Author's note: Since some stories come to me in English, I've decided that it would be better for me to write this one in English, instead of trying to write it in French. I'd like to thank my beta reader again :)

Author's note: Most of my other stories are written in French. I have been asked on several occasions to translate them into English, but it takes a lot of time, so I don't plan on doing it for now. But you can indeed find some stories in English.

Disclaimer: nothing's mine.

Thoughts of a dead selfish bastard :

Watson never asked the question and Holmes never answered it, for he didn't feel the need to answer a question that had not been asked. But in his opinion Watson should have asked. Holmes was deeply selfish ; that's why he wanted Watson to know.

But Watson never asked.

Myrcroft asked, however, even though he already knew the answer. Sim also asked, but he never gave her the answer. He was sure she had an idea of the answer, anyway.

Mary never asked, because she didn't care.

What would he have done if Watson had asked? He would probably have told him half the truth, assuming that dear John would be smart enough to guess the other half, which would not have been the case, of course.

He assumed too much when it came to Watson.

Anyway, Watson never asked.

But Stefan, the killer who gave them a hard time back there in Paris and Switzerland, asked. He answered him, but not because the man was one of the best snipers in the world. He answered because lying was of no use with such a man, and because Watson had shot him, once. In some way, Stefan knew how valuable Watson was.

So, in front of a glass of wine, in Paris – again – they found themselves talking about the past, and Stefan – without bitterness, or so it seemed because his face never gave anything away – simply asked him:

"Why did you jump?"

He didn't try telling him it was the most logical solution, and the most likely to succeed. As simply as Stephen had asked the question, Holmes gave his answer, shrugging as if what he said was of no importance.

"I had nothing to lose."

Stephen knew what he meant, but he pushed him anyway:

"You had Watson."

"Watson was, and is, Mary's."

Stephen smiled, but said nothing.

Holmes shrugged again. It did not matter anymore, because Watson never asked.

oOo

Afterwards – months later – when Stefan aimed at Watson and told him that he owed him a bullet, Sherlock jumped in front of him.

Bullets hurt like hell, he knew it but the fact surprisedhim every time.

Before Watson ran towards Stefan to fight, the latter whispered in Holmes's ear:

"You can thank me, my friend."

It was strange to think of Stefan as a friend, but he didn't give that much credit to it.

When Watson asked him why he had jumped, he didn't say tell the whole truth; he talked about logical solutions, about having nothing to lose. Watson didn't believe him.