Daylight

Part 14

Jim used his gun to wave them into the room.  John gave Sherlock a wary look.  In the old days, Sherlock and John had several wordless techniques they used to disarm criminals. They only needed a nod or a flick of a finger and the other would know exactly what to do.  The partners had a perfect shorthand only they understood.  But this current situation had John worrying about whether or not they still had that perfect connection.  If John gave his usual sign, would Sherlock remember or even want to trust him?  John wasn’t sure.

     “Get in,” Jim said.

     John moved into the room first and Sherlock followed.  They turned to face their worst enemy, and wondered if this might finally be the moment Jim snapped and shot them both.  Then, like a drowning  man finding a plank of wood in a vast ocean, he saw the collar around Jim’s neck.  He still had the remote control key in his pocket and he pulled it out.  Jim had been unconscious when the security guard had tried using it on John.  Jim didn’t know it wouldn’t work!

    He reached into his pocket and pulled it out so Moriarty could see his thumb placed over the discharge button. 

     “Ah,” Jim said putting his hand up to touch his collar.   “I don’t know how you managed this but well done, you.  So it’s a standoff?”

     Sherlock smirked and looked sideways at John.  This glorious man continued to surprise him.  His admiration rose again when he saw the resolute look on the soldier’s face.  “If I push this button, you’ll be done, Jimmy Boy,” John said keeping his anger burning low.  You’ll only have time to shoot one of us before I push this button.  Which one of us do you hate more?”

     “If I shoot you, it will kill Sherlock, too.  In fact, it would be worth it to know he’d pick up the gun and follow right along after.  Isn’t that right, Darling?”  Jim asked looking directly at Sherlock who turned away from Jim’s gaze.  The truth of that statement hung in the room for all to see.

     “So we all die?  Is that how you want to end this?” John asked cocking his head to the side.

    Sherlock saw the resolution in John’s face.  He’d take no more shit from Moriarty today or ever again.  John was simply done with it all.  Sherlock looked back at John and said, “Give me the remote and leave before anyone else wakes up.  I’ll say with him.  This is between Jim and I anyway.”  He held out his hand for the key.  He’d seen the video feed and knew the key didn't work on that collar.  They might not have much longer before Jim put two and two together and figured out why John was still alive and he was wearing the collar.  He might even guess the thing no longer worked.

     John’s face was unreadable as he looked at him. 

     “Oh, I’ll shoot him if he tries to leave,” Jim said.  “This involves all of us.  You don’t get to go anywhere, Johnnnny Boy.”

     “He’s right.  This ends now,” John said shaking his head.       

     “Get over by the monitors,” Jim ordered them.  “Get away from the door.” 

     Sherlock stepped behind John and moved toward the chair he’d been sitting on earlier.  Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted his old collar lying on the seat where he’d left it.  He waited until John began to move over toward him and dipped down slightly to pick the collar up when Jim’s attention was diverted.  He shoved it up his sleeve.  As far as he knew, this collar still held live charges and would blow if John pressed the button.  It wasn’t much, but it was their only real weapon. 

     Sherlock knew Mycroft would arrive at any moment but had no idea if one of Jim’s men would wake up to help before then.  In fact, Jim stepped over to one of the prostrate guards and kicked him with his foot.  As he looked down at his henchman, Sherlock caught John’s eye and let a bit of the collar show in the palm of his hand.  John nodded in understanding and smiled one of his hard smiles.  They were on the same page.  At least some of their former wordless communication abilities still worked.  For that, Sherlock felt a warm rush.  It was something they hadn’t lost, and that meant a great deal to him.