And this other Moriarty/Moran fic popped in my head and wouldn’t leave me alone until I wrote it. This one is more a character study:
The Final Test – Jim Moriarty survived the fall. Sebastian Moran is there to put him together again.
teaser below the cut
As soon as Sherlock fell from the roof, Sebastian put Jim’s backup plan in motion. He’d been tracking John Watson in his scope, though he knew Jim had shot himself. He’d heard it and knew how far he was willing to go to destroy Sherlock Holmes.
Within a half hour Seb was pacing outside a secure surgery. He had already arranged for travel as soon as Jim was well enough to move. For now they would hide in the outskirts of London.
But Seb was no criminal mastermind. Already he was getting reports that some of the more far flung corners of the web were cutting loose. Let them. The important thing was Jim. Don’t get attached, he heard Jim’s voice in his head. Too late. And Jim needed him.
He was catching a short nap when the surgeon came out. Seb woke in an instant, listening carefully. It would be a dangerous recovery. But he was determined to see him through it. No matter what happened.
A week and a half later, Jim finally woke up. The nurse got Seb and he hurried to his side. The doctors said there would probably be damage. Seb searched Jim’s face, hoping for recognition. The man’s pale hand reached out and took Seb’s. His breath caught as Jim squeezed. Then Jim twisted, pain spiking down his wrist. That was Jim all over and Seb smiled.
Jim recovered slowly. A few days after waking Seb got him a laptop so he could observe things. He spoke little, but Seb didn’t mind. He followed the orders Jim did give him and made sure he was safe.
They had to move a couple weeks later. Someone was pulling loose the strings of the web. Seb settled Jim into the new place. The old nurse met with an accident. The new nurse was told Jim had been in a car accident. They were smart enough not to ask questions.