morganstuart: (Counting)
[personal profile] morganstuart
Title: Counting
Author: Morgan Stuart
Fandom: Sherlock
Disclaimer: This universe does not belong to me; I'm just an appreciative visitor. I make no profit from this fan work.
Description: Moriarty had ended his tally one name too soon.
Historian's Note: This takes place during events depicted in the second-series Sherlock episode "The Reichenbach Fall." (Spoiler alert!)
Author's Note: This is a 221b ficlet (221 words, the last beginning with "b").



When Jim Moriarty explained the "extra incentive" he'd arranged to ensure the suicide and disgrace of the world's only consulting detective, Sherlock knew exactly for whom the three bullets were intended.

The man who was not his date.

The woman who was not his housekeeper.

The man who was not his handler.

The ones he trusted, the ones on whom he'd relied for so long. The ones who even now struggled against the poisonous lies that scuttled forth from Moriarty's web like so many thin-legged, eager arachnids.

The three were Sherlock's closest friends in the world, to be certain. But not his only ones.

Moriarty had ended his tally one name too soon.

"I don't count," she'd said, and in a manner of speaking, she'd been correct. Moriarty hadn't counted Molly Hooper. Fortunately, in the eleventh hour, Sherlock had.

He'd counted on her, in fact.

The thought struck him as he balanced on the ledge and considered the pavement below. For a heartbeat Sherlock allowed himself a silent laugh at Moriarty's oversight, which nearly had been his own, as well.

Molly Hooper, his friend, counted very much indeed.

It would be a testament to how much she counted when Sherlock disappeared into the background of his beloved London, whilst Moriarty lay cold in a viscous pool of his own blood.


THE END

Vital Stats: Originally written in January 2012.

Date: 2012-01-16 05:10 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kristinaa1.livejournal.com
Brilliant and insightful use of the word "count". Simple but extremely effective. I like to think that although at times Sherlock may have been irritated by mollys crush, he could tell it came from an innocent place, at the risk of sounding hokey, it was "pure" she wasn't trying to use him for anything, unlike that horrid journalist/reporter.

Date: 2012-01-17 01:39 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] morganstuart.livejournal.com
I agree wholeheartedly about Molly's crush coming from an innocent place - and Sherlock's awareness of this fact. Great contrast with the journalist/reporter! You're so right: Molly never wanted to use Sherlock for anything. I love the fact that, when Sherlock eventually does come to her for help, he does so with a kind of humility and appreciation that's really rare for him. I like to think this shows how she has helped him, in her own way, take another step toward becoming a good man.

I really liked your comments here. Thanks so much!

I'm very happy that you enjoyed this little ficlet, especially my play on the word "count." Your kind words have put a big smile on my face! I appreciate them.

Profile

morganstuart: (Default)
morganstuart
"To trace the remote in the immediate; the eternal in the ephemeral; the past in the present; the infinite in the finite; these are to me the springs of delight and beauty."
- H.P. Lovecraft, 1921

November 2021

S M T W T F S
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
2122232425 2627
282930    

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags
Page generated Feb. 23rd, 2026 03:30 am
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios