The Unexpected Meeting of Two Geniuses

Chapter 24: Burning The Heart

Oh my gosh, it's been forever again, hasn't it? I just want to scrap this story honestly. I'll possibly be rewriting it on AO3. I don't know...sorry for keeping you guys waiting! Your comments and votes don't go unnoticed and I'm thankful for each one. :) Also, for waiting so long I've made this an extra long chapter! (I'll come back to edit any mistakes later)

-H

-----

Chapter Twenty Four

It was like rushing into the dry chaotic battlefield as John had done years before, with the sun beating down his tanned neck and sand invading every inch and crook of his body, no matter the precautions he had taken earlier. A small strand of ease remained within John from his previously proclaimed determination but his nerves still buzzed within him, filling him with uncertainty and fear. He may not have his uniform, or a gun strapped across his chest, but each step felt like another back into the past that has been so eager to constantly haunt him.

Mycroft's very first words spoken to John when they first had met now rung in John's mind. John was, no doubt, walking in the battle field that had been caused in Sherlock's wake. But his fear was overthrown by his sense of need to help others and the craving for the high of adrenaline that always lurked in the background of his mind. He wouldn't back down from a challenge like this. Ultimately when it came down to the source of it all, John was his own worse enemy.

John inhaled a breath of reassurance and exhaled his doubt, repeating this over and over quietly as he skulked his way through the rotting building. John knew it would be blatantly idiotic to go search for Rose and The Doctor, as he would just find himself captured and all efforts would have been a fruitless attempt and prove Sherlock to be right. To hell would John let that happen. Not this time.

What would John do then? He would attack where the attention was loosely focused on, which could possibly the most important part. Moriarty was being sloppy and John would take advantage of it by attacking the heart of it all, find the source of power, the generator of power for the Cybermen, and shut it down for good. If John could pull this off, Moriarty would be left without an army and basically weaponless.

The only problem was finding the source through the maze-like building that was, in addition, incredibly dark. John, not completely unprepared, whisked out his torch so he could venture without stumbling every five seconds, and hopefully keep his presence unknown.

John felt something touch his back, a human touch. His instincts caused him to snap around, dropping his torch in the process and grab the person's arm and pull it behind their back, pinning them against the wall all in the matter of seconds. Once a solider, always a solider. The person let out a small groan from the pain and wiggled uncomfortably under John's firm hold.

"Squirm and I will dislocate your shoulder." John said, sounding like the true solider he was, calm and not a seconds hesitation to use violence in defense. He pressed the person's arm up a bit more, showing them he meant what he said, getting another small gasp of discomfort from the person.

"John! John, it's me!" Sherlock hissed through clenched teeth, breathing heavier than normal from John's painful maneuver.

John instantly let go. "Shit, Sherlock. I could've snapped you in half." He whispered, backing up and picking up his torch as Sherlock rotated his shoulder to ease the pain. John looked up at Sherlock's face, discomfort twisting his features, which made sense, but also John detected a faint blush. "You alright?" He didn't ask about the blush.

Sherlock nodded, taking in a sharp intake of breath through his nose and straightened his wrinkled and beloved Belstaff. "Yes, fine. Suppose I did deserve it."