“Sherlock?” Josie asked as she answered the phone
“Josie. Put your phone on speaker, I need you both to hear me.” Josie did as she was told and John listened
“Sherlock?” John asked to the phone “Are you alright?”
“Both of you turn around and walk back to where you came from.”
“What?” Josie asked “We’re coming in!”
“No, Josie. Please just do what you’re told, please.” Josie ignored Sherlock and walked towards St. Barts
“Stop there!”
“Sherlock?” Josie was getting worried
“Just look up.” John and Josie did so and both their hearts stopped. Sherlock was standing at the edge of the building
“Jesus!” John shouted
“Sherlock! Get down!” Josie screamed
“I…I can’t. So we’ll have to do it like this.”
“Dad, what’s going on?”
“I’m giving you both an apology, it’s all true.”
“What?”
“Everything they said about me, I… I invented Moriarty.
“Don’t say that!”
“I’m a fake.”
“Sherlock?” John plucked the phone from Josie’s hands and talked into it
“The newspapers were right. Tell everyone…. Molly, Lestrade, Miss Hudson, everyone. That I created Moriarty.”
“Okay, Shut up Sherlock, just shut up. The first time we met you knew all about my sister”
“No one could be that clever.”
“You could!” Josie said, a chuckle came from the other line
“I researched on both of you before I knew you. I wanted to impress you; it was all a trick, a hoax.”
“Stop it Dad!” Josie to another step towards the building
“Stay exactly where you are! Don’t move!”
“All right.” John said
“Just keep your eyes fixed on me! Please will you both just do it for me?”
“Do what?”
“This phone call…it’s… it’s my note. People do that, don’t they?”
“… Leave a note… when?”
“Goodbye John. Goodbye Josephine.”
“Sherlock wait!” but Sherlock had already thrown his phone away, he threw his arms wide and leaned forward
“SHERLOCK!!!!” Josie screamed as he fell. They both ran towards the building and John was hit down by a bike.
“Just go!” he said as he got up from the floor. She pushed past the crowd saying I’m his daughter. She made her way to Sherlock’s body, he was covered I so much blood. Josie ignored it and cradled her father’s head in her hands
“Sherlock?” Josie asked softly “Remember that promise you made with me a few days ago? The one when you said no matter what happens we’ll always be together yeah? Well, if you break it I will never forgive you.” Josie was sobbing now, she saw Sherlock’s eyes droop “SHERLOCK!” Josie screamed as she felt his heart stop. She felt John’s hands pry her away, she protested but the hands held firm. She whirled at John who had tears at the corner of his eyes; he looked at her with eternal sadness. He pulled her into a hug and she cried into his chest.
“H-He c-can’t be dead!”
“’M so sorry Josie…” John slurred “’M so, so sorry…”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Josie and John looked at the headstone, Josie had tears streaming down her cheeks and John was trying not to cry. Josie placed the bouquet of flowers in front of the headstone and John placed a hand on it. It read
Sherlock Holmes, the great Consulting Detective
Not only was he a success, but a loving father to Josephine and friend of John.
“Please,” John whispered “I was so alone, and I owe you so much. Oh, there's one more thing, one more miracle Sherlock, for us... For me. Don't be dead...…” They left the graveyard…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
John rubbed his sleepy eyes and stared blankly at the clock beside his bed. 12:43 PM. John continued to read his book despite the fact he had read it at least fifteen times before. He looked up when he heard a squeaking of floorboards at his door, he looked up and saw Josie standing in the doorway.
“Josie, its late what on Earth are you doing up?” he asked the girl
“I - I miss Sherlock…” Josie said quietly. John put his book down and indicated Josie to come forward. Josie ran in to John’s open arms and sobbed quietly.
“I know, Josie.” John said in a comforting tone. He slowly stroked the girl’s hair and kissed her forehead “I know…” It took around ten minutes to calm the shaking girl
“C-Can I sleep here? Just for Tonight?” She asked hesitantly
“Of course.” John said, he made space for Josie and she plopped onto the bed beside him. She lay down and faced John as he rested beside her, she wriggled forwards and buried her head into his chest and listened to the constant thump of his heartbeat. John wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly
“Goodnight John…”
“Goodnight Josie …” came the soft reply. And they both fell asleep in each other’s arms.
