Chapter 8: Push comes to shove

Disclaimer: I've said it before.

Well, a VERY long wait for nightfall! XD

Anyways, study leave, I recently discovered, is the time when you're off school to do studying not story-writing. Damn my mum's ex-teacher habits. XD

Anyway, here is the Final chapter… enjoy!

…

"Is everything ready?"

"It is, sir,"

Adam Worth smiled as his minions aided the Professor in the construction of the ultimate weapon.

"Moriarty," he gestured for the scientist to follow him to a quiet corner, "If anything should happen," he warned, "I expect you to release the gas. Immediately."

"Of course," Moriarty replied, "I presume that by 'anything' you mean –?"

"Holmes," Worth agreed, "And his little bungling band of yarders."

"Understood,"

"Oh really?"

Everyone turned to find Annabelle Holmes leaning in the doorway, her pistol aimed at the control switch on the machine.

"As I understand it," she continued casually, as Avara, Maple, Katrina and Watson blocked of the remaining doors to the room, "You were expecting my brother and Lestrade," she smirked, "I'm sorry to inform you that both of those fine men are in a meeting, so we've had to come instead,"

"I should've known I couldn't trust your men to kill her properly," Worth growled at Moriarty.

"I had been informed that she died in the accident I arranged," Moriarty replied, "But of course, given the incompetence of most henchmen, I wouldn't be surprised if they had failed,"

"Evidently they have," Maple commented, aiming her pistol at Worth's head, "Or she wouldn't be standing here now, would she?"

"I have to say she does have a point," Katrina added, "Unless Holmes has taken to cross-dressing,"

"Wouldn't surprise me," Annabelle replied, "Would you mind telling us what you intend to do with this contraption?"

"This," Worth sneered at Annabelle's apparent lack of knowledge, "Is the King project."

"I thought that was defunct?" Avara enquired, "that's what my cousin said; he was involved in the project."

"Defunct?" Adam Worth was incredulous, "My dear girl; this is the ultimate weapon. It was completed not more than a few weeks ago."

"And declared obsolete," Annabelle countered, "because the colourless, odourless and tasteless gas used has an odour and a taste."

"How do you know about that?" Moriarty was stunned.

"I come from a long line of scientists," Annabelle replied, "Of course I know about that."

"You guys didn't until this morning," Maple added, "Which is why you're planning on setting it off early,"

Adam Worth pointed his gun at Annabelle, "One wrong move," he snarled, "And the lady dies,"

"Well I wouldn't be too sure about that,"

Worth paled when he realised that the man he had employed to set up the machine, upon removing his disguise, was the man he had been hoping to avoid letting near the device to ensure success of his plan.

"You took your time, brother," Annabelle commented, "I presume the gas is conveniently missing?"

"That and the mechanism to release it," Holmes replied, pointing one gun at Worth and the other at Moriarty, "Lestrade is a little… preoccupied, at present, which should give us time to rectify this situation."

"In what way, rectify?" Worth asked, attempting to sound indifferent, even though his eyes darted about like those of a frightened rabbit.

"Firstly," Annabelle replied, "the death of Mary Watson. That was your doing, I believe?"

"What if it was?" Worth snapped.

"You forget, Worth," Annabelle replied coldly, "That she was the wife of one of my closest friends. Also Irene Adler, although I suspect that was Moriarty's doing," she glared at the professor, "And the deaths of several innocent scientists and women,"

"Their deaths were necessary," Moriarty replied tersely.

"They were not," Annabelle replied, "Especially those of the women; they wouldn't know enough about the project to be considered a threat. Besides; you only killed the minor scientists, fools."

"How dare you call me a fool?" Worth roared; there was an almighty bang as he squeezed the trigger.

"No!" Holmes exclaimed.

Worth made a sickening gurgling sound before slumping forward, deceased.

The tip of Watson's gun was smoking.

"That was for Mary," he said quietly. "And for Annabelle,"

Moriarty lunged at Avara, hoping to use her as a shield for his escape, when a second gunshot was fired. The professor roared in agony before collapsing to the ground, clutching his foot.

"Three times," Holmes smirked as he and Annabelle approached the machine and started to take it apart.

"How did you manage to persuade Worth that you were the man they needed?" Watson asked.

"That was the forgery we were talking about," Annabelle replied, "I know a man in Fleet Street who happens to be a master forger in his spare time and owes me a few favours – he made the documents for us and the trap was set."

The machine was lying in pieces on the floor by the time Lestrade and his men arrived.

"Get that man out of my sight," Lestrade ordered; his men grabbed Moriarty roughly by his arms and dragged him out as others hauled the body of Adam Worth away.

"Would you care to explain why we have a dead man and a scientific project in ruins here, Holmes?" the Inspector asked impatiently.

"Adam Worth was about to shoot my sister," Holmes replied, "Watson decided to prevent such an event and promptly shot first."

"Your sister's dead," Lestrade replied, "She died this morning,"

"And yet here I am," Annabelle replied, waving jovially before returning to her examination of the machine component she was holding.

"How – how?" Lestrade was unable to construct a coherent sentence.

"I was unconscious," Annabelle replied, "Not dead."

"I'm sure you will want to interrogate the Professor, Lestrade," Holmes got to his feet, "We shan't keep you from your duty, good evening," with that the detective and his group left, narrowly avoiding the secret service as they came to collect the dismembered device.

…

"Once again the country is saved by the great Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson," Annabelle grinned as they all sat round the table the next morning with cups of tea.

"With the help of Annabelle Holmes, Avara Bailey and the Irregulars," Watson countered; Annabelle laughed.

"Hopefully you'll be able to keep Holmes out of trouble, Annabelle," Avara commented, "We've all heard how he behaves when he doesn't have a case."

"I'm sure I would," Annabelle replied, "If it weren't for the fact that Mycroft insisted that I return home as soon as possible."

"Mr Holmes!" Clarke came bursting into the room.

"Is something wrong?" Avara asked innocently.

"What could possibly be so important that you've come to call on us so early in the morning, Clarke?" Holmes asked in a jovial tone.

Clarke swallowed nervously and fidgeted with his jacket.

"Professor Moriarty has escaped,"

…

Dun, dun, DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUNNNNN! And the preparations for the sequel commence

I have to say I really enjoyed writing this; it was really fun, which is part of the reason why I'm going to write a sequel. The other reason is that Holmes and Avara still haven't got together, and I am determined for that to happen in the next story, which begins six months after this one ends. Bear with me I'm working on it.

I hope you all enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it!

There's only one more thing for you to do… you know what it is…

You guessed it! REVIEW!