Myths and Facts - AU - Locked to seaweed_writes

[ihadabadday]

John Watson was a professor of Archaeology, with a focus in ancient Middle Eastern artifacts and history. He was mild mannered and ordinary. People assumed he was boring, university educated and went home to do whatever it is that ordinary people do when.

But John Watson had a secret. He often carried out interesting archaeological missions (for lack of better descriptors) for the British Government. Things that the government didn't want others to find, to keep secrets safe from the public. Not that the public didn't deserve to know. But there was much that John Watson found that would turn history in its head, which would cause chaos among the population.

But this day, he had finished his classes and was sitting in his office. He was researching something he had been working on his entire career.

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon and thus the other missing Ancient Wonders. The only one that had survived antiquity was the Great Pyramid of Giza. And John suspected that was for a reason. There had been reports of other pyramids being dismantled, of crumbling and collapsing. This pyramid was the height of the pyramid building craze that clutched ancient Egypt for so long.

But that wasn't his focus.

He didn't tell many he was researching the Gardens. Too many other archaeologists had been laughed out of a career for it. No. He wanted to find them, prove their existence before he published anything.

He closed his notebook and tucked it into his messenger bag. It was leather and worn, he had taken it on many of his adventures, and he always kept a gun tucked into it. John left the university ground and hailed a cab. He was off to the British Museum to see the Alexander the Great exhibit that was there. Maybe there was something in the collection that would lead to another clue or breakthrough.

At the museum he was stopped in front of a large stone tablet (a recent discovery) reading the text and translating. It wasn't too busy this day, as it was a Wednesday, but there were still people milling about, talking. And he suspected the Curator, one Sherlock Holmes, was watching or around. Bringing this particular exhibit to the museum had been a feat.

Comments

[ihadabadday]

John looked at the folder and then scoffed. "I don't care about your experts. I don't know them. I haven't vetted them. I know your brother and I know how he works. He may not be familiar with ancient Assyrian culture. But no doubt he is familiar with other, more modern cultures."

He got up and looked at Mycroft. "You know just as well as anyone, I'm most likely your best bet to find the Gardens. It could take others years to find them. Now I would like your brother to assist me."

[seaweed_writes]

The frown on Mycroft's face became more pronounced. He didn't like being put back on his heels, even a little bit. John knew that he was valuable, and John knew that he knew. That much was obvious.

"And what makes you think that I can simply find a way for my brother to miss what could be months of work? Who could take over on such short notice? who will handle his bills? I don't think that you have thought these logistics through. It has taken weeks to get this group of experts together. I can't just add someone at the last minute."

In fact, Mycroft had known that John would want Sherlock to come along, and had already discussed it with Lestrade, though he had- not accidentally- not discussed any of this with Sherlock yet. The trip was still unknown to him.

[ihadabadday]

"I suspect you have a plan already in place." He said firmly, "I don't want your supposed experts. They'll just slow me down. They can be waiting eagerly for news or if I need a translation done and I'm busy with other matters."

John shrugged. "I'm used to working alone. I know I can handle myself. And I know your brother can handle himself. And I'm sure Lestrade agreed, but only if the British Museum gets first pass at the exhibit. He's an amazing director, ruthless when he needs to be."

He rose and gathered the tea cups up. "I expect an answer in twenty four hours. You know my stipulations."

[seaweed_writes]

Mycroft stood up, indignation on his face.

"You think that you can just boss me around?" He asked, huffing. "I am not sending the two of you out into the desert alone with no protection or support. That is non negotiable."

[ihadabadday]

"I don't need protection." John hissed at Mycroft, "I've been on dozens of missions for an agency that I'm sure you know of, by myself. I can protect myself and your brother."

He stared up at the other man. "You send anyone else, I will cheerfully send them back to you hog tied with ducttape."

[seaweed_writes]

Mycroft sniffed. "MI6 men? It would be amusing to watch you try."

He sighed, slumping back into a chair and rubbing his tired eyes.

"I have.. a compromise." He said after a short pause. "If you do not take this compromise, then I will find someone else to lead the team, so I suggest that you listen well."

"Your group will go to Iran and find an area for a base camp. At the base camp will be the scientists and protection that I have already assigned. They will be on call, if needed, and will assist you with your discoveries once you return to camp. You WILL return to camp no less than once every 48 hours. You will have GPS, so we will know where you are, and if you are more than 1 minute over 48 hours, you will be found and you will be removed. Is that clear?" HIs tone left little room for argument.

[ihadabadday]

"I will call once every 48 hours. Because if I am close to something, I am not going to leave to go check in physically. But if I am able to check in physically, I will do so." John was not backing down.

The Gardens had been something he had been working on for most of his life. Clues and riddles, dozens of notebooks filled. Any mention of the Gardens in ancient text, and he had a copy of it.

John also knew it would take anyone else twice as long to find them. To know what he knew.

[seaweed_writes]

If there was one thing that Mycoft despised, it was backing down, but it would be hard to backtrack if deep in the desert. He sighed again.

"You will call in at least once every 48 hours, and no matter what, you WILL physically check in every 96 hours or less. I don't care if the hanging gardens are in front of your face. This is my last offer. I will not budge any further, Doctor. I suggest you take it."

[ihadabadday]

John held out his hand to Mycroft, indicating that he would take the offer. He could do once every 96 hours. It wouldn't be ideal for him, but it was better than nothing, and not getting on this dig.

[seaweed_writes]

Mycroft shook his hand, then gathered his belongings and stood. "My people will be in touch." He said, and then he was down the stairs and out the door.

[ihadabadday]

John watched him go and then let out a breath. Well. He rubbed his face and then went to clean up the tea mess. He would never tell Mycroft, but he had purposely made bad tea, to see what the man would do.

[seaweed_writes]

It appears, dear brother, that you are going to be assisting a certain Doctor John Watson in his quest to find the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

Sherlock read the text once, then a second time, then a third. What had Mycroft done? He went to his boss, Lestrade, who explained that Mycroft had already arranged for a temporary replacement, they had already been trained and would continue their training on the job, and that he was leaving to go on a research trip for the museum- which wasn't really untrue. His job would be here, waiting for him, when he returned.

"You're off the clock." Lestrade said, in his Essex accent, that was often mistaken for Cockney. "Go home, get packed. I want weekly email updates at least."

Sherlock nodded, his head still rushing through a million thoughts at once. He headed out the door and towards the bank of taxis that always waited for the tourists outside the museum.

"Baker Street." He said, his mind already thinking about the tasks ahead.

[ihadabadday]

John had landed an hour before Sherlock. So he was sitting by the man's gate, reading a paper written on the Gardens. In his weathered messenger bag was all the work he had. He had scanned all the papers and books onto his tablet.

He had brought a few of the ancient documents he had as well, those were in a specialized case which he was resting his feet on.

He wasn't happy that he had to answer to someone during this excursion, but to be able to find the Gardens... He would deal with it.

[seaweed_writes]

When it came to what to bring, most of what Sherlock knew was in his head, so mostly he had clothes and toiletries and his laptop, and a good selection of his favorite teas- he was pretty sure he wouldn't be able to find anything in the Iranian desert.

The flight had been blissfully almost empty, Iran wasn't a big tourist attraction, so it was mostly citizens on their way home from their own travels.

He landed, grabbed his small carry-on, and headed out into the tiny airport terminal. He stopped in surprise when he saw John waiting. He had been told that a car would be there, but he hadn't expected John as well.

"Doctor Watson..." He said softly.

[ihadabadday]

John looked up from his phone and smiled. He stood up and adjusted his bag before picking up the case. "Hello Mr. Holmes." He answered, "I only landed an hour ago, so I thought I would wait for you."

He looked at Sherlock, studying him with quick glances. John's expression then settled into a neutral, pleasant one and he just nodded. "Shall we Mr. Holmes? We both have luggage to pick up."

[seaweed_writes]

Sherlock raised an eyebrow. Only an hour, he thought to himself. That is a pretty long time to wait for someone you only know in passing, even if you are going to be working close with them. The man definitely looked him over.. It gave Sherlock pause for a moment, but he let the thought pass.

"Yes, let's get our luggage." He let John lead while he stayed a step behind, watching John carefully.

[ihadabadday]

"Thank you for coming. Though I am sure that your brother did not give you much in the way of a choice." He said as they walked. John enjoyed the brief conversations he had with Sherlock in the past.

The man was quick and incredibly intelligent. He appreciated that.

[seaweed_writes]

"No. Not really." He replied truthfully. Sherlock really hated that he had to be away from a job he loved, a job that he knew no temporary worker could ever replace him, His passion was unmatched by anyone in the museum.

That being said, he couldn't think of too many other people that he'd rather have to spend time with. Doctor Watson always came across as intelligent, and tended to not ask stupid questions like many people did.

[ihadabadday]

"Are you wondering why I wanted you to be part of this?" He asked after he got his bags.

John was an efficient packer, but he wasn't sure how long that they would be here in the Middle East.

He glanced at Sherlock and then about the luggage area. He leaned back against the wall as he waited.

Why Sherlock indeed...

The man was smart, quick, he didn't beat around the bush... There was a whole host of reasons, but one up there was the fact that Sherlock was incredibly good looking.

[seaweed_writes]

Sherlock had quite a few ideas on why John wanted him on this trip, but he was not about about to tell him some of them, for several reasons.

"You admire my knowledge and you understand that I will have a lot of information to bring to this dig, even if I don't know ancient Assyrian, I do speak Parsi, which can also come in hand when it comes to speaking with the current residents of this area." He rattled off quickly, sure of his being right.

[ihadabadday]

John smiled and nodded. "Correct. Your brother tried to convince me that there were others that would be better suited. But I expressed my concern that they might overlook something obvious. Where as you notice everything."

"I wanted someone I could work with that would compliment me." He said simply, "That and I backed your brother into a corner with the knowledge that I'm pretty much the only one who can do this with my knowledge."

[seaweed_writes]

Sherlock spotted his suitcase and grabbed it from the roundabout.

"A shame. I would have like seen you going toe to toe with my brother." He was quite impressed that John was actually able to not only handle his brother, but actually outdid him. How many people had actually bested his brother? It was a very small list.

[ihadabadday]

He laughed and pushed away from the wall. "I guess it comes with being in a specialized field with even more specialized knowledge. That and I've had plenty of training to deal with men like your brother." John winked at Sherlock as he stepped out the doors to hail them a cab.

Once he had the cab, he bid hello to the driver before assisting in putting their bags in the boot. He kept his messenger bag and the case with him. It wasn't going to be leaving his sight.

[seaweed_writes]

Sherlock spoke to the cabbie in Parsi, telling him the name of the hotel that they were staying at, with a perfect accent, which did surprise the driver. He drove them off.

He turned back towards John. "We should grow beards. It will make us blend in more. And I will teach you a few basic words in Parsi, it will go far to at least try to speak to them in their own language. They will appreciate it." That, and he was pretty sure that John with a beard would look..

NO.. NO, he couldn't' think that way. John was his boss and nothing more than that. He was terribly, terribly straight.

[ihadabadday]

"That and shaving in the desert will be a pain." He chuckled, "The lack of water. I know Kurdish and some Arabic."

John gave Sherlock the side eye, wondering how the man would look with a beard. He wondered how the man looked under all of that designer clothing. He turned to look out the window.

Either this was going to burn spectacularly, or be the greatest find.