When the Past Returns - BBC Sherlock Fanfic

Chapter 12 - Tensions Rising

The next morning, Penny awoke to Sherlock and John, sat in their chairs staring intently at the TV. She pulled the blanket a little closer to her, trying her best to keep out the cold. Wiping the sleep out of her eyes, Penny finally focused on what was on the screen. There was a news report on a gas explosion in a block of flats. Penny's heart sunk, remembering the events of yesterday. That poor old woman, those poor people. Twelve dead and for what? So some sick psychopath can play a game. Though human life didn't matter to him like it did to normal people, she had learnt that the hard way. She glanced over at Sherlock, noticing the pink phone resting on the arm of his chair.

"He certainly gets about," John said, unable to pull his eyes away from the screen.

"Well obviously I lost that round. Although technically I did solve the case," Sherlock muttered, muting the TV. Penny wanted to be shocked at his words but at this point, nothing he did or said could surprise her. She slowly sat up, still wrapped up in the blanket, not wanting to alert her companions of her consciousness. 

"He killed the old lady because she started to describe him," Sherlock continued. "Just once, he put himself in the firing line."

"What do you mean?" John asked, giving his friend his full attention. 

"Well usually he must sat above it all. He organises these things but no one ever had direct contact," Sherlock was thinking out loud while John nodded along. though Penny wasn't sure if he was really following. 

"What...like the Connie Prince murder? He arranged that? So people some to him wanting their crimes fixed up like booking a holiday?"John asked in disbelief.

"Novel," Sherlock replied in admiration. He reply made Penny's skin go cold. The thought of admiring someone that evil seemed alien to her and she knew who was behind it all. Silence fell over the flat as the group watched the next new story, Raoul De Santos being escorted out of Kenny Prince's house by police. Penny couldn't help but smile. Even though she hadn't been present for the case, she was proud of the people sat before her who figured it out. She glanced between the consulting detective and the blogger, waiting for one of them to notice her. For a pair that solves crimes, they're not that perceptive are they? She through to herself. Realising that this may take some time, she decided to break the silence herself.

"Anything on the Carl Powers case?" She asked, causing both men to jump, John even let out a shocked little squeak which Penny couldn't help but laugh at.

"Penny! You can't just spook us like that!" John said, clutching his chest as if his heart was going to jump out at any second. But it wasn't long before a smile grew on his face and a laugh escaped him. Sherlock just gave her a small smile and returned his attention to the TV.

"How are you feeling now?" John asked, wiping away his tears from laughing. "the last time I saw you, you were storming out of Scotland Yard." John's smiled faded.

"I'm alright. I guess it all just got to me, the cases, but I've had time to cool off and I'm ready for whatever is next." Penny glanced over at Sherlock though John didn't notice. even though they were able to sort of patch things up the night before, there was still slight tension and mistrust surrounding the two. Penny had to prove to Sherlock that she could be trusted. 

"Nothing new on the Powers case," Sherlock quickly changed the subject. "All classmates check out spotless. No connection." He seemed almost disappointed.

"Maybe the killer was older than Carl?" John suggested, hoping to lift the detective's spirits.

"The thought had occurred."

"So what is he playing this game with you?" Penny asked, still huddled in the blanket. "Do you think he wants to be caught?" Sherlock took a few moments, a smile creeping on his face as he brings his hands to his chin.

"I think he wants to be distracted," Sherlock smirked to himself. The idea of someone going to such extremes due to boredom was the best news he had received all year. Finally, someone who would be able to challenge him in ways that the average criminal could not. John and Penny watched the detective. Penny could tell that this was all getting to John, seeing Sherlock so detached from empathy and compassion was starting to take its toll.

"Well," John scoffed. "I hope you'll be very happy together." He stood from his chair and started to leave the room. Clearly needing some time.

"sorry, what?" Sherlock frowned at his friend, not sure what he had done wrong.

"There are lives at stake Sherlock. Actual human lives. Just, just so I know. Do you care about that at all?" John was seething. Penny's eyes flicked between her two friends, unsure of how this was going to turn out.

"Will caring about them help save them?" Sherlock asked bluntly.

"No."

"then I'll continue to not make that mistake." Sherlock's response made Penny's anger start to rise. After everything, after the progress Sherlock had made last night, he was back to the empty machine he was before.

"And you find that easy do you?"

"Yes, very. Is that news to you?"

"No," John and Sherlock locked eyes.

"I've disappointed you," Sherlock said, tilting his head slightly, almost as if to taunt John.

"Sherlock, don't," Penny warned, knowing this wasn't going to end well.

"That's good," John smiled sarcastically pointing at his friend. "That's a good deduction, yeah."

"Don't make people into heroes John. Heroes don't exist and if they did, I wouldn't be one of them." Sherlock quickly got distracted by a message that same through. Penny's focus moved to John who looked completely deflated, broken. Almost as if he had lost faith in everything they were doing. 

"View of the Thames. South Bank, somewhere between Southwark Bridge and Waterloo. You check the papers and I'll look online," Sherlock began looking at every detail on the photo had had been sent, unaware on John's anger. That was until he looked up.

"Oh, you're angry with me so you won't help," John looked up at Sherlock and shrugged, no longer having the strength to argue. "Not much cop this caring lark." Sherlock started searching for any reports of a case in that area, completely oblivious to the tension in the room. Penny looked over at John, giving him a sympathetic smile and gesturing for him to sit next to her so they could begin looking through the papers. John shuffled over to the sofa and took a seat next to Penny, returning the smile. Penny moved closer and rested her head on John's shoulder while giving his arm a reassuring squeeze. John chuckled slightly, kissing Penny's head and picking up a newspaper to help search. Penny followed suit and started reading through all the papers that were scattered on the table. She could see that Sherlock kept glancing back at the two them but she decided not to take notice of him. John kept reading out all possible cases but was shut down each time. Even the Andrew West case was now in the papers. Penny did feel rather guilty about not looking into the case for Mycroft, she knew it must've been important for him to ask for help personally. After nothing was found, Sherlock gave in a rung the only person who might have a lead, Lestrade. Penny looked over at John, both sharing the same exhausted expression and Penny knew they were both thinking the same thing.

Here we go again!