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"I'll burn the heart out of you." Sherlock hadn't worried when Moriarty threw that threat at him. He doesn't have a heart. Having a heart would mean feelings and vulnerabilities and lo....caring and that is just not for him. He had learned that lesson long ago. All right, yes there are a few people that he might like, Mrs. Hudson or John for example. He'd probably even be a bit sad if something happened to them. But it's better to not care, no need to distract himself, not when there's such an interesting game afoot. So that threat means nothing, water of the proverbial duck's back.
John's going out of town, some medical conference on treating accidental ingestions of tropical plant poisons. Sherlock comments how John needs to expand his knowledge on this particular subject when commenting on John's latest blog post. Makes it nice and clear that John will be out of London and Sherlock is sure to be alone for a week. It's been a few months since he's heard from Moriarty. This, he is sure, will encourage Moriarty to contact him. A crime, a text, an email, a call, anything to break the boredom of plain criminals with plain crimes and plain motives.
A letter to John arrives the day after he leaves. Just some random advertisement so he throws it on John's chair. The next day, another letter to John from an old army buddy, Will Murry. Sherlock throws it on top of the other letter in John's chair. By 2 p.m. John hasn't texted, a bit surprising but more importantly Moriarty has been silent too. Sherlock is ready to start shooting more holes in the wall so decides to visit Molly. Luckily for the walls of 221B, Molly has an interesting brain specimen that keeps Sherlock's attention for a few hours.
The experiments with the brain had proved both interesting and entertaining. Yes John, I know that's a bit not good but the one with the nitro was quite entertaining. Even if Molly didn't appreciate the bang. It wasn't loud enough to break the windows no matter what she claimed since none actually broke Sherlock thinks to himself. Sherlock checks the time on his phone, almost 10 p.m. He didn't realize he was at the lab that long. Strange there still is no word from John yet, not that he cares. A text alert chimes Jive Talking just as he returns home. "Finally," he says aloud, reading the text from Moriarty before he climbs the stairs.
You surprise me Sugar lips.
Sherlock throws his belstaff on John's chair and sinks into his.
Whatever do you mean? SH
You really mean that.
You have no clue.
Daddy's so disappointed.
Do you need a hint?
Sherlock stares at his phone as those 4 messages come in. What did he miss? OMG! John's mail. John never gets mail! Sherlock drops his phone when he jumps up and grabs the letters off John's chair. He rips open the first one. It's a picture of John, unconscious and tied to a chair, obviously beaten. The next is a picture of the same chair, burning. Sherlock is staring at that picture in horror. No, no this isn't happening, "NO!" Sherlock grabs his phone when another text comes through.
Our pets are having so much fun together.
Though mine might be playing a bit rougher than yours prefers.
Sherlock is frozen, his brain offline. Days, Moriarty has had John for days. There's a tightness in his chest, Sherlock is still frozen in place.
Nothing to say Sherly.
I must admit this is rather boring.
Maybe you don't care, Tiger will be happy to finish the job.
That snaps Sherlock, finally out of his trance or whatever that was. If the job isn't finished, then he still has a chance to save John. Because no matter what he says, he does have a heart. Sherlock takes a breath and walks to the window trying to figure out what to say.
DON'T IGNORE ME! It will NOT end well for Johnny Boy if you do!
A taxi pulls in front of Baker Street. All the tension leaves Sherlock's body as a man gets out and turns to look up to 221B.
You might want to check on your Tiger. SH
No! This game is not over!
Sherlock throws the phone onto the couch. After a couple of minutes, John gingerly walks into the room, arm around his middle. Broken ribs Sherlock deduces as John says "This is getting old fast."
Sherlock walks over to him slowly. "I'm so sorry John,"
"Not your fault."
"But if you didn't know me. If I didn't..." Sherlock has to stop. He doesn't think he should do this. He should tell John to leave. Take that target off his back.
"Didn't what Sherlock?" John asks.
Sherlock shakes his head, turns away, takes a step back. "Nothing."
John takes a step towards Sherlock, "Don't."
Sherlock looks back at John. John who came back, who always comes back. John who cares if he eats and sleeps. John who fixes him up when the criminal gets too close. John who calls him out when he's done wrong but also always has his back. John who is looking at him with hope.
"Didn't what Sherlock?" John repeats.
Sherlock takes that last step, cups John's face gently "If I didn't love you."
They smile at each other and lean in.