Chapter VII: Legacy

The Almighty Disclaimer

Oh Moffat, Gatiss, and Thompson

Oh Henson and Doyle,

And Pika-la Cynique the generous,

To you belongs all the characters

And none so for me!

A/N: This story was inspired by "The Thin White Sleuth…" by Pika-la-Cynique of Girls Next Door fame.

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Sherlock heard John's mobile go off in the next room. It was early in the day and John had not woken up to make tea yet. Sherlock had been up late researching information on sharp shooters that Jareth might find interesting.

As he was drifting back asleep, Sherlock felt John gently rub his back, not his normal shaking and shoving out of bed when John needed Sherlock up and about. "Sherlock, you need to wake up."

"Don't have appointments today," Sherlock mumbled.

"Sherlock, I need you awake for this," John said.

The former consulting detective sat up and ruffled his curly, black hair. "What's wrong?"

John looked ill. "Lestrade just called me."

Sherlock's eyes widened. "Did something happen to Sarah? Mrs. Hudson?"

"No," John said, "No, not them. It's Jareth. I'm sorry Sherlock. He's dead."

"No matter what happens, there is nothing you could have done, Sherlock," Jareth said.

"What? No. You're wrong. There's been a mistake," Sherlock said.

"Sherlock, he committed suicide by jumping off a roof. There were several witnesses, including Sarah."

Jareth said, "I must ask a favor of you that you can never tell Sarah. Can you promise me that?"

"No. There had to be a mistake. He can't die. He's the Goblin King. The stupid, glittery, singing, mischievous Goblin King. He is going to marry Sarah. They are going to keep solving puzzles because Jareth needs them. There are so many puzzles left that have to be solved."

Sarah said, "Jareth does better when he has a puzzle. I am glad you recognize that need in Jareth. It took me awhile to realize that. You're actually a good friend, Sherlock."

"Sherlock, I am sorry. He is dead. He is going to be examined by Molly Hooper."

Sherlock covered his mouth and focused on breathing through his nose. "He's really dead then."

John nodded and put his hand on Sherlock's shoulder.

"If something were to happen to me, you must go to Sarah immediately. She will need to know that she will not be abandoned. She can't… she needs to know that people care for her. Just be there," Jareth said.

"We need to go. Sarah. Has something happened to Sarah? Is that why he did it?" Sherlock asked.

John shook his head. "We don't know why. Sarah is at the hospital right now being treated for a concussion and shock. Lestrade is telling Mrs. Hudson right now."

Sherlock pushed past John to get to his clothes. "We are going. Sarah needs us."

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On the train, John began researching what happened. Sherlock had to take over after a few minutes as John looked ready to destroy whoever Kitty Riley was.

"How can they say he was a fake? That would be like saying YOU were a fake and you are the realest thing I know," John said.

"Newspapers are very badly put together works of fiction," Sherlock said, "Almost as bad as that fanfiction that Sarah sent me after I complained about her and Jareth snogging too much."

"My god, do you think that's why he did it? This article?" John asked.

"Why? One newspaper…"

"One of the most read newspapers. It's all online now too."

"It's utter slander. Richard Brook is obviously Moriarty."

"You do realize what this means?"

"Besides Jareth being dead?"

"Every single case Jareth was on will be called into question. All of the cases you had will be called into question. Hell, even Lestrade will be under scrutiny."

Sherlock gaped. "That's why he did it. Moriarty did this to destroy over a decade's work for Jareth and for me and more than two decades for Lestrade and… no. There are going to be things like this in the Underground. Think of what it will do to the Goblin Kingdom. The Seelie Court." Sherlock chuckled darkly. "I tip my hat to such a wonderfully, horrible plan. Damn Moriarty, wherever he is."

"Where do you think he is then? Moriarty?"

"Probably trying to find sanctuary. Do you really think Sarah is just going to take this sitting down?"

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Mycroft was waiting for them in a car outside of the train station. He could almost hear the unified groan of John and Sherlock. The two friends entered the car.

"What information do you have for us?" Sherlock asked.

Mycroft laid out the state of events as much as he knew save for his and Joanna's involvement. John kept making fists with his hands before trying to relax. Sherlock was calm. Too calm for Sherlock.

"What are you not telling me?" Sherlock asked.

"Make your deductions," Mycroft said.

Sherlock rolled his eyes and got on his phone.

"God, he jumped in front of her. How cruel is that?" John said.

"Maybe not. Maybe he wanted her to know for certain that he was dead. No false hopes for rising from the dead," Mycroft said.

"Why would he do it though?" John asked.

"Only God knows," Mycroft said.

Sherlock suddenly looked up. "Why haven't you disproved this rubbish? I mean, some of this happened under your… watch."

Mycroft was relieved when he saw the hospital come into view. "And this is where you get off."

John looked at Sherlock. "What's the matter?"

Mycroft felt whatever bit of himself that still had a heart break. Sherlock looked exactly like when he had been wished away. The same look of betrayal and horror and desperate longing for things to go back to the way they were, begging to know what he did wrong.

John pushed Sherlock out of the car and grabbed their things. The younger Holmes stood on the sidewalk, looking far smaller than he should. As the car left them, Mycroft could hear Sherlock shouting curses at him.

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Sherlock was right about Sarah not taking it sitting down. She was curled up in the fetal position on a hospital bed.

Everything in Sherlock screamed at how wrong it was. Words Jareth had spoken of Sarah over the years filled Sherlock. Memories of Sarah's fights with Jareth, her admiration of the Goblin Kings, her laughter, and the power she held over all who met her, all fought against the sight Sherlock saw before him.

Sarah did not look at them. She made no acknowledgment of their presence. Her green eyes were dull.

Lestrade was in the room, texting someone on the force.

"Get out," Sherlock said.

Lestrade looked up. "I am glad you were able to make it. She needs all the friends she can. Her family is…"

"I said, get out." Sherlock grabbed Lestrade by the collar and pulled him to his feet. "You could have stopped this. You could have said no to the accusations."

"Sherlock, I had to. If I tried to cover it up, I would be considered a conspirator…"

"I don't care what you would have been considered! JARETH WAS YOUR FRIEND AND YOU LET HIM DIE!"

John yanked Sherlock off Lestrade. "Piss off, Sherlock. It's not Greg's fault."

"HE COULD HAVE STOPPED IT!" Sherlock screamed at John.

"Could you have stopped Jareth? Really, could any of us stop Jareth? Think about who is in here, Sherlock. You know that Sarah asked him to live and Jareth said no to SARAH! She is the reason why he gave EVERYTHING UP and that didn't stop him. JARETH IS A GOD DAMN SELFISH COWARD AND YOU ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE OUT YOUR ANGER ON LESTRADE BECAUSE OF WHAT JARETH DID!" John shoved Sherlock out the door. "Take a walk and don't come back until you've calmed down!"

"Mrs. Hudson is in the cafeteria," Lestrade said.

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Sherlock had been forcibly shoved away from the morgue by Molly. "Bloody hell, Sherlock! You are not going to see your friend's liver being weighed!"

"Is he dead?" Sherlock asked.

Molly sniffled. "Do you really think that he would do that to Sarah? That he would willingly hurt her for his own sake?"

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His next stop was to see Mrs. Hudson. Donovan was with her. Mrs. Hudson was huddled in a reading chair in a cafe area. Sherlock glared at Donovan and Sally understood it was her cue to leave.

Mrs. Hudson looked up at Sherlock and for a moment she was happy to see one of her boys, but sorrow quickly returned. "If you're here…"

Sherlock knelt next to Mrs. Hudson and let her hug him. "Yes, Mrs. Hudson. I'm sorry."

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It was two in the morning when Sherlock came to stay in Sarah's room. John had fallen asleep in his chair. The TV played old re-runs. Sarah's eyes were still open.

John had told Sherlock that people liked physical comfort when they were going through emotional pain. Sherlock did not really understand that need, but he tried his best. He stroked Sarah's hand with his gloved ones.

For a moment, life sparked in Sarah's eyes again but it quickly died out. "You're not him," Sarah said softly, "You're a lot like him, but not. He's a king in worm-eaten armor. You're a snarky knight-in-shining-Armani. You're both good men. Both good men."

Sherlock placed a kiss on top of Sarah's head. "He always loved you, Sarah."

"I know," Sarah said before closing her eyes, "He loved you too. You and Toby could have been kings if he still had power. He wanted the best things for you."

Sherlock grimaced. "I know."

&%&%&%

Life was a bit more hellish than usual for Mycroft Holmes. Moriarty's network was causing chaos, the Fae realm was in civil war, and Mycroft's baby brother was living in 221B Baker Street again. Of course, neither brother spoke to each other until the return of a certain former goblin king.

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Sarah always quoted a poem called "Childhood is the Kingdom Where Nobody Dies". Sherlock never liked it. His Goblin King was dead, and who protected children better than Jareth?

Sherlock should have guessed it. He had helped Jareth fake Irene Adler's death. He should have known that something was wrong about the Fall. But Jareth was good. Jareth knew that grief was a veil against reality.

"Hello, Sherlock," Jareth said, "I have a new puzzle for you to help me with if you are willing."

Sherlock Holmes grinned. "Of course I will. I was getting a bit bored. I was wondering when something would come up."

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A/N: BEHOLD! SERIES THREE HAS ARRIVED!