Lessons Learned

Untitled Part 13

     In the end, Trevor gave them what they wanted.

Sherlock escorted John through the maze of narrow corridors and dilapidated out-buildings to a guard shack where Sherlock pulled out a wad of cash and gave it to the guard. The guard handed him a flip phone with a lewd grin and shuffled off to give him some privacy to make a call.

"I'll get the particulars from Mycroft," Sherlock said. "We can have them out by tonight."

"Wait a minute," John stopped and stared at him. "Mycroft knows you're alive?"

"Yes, John. I went to see him before going undercover here. He rather uncharacteristically gave me a brotherly display of affection. Then, he promised me whatever assistance he could offer and tried to talk me out of coming here."

John narrowed his eyes, "He never said a word to me that he knew you were alive. I've known since the beginning, but I suspected he did not."

"He always has played his personal information close to the vest. And, you never told him I was alive. I always wondered why you never said a word," Sherlock said punching in a number on the phone and speaking to a voice on the other end.

Within minutes, he'd completed his call and looked smugly at John. He's agreed to provide passage for us, Trevor, his female friend and daughter. It's arranged, John," he said leading them back down a narrow passage and motioning for John to follow behind.

"The reason I never told....I wanted to put it all behind me, put you behind me," John said doggedly following and trying to keep up with Sherlock. "But I couldn't. I still felt some loyalty to you, Sherlock. God help me," John had wondered at why he'd kept Sherlock's secret. At the time, he'd decided to remain quiet because Sherlock had gone to such great lengths to stay hidden. "I must be an idiot..."

Sherlock turned abruptly and put one long arm out to halt John's progress. "You most are certainly not an idiot!"

"Sherlock," John breathed out as the lanky detective moved into his personal space, his face a mere inches away from John's own in the gloom of the foul smelling, prison corridor.

"You've managed to infiltrate Trevor's group in a matter of 48 hours. A job, I might add, I had not managed to do in over five weeks! He's going to give us what we want and it's down to you, John. All you. "

"You helped too," John retorted feeling a pulse in his chest at the obvious admiration behind Sherlock's words.

"And, thank you by the way, for not giving me away. I only wanted you know I wasn't dead," Sherlock continued.

"I'm....glad you're not dead, Sherlock," John managed looking down. "No matter what's passed between us, I'm glad you're in the world, and I'm glad you're here with me now."

"John," Sherlock said taking in a shaky breath. "I...know I don't deserve your forgiveness, but I want it more than anything else in the world. I want this more than anything else in the world. You and I working together, being together in any capacity you will allow would mean more to me than you know."

"I do know, Sherlock," John replied. "I know because it means the world to me too. I've spent that past two years trying to convince myself that I could leave you behind and move on. But, I will never be able to do that. I know why you wanted me keep me safe. I know why you tried to do what you did with the collar and I do believe you've learned some empathy for me. But, let's get through this and back home. Then, we can maybe move forward."

"I won't let you down again, John," Sherlock said again and closed his eyes. "Thank you for that." Sherlock turned and resumed his breakneck speed through Saint Peter's prison.

Sherlock let them to a small courtyard of the prison tucked away behind the pathetic excuse for an infirmary. Here John observed Trevor's family, his baby daughter and the woman who bore her, in quiet consultation. The small, domestic scene moved John so much, he hadn't wanted to break it up. He and Sherlock briefly argued about whether or not "Shezza" should accompany him to confront Trevor but John didn't think the ex-solider would like it. He made Sherlock hang back until he could give Trevor the new information.

As John watched the trio, he saw real tenderness in his old Army buddy toward both the mother and child. He kissed both their heads and held them close. John's memory flashed back to his own recent experience with Tara and Tommy and his heart gave a regretful pang. He hoped they both were doing well in Albuquerque.

He could wait no longer and stepped into Trevor's sight. The man gave a small jump and only relaxed a little when John put both hands into the air and grinned his most disarming smile. "I've got some news," John began. "I wanted to come tell you in person."

"Stop," Trevor said evenly. "You can tell me from there."

"Can she understand me?" John asked nodding to the woman holding the infant. She had shoulder length, curly, dark hair and quite a pretty face. She nodded and turned her face away to shyly nuzzle into her baby.

"What do you want to say to her?" Trevor nearly growled.

"I have some news, Trev. It's good news. I've been updated since this morning and I'm authorized to tell you we can get all three of you out."

The woman's head snapped up at this. Then, she began to speak to Trevor in a rapid flood of Spanish. He answered her with curt nods. Finally, he had to place both hands on her shoulders in order to settle her down. John had no idea what had upset the woman. He'd have thought she'd be thrilled to follow Trevor out of this place. It seemed he'd stirred up quite a hornet's nest with his news.

After he'd calmed the woman down, Trevor approached John with his head bowed and his hands stuffed into the pockets of his chinos. "Anna's got another son. He's fourteen and part of a powerful gang in here. She doesn't want to leave him."

"Trevor," John began but didn't get far.

"I'll convince her. I don't want my daughter raised in this place and we can help Antonio, her son, from the outside. He won't leave here now without his... new friends but we can make sure he's got what he needs to survive from the outside. I'll get her to see reason."

John closed his eyes in relief. "I think you're making the right choice."

"I think I'm making the only choice, Doc. I'll tell you what you want to know...."

* * * * *

The retrieval went smoother than John hoped or thought it would. Mycroft pulled some strings on his end and the warden himself escorted them out into a holding area. They separated Trevor from his family and took him into a private room. John worried fretfully until Sherlock came to stand behind him.

"Mycroft will keep his word. Trevor and his family will be relocated," Sherlock said, "You'll get to patch him up, John. If he's got any hope at all at a family life somewhere, it'll be because of you."

That made John feel better. If his own hopes for a family, a son and a wife had never played out, at least there might be hope that Trevor and his family might succeed. Irony aside, John wished the man well. He only hoped Mycroft could bury him somewhere safely away from Moriarty and Moran.