Sherlock's POV
3 weeks after Clara's death
"Christ, Sherlock!" John slams the newspaper down onto the coffee table. "You see that?" he asks, pointing to the paper. "Plenty of fresh, puzzling cases for you to solve, and you're here, sitting on your arse, while the rest of the world is wondering 'what happened to Sherlock Holmes?'" John's hands rub his face. "The world needs you, Sherlock,"
He's cracked. After nearly a month of my 'sulking' (as he calls it) he'd finally snapped. "It hasn't even been a month, John." I respond, voice low. "You expect me to get over her in a month?"
He shakes his head, his voice cracking. "I don't know, Sherlock." he sighs, and his shoulders slump. "I don't bloody know." Going over to the rack, he takes his coat. "I'm going over to Molly's. She's got Rosie for today. Just please..." John's at the door, hand on the doorknob. "Do something. Anything." And he leaves.
John thinks I've blamed myself. Maybe he's right. Maybe I have. All I know is that I didn't see her the night she--
I can't even say it. They found her body at the Diner, a gunshot in her head and a gun in her hand. And no matter how much I tried to prove otherwise, it was a suicide. Even I couldn't deny that.
I don't know what made her do it. I keep wondering if there was something I could've done to prevent it. Of course, it was possible that someone made her do it. Just like Moriarty had made me jump off of St. Bart's. I'd called up Clara's old "boyfriend" and Jim's brother, Riley, as a suspect, but he had no idea of Clara's condition and everything pointed to his innocence.
But after all, no matter how many suspects I accused or alternate storylines I came up with, she was still dead. Nothing could change that.
Rubbing my face furiously to ward off tears, I hear a strange noise. "What is Mrs Hudson doing down there?" I grumble. It sounds like she's torturing a broken down piano.
Deciding to ignore it, I close my eyes and rest my head on the back of my chair. The noise stops.
"Sherlock?"
I hear Clara's voice. What is this? Was I having hallucinations now, like John after Mary's death? I know she isn't really there, so I don't bother opening my eyes.
"Clara?" I respond. I hear nothing in return. If this really is an illusion, I think, then the only way for it to leave is to tell her something that maybe I wanted to tell her, but didn't get to. "Clara, I love you,"
"I love you too Sherlock. I'm so sorry," Arms too real wrap around me. My eyes shoot open and she's there, really there, hugging me. And I hug her back.
"Clara? How are you here?" I ask, astonished. "You're... dead."
Pulling away, she smiles at me. That beautiful smile that I had missed so much. "No, Sherlock. I'm not."
"Why?" I look at her, confused.
"An old... friend of mine, who also happened to be Moriarty, forced me to commit suicide. If I didn't, she would've killed you, Mrs H, everyone I love. And I was about to do it, but... the Doctor found me just in time, and we faked my death."
That's when I notice the big, blue police box behind her. "What is that doing here? How did it get in?"
She turns to it. "That's the Doctor's TARDIS. Would you like a peek inside?" she asks me. I don't answer, but she leads me inside anyway.
Upon stepping in, I notice two things. One, there is an elderly man inside, and two, the size.
"How... is this..." I sputter, then take a step outside again. From the outside, the box looks about nine feet tall, maybe four feet wide. Stepping back in, however, the inside is nearly endless. the giant room has doors leading to different rooms or hallways--probably going on forever. "The interior is larger in size than the exterior..." I state, voice fading. Then, I realize, I shouldn't be that surprised. Clara mentioned it was a TARDIS and I'd seen the interior of Clara's Diner. It must be the same... Timelord, wasn't it? Timelord science.
Turning to the old man at the console, I inquire, "The Doctor, isn't it? I've heard a lot about you." I feel a smidge of jealousy creep into my voice. I always seem to be envious of people who knew Clara before I did.
"I am," the old man answers. "And you must be Clara's pet pudding brain. Sherlock Holmes, is it?" He leans on the console, his fierce eyebrows raising.
Pudding brian? My brain is anything but pudding, I think, but keep to myself. Featuring one of my fake smiles, I respond, "Nice to meet you." He nods back, and I turn to Clara. "How did you do it?"
"Do what? Fake my death?" her big doe eyes ask innocently.
"Well, that too I suppose, but also--how do you stand him?" I ask, referring to the Doctor.
"You're one to talk!" Clara chuckles. "I don't know... the same way I put up with you, probably."
"Fair enough," I respond. "...But how did you fake your death?"
"How did you fake your death?" she counters.
I sigh and roll my eyes. She's playing that game.
"I'll leave you two to yourselves—there's a bit of a bug with the Eye of Harmony. Don't do anything I wouldn't do." the Doctor shoots me a glance and goes beneath the console.
Clara is silent for a bit like she's going to say something. Then, "It was hard, you know. Playing pretend. Or rather, pretending like I was dead. Especially since I knew you were hurting because of it."
Looking down, I'm aware of how disheveled I am. I've let my stubble grow out again, and my eyes are red with dark bags underneath from crying and lack of sleep.
"I'm sorry, Clara," I say, meeting her eyes again.
The smile she makes is a sad one. "I forgive you. Just don't do it again."
I nod, and the Doctor comes back up from below.
"Do you lovebirds fancy a trip?" the Doctor asks. Clara's eyes light up, and she turns to me.
"Is that fine with you, Sherlock?"
"What about Ash, John, and Jack?" I ask, "Do they know you're alive?"
"Ash and Jack do, and we can tell John later. So... what do you say?" How could I say no to those eyes?
A genuine smile finds it's way to my face. "Why not?"
~~~~~
Well, that's that! The very last chapter of Playing Pretend, the last book in the Guilty Until Proven Innocent trilogy!
It's been incredible writing for all of you, and hearing what all of you have to say--I enjoyed every second of it. Thank you.
Please do let me know what you thought of the series. Did you enjoy it? Why or why not?
As well, if you are a reader looking for more Sherlock fanfiction from myself, I have a book called Child In A Box I hope you'll read. It's a Sherlock's daughter fanfic, and here is the link:
https://www.wattpad.com/story/83952019-child-in-a-box
And if you are looking for more Doctor Who fanfiction, hopefully from myself, I would recommend my E&M series, the first book called Eli & Meggie, and the second, called The Daughter of River Song. Both center more around Clara and the 12th Doctor's adventures, with some new, intriguing characters named Eli and Meggie. Here is the link to those:
https://www.wattpad.com/story/48466227-eli-meggie-1-✔%EF%B8%8E
https://www.wattpad.com/story/61266877-the-daughter-of-river-song-2-on-hold
If anyone reading this also enjoys Fantastic Beasts, I have a Newt Scamander fanfiction called Intangibilum and Invisify about a girl who is slowing disappearing and a "perfectly normal" zoologist. The link is here:
https://www.wattpad.com/story/92448463-intangibilium-and-invisify
As well, just for a fun, short little read, I have a Oneshot Crush x Reader or OTP that people have taken a liking to lately. ;) It's called What Do We Do Now? and here is the link:
https://www.wattpad.com/story/92450138-what-do-we-do-now-crush-x-reader-otp-✔%EF%B8%8E
And one more thing, I have a new book coming out as soon as this one is finished, and it is a Star Wars fanfiction about Reylo (Kylo Ren x Rey). It is called Bound and is set after Star Wars XIII: The Last Jedi. Link:
(not yet avaliable)
Also, the video is just for fun. :)
[Video above: Doctor Who & Sherlock - Home by JCF productions]
But wait!
Did you think that was all for this series? Well then, you'd be wrong!
I'm starting an extra little bonus Oslock book called Impossible Together. It's set after this book, but readers who haven't read this series yet are welcome to read it because it won't relate too closely to the GUPI trilogy. In fact, I'm not even counting it as a part of the series! Impossible Together will contain new characters—people from Clara's past life that Sherlock will get to meet—and little oneshots set during this series. Link:
https://www.wattpad.com/story/103950893-impossible-together
I really hope you'll read it!
With all my love,
~Olive Eurus Scamander-Strange
15.2.18
WC: 1110