Short Message Service Vol. XIII - The Reichenbach Fall

[solrosan]

Notes: This took a while. Sorry about that. TRF is still a difficult topic for me, apparently. It wouldn’t have been done without the timeline suggested by mad_maudlin, the transcript done by arianedevere and the brutal beta-work by zedille. Thank you!

Find all of them here.

Summary: The Reichenbach Fall told in Sherlock’s and not!Anthea’s texts.

-x-
Tell John I love him!

And Lestrade!
Tell Lestrade I
love him too.

Why this sudden
outburst of
emotion towards
the men you’ve
appointed the
Holmes boyfriends?
SH

Lestrade for buying
the deerstalker,
and John for
sending me pictures!

This is a conspiracy.
SH

Yes.

-x-

The Boffin and the
Bachelor!

Shut up.
SH

You sound like
cartoon characters.

I hate the free
press.
SH

Oh, hush. It’s one
of the foundations
of democracy,
you know.

As my brother runs
the government,
I have lost a great
deal of respect for
democracy in this
country.
SH

Details, details.

-x-

You should get over to
Her Majesty's Royal
Palace and Fortress.

You’re the only
person I know who
actually calls it that.
SH

Someone has to.

Is it Moriarty?
SH

How did you know?

He texted me.
SH

The two of you…
Anyway, you should
see the footage.

Why so generous
with information
all of a sudden?
SH

You’ll understand
when you see the
footage.

It’s impossible to
get a straight answer
out of you.
SH

It’s a habit I’ve picked
up after years of playing
with politicians.

They are clearly a
bad influence.
SH

Not all of us can
spend our time with
hot army doctors.

-x-

Lestrade showed
me the footage
from the White Tower.
It was quite a show.
SH

Sherlock!

You have to admit that
it was incredible.
SH

Only if you admit that
it was disturbing, too.

It’s disturbing that
the security systems
were that flawed, yes.
SH

That’s not what I
meant, but fine.
It was quite a show.

Do you have any information
about Pentonville or
the Bank of England?
SH

No more than what
you got from Lestrade.

Would you tell
me if you knew
anything more?
SH

That would depend
on what it was.

Your professionalism
is really dull at times.
SH

That’s not what
your brother says.

What’s going to
happen now?
SH

He’s going to trial.
Given his little stunt
with your name,
I’d guess you’ll
have to testify.

Is that your way of
saying that I should
stay out of the way
and let justice take
its course?
SH

Yes.

If that were a
valid option, I’d
be out of a job.
SH

Hush.

-x-

What do you think?

About?
SH

Moriarty.

The whole situation
is odd.
SH

In a good or a bad way?

It’s just odd. Why did
he want to get
caught? There’s no
way a jury won’t
find him guilty.
SH

I hope so.

I have to figure
this out.
SH

-x-

“Amateur detective”?
You need to do
something about
the press!
SH

Well, technically…

No, not “technically”.
Technically, an amateur
doesn't get paid. I get
paid. This is my profession.
I’m a professional.
SH

I’ll have them lynched.

For some reason, I don’t
believe you.
SH

Good boy.

-x-

Behave today.

Not you too. I’m
a grown man, I
know how to behave.
SH

No, you don’t.

-x-

Is there any possibility
of receiving a tax
deduction for
bailing out the
government’s
brother?

I’ll make sure
to reimburse
you, Dr Watson.

Thank you.

-x-

Why aren’t you
at the Old Bailey?

It’s a waste of time.
SH

Have you figured
it out?

It depends.
SH

On what?

If he’s found
guilty or not.
SH

-x-

So, a nice cup of tea,
was it?

You’re watching our flat
again, I hear.
SH

We never really
stopped.

You just chose to
look away when the
CIA attacked Mrs
Hudson?
SH

You’re never going
to let me forget
that, are you?

Not in a long, long
time. And the tea
was fine, thank you.
SH

Most people wouldn't
invite a criminal
mastermind in for tea.

I’m not most people.
SH

Even so.

I didn’t invite him.
I just knew he would
come.
SH

How and why?

He’s not most people,
either. He thinks we’re
the same.
SH

You’re not.

I know.
SH

Don’t forget it.

-x-

It’s me Moriarty wants.
SH

Pride goeth before
destruction, Sherlock.
MH

Mine or yours?
SH

Both, I think.
MH

That’s distressing.
SH

Yes.
MH

Pretend I’m not
your brother, if
you have to.
SH

No.
MH

Caring is not an
advantage, Mycroft.
You taught me that.
SH

-x-

John says hello.

Have you finally
asked him out on
a date?
SH

No, I’d never take
your boyfriend.
This is pure business.

Don’t you ever get
tired of implying that
John is my boyfriend?
SH

Perhaps one day,
but not yet. You
should have seen
the look on his
face when the ATM
talked to him.

Where are you
taking him?
SH

The Diogenes Club.

Of course.
SH

You really should
talk to him about
his habit of getting
into cars with strangers.

You’re hardly a
stranger.
SH

But he didn’t exactly
hesitate when following
Ms Adler’s assistant,
did he?

Don’t be jealous.
It’s the shoes.
SH

What?

He likes women
in heels.
SH

I would never have
taken him for a
legs-and-arse man.

From what I’ve
seen, your legs and
arse are both fine.
You still have a chance
with him.
SH

Sherlock Holmes,
have you been
looking at my bum?

I observe everything.
That’s what I do.
SH

Don’t even try to
brush this off as
a deduction.

I’m not trying to
brush anything off.
I’m just stating facts.
SH

And the facts are
that you’ve checked
out my arse.

Don’t be absurd.
SH

Another fact: I
don’t mind.

Just bring John
home when you’re
done with him.
SH

Ah, the implications.

Grow up.
SH

-x-

A little bird told
me that the American
ambassador has asked
for your assistance.

That is correct.
SH

Please behave. It’s
a delicate situation.

With the United
States? Since when
have our relations
been “delicate”?
SH

Since the 18^th century.

Are you trying to
be funny?
SH

I’m trying to tell
you that I can’t
tell you the real
reason.

I’ll find the children.
It doesn’t matter how
I do it.
SH

You might be right.

-x-

Does your “delicate
situation” in any way
involve Moriarty?
SH

No. Do you think
he's behind the
kidnapping?

He has to be.
SH

Are you sure?

Mostly.
SH

Please, be careful.

-x-

Mycroft used me
as a decoy, didn’t he?
SH

Yes, we did.

No, you didn’t. He did.
Don’t protect him, he
doesn’t deserve it.
SH

I agree, he doesn’t.
But it’s my job, so I
do it anyway.

You know what I
think about your
job, but don’t be
angry with Mycroft.
It had to be done.
SH

You knew about this?

We talked about it
when I called from
Dartmoor. It didn’t
sound like something
he wanted to do, though.
SH

Imagine that.

He becomes
sentimental at the
worst possible
times.
SH

He loves you.

That’s very impractical
for someone in
his position.
SH

Don’t say that.

It’s true. Tell him
I think it’s good he
did this.
SH

Tell him yourself.

I will, but you might
need to remind him of it
before this is over.
SH

You’re scaring me.

I’m sorry.
SH

Be careful.

-x-

A warrant has been
issued for your arrest.

I suspected as much.
The camera on the
bookshelf isn’t by
any chance yours, is it?
SH

No.

He’s starting to
doubt me.
SH

Who?

John.
SH

No, he isn’t.

Yes, he is.
SH

No.

Are you sure?
SH

Yes.

-x-

How could you
let Mycroft tell
Moriarty all
those things?

Have you tried
changing the
mind of a Holmes?

Fair point.

I’m very sorry, Dr
Watson. I didn’t
want this.

I’ll take your word for it.

-x-

John went to talk
to your brother.

What did he
tell him?
SH

I don’t know, but
I’ll make Kitty Riley’s
life a living hell.

I won’t discourage that.
SH

I can pull the article
too, if you’d like.

What about the
free press and
the foundations
of democracy?
SH

Who said this was
a democracy?

As much as I like
this side of you,
don’t do anything
yet. Moriarty has
to believe everything
is going as planned.
SH

Is it?

No, not for either
of us, but it’ll be
fine as long
as he believes it.
SH

Are you sure?

No.
SH

Where are you now?

In a lab at Bart’s.
SH

Is there anything I
can help with?

Could you get John
to leave before
Moriarty gets here?
SH

You won’t need him
for this?

I need him to be safe.
SH

Have you told him that?

No, because he would
refuse to leave.
SH

Are you sure Moriarty
will come?

Yes. He thinks
he owes me a fall.
SH

What does that mean?

The same thing he meant
when he said he’d
burn the heart out of
me, I suppose.
SH

So he’s being
ambiguous and
creepy?

Yes. Can you make
sure John isn’t here?
SH

Yes.

Thank you.
SH

Do you know what
you're going to do?

I’m going to win,
no matter the cost.
SH

Could you be more
precise?

No, it’s more amusing
to be mysterious
and cryptic and not
explain things. You
should know that.
SH

This isn’t funny, Sherlock.

Talk to Mycroft.
He knows.
SH

The two of you
working together
is the most terrifying
thing I’ve ever
seen.

I thought you’d
watched the
surveillance footage
from Mycroft’s
bedroom.
SH

Sherlock, be serious.
This is not the time.

But you still smiled.
SH

Please, be careful.

Just make sure
John leaves.
SH

I will, but I don’t
like this.

I’m not thrilled
about it either.
SH

That’s actually
comforting to
hear.

-x-

I think we’re upsetting
Madeleine.
SH

I know we are.
MH

-x-

Was it you who
called John about
Mrs Hudson?
SH

Yes, I thought
it would make him
leave right away.

It did. She’s not
actually shot, is she?
SH

Of course not.

Good. Thank you.
SH

I’ll be watching the
security cameras.

You’re not going
to wish me luck?
SH

You don’t need
luck, remember?

Perhaps I do this time.
SH

No. Sherlock Holmes
doesn’t need luck.

Are you sure?
SH

Yes, I am. Because
I believe in you.

-x-

Vol. XIV

(and there is a missing scene to this one)