, so John had opted to wear a light jacket in lieu of a heavy winter coat. He adjusted his stance unconsciously and rang the bell. It hadn’t been more than ten seconds before the door swung open and Mary appeared.
She wore a light blue top, accented with small embroidered flowers and a knee length black skirt. She had her hair pulled back into a neat ponytail.
“You wore the brown one,” Mary said, stepping aside to allow John to enter.
John was taken aback slightly. “I thought you liked the brown one.”
“Maybe I should change.” She looked herself over. “I should change, right?”
“Mary.”
“What was I thinking? This is all wrong.”
“Mary.”
“I’ll change.”
John took her gently by the arms. “Stop.” He smiled, reassuringly. “You look amazing.”
Mary giggled softly, shaking her head. “You’re a liar.” She gazed into his eyes, searching them for just a hint of a fib. “Really?” she asked cautiously. John nodded and Mary reached out to pick fluff off his jumper. “I just want everything to go well.”
“I know,” John replied. “Everything’s going to be fine. It’ll be-perfect. You’ll see. I don’t know why you’re so nervous.”
“Richard is the only family I have. I want him to like you.” She paused and shifted nervously. “I mean-I know he’ll like you, I just-I want you to like him and I want you two to get on and…”
John spoke slowly. “You are getting worked up over nothing. Don’t worry. Just stop, take a deep breath.” He paused. “Go on.”
Mary smiled and drew in a slow, deep breath.
“Good,” John nodded. “Just relax. You have nothing to worry about. Better?”
Mary nodded and took John’s hands.
“This is exactly why I let you keep coming round.” She laughed softly, taking her right hand and cupping John’s cheek.
“And here I am thinking it’s because of my breath-taking charm.”
Mary leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to John’s lips. “No, that’s just one of the many reasons why I love you.” She thumbed at his lips, wiping away the remnants of her lipstick. “I’m going to touch up my makeup,” she said with a smile as she pulled away from him slowly.
John watched as Mary headed off to her bedroom. He felt like a grinning fool, head over heels for this woman. He had never felt this way before. It was a brand new feeling for him and he liked it. John was shaken from his daze by the sound of the doorbell.
“That’ll be Richard!” Mary called from the other room. “Let him in, will you? I’ll put on the tea.”
John cleared his throat and brushed his hands down the front of his jumper before straightening his stance. He made his way to the door and gave himself a reassuring nod before swinging it open. His heart nearly stopped beating the moment he came face to face with the man standing on the other side.
John felt his head spin while staring at the man wearing a neatly pressed suit and well-styled dark hair. This man was not the fair haired, green-eyed Richard whom Mary had shown him in all of her photos. This was somebody much more sinister.
“Moriarty…” John managed to choke out.
“No,” Jim Moriarty smirked, his teeth tugging on his bottom lip. “Well yes, but-no.”
“What the hell are you doing here?”
“Oh, Doctor. I’m disappointed.” Moriarty laughed, shaking his head. “ For somebody who has been spending so much time with Sherlock Holmes, I thought you would be smarter than this. I thought perhaps his brilliance might have rubbed off on you. Too bad; you had potential.”
“What-are you doing here?” John could do nothing but repeat his previous question.
“It’s been far too long, hasn’t it?” Moriarty asked. “Since that whole mess at the pool. I’ve been keeping an eye on you, John. You and Sherlock. A few sets of eyes, really. I never thought you had it in you to catch one like Mary. It’s a shame she had to become part of this.”
John lunged forward and grabbed Moriarty by the collar, pinning him against the door jam with a thud
“If you lay one finger on her…”
“I wouldn’t hurt your precious lamb,” Moriarty managed. “She’s just a pawn in my game. Have you figured it out yet?” He waited for John to loosen his grip. “You wouldn’t have now. You’re just not as fun as playing with Sherlock.”
“John? Is it Richard?” Mary called. John could hear her footsteps approaching in the distance.
“Release me,” Moriarty demanded, his grin growing wider. “You are going to want to see this. It’s masterful if I do say so myself. Oh the things I come up with when I really try.”
John let him go and Moriarty stepped forward, into the flat as Mary approached them. John made a point of watching her face. There was just a split second of questioning as Moriarty stepped inside. He gave his shirt sleeves a gentle tug just below the shoulder and brushed his hand over his hair as if making sure that each piece was still in the right place. Then, Mary smiled.
“You two have met then,” Mary beamed, hugging Moriarty. John stood back, observing. “I’m so glad you could come, Richard.”
John took an unsteady step back but managed to keep himself upright. His breath caught in his throat and his jaw fell open slightly. Moriarty was clearly not the man who Mary had gone on about. There wasn’t a single similarity between them, but here they stood and Mary was calling the man Richard. John was perplexed.
“Are you alright?” Mary asked. “John?”
“Hmm?” He watched as Moriarty turned where he stood and glanced at John with a smirk on his face.
“Are you alright?” she asked again. “You look a little flushed.”
“Oh it must be the sudden change in temperature, such a warm day. Very-unexpected.” Moriarty smiled. “Isn’t that right, John?”
John couldn’t find his words; he was in such utter shock. He wasn’t quite sure what Moriarty had done or how he had done it, but Mary honestly believed that he was her cousin. She believed that this man was the same person who accompanied her to the theatre and to the circus. She believed him to be her only remaining living relation. How?
“You really look terrible.” Mary’s worried tone resonated with John. He felt terrible, but not for the reason she believed. He was not about to leave Moriarty alone with her.
“I’m fine,” John cleared his throat. He wiped his hand over his brow.
“Maybe you should take your jumper off,” she suggested. “Should we do this another time?”
“Unfortunately,” Moriarty stepped towards John. “I can’t stay anyway. I need to get to the studio. I just wanted to come by and meet John. I’m quite sure we’ll be seeing-a lot more of each other.”
“Absolutely,” John didn’t take his eyes off him. “You can be assured of that.”
Moriarty smirked. “Until then.” He turned. “Mary, it was good to see you.”
He started towards the door and John followed him.
“I don’t know how you did it,” John said firmly. “But I will figure it out.”
Moriarty laughed. “No, you won’t. This is too big for you, John, and it’s just the start. Something’s coming. Something that will shake you to your core and, try as you might, there is nothing-you can do to stop it.” He backed through the door and out onto the street. “This game, Doctor, is far from over. Oh! It’s only just beginning.”
Chapter Twelve
Author: Greens (marcal_92)
Artist: sarlyne
Beta: sachtastic
Verse: Sherlock BBC
Rating: PG-13
Characters/Pairings: Sherlock Holmes, John Watson, Mycroft Holmes, Mrs. Hudson, Mary Morstan, Victor Trevor, Irene Adler, Jim Moriarty John/Mary, Sherlock/Victor
Warnings violence, character death a la Reichenbach
Summary: After Sherlock manages to get himself and John ejected from Harrods at Christmas, the boys make the acquaintance of Baker Street newcomer, Mary Morstan. At around the same time, a message from Jim Moriarty forces Sherlock to seek help from an ‘old friend’. As Mary and John grow closer, the question of who this ‘old friend’ may be rattles John’s brain. Just who was this man to Sherlock? How exactly was a man who Sherlock hadn’t been in contact with for years going to provide aid to the detective? And what sinister plan does Moriarty have up his sleeve this time? (AU starting during a Scandal in Belgravia)
Author Notes: Written forholmes_big_bang. This is the first time I’ve done a big bang and it’s by far the longest Sherlock fic I’ve ever written. I am in absolute love with this story and I hope you guys love it too. Make sure to check out sarlyne’s art, which is amazing! I also just want to say thanks to sachtastic who stuck with me through this process as my beta/brit-picker. I learned quite a bit. Comments=LOVE! I hope you enjoy this:)
January 12
At approximately two in the afternoon, John stepped up to the door at Mary’s flat. He tugged uncomfortably at his brown jumper, not having remembered how itchy it had been. Perhaps that was the reason why it was shoved to the back of his chest of drawers. At least Mary hadn’t talked him into wearing a tie. John Watson did not pull off ties well.
It was surprisingly warm for the middle of January, so John had opted to wear a light jacket in lieu of a heavy winter coat. He adjusted his stance unconsciously and rang the bell. It hadn’t been more than ten seconds before the door swung open and Mary appeared.
She wore a light blue top, accented with small embroidered flowers and a knee length black skirt. She had her hair pulled back into a neat ponytail.
“You wore the brown one,” Mary said, stepping aside to allow John to enter.
John was taken aback slightly. “I thought you liked the brown one.”
“Maybe I should change.” She looked herself over. “I should change, right?”
“Mary.”
“What was I thinking? This is all wrong.”
“Mary.”
“I’ll change.”
John took her gently by the arms. “Stop.” He smiled, reassuringly. “You look amazing.”
Mary giggled softly, shaking her head. “You’re a liar.” She gazed into his eyes, searching them for just a hint of a fib. “Really?” she asked cautiously. John nodded and Mary reached out to pick fluff off his jumper. “I just want everything to go well.”
“I know,” John replied. “Everything’s going to be fine. It’ll be-perfect. You’ll see. I don’t know why you’re so nervous.”
“Richard is the only family I have. I want him to like you.” She paused and shifted nervously. “I mean-I know he’ll like you, I just-I want you to like him and I want you two to get on and…”
John spoke slowly. “You are getting worked up over nothing. Don’t worry. Just stop, take a deep breath.” He paused. “Go on.”
Mary smiled and drew in a slow, deep breath.
“Good,” John nodded. “Just relax. You have nothing to worry about. Better?”
Mary nodded and took John’s hands.
“This is exactly why I let you keep coming round.” She laughed softly, taking her right hand and cupping John’s cheek.
“And here I am thinking it’s because of my breath-taking charm.”
Mary leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to John’s lips. “No, that’s just one of the many reasons why I love you.” She thumbed at his lips, wiping away the remnants of her lipstick. “I’m going to touch up my makeup,” she said with a smile as she pulled away from him slowly.
John watched as Mary headed off to her bedroom. He felt like a grinning fool, head over heels for this woman. He had never felt this way before. It was a brand new feeling for him and he liked it. John was shaken from his daze by the sound of the doorbell.
“That’ll be Richard!” Mary called from the other room. “Let him in, will you? I’ll put on the tea.”
John cleared his throat and brushed his hands down the front of his jumper before straightening his stance. He made his way to the door and gave himself a reassuring nod before swinging it open. His heart nearly stopped beating the moment he came face to face with the man standing on the other side.
John felt his head spin while staring at the man wearing a neatly pressed suit and well-styled dark hair. This man was not the fair haired, green-eyed Richard whom Mary had shown him in all of her photos. This was somebody much more sinister.
“Moriarty…” John managed to choke out.
“No,” Jim Moriarty smirked, his teeth tugging on his bottom lip. “Well yes, but-no.”
“What the hell are you doing here?”
“Oh, Doctor. I’m disappointed.” Moriarty laughed, shaking his head. “ For somebody who has been spending so much time with Sherlock Holmes, I thought you would be smarter than this. I thought perhaps his brilliance might have rubbed off on you. Too bad; you had potential.”
“What-are you doing here?” John could do nothing but repeat his previous question.
“It’s been far too long, hasn’t it?” Moriarty asked. “Since that whole mess at the pool. I’ve been keeping an eye on you, John. You and Sherlock. A few sets of eyes, really. I never thought you had it in you to catch one like Mary. It’s a shame she had to become part of this.”
John lunged forward and grabbed Moriarty by the collar, pinning him against the door jam with a thud
“If you lay one finger on her…”
“I wouldn’t hurt your precious lamb,” Moriarty managed. “She’s just a pawn in my game. Have you figured it out yet?” He waited for John to loosen his grip. “You wouldn’t have now. You’re just not as fun as playing with Sherlock.”
“John? Is it Richard?” Mary called. John could hear her footsteps approaching in the distance.
“Release me,” Moriarty demanded, his grin growing wider. “You are going to want to see this. It’s masterful if I do say so myself. Oh the things I come up with when I really try.”
John let him go and Moriarty stepped forward, into the flat as Mary approached them. John made a point of watching her face. There was just a split second of questioning as Moriarty stepped inside. He gave his shirt sleeves a gentle tug just below the shoulder and brushed his hand over his hair as if making sure that each piece was still in the right place. Then, Mary smiled.
“You two have met then,” Mary beamed, hugging Moriarty. John stood back, observing. “I’m so glad you could come, Richard.”
John took an unsteady step back but managed to keep himself upright. His breath caught in his throat and his jaw fell open slightly. Moriarty was clearly not the man who Mary had gone on about. There wasn’t a single similarity between them, but here they stood and Mary was calling the man Richard. John was perplexed.
“Are you alright?” Mary asked. “John?”
“Hmm?” He watched as Moriarty turned where he stood and glanced at John with a smirk on his face.
“Are you alright?” she asked again. “You look a little flushed.”
“Oh it must be the sudden change in temperature, such a warm day. Very-unexpected.” Moriarty smiled. “Isn’t that right, John?”
John couldn’t find his words; he was in such utter shock. He wasn’t quite sure what Moriarty had done or how he had done it, but Mary honestly believed that he was her cousin. She believed that this man was the same person who accompanied her to the theatre and to the circus. She believed him to be her only remaining living relation. How?
“You really look terrible.” Mary’s worried tone resonated with John. He felt terrible, but not for the reason she believed. He was not about to leave Moriarty alone with her.
“I’m fine,” John cleared his throat. He wiped his hand over his brow.
“Maybe you should take your jumper off,” she suggested. “Should we do this another time?”
“Unfortunately,” Moriarty stepped towards John. “I can’t stay anyway. I need to get to the studio. I just wanted to come by and meet John. I’m quite sure we’ll be seeing-a lot more of each other.”
“Absolutely,” John didn’t take his eyes off him. “You can be assured of that.”
Moriarty smirked. “Until then.” He turned. “Mary, it was good to see you.”
He started towards the door and John followed him.
“I don’t know how you did it,” John said firmly. “But I will figure it out.”
Moriarty laughed. “No, you won’t. This is too big for you, John, and it’s just the start. Something’s coming. Something that will shake you to your core and, try as you might, there is nothing-you can do to stop it.” He backed through the door and out onto the street. “This game, Doctor, is far from over. Oh! It’s only just beginning.”
Chapter Twelve