An Affair with the Enemy (A Sherlock Fanfic)

Chapter 16

Tanya

"Darling, they didn’t have any ground coffee so I just got normal..." He looked up and stared at us in terror. I gasped, not expecting his arrival. His hair was messy and he had a stubble; this was the alter ego of the dad I knew. Dad dropped the bags in his hand and backed away until he was on the stairs.

"Tanya! What are you doing here love? It's not safe. Stay away from that man." He pointed at Sherlock before averting his gaze to Kitty. "You said that they wouldn’t find me here. You said that I’d be safe here."

"You are safe, Richard. I’m a witness. He wouldn’t harm you in front of witnesses." Richard?!  Voicing my thoughts, John spoke out.

"So that’s your source? Moriarty is Richard Brook?!"

"This is ridiculous." I felt a lump form in my throat as I spoke. "Dad...Jim...ugh. What the hell?" He made his way to me quickly and pulled me away from John and Sherlock.

"Shh, don't cry. Are you okay love?" he cooed and took my hand. "I need to show you something alright?" He led me to a bedroom and closed the door behind him before I felt a knife against my throat.

~~~

I stepped out of the room, a fake smile plastered to my face. I could hear John questioning Kitty about the story she had for her newspaper. In his hand was a portfolio of my dad's "lifetime work as an actor".

"There’s no way he's a bloody actor. He's Moriarty goddamn it!" My eyes grazed over the bookshelf at the back where I saw the guns aimed at my friends. Turning back to my father, he gave me a small nod as to indicate my cue.

"John...it's true." My breath hitched a bit but I continued. "My dad's an actor. His name's Richard Brook. Sherlock, he...he did hire my dad. Kitty's right. Sherlock came up with all the cases and all he needed was a villain to cap it all." Tears threatened to spill but I bit the inside of my cheek to hold them back.

"You're lying." John's voice was soft but he then elevated his voice. "You're lying! He was going to blow me up last time we met. And if he really is Brook, then why the hell were you there?" He pointed at me.

"A clueless daughter who has a sad history was a perfect and rather convincing alibi. Your sympathy towards me would mean that you would believe anything I bloody well said." I hated myself for doing this but this was the only choice I had. I avoided Sherlock's gaze as I knew it would make me cry. Giving in to the need, I turned to look at Sherlock. His expression was soft but hurt flickered through his expression. Unable to take it anymore, I turned to my dad my face straight with hatred. "I'm done. I want to go now." He gave me a curt nod and I brushed past John and Sherlock before I heard Sherlock shout at my dad.

~~~

I sat on one of the vile green chairs and stared at the lamp which oozed a warm light. Replaying the events that took place an hour ago, tears streamed down my face. After what seemed like a year of waiting, Mycroft finally came in. He jumped when he saw me but his stern expression softened when he saw my face. He reached out to pat my shoulder but I moved away, a hand outstretched as to warn him not to come in any closer. "You bastard." I whispered through gritted teeth.

"What is it Tanya? Can I help you with something?" A dark, cynical laugh escaped my lips.

"Yeah, you can actually. Mind telling me why you told my psychopath of a father information about Sherlock?" He let our a heavy sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Well, I meant, there must've been a perfectly logical reason right? Was it the money or information about the underworld? Bet it was the information. I mean who doesn't love a good old trade of gossip." My lips curved up into a twisted smile which was full of sarcasm.

"Tanya, I never intended to harm Sherlock. It's just that he had information about..." I laughed again maniacally.

"It was the information. Pat on the back for me. Well done Tanya. You guessed correctly." I pushed the limit with how calm I could be. Standing up suddenly, I threw a lamp at him which missed narrowly. "You son of a bitch! You bastard! How could you?"  I yelled at the top of my lungs. "You bastard." I whispered as I left the room.

~~~

St Barts hospital was quiet and the silence seemed deafening. I was exhausted and I could tell my eyes were puffy from the crying. Finding one of the labs, I went in to see John's head resting on a table besides a half eaten sandwich. Picking up the other half, I went to Sherlock who sat in the floor in deep conversation. He bounced a ball against the wall. As it rebounded, I caught it and sat beside him. I broke the sandwich in half and offered a side to him. We sat in silence for a few minutes with the only sounds to be heard being John's snoring and our munching. Finally, Sherlock broke the silence. "Tanya?"

"Hmm?" I looked up to him and searched his eyes for some kind of emotion.

"At Kitty Riley's..." I interrupted him immediately.

"I know I'm sorry. It's just that..." He put a finger on my lips as to tell me to stay quiet and he gave me a small smile.

"I saw the guns. And I also heard him flick the Swiss knife open in the bedroom. He must've blackmailed you right?"I could only manage to nod. "He told you to tell a lie or I would've died." Again, I nodded. "I'm sorry I dragged you into this Tanya. You...you don't deserve any of this at this age." I chuckled light heartedly.

"I never thought I'd see the day Sherlock Holmes apologised. That too apologising to me." He began laughing as well and our laughs echoed through the empty hospital as we laced our fingers together unaware of what tomorrow would bring.