Morstan and Adler

Six: Mary

MARY

He's dead.

Sherlock Holmes.

He's dead.

Mary had watched herself as he'd jumped from the roof. She'd watched in pain as John, desperate and devastated, ran to his friends side. She'd also watched him visit his grave everyday for a week.

It hurt Mary to see him so upset. She needed to cheer him up.

One month after Sherlock Holmes had leapt from the roof of St Bartholomew's hospital, Mary confronted John. She played it cool and casual, "accidently" bumping into him and knocking his coffee in the street. She'd bought him a new one. They ended up chatting, and Mary was delighted to even see the doctor laugh, but she noticed the sadness in his eyes, and the effort with which he walked, like he was carrying a weight on his shoulders. She wanted to lift that weight. She "accidently" kept "running into him" and they ended up meeting every week or so. Mary noticed his burden was getting lighter and lighter. But it was still there.

When John finally confided in her about Sherlock, she was there for him. As a friend.

Until, finally, two months later, she managed to get him to kiss her, and they were officially a couple. It seemed strange, how her Watson, Irene (or was she the Watson in the pair? She couldn't tell, they were so evenly matched) had her eye on Sherlock, while she had hers on John.

She and Irene were friends now; Mary had forgiven her. But they hadn't been in contact for a while. The last time they had, Mary had informed Irene of her relationship with John.

It was quite a surprise when Irene called her.

Mary had just texted Irene: I wish John would just propose ; when her phone started to ring.

"Hello?" Mary questioned, puzzled at the caller ID that had appeared on her screen.

"Mary! Oh, god..." Irene cried on the other end.

"What?"

"I'm sorry... I never told you."

"Told me what?"

"Mary.... Sherlock's alive."

Mary swore. "What? How?"

"I don't know, he won't tell me."

"Where is he now?"

"He's staying with me."

"Crap! You're letting him stay with you, while John Watson is going through hell believing he's dead?!"

"Oh, yes, how is the boyfriend?"

"Don't change the subject, Irene!"

"It's not my fault. Trust me, I've lectured him plenty about John. He won't listen. Besides, it's him that's making the choice to stay."

Mary sighed. "Is he ever coming back?"

"I believe so."

The assassin shook her head. John... she couldn't tell him. And it would kill her not to. "You only tell me this now?"

"I'm sorry! I've just been so distracted. I've got plenty to do here. Many things to do... Always misbehaving."

"And Sherlock?"

"As lovely as ever. I think I'm making him more human."

"That's not what I meant! What is he doing?" Mary asked.

"He's out. Again. He's breaking up the remnants of Moriarty's web. And dealing with Moran."

Moran. The names sent shivers down Mary's spine.

"Oh, and Mary?" Irene said, "About Moriarty.... he's alive."

Mary cursed. "Great. Is this definitely true?"

"Yep. Sherlock doesn't know about it. I'd rather it be a surprise."

"You'd do that to him?"

"Hey, I might love him, but we work for different people."

"I suppose."

"Listen, Mary, you can't tell anybody."

"But-"

"I have to go now," Irene finished, and hung up.

About Moriarty... he's alive.

Mary removed the call from the phone's log, reflecting on those very words.

How could she keep this all from John?

She'd just have to. After all...

She may love him, but they worked for different people.