The Little Mouse (BBC Sherlock Fanfic)

Chapter 8: The Mouse and Moriarty

An hour later Rose received a call from Moriarty. He had said nothing but she understood the call to mean that Rose head out there immediately, alone. Her cab dropped her off at a public pool... at night. Rose walked through the corridors until she heard gentle splashing and she followed the sound until she saw a man half naked in the pool with his back facing her. The pool lights were on in the water but the lights outside of it were sparse and flickering, giving it an odd contrast between innocence and horror.

Rose tried to quietly open the pool gate but it squeaked and she cringed as the man turned around and came to her, soaking wet and donning a plastered smile. "Jim Moriarty; hi."

Rose looked at him straight in the eyes and said evenly. "We've met."

"Mhm I'm aware. Swim?" He asked naturally, as if it were so.

"I'm not dressed for it." Rose said calmly.

Moriarty then looked at her up and down. "Is that Sherlock's shirt? And John's pants? I didn't know you were that kinky."

She glared him daggers. "You're savvy enough to know what happened."

"Hm, a shame." Jim hummed, disappointed at the reality, yet it was clearly not genuine. He then began walking to his towel which was draped across a chair, he spoke a bit louder as he walked so she could hear, "I do appreciate your honesty though. It's one of the many things I love about you." He was clearly mocking the rest of the world for their obsession for the word. He took his towel and started to dry his chest.

"Why did you ask for me?" Rose said it as more of a statement than a question, she was steady and calculating but her hand was shaking a little which revealed her fear.

Jim beckoned her over to him and she took a deep breath then closed her eyes once to gather herself before she walked over to him. Once she was there he took his time drying his hair before he spoke, "Sherlock has his own little dearest, and Mycroft seems to be trying to have you as his own. Now both the Holmes' have their own little pet. That isn't quite fair is it? And besides, you outsmarted both the virgin and the iceman so I simply had to have you." He said, acting as if he were a shopper who just "had to have" a pair of shoes they saw in the window.

Rose ignored his first statement. "I told you, what happened isn't representative of-"

"Don't sell yourself short darling."

"I'm not, I'm just telling you what to expect because if I'm on your side I don't want to be given the responsibility of-"

"Please, next to Irene you'd be my smartest ace. I know you're not the most clever girl and you're not going to be consistent. But I like that. And the truth is, you figured out what I was intending quick enough to stop me. And you stopped a bullet for him, that's dedication." He smirked, but any smile never reached his eyes, which made it all the more chilling.

"I don't follow." Rose said, confused.

"Oh come on. You only stopped that bullet for him so you could be right, so you could beat me." He was showing slightly more emotion now.

Rose looked at him strangely. "I stopped that bullet because Mycroft is important to the world, and he is a good person, even if he is a little cold."

Now it was Jim's turn to look at her oddly. He was thoughtful for a time before he asked, "Why did you come here?"

"Because you asked me to."

"Don't play dumb Miss Winters." He decided then reached out with his wet hand to pet her hair. "It doesn't become you."

"I know you have John." Rose said, her face straight. "You made sure I would know that or else Irene did."

"You don't like her do you?"