FLASHBLACK
You and Sherlock were sitting at a table in a small restaurant. Sherlock, who was wearing his hospital gown, was finishing up his last mouthful of penne pasta and you just finished your salad when you two heard Magnussen's voice ask. "Shouldn't you be in hospital?"
"I am in hospital. This is the canteen." Sherlock replied without looking up at Magnussen.
"Is it?" He asked.
"In his opinion, yes." You replied as you take a sip of water.
"Have a seat." Sherlock said, gesturing to the seat across from him with his fork.
"Thank you." Magnussen said and he walks over to your table and takes the seat.
"I've been thinking about you." Sherlock said to him. "I've been thinking about you." Magnussen said. "Really?" Sherlock asked. Magnussen looks between you and Sherlock and said. "Both of you, actually."
Sherlock reaches across to the morphine control, that he brought with him, and pushes the button three times. "We want to see Appledore, where you keep all the secrets, all the files, everything you've got on everyone. We want you to invite us." Sherlock said and the two men lock eyes as you shift your eyes between them.
"What makes you think I'd be so careless?" Magnussen asked him.
"Oh, I think you're a lot more careless than you let on." Sherlock said, softly.
"Am I?" Magnussen asked as he leans forward.
Sherlock leans forward too and smiles at Magnussen. "It's the dead eye stare that gives it away. Except it's not dead eyed, is it?" Sherlock asked and reaches forward to Magnussen's face and takes hold of his glasses. He winces and sucks in a sharp breath as he does this and you whisper. "Careful Sherlock."
Sherlock takes Magnussen's glasses off and Magnussen's eyes flicker towards the glasses then he returns his gaze to Sherlock . "You're reading." Sherlock said as he draws the glasses towards himself and looks down at them. "Portable Appledore. How does it work? Built in flash drive? 4G wireless?" He asked and then places them on his face and raises his head as he looks throught the lenses.
After a moment he frowns, turning his head a little and then lowers it and takes the glasses off. You frown at him and he looks over at you and said. "They're just ordinary spectacles." You look at him confused until Magnussen speaks up. "Yes--they are." He said as he looks at Sherlock then over at you as Sherlock grimaces slightly.
Magnussen lowers his head and smiles a then reaches out across with one hand and flicks through the pasta on Sherlock's plate with his finger and picks up a black olive. "You two underestimate me." He said as Sherlock sinks back in his seat and you stare into space in disbelief. Magnussen eats the olive then licks his thumb and forefinger before reaching across to the glass of water by Sherlock's and dabbled them in it. With his other hand, he reaches across the table and takes his glasses from Sherlock, then shakes his wet fingers at you and Sherlock.
"Impress us, then. Shows Appledore." You said, softly.
"Everything's available for a price." Magnussen said. Sherlock lifts his eyes at him as Magnussen asked. "Are you making me an offer?"
"A Christmas present." Sherlock said.
"And what are you two going to give me for Christmas, Mr Holmes and Miss (L/N)?" Magnussen asked.
"My brother." Sherlock replied, smiling at him
PRESENT DAY
"Oh, Jesus." John said, softly, and walks away from you two. "Sherlock....(y/n)....please tell me you two haven't just gone out of your minds." John said as Sherlock puts on his gloves and takes the laptop. "I'd rather keep you guessing." Sherlock said and you nod in agreement.
John goes into the sitting room where Mary is but just then the sound of a helicopter approaching can be heard. You and Sherlock look upwards and Sherlock smiles. "Ah. There's our lift." He said. Shortly afterwards, you and the boys are standing outside as the helicopter lands.
"Coming?" You asked John.
"Where?" He asked.
"D'you want your wife to be safe?" Sherlock asked him.
"Yeah, of course I do." John replied.
"Good, because this is going to be incredibly dangerous. One false move and we'll have betrayed the security of the United Kingdom and be in prison for high treason. Magnussen is quite simply the most dangerous man we've ever encountered, and the odds are comprehensively stacked against us." Sherlock said, quickly.
"But it's Christmas." John said, indignantly.
"I feel the same....oh you mean it's actually Christmas. Did you two bring your guns as I suggested?" Sherlock asked you and John. You open your jacket showing your gun as John asks. "Why would I bring my gun to your parents house for Christmas dinner?!"
You hold out John's jacket and asked. "Is it in your coat?"
"Yes." John said, tetchily, as he takes his jacket from you.
"Off we go then." Sherlock said as he takes your hand and the three of you start to walk towards the helicopter. "Where are we going?" John asked. "Appledore." Sherlock replied.
After while, the helicopter flies down towards Magnussen's house while you and the boys look down from inside. The copter lands on the grass, not far from the house, and some security men come walking towards you three while a few others, you noticed, were standing on the patio outside the house. You and the boys get out and are escorted towards the house and the helicopter takes off behind you three.
The men lead you and the boys through an inside area which are lined with large green exotic plants and towards an elevator which takes you one floor up and you three walk out and see Magnussen sitting on a long curved white leather couch, drinking his whiskey. Sherlock stops a couple of paces in front of the sofa while you and John stand alittle way behind him, Magnussen nods to his men and they turn and leave.
"I would offer you a drink but it's very rare and expensive." said Magnussen as he lifts his glass to you and the boys. He drinks from it as Sherlock turns and sits down on the sofa a couple of feet to Magnussen's right. He sighs with a contented sound and slaps his hands down on either side of him, putting the laptop between him and the other man, then crosses his legs and clasps his hands in his lap.
He looks across the room and said. "Oh. It was you." You look at Sherlock, confused, and you glance over your shoulder and you do a double take at the glass wall across from the couch. John, noticing your gaze, looks too and looks at it in shock and horror.
Projecting onto the glass wall was footage of your rescue of John from the bonfire and it repeats in a loop. "Yes, of course. Very hard to find a pressure point on you, Miss (l/n) and it was hard to find one on you too, Mr Holmes. The drugs thing I never believed for a moment. Anyway, you wouldn't care if it was exposed, would you?" Magnussen asked as you and John walk closer to the wall and watch the footage while Sherlock tilts his head, quirks his mouth and shrugs.
"But look how you care about John Watson, Miss (l/n). Your damsel in distress." Magnussen said as the footage goes into slow motion and shows you dragging John out from under the bonfire.
John turns to face the man and said, in a tight and furious voice. "You....put me in a fire....for leverage?"
"Oh, I'd never let you burn, Doctor Watson. I had people standing by." Magnussen replied as puts his glass down onto the clear glass table in front of him and stands up.
"You son of a bitch." You growled as you turn to face him.
You wanted to charge at this man and attack him for putting John in danger like that but you glance over at Sherlock, who shakes his head at you, and take a deep breath and stood your ground.
"I'm not a murderer....unlike your wife." Magnussen said to John, who stares at him grimly then glances at Sherlock as Magnussen walks over towards the wall. "Let me explain how leverage works. For those who understand these things, Mycroft Holmes is the most powerful man in the country. Well.....apart from me. Mycroft's pressure point is his junkie detective brother, Sherlock. And Sherlock's pressure point is his Sergeant fiancée, (Y/N) (L/N). (Y/N)'s pressure point is her best friend, John Watson. John Watson's pressure point is his wife. I own John Watson's wife.....I own Mycroft. He's what I'm getting for Christmas." Magnussen said and he holds out his hand towards Sherlock, who shoves the laptop across the sofa towards him.
"It's an exchange, not a gift." Sherlock said as he stands up, while Magnussen raises his eyebrows at him. Sherlock walks a few paces forward, then turns around again. "Forgive me, but I already seem to have it." Magnussen said as he picks up the laptop, holds it against his chest and runs his fingers over the back.
"It's password protected. In return for the password, you will give me an material in your possession pertaining to the woman I know as Mary Watson." Sherlock said.
"Oh, she's bad, that one. So many dead people. You should see what I've seen." Magnussen said.
"I don't need to see it." John growled.
"You might enjoy it, though. I enjoy it." Magnussen said as he turns to John, who nods, you just stand there and glare at this man.
"Then why don't you show us?" You asked him, nonchalantly.
"Show you Appledore?" Magnussen asked as he sets the laptop onto the sofa beside him, then looks over at you. "The secret vaults? Is that what you want?" He asked you.
"We want everything you've got on Mary." You replied to him, intensely.
You and Magnussen stare at each other for a moment and he lets out a breathy laugh, shaking his head a little, then lowers his eyes, scratches the back of his head and chuckles for a few seconds. He stops and looks over at Sherlock. "I see why you like her." He whispers to him and you shoot a brief glance over at Sherlock, who quirks a smile, as Magnussen grimaces and pats the laptop. "You know, I honestly expected something good." He said.
"Oh, I think you'll find the contents of that laptop...." Sherlock started to say but Magnussen interrupts him.
"...include a GPS locator. By now, your brother will have noticed the theft, and security services will be converging on this house. Having arrived, they'll find top secret information in my hands and have every justification to search my vaults. They will discover further information of this kind and I'll be imprisoned. You and your pet will be exonerated and restored to your smelly little apartment to solve crimes with Mr and Mrs Psychopath." He said to Sherlock as he looks over at you and John, who is gritting his teeth.
"Mycroft has been looking for this opportunity for a long time. He'll be a very, very proud big brother." Magnussen said as he picks up his glass and finishes his drink.
"The fact that you know it's going to happen isn't going to stop it." Sherlock said.
"Then why am I smiling?" asked Magnussen and he looks at Sherlock and smiles a little. "Ask me." Magnussen said as Sherlock looks at him, thoughtfully.
"Why are you smiling?" John asked him.
"Because Sherlock Holmes and (Y/N) (L/N) have made one enormous mistake which will destroy the lives of everyone they love and everything they hold dear.....let me show you the Appledore vaults." Magnussen said and he leads you and the boys across the room and through the open glass doors of the study. He walks across to the wooden doors at the side of the room and then turns back to you three, putting a hand on the doors. "The entrance to my vaults. This is where I keep you all." Magnussen said and he turns and opens the doors.
When the doors open, you and the boys see nothing more than a small windowless room, painted white and brightly lit. It is no more than a few feet deep and the ceiling, you guessed, is about eight feet high and the only thing in the room is a metal and leather low backed executive chair. Magnussen slowly continues inside as John asked. "Okay--so where are the vaults, then?" Magnussen turns to him and asked. "Vaults? What vaults? There are no vaults beneath this building."
And he sits down in the chair and gestures around the room. "They're all in here." He said as he raises his right hand fingers to his temple. John frowns and blinks while you and Sherlock stare at Magnussen wide eyed, realizing the truth.
"The Appledore vaults are in my Mind Palace. You know about Mind Palaces, don't you, Sherlock? (Y/N)?" Magnussen asked looking over at you and Sherlock, who swallows then opens his mouth slightly.
"How to store information so you never forget it by picturing it. I just sit here, I close my eyes and down I go to my vaults. I can go anywhere inside my vaults, my memories. I'll look at the files on Mrs Watson." Magnussen said as he closes his eyes and starts to raise his hands and flicks his fingers in front of him as if he is working his way through some files inside of an imaginary drawer then he lifts his right hand as if lifting a folder out of a drawer and said. "This is one of my favorites. Oh, it's so exciting. All those wet jobs for the CIA. Ooh! She's gone a bit....freelance now. Bad girl. Ah, she is so wicked. I can see why you like her." Magnussen said as hands move in front of him like he is flipping through pages then he lifts his right hand again acting like he is putting the folder back in the drawer and pushes it back in. Then he opens his eyes and looks over at you and Sherlock. You stand there frozen, you have no idea how you and your boys are going to get out of this one; You haven't felt this bad since the whole thing with Irene Adler.
"You see?" Magnussen asked.
"So there are no documents. You don't actually have anything here." John said after he clears his throat.
"Oh, sometimes I send out for something if I really need it but mostly I just remember it all." Magnussen said as Sherlock looks away a little, closing his eyes briefly.
"I don't understand." John said, shaking his head.
"You should have that on a T-shirt." Magnussen said to John.
"You just remember it all?" John asked.
"It's all about knowledge. Everything is. Knowledge is owning." Magnussen replied.
"But if you just know it, then you don't have proof." John said.
"Proof? What would I need proof for? I'm in news, you moron. I don't have to prove it--I just have to print it." Magnussen said as you and Sherlock lower your heads.
Magnussen stands up and buttons his jacket. "Speaking of news, you three will be heavily featured tomorrow--trying to sell state secrets to me." He said and he tuts disapprovingly. "Let's go outside. They'll be here shortly." He said and he walks out of the room. "Can't wait to see you arrested." Magnussen said over his shoulder as he leaves you and the boys alone in the room.
John looks at you two and asked. "Sherlock, (y/n), do we have a plan?" You and Sherlock are frozen in place and look towards the floor of the white room. "Sherlock. (Y/N)." John said sternly. When you two don't move, John turns and walks away. Sherlock shuts his eyes, screwing them closed with a look of despair as you felt tears running down you face.
You look over at Sherlock, who opens his eyes and you see fear and hopelessness in his eyes. Sherlock sees fear and horror in yours as he looks over at you and his heart breaks when he realizes he caused all of this; This is his fault. "What have we done, Sherlock?" You asked, tearfully.
Sherlock looks over at you and takes his right hand glove off and places his ungloved hand on your cheek and wipes the tears off of your face with his thumb. "I'm sorry." Sherlock whispered. You stare at him in the eyes for a moment before you closed them, trying to hold back more tears. Sherlock leans down and kisses you and you raise your right hand to his cheek. You and him kiss for a good few moments, trying to savor the feeling of each other's lips as this could be the last time you'll get to kiss him. You two pull apart and stare at each other for a moment and then, slowly after he places his glove back on; hand in hand, walk towards the front door.
"I just love your little soldier face. I'd like to punch it. Bring it over here a minute. Come on." Magnussen said to John as you and Sherlock walk outside on the patio. John glances at you two and, very reluctantly, you and Sherlock give him a short nod. "For Mary. Bring me your face." Magnussen said. John looks back at Magnussen then slowly takes two steps closer to him and leans down to him.
"Lean forward a bit and stick your face out. Please." He said and John does as he was told.
"Now, can I flick it? Can I flick your face?" Magnussen asked him. John snorts in disbelief and leans forward again and Magnussen lifts his right hand, bend his middle finger under his thumb, holds it close to John's left cheek and then releases the middle finger to flick sharply against his cheek.
"I just love doing this. I could do this all day." Magnussen chuckles and he looks over at you and Sherlock, you glare at him as Magnussen looks back at John and said. "It works like this, John. I know who Mary hurt and killed. I know where to find people who hate her. I know where they live; I know their phone numbers. All in my Mind Palace--all of it. I could phone them right now and tear your whole life down and I will unless you let me flick your face. This is what I do to people. This is what I do to whole countries, just because I know." Magnussen said as he continuesly flicks John in the face and it was really pissing you off.
You squeezed Sherlock's hand, hard, and he strokes the back of your hand with his thumb as a way to try and calm you down as he also glares at Magnussen, his teeth bared.
"Can I do your eye now?" Magnussen asked John, who turns his head a little, looking away. "See if you can keep it open, hmm?" Magnussen asked and he flicks John's left eyebrow and, instinctively, John closes his eye. Magnussen sniggers and flicks it again. "Come on. For Mary. Keep it open." He said.
"Sherlock? (Y/N)?" John asked.
You really wanted to say something but Sherlock squeezed your hand and said quietly in a apologetic voice. "Let him. I'm sorry. Just.....let him."
John grimaces as Magnussen said. "Come on. Eye open." He flicks John's eyebrow again and, once again, John's eye closes and Magnussen laughs as he flicks him again. "It's difficult, isn't it? Janine managed it once. She makes the funniest noises." Magnussen said and suddenly you heard helicopters approaching and then you see armed police marksmen approaching the building as well and a spotlight shines towards you and the men.
"Sherlock Holmes, (y/n) (l/n) and John Watson. Stand away from that man." Mycroft's voice said over the speaker.
Magnussen looks over to you and Sherlock and said. "Here we go, Mr Holmes and Miss (l/n)!"
"To clarify: Appledore's vaults only exist in your mind, nowhere else, just there." Sherlock said, loudly as you and him step forward and walk by John's side. "They're not real. They never have been." Magnussen said.
"Sherlock Holmes, (Y/N) (L/N) and John Watson. Step away." Mycroft's voice said, again.
"It's fine! They're harmless!" Magnussen said, loudly.
"Guys, what do we do?" John asked you two.
"Nothing! There's nothing to be done! Oh, I'm not a villain. I have no evil plan. I'm a businessman, acquiring assets. You happen to be one of them!" Magnussen said.
You and John stare up at the helicopters as Sherlock looks down at John and then over at you, his gaze penetrating and intense. "Sorry. No chance for you to be a hero this time, Mr Holmes." Magnussen shouted at him.
"Sherlock Holmes, (Y/N) (L/N) and John Watson, stand away from that man. Do it now." Mycroft's voice demanded as Sherlock steps closer to John and grabs his gun out of his coat pocket.
"Oh, do your research." Sherlock said as walks towards Magnussen. "I'm not a hero, I'm high functioning sociopath." He said then glare at him and shouted. "Merry Christmas!" And he raises John's gun, aims it at Magnussen's head and fires.
As you and John recoil and before Magnussen hits the ground, Sherlock drops the gun and turns toward the helicopter, raising his hands. "Get away from me, you two! Stay well back!" Sherlock said loudly as he turns to look at you and John.
"Christ, Sherlock!" John shouted, desperately.
"Holy shit!" You shouted at the same time.
"Stand fire! Do not fire on Sherlock Holmes! Do not fire!" Mycroft's voice shouted over the speaker.
"Oh my God, Sherlock!" You said as you place your hand over your mouth.
Keeping his hands raised, Sherlock looks at John and said. "Give my love to Mary. Tell her she's safe now." John stares at him as Sherlock looks over at you and said. "And (Y/N).....I love you. Always have and always will." You look over at him and stare at him for a moment before saying. "I love you too, Sherlock. Always have and always will."
Sherlock smirks at you and then turns towards the marksmen and the helicopter and sinks slowly to his knees. You and John raise your hands high as well as Sherlock kneels on the patio and the men walk closer to him.
After a few moments, the men surround Sherlock, one of them puts Sherlock's arms behind him and cuffs him and start to escort him off the premise. "No, no, no,no, no!" You shouted and started to run towards them but John grabs your shoulder and holds you back. "No, no, no, no, please, no, please!" You shouted tearfully and started to fight against John grip but he never lossens it.
You, eventually, fall to your knees and started to cry. "Not again.....please, dear God....not again." You muttered under your breath and John puts his arm around you, hugs you and holds you tight. You place your head in the crook of his neck and started to cry, harder.
Sherlock looks over at you and sees you crying into John neck and John hugging and holding you. His heart breaks at this and he feels a tear run down his face, he sniffs once and turns his head back forwards as the men take him away from his best friend and his one true love.