Chapter Text
‘Present, London - 2010‘
“You call that security?” Moriarty whispers to an empty and dark house. The security system was a joke. The camera´s got a loop to show the day before, always be prepared. The code was easily overwritten and the old fashion lock was nothing that could have stopped him. You have to give him some credit even when he had helped with the development of security systems in general. What are secrets when you can´t protect them.
Inside the house Moriarty pulls out a flash light and starts searching for the library. He knows the files are in a safe somewhere in this room. It is useful to have someone at the inside even if this someone is himself. The immortal had heard Mycroft talking to Anthea about it. Not exactly these file but some other documents that sound important. She had to get them for him. Still he wasn’t a fan of the undercover job. He also doubts that his action here will go unnoticed but it wouldn’t matter anymore. He only needs this one little piece of information than he can decide his next steps.
With only two missions and less than two days left to act Moriarty was forced to do his own dirty work. It had been a long time and the only other person he would trust with it was busy watching the pet.
The safe wasn’t hidden much, just out of side. It was an older model, without any part of hackable technology, Moriarty smiled. Long time since he had to do something like this. While working on the numbers he remembers his time as safe knacker. It was one of his favorite hobbies during the twenties of the last century. All the rich and mighty Americans with their money and their so called power. It was so easy to steal their money. Have a nice chat with them on a party. Find out where they live, the location of the save and the best time to break in.
Perfect. You have to let a man have his hobby. The twenties where horrible boring. Good thing he found something to do a bit later with the Germans, his little chats with Adolf and his top generals. Great times, not to forget the little cockies. What they called? He will find out later or remember it. Maybe he can move to Germany next, start another war. The last two time it worked wonder on his boredom. Or maybe he could turn Great Britain … no they have Mycroft now, it should still be easy fun not work. If he wants work he would play with the Russians and China again.
“Memo to self: Plan new game with China and Russia. Maybe with the USA as a treat. Oh that’s great a team up against each other. Let´s see how far we can get them to destroy this civilization. About time that something changes.” While talking to himself the last number clicks in and the door is unlocked.
Smiling Moriarty pulls the door open and looks at a very organized pile for documents. The one he was looking for was easily marked with Sherlock´s name. By this he had to roll his eyes. A bit more precaution would be wise. Maybe he will leave a note behind for Mycroft to find.
The file has two subsystems. One easily recognizable as the reports written by Johnny and the other where hand-written notes. By the writing style it looks at first like that of a child. Analyzing hand writing wasn’t one of his favorite subjects but it had been useful in the past and he still knows most of it, the important parts at least.
This had to be the hand writing of a young Mycroft Holmes, pre-teen maybe. And there it was, his answer. Fascinated by it, Moriarty read the notes about his creation, how he found Mycroft, told him about John, a meeting, the museum and the talk in front of a rock.
Yes, the notes came from a kid but it was very helpful. Moriarty pulled out the first report from Johnny´s first mission and his suspicion was confirmed. The first mission was the first meeting for Sherlock. That means no interfering with the whole time-travel, mission and everything around it. A paradox.
“Oh Sherly, you are such a clever boy. Did you do this on purpose? Can´s stop you from meeting Johnny or Johnny from meeting you. You made your first meeting to Johnny´s second and his fist to your last. Bad Sherlock.”
There was only one thing left to destroy everything Sherlock is hoping to get from Johnny, he is still not sure why he would chose such a low human being to become his companion. They had to complete the missions. Sherlock and John had to meet but after this was everything open. The only thing that has to be stopped is that Sherlock, the present Sherlock gives John his blood.
“Just wait. I will take him away from you. I will find the cruelest way and after this we can both play together a game.” Moriarty leaves the file behind. He has what he needs and doesn’t care about the camera anymore. This would end tomorrow. “We could start with a game of who gets more of the planet.” Happily humming Moriarty disappears into the shadows of the new day.
Mycroft wakes up like every morning. A few minutes before his alarm clock tells him it’s time to get ready for the day. He enjoys this minutes, pressures minutest to think and make decisions or to remember the day before.
The evening the day before was most enjoyable for him as Greg had taken him home after their offer to get John home was rejected and Molly had taken the roll of minding their sick colleague. Greg didn’t need much to get him to follow him to the small town flat instead of his big lonely house. Greg´s flat was much more lived in. There were unnecessary things, picture, old stuff no one will ever use again but it makes the flat homey and Mycroft loves it.
They hat a lazy evening with Thai they ordered after both notice that shopping would have been required when they want to cook, a movie and some snuggling on the sofa. They both were too tired for much more and they know how important the next two days are. After this Mycroft plans a long vacation, with Greg, if he wants to and then they can return to their jobs and lives and maybe some more of this.
Mycroft turns his head a bit to look at his lovers sleeping frame, smiling he lifts one hand to push hair that had fallen on the man’s face aside as suddenly the alarm on his phone went off. To his surprise Mycroft needed a second to recognize the sound as something else then his alarm clock but the alarm from his house.
He sits up, waking Greg in the progress (the man could sleep through a rock concert if required) and takes the phone from the nightstand. A video link was open that shows someone leaving the house. That someone was looking up and Mycroft stars into the eyes of James Moriarty. The immortal knew where the camera was and was doing it on purpose.
Greg next to him was watching the video as well, feeling that the peace and quiet of their morning was over before it hat even started. A team was send to his house as both man got dressed. It was far too early and both jumped into a waiting car not ten minutes later.
Anthea was in the car offering coffee to both of them. At Mycroft´s house they found easily what Moriarty had been looking for. The files about the time travel program. It appears he had found what he had come for.
John arrives at work and feels a bit better. This morning was his stomach much more settled, could be the medication Mycroft had given him. Finally something is working. But when it gets worse again John doubts that he will be able to continue his journeys to the past without a major fight with every one of his colleges/friends. Because that’s what they have become, his friend.
His health condition is worrying him, he is able to use Google too and radiation poisoning will get ugly. He also notices that he is getting worse faster than he should, faster than his doctors had told him the week before. It was only a few days and John had to guess but he would say it should be like this first in a few weeks. Hopefully he can continue his missions. He wants to meet Sherlock as often as he can. He doesn’t want the immortal to be alone for too long.
What past event could be their next meeting? While changing his clothes John thinks about events Sherlock could have witness in the last years. He couldn’t really thing of one special date that Sherlock would 100 % participate. Things like 9/11 or the Tsunami at Christmas 2004 happened without knowing it earlier. Political … there were many memorable thinks but who knows what country Sherlock would be at that time. Maybe he is working in some research facility like at the NASA. Many possibilities flout through John´s mind, dreaming in what situation he would meet his beloved.
John feels Mycroft´s eyes on him and turns around. He was finished with changing clothes and as ready as you can get for time travel.
Mycroft looked stressed as did Greg, John notice now. Hopefully there wasn’t a fight but it didn’t look like they had fought, more like something unpleasant happened. The mission was simple as his boss tells him to find out how far Sherlock´s influence had impact of the incident when a German politician falls to his knees and apologizes for his nations and their crimes.
Mycroft watches John leave; he was still not sure how to tell the man that tomorrow was the last mission. It will hurt John to know that he will leave Sherlock alone for nearly 40 years. The disappearing of the other immortal wasn’t much better news and now he had to go and pick up Sherlock so the man could get back to his flat again. That he has under the name of his dead brother. When he thinks of the immortal as a brother it was helping to thing that his baby brother grow up but it stinks every time when he thinks about the small fragile baby he was holding in his arms.
John looked not better but he acted as if, hopefully Sherlock´s blood would get him through the last two missions. Mycroft gets up; his car was waiting and his thought return to the files in his house that had been read. The first mission and his own scribbled notes about the meeting in the museum. Sherlock disappeared not long after this, leaving him with his future planed out. He only had to work to get there. His twelve year old self had been thinking often about the immortal that had left him. About the trust that Mycroft would be able to success.
He really needs a vacation when everything is over.
‘~1970 AD, Warsaw, Poland‘
The mood around Sherlock was loaded with fear, anger and despise but also with hope and high expectations. He stands back and watches with hundreds of people a man walk along the pathway. Willy Brand, he looks different in his suit, with the heavy coat and the frozen face. Sherlock could see that the man had still not decided what to do. Something Sherlock was glad to see, because sometimes people need to surprise themselves to surprise everyone else around them.
The day Willy had called for him, the consultant in political and more important peace related question was a Sunday. Sherlock was close by and could visit the man at his house for tea and cake. They had a talk, he in comfortable clothing as Sherlock had told him not to get changed. The immortal had found out that people show their true face more often when they feel cozy and at home. And that was what he needed, some honesty to help the man with his questions.
The German man ask for his help to show the world what he wants to do with the future of his country that has the dark shadow of the past still floating above them. The visit in Poland was the opportunity to show the world what they want to do but what exactly that could be was unclear for both men.
Sherlock suggested a symbol, something that brings the two countries closer together but let no one ever forget what happened in the past. The immortal had a few ideas but didn’t share them. People like the man in front of him with the woolen pullover and the piece of cake on his fork would be able to find his own way. Sherlock had learned to trust a special kind of human´s to do so.
Due to the fact that his face is known to older people that had aged the last years, unlike him, Sherlock was unable to walk with the man. He needs to stay in the background. In this modern are when cameras and photos catch every moment and freeze them in time. Not a good time for immortals and their never changing appearance. Sometimes Sherlock has doubts about his doing but seeing the man who had ask him for help walking down his path was something the immortal was very proud off. There were still people in this world that wants peace and a future. A future for John to be born in.
Like always when his thoughts find their way to his beloved Sherlock wonders how long until they would meet in John´s present. He should ask in which year John is born, maybe he can meet the baby version of his boyfriend. Watch him grow up, without making contact of course but he would be a part of John´s live.
The air changes and Sherlock knows John is there, smiling Sherlock turns his back to the directions the time machine had arrived. “Maybe my thoughts have brought you here today.” Still smiling Sherlock waits for John to find him. Between the people it would be easier for the time traveler who seem to know where exactly he is.
The crowd becomes a silent mass, excepting that something will happen but the knowledge that nobody knows what, even the man who will change the world a little bit caught the moment into time. This moment will be remembered, Sherlock watches as the German man fixes the ribbon from the wreath and then goes on his knees.
Sherlock turns his back while the world in this Poland city becomes quiet. Willy Brand had done something miracles and it won´t be forgotten. His work was done and Sherlock starts looking for John who was taking too much time for his liking. Unsure about John´s condition (it could have gone worse again) Sherlock finds his way to his lover, unstoppable following his heart.
John was frozen in place, he had found the plaza and knows where exactly Sherlock should be but he couldn’t walk through the crowd. There were too many people and everyone wants to be in the front but there wasn’t enough room. A movement to his left catches his attention. The mass of people in front of him start to give room and out of the small gap walks the man John was looking for.
Sherlock was smiling at him and pulls him away from the crowd, away from preying eyes and away from the streets where history happens right now. They find an empty house (of course it was empty, everyone was outside and watching). John is pulled into a tight hug and a deep kiss that let every word that wanted to come out of John´s mouth disappear.
The immortal´s hands found their places on John´s lower back and behind his neck. The kiss was passionate but restrained they both know there was no place for more intimidate than a kiss in this situation. They have to save that for a later moment in time. The one when they would meet in their present. Not the past or future version of the other.
Sherlock pulls away first and looks with love sick eyes over his lover. John didn’t look better but also not worse compare to the last meeting. Maybe the medication he was talking about start to work. They sat down on a sofa and the immortal tells John what he had witness a few minutes before. About the man on his knees who wants peace and about the talk they had before. Sherlock guesses that most of this should be what John was asked to find out for whatever his boss (Mycroft) wanted.
“Sherlock, did you know that he would do it. Willy Brand I mean?” Sherlock was stoking his finger over John´s hand.
“Not what exactly he wants to do but I told him to leave a symbol behind. One that everyone will understand.” John nods.
“Are you proud of him?” A strange question to ask but Sherlock would understand what he means. Not a single man but mankind itself.
“Yes, these people still exist. The ones that want a world where everybody can be living together.” That makes John smile and Sherlock was happy that they had met at this specific moment.
John was glad that Sherlock was at ease with his live right now. When Sherlock finds hope in people.
“John what year will you get born?” John let himself fall against Sherlock. Being hold like this makes him feel safe. He enjoys this feeling and he doesn’t want to think about all the years to come before they can meet.
“8th of September 1972, just two years from now.” John doesn’t look up, doesn’t want to know what Sherlock thinks about it, that he is so young.
“Oh.” Sherlock sounds surprised.
“What? What´s wrong with that?” John looked up and finds Sherlock looking down at him happily.
“I thought I would have to wait many years. Didn’t think science would get such a step forward in such a short time. This is fascinating and wonderful.” Of course Sherlock would see it that way.
“No peeking at me at my birth.” John jokes and stubs Sherlock into his side.
Sherlock changes the topic. “What´s your mission today?” John is surprised as he noticed he has no idea. He had listened to Mycroft but he couldn’t remember. He was too busy appearing healthy and ready.
“Don’t know guess something with what happened outside. You told me enough, I don’t think it matters if I have watched it myself.” Realizing that they had spent nearly two hours John separate himself from Sherlock. He doesn’t like it but he has to go back. The people who live in this house could come back every minute.
Sherlock follows John and watches HOPE disappear into a future that isn’t so far anymore. Still the immortal has to find out what let mankind to time travel.
A little voice inside of him told him that it could be him and John.
“… two years…”
‘Present, London - 2010 ‘
John opens his eyes as he arrives back at the office and doesn’t feel the urge to empty his stomach into a bin his friends are offering him. A bit shaken on his feet John takes Greg´s offer to drive him home. The subway would be too much right now.
The drive was quiet, John was tired, like never before in his live and Greg doesn’t feel the need to break their comfortable silence. His friend doesn’t offer any information about today, tomorrow or asks how he is feeling. Just two friends sharing a car ride.
John promised Greg to go to bed early and take his medicine. Responsible as John is (he can be … sometimes) he takes the pills and makes himself a quick dinner and tea for his nausea that had returned after the food he had eaten.
“… two years …”
Two years until he would be born in Sherlock´s time. He could be already existing at his next mission.
Mycroft arrives at the clinic in time; Sherlock would break out and tramp home if he would be too late. The packed bags and the violin case were waiting for him and together they carried Sherlock´s belonging outside to the waiting car.
The immortal turns back to the white building, he wouldn’t miss it but it had helped, not that he will tell Mycroft that. Some things are better kept unspoken.
Inside the car Mycroft tells Sherlock about the break in in his house. Sherlock was not surprised but worried what Moriarty would do with the information. The immortal went quiet and was thinking about it. He had already met John in the museum and John was doing his missions. Moriarty wouldn’t be able to prevent a meeting. Not that it would have consequences but it had already happen, the only point he could attack (if that was his goal) would be after the last mission. Tomorrow, when Sherlock would finally meet his beloved for the first time in their right time, together and no longer separated.
Baker Street looks like he had left it, his rooms hadn’t changed, only the dust had grown at some places and decreased at others, most likely Mrs. Hudson´s doing. The woman had already jumped him with a hug and was making tea in his kitchen too catch up as she calls it.
Mycroft was still with him, posing as the worried big brother. Mrs. Hudson was chatting about the neighbors and the latest news, she tells him about John, the young man that had helped her, brought over his friends Molly and Greg. He had spent time with her and taken her out of the house for tea and walks. And of course there were Mrs. Tuners married ones. The topic brought them to the point where Sherlock finally could ask a question.
“… but the poor led looks ill. Hope he is eating enough. I will invite him for dinner. You two can meet, if you want.”
“Mrs. Hudson what do you think about another tenant.” She looked shocked and Sherlock understands that she thinks he will leave. “I would like to ask someone to move in with me, if that is alright with you?” The smile was back.
“Of course William, that would be lovely. Did I met your friend before?” As soon as John is hear he has to change the name thing.
“It´s a surprise. If everything works out you could meet him tomorrow evening. Maybe he stays forever.” She giggles a school-girl laugh, kisses him on his cheek and returns to her own flat.
Finally alone after Mycroft left and promised to pick him up as soon as John left. Sherlock looks out of his window with his violin in his hand but she stays quiet. Sherlock remembers the last few days he had met John in the past, the pale color on his skin, the weakness, the vomiting. Everything John has to go through just because of him. The only light at the horizon is that his last mission wasn’t as dangerous as the first ones, where danger was behind every corner and they both had to watch out or they would have get caught in between fire and steel.