I'm Not Afraid (Sherlock BBC Fanfiction)

Chapter 7: Stand By You (Sherlock's POV)

I entered my flat with Alice by my side around 11:00 PM. I did not mean for it to be that late, but I didn't care much. I was showing Alice my favorite places. John was already up in his room as his computer was not there, and from the corner of my eye, I could see a faint light coming from his bedroom. I hung up the coats for Alice and myself. The two of us walked up the stairs. I stopped by my bedroom, turning to face her. She was glowing, so much happier than I have ever seen her.
"I had a great time tonight." She whispered. I took her face in my hands and kissed her gently.
"Me too." I murmured after pulling away. "See you tomorrow?"
"Yes." She smiled and turned to walk away.
"Alice, remember your promise." I called after her before slipping inside my room. I sighed happily. Everything was just perfect. I have Alice in my life. What more thing do I need? Well... actually, a case would be nice. Maybe, tomorrow. I smiled to myself as I got ready for bed. Slipping on my pyjamas, I got in the warmth of my covers. I shut the bedside lamp off and laid in the darkness, thinking. I wondered why I did not realize the tragic tale of Alice's past sooner. Maybe she was hiding it well? I couldn't be sure. I shook those thoughts out of my head. It didn't matter, not anymore. I knew everything now. My eyes closed as I nodded off to sleep, seeing nothing, but my true love under my arm, her gentle lips on mine...
I don't know how long I slept for, maybe a few hours, but it felt to me as if I fell asleep only a few seconds ago. I awoke to a sudden soft knocking to the door. I grunted in my sleep, hoping the sound would go away. The knocking became louder now, more urgent. I groaned and opened one eye and checked the clock, partially awake. It was 3:00 AM. Who the hell would be knocking on my door at 3 o'clock in the freaking morning?
"S-Sherlock? Sherlock?" A voice whispered from the other side of the door. I knew that voice. I jolted awake. Alice. I didn't care that I was sleeping before. All I knew that my girlfriend was knocking on my door and calling my name. I pulled on my dark blue bathrobe. I thrust the door open. Alice was there, just like I thought. I have never seen her like this. Her face was pale and covered in tears. She was trembling from head to toe. She was standing in only a large sweater (and underwear, obviously). I pulled her in the room, a bit roughly than I intended to and slammed the door shut. She staggered into the room. We stared at each other.
"Y-You said I could come t-to you."
"I didn't say that." She looked up. "I said you needed to come to me." She nodded once, beginning taking gasps of air.
"I-I... I had... I had... " I gathered her in my arms as she broke into sobs.
"Shhh, you don't need to say anything, love. I know." I tightened my arms around her as she cried. It pained me more than anything to hear her cry out in pain so much. I wanted to make it go away. I didn't know how, though, and that is what made me so frustrated. She clutched onto me, unsure what to do what herself.
"Oh, Sherlock....." Alice whimpered softly. Her voice began to crack. "Don't go...." I gently sat her down, pulling her on my lap.
"I'll never leave." I murmured in her ear, holding her closer and kissing her gently every now and then. She stopped crying, curling up in my lap, her arms wrapping around my neck. She was cold, so cold and shivering in her black sweater.
"I am sorry I woke you."
"Don't be ridiculous. I want you to wake me up if something like this happens." I told her, rolling my eyes at the absurd statement. She smiled gently.
"You groaned when I knocked on the door." I laughed.
"I had a dream about us, and I didn't want to wake up." Her eyes sparkled with the constant love she showed me.
"You dreamt about me?"
"Us." I corrected her.
"What were we doing?" She whispered. I smiled, wrapping my arm tighter around her as my hand cradled the back of her neck, my thumb on her cheek. Her hands were instinctively on my chest, just like in my dream.
"This." Now, my lips were on hers and I was kissing her hard. She crashed her lips against mine, her hand tangling in my black hair. When I broke away, I gazed at her. She was beautiful, her hazel eyes shining in the darkness. My eyes dropped down to her shoulder. There was something I have not noticed before - a large purplish-bluish spot on her shoulder blade. Curiosity gotten the best of me. I gently pulled down the corner of her sweater, exposing her back. There were more, countless more, down her back.
"Where did you get those?" I asked her quietly. For a moment, she did nothing. Then, her blank expression became guilty. She didn't say anything. "Alice, where did these come from?" I looked up at her. Her bottom lip trembled, but she still remained silent. Then, it hit me. There was no way she could have done this to herself. Someone else did, though. Anger began to bubble from my stomach and spread throughout my body. I sighed, trying to keep calm. I tilted her chin up. "Who did this to you? Tell me, who did this?" I spat. I couldn't help myself. Whoever hurt my Alice was going to pay for it. I'll make them regret the fact that they ever laid a hand on her.
"It's all my fault." She gasped, tears pouring down her cheeks. "I'm stupid, Sherlock. I was so stupid."
"Alice, Alice, you're not." My voice became gentle as I hugged her close again. "It could not have been your fault, love."
"It was."
"What happened?" I demanded.
"I didn't see it coming... I just came to Oxford, and we shared the same criminology class. When he spoke, he sounded so gentle and sympathetic... I don't know... He was always pushing for us to be together, but I couldn't bring myself.... He gotten angry and lured me into his trap,, demanding for me to join him and his followers, be like him.... I didn't want to... I didn't want to be like him.... I was a good person... and he beat me, again and again. When I came to my senses, he was gone and I left... He threatened me before he left. He said that he'd come back for me and make me suffer much more than he did now... I fell so easily into his trap..." She began shaking her head, wiping her eyes.
"That's not your fault, Alice." I said firmly. She looked up. "Listen, you had no idea that this would happen, so it is not your fault. Who did this?"
"M-Moriarty. Jim Moriarty." The name hit me so hard that I sat up quickly. I knew who he was. I know that name. The cabbie. I remember now. Moriarty is coming for Alice. When? How? I don't know. I need to find him before he finds Alice so I can teach him a lesson about assaulting my girlfriend.
"Sherlock?" Alice whispered, her voice quivering. I looked at him.
"I know who he is."
"How do you know him?" She looked shocked. I told her what the cabbie told me about Moriarty. Her face whitened at my words. I pulled her closer.
"Jim Moriarty will be paid a visit, and it won't be a pleasant one for him." I gritted my teeth. How dare he? How dare he hurt a sweet, innocent girl like Alice? Alice, at my words, began shaking her head like a mad person.
"Sherlock, no don't.... please don't...." Her voice broke.
"And let him get away with what he did to you? Hell no. I'll make him pay for what he did."
"No, Sherlock, please..."
"What would you have me do? Alice, he assaulted you, my girlfriend! I can't just sit back and do nothing!" I looked at her sharply.
"You are not facing Moriarty alone! I'm coming with you!" We stared at each other for a moment.
"That's out of the question."
"No, it's not. I'm coming with you and that's that." Alice said. Her voice trembled slightly, but she struggled to keep it strong. Now, I began shaking my head.
"I'm not letting you near him, Alice. You can't get hurt again." Anger was once again ebbing in my stomach.
"And I can't let you anywhere near him!" Tears spilled from her eyes. "If you're going there, then, I'm coming there, too. Sherlock, I'm going to stand by you, and I don't give a damn what you tell me! I'm going to go with you. I will, and you can't stop me!" Her voice rose hysterically. I stared at her. Tears were continuously running down her cheeks. She will stand by me. I have never imagined to be loved so much by her. I sighed heavily. Still, I loved her more than words can say, I can't just let her get hurt.
"Why?" I demanded. "Why do you want to go out and face him again? To get hurt again?"
"No, you idiot." This time her voice cracked. "I'm scared for you... I'm scared, Sherlock... I'm scared that you will get hurt or worse, get yourself killed...." She began to cry.
"Alice, Alice.." I whispered softly, cradling her face gently in my hands.
"I'm scared to l-lose you... Sherlock, I love you. I really love you, and I can't lose you.... I lost my parents...." I pulled her as close as humanly possible and began rocking her back and forth as she sobbed helplessly.
"Shhh, you won't. You'll never lose me. I'm here, always for you. Only for you." Her pitiful sobs died down instantly at my words.
"Do I get to go?" I sighed.
"I can't argue with you, can I?" She grinned a little.
"Nope. But what you can do...." She faced me and gently pulled me down on the bed and kissed me softly. I let a chuckle escape my throat as I kissed her harder, pinning her down next to me. She pulled away, and curled up beside me. Her hands were on my chest.
"Go to sleep, love. I'll fight up the bad dreams." I kissed her forehead gently. I ran my hand through her hair as her eyelids dropped down. I pulled her head on my chest. Just like that, we both succumbed into a deep slumber.