Unexpected

Chapter IV

It was around three in the night, Sherlock had for once fallen asleep after an exhausting evening filled with a kind of restlessness, which's origin Sherlock refused to and could not think about. At least John had left to sleep pretty early, pissed about Sherlock's mood.

The detective's well deserved sleep was brutally disturbed by a blood freezing scream. Sherlock jolted himself up in an instant. Another scream. It was coming... from his own bedroom. Without hesitation Sherlock stormed off, ready to fight whatever he would find in there. He pushed open the door and found a dark room.

There was no intruder, no fight. And yet another terrifying scream. It was Moriarty... it seemed like he was screaming... in his sleep.

"Sherlock, what's going on?" John's voice appeared from behind. The doctor was still in his pyjamas but as awake as Sherlock and holding a loaded gun. Both of them winced at another one of Moriarty's loud disturbances of the night.

"It's fine. He's... dreaming I guess. I'll take care of it."

John looked rather confused but nodded and disappeared into his room again, giving Sherlock the space that he knew he needed.

Sherlock himself went towards the moaning, tossing and turning Moriarty. What now.

"Moriarty."

The silly attempt did not quite bring any result with it.

"Moriarty!!" Sherlock tried again, this time louder. When this didn't work either Sherlock started shaking Moriarty's shoulder slightly what turned into rather forcefully until he finally woke up, gasping for air.

"You screamed."

Even Sherlock had to admit that this probably hadn't been the perfect address in that moment. Moriarty tried to sit up, only to quiver from the pain. He took a few shaky breaths then said, "Yes, I know. I guess I should have warned you."

"Please tell me you don't do that every night."

"Unfortunately, I have proof that I most certainly do," responding to Sherlock' raised eyebrow he added, "I record myself at night for safety reasons."

"This is weird."

"I guess..."

Sherlock saw his chance in Moriarty's sleepy mood to talk.

"What happened, Moriarty? You need to tell me."

"You're not gonna let this go, won't you?"

With a sigh Moriarty patted on the free space next to him on the bed. Sherlock first hesitated but then gave in to the chance of information and sat down rather uncomfortably, glad about the space and blanket separating the two of them.

"I kinda let myself go recently. I had been so booored until our little game started. You were the first equal partner I had, you wouldn't understand my joy. I was like a puppy playing with his new toy, so committed to the game that I forgot about certain other things. People started to notice. These pricks thought I showed weakness... Anyways, I got in a fight about it with my colonel."

"Sabastian Moran."

Sherlock did notice a sudden tenseness in Moriarty when he mentioned the name.

"Someone did their homework. Good boy. That piece of shit, Sebastian," Moriarty practically spat out the name, "thought he could play boss. I taught him otherwise."

"You killed him?"

"Unfortunately, way too fast."

There was something off in Moriarty's voice, it sounded choked. Although it was pretty dark in the room upon a quick scan Sherlock noticed that the heavy breathing of Moriarty might not be of rage. No crying again, please...

In a desperate attempt to distract the both of them Sherlock started telling the first thing that came to his mind.

"Remember the first time we met?"

"How could I, that was hard work arranging everything."

"That underwear was priceless."

A chuckle escaped from the man next to Sherlock, who pretended to ignore Moriarty wiping his nose.

"I mean have you ever been acting or what? The body language was masterly. I must admit until today I'm having a hard time acknowledging someone fooling me like that."

"I'm not just someone."

"Not you're my significant annoyance..."

Now Moriarty laughed out freely. Internally Sherlock congratulated himself for achieving such intentional emotional impact on someone. Not to ruin it again, Sherlock lifted himself up.

"You should better try and sleep some more."

When he had just reached the door he heard a soft "goodnight Sherlock" from behind.

"Goodnight Moriarty."

"Jim please."

Sherlock quietly closed the door. What was he doing? Moriarty... Jim wasn't his friend... he was his strongest rival. And he was right. It was so much fun.