#reverse reichenbach fics

[inevitably-johnlocked]

are there any fics that are reversed!Reichenbach?? like it's john that "dies" or something?

thanks for everything u do for the fandom btw!

HI NONNY!

Thank you for your love and appreciation!! This makes me so happy!

That said, YES I DO!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE REVERSE REICHENBACH FICS. Basically, to me this is any fic where John dies instead of Sherlock during a climactic event, and not necessarily in TRF (I know that this can be confusing when I classify the fics).

Check these out:

Reverse Reichenbach

Reverse Reichenbach Pt. 2

John Jumps Instead of Sherlock in TRF

John Fakes his Death

And I don't have enough fics for a part 3 list so here are the ones on that list right now:

The Fall of Doctor John Watson by PaxEirene (T, 13,309 w., 9 Ch. || Reverse Reichenbach || Post-TRF, Implied/Referenced Suicide, Big Brother Mycroft, Irene Pays a Role, Grief/Mourning, Reunion) – What if it had been John that jumped/fell from the roof of St. Bart’s to save Sherlock, Lestrade, and Mrs. Hudson? Let's find out.

Impossible to Feign by achray (M, 49,204 w., 12 Ch. || TRF Rewrite / Reverse Reichenbach, Suicidal Ideations / Discussions, Drug Use/Abuse, Mutual Pining, Friends With Benefits, John Accepts his Sexuality, Anxious Sherlock, Meddling Mycroft, Depression, Hallucinations, Secret Agent John, BAMF John, Reunion, Make-Up Sex, Ambiguous Ending) – Sherlock leant forward, his long fingers curving round to grip John’s.“I won’t let him win,” he said, eyes hard. “I will do whatever it takes to get you out.”

The Captain's Fall by Ewebie (T, 59,993 w., 10 Ch. || Reverse Reichenbach || Violence, Drama, Angst) – John falls, Sherlock is left.

Out There by DiscordantWords (T, 131,695 w., 10 Ch. || X-Files Fusion || Past Soldier John, Panic Attacks, POV Alternating Present Tense, Anxious John, Canon Adjacent, Deductions, Obsessive Sherlock,, Travelling, Sherlock’s Family, Jealous Sherlock, Mind Palace John, Awkward Flirting, Batting Cage, Kidnapped/Abducted John, Semi-Reverse Reichenbach, Worried/Anxious Sherlock, Hospital, Slow Burn, UST, Case Fic, Government Conspiracy, Aliens, UFOs, Mutants, Mutual Pining, First Kiss, Coma John, Forehead Touching, Hand Holding, Drinking/Bars, Past Jolto) – FBI Special Agent John Watson, medical doctor and army veteran, is assigned to assist eccentric genius Sherlock Holmes with paranormal investigations on the X-Files project.

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If anyone has any others, please let me know so I can put together a new list! <3

[inevitably-johnlocked]

just rewatched the reichenbach fall and FUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCKKKKKKK. leave my sons alone like SHITTTT!!!!!!

it never stops being painful ohhhh my godddd. s3 barely helps. fics. fics for the poor. fics for the needy.

NONNY SERIOUSLY!!!

I still get Big Feels™ about TRF; one of the best episodes of TV, to be honest, very painful and still holds up pretty well.

So here are some lists, as per your request!!

Post-TRF Divergence

Post-TRF No Mary (Jan 2023)

Reverse Reichenbach

Reverse Reichenbach Pt. 2

John Jumps Instead of Sherlock in TRF

John Fakes his Death

Reunion and Other Post TRF Fics

Reunion and Other Post TRF Fics Pt. 2

Reunion and Other Post-TRF Fics Pt. 3

Reunion and Other Post-TRF Fics Pt. 4

John Finds Out About Hiatus

John Joins Sherlock During Hiatus

Sherlock Returns from Hiatus Injured 

Serbia / Aftermath of Hiatus Fics

The Empty Hearse-Related Fics

And some more softer fics:

All Fluff Fics (March 2026)

*HUGS*

If anyone has some Post-TRF fics that soothe the soul that they want to promote or suggest, please let us know!!!!

[inevitably-johnlocked]

Hey Steph! Can you recommend me any reverse Reichenbach fics? Preferably before S3 was written? (I like to pretend season 1 and 2 are all that exist).

Hi Lovely!!

AHHHH I love being ripped apart by Reverse Reichenbach fics *sighs* It's been so long! I checked my offline lists and I've nothing new on my next part list, but here are some past lists I've done, plus a few fics that came up from a tag search on my MFL list:

Reverse Reichenbach

Reverse Reichenbach Pt. 2

John Jumps Instead of Sherlock in TRF

John Fakes his Death

The Fall of Doctor John Watson by PaxEirene (T, 13,309 w., 9 Ch. || Reverse Reichenbach || Post-TRF, Implied/Referenced Suicide, Big Brother Mycroft, Irene Pays a Role, Grief/Mourning, Reunion) – What if it had been John that jumped/fell from the roof of St. Bart’s to save Sherlock, Lestrade, and Mrs. Hudson? Let's find out.

The Captain's Fall by Ewebie (T, 59,993 w., 10 Ch. || Reverse Reichenbach || Violence, Drama, Angst) – John falls, Sherlock is left.

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I would LOVE some more suggestions so I can make a part three list. It's been too long! <3

[inevitably-johnlocked]

I came here with the intention of asking (please) for fanfics from any platform that are harrowing, painful, that if possible make me cry where John gets hurt or dies, I need to see a broken Sherlock. Thanks ✨

Hey Nonny!

Ooooooooo I do love me some painful John whump!! Check out these lists:

John Whump / Sherlock Takes Care of John

John Whump / Sherlock Takes Care of John Pt. 2

John Whump / Sherlock Takes Care of John Pt. 3

John Whump / Sherlock Takes Care of John Pt. 4

John Whump with Guilty Sherlock

Whump With Vengeful / Worried / Panicking Partner

John Has Cancer

Three Garridebs Moment

Reverse Reichenbach

Reverse Reichenbach Pt. 2

John Jumps Instead of Sherlock in TRF

John Fakes his Death

I think the fic that will destroy you greatly (it did me) is this one for sure (it's FFNet and was one the first Reverse Reichenbach fics I ever read):

Checkmate to a Castled King by LaSuen (T, 18,290 w., 1 Ch. || Friendship, Hurt / Comfort, Sick Sherlock, Reverse Reichenbach) - John dies. Or at least everyone thinks he does.

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But of course please check out ALL the fics on the Reverse Reichenbach lists especially.

If anyone has some more to suggest for Nonny, let us know!!!!!

[inevitably-johnlocked]

Hey Steph, do you have any completed reverse Reichenbach fics? I read one on Fanfiction.net and I haven't come across any others. Thank you for the endless fic recs btw, I always come here when I need something good.

Hey Nonny!

Thank YOU for the kind comments! I'm so happy you enjoy your time here!

I DO have some semi-Reverse Reichenbach fics, it's one of my fave tropes! Check these out:

Reverse Reichenbach

Reverse Reichenbach Pt. 2

John Jumps Instead of Sherlock in TRF

John Fakes his Death

I've nothing new to start a new list, so if anyone wants to suggest their own fics, please do! <3

[inevitably-johnlocked]

Hi Steph I need help remembering a fic. All I can remember is Sherlock is at Baker Street without John and he is miserable and he keeps drinking coffee and smoking and giving himself stomach ulcers which hurt

Hey Nonny!

Ahhh CLOSEST one I can think of is this one:

Checkmate to a Castled King by LaSuen (T, 18,290 w., 1 Ch. || Friendship, Hurt / Comfort, Sick Sherlock, Reverse Reichenbach) - John dies. Or at least everyone thinks he does.

I know this one Sherlock ends up have a terrible stomach issue at the end of it and John upon his return notices it immediately.

If there's a different one I'm not aware of, please let me know!!

[inevitably-johnlocked]

Hi Steph!! I'm wondering if u could help me find sth? What if it were John who had to die to thwart Moriarty's plans? I'm interested in how it would go, is there any fanfic about this?

Thank you!!!!

Hey Nonny!

Ah, I have a few fics under my Reverse Reichenbach lists! Maybe not EXACTLY to what you're looking for, but most of these has John as the one who "dies":

Reverse Reichenbach

Reverse Reichenbach Pt. 2

If anyone has anything that they want to suggest more to Nonny's liking, PLEASE let us know!! <3 I love Reverse Reichenbach fics!!

[inevitably-johnlocked]

Kinda feeling the angst rn; you wouldn't happen to have any new reverse Reichenbach or Reichenbach reunions (either way around) where John/Sherlock doesn't believe the other's back because he's been hallucinating him the whole time? Srsly if nothing else good comes from s4 we at least got ghost Mary to prove John def imagined Sherlock post-Fall. And maybe some est rel/proposal/est rel w Rosie fluff to balance it out? Thanks so much - really appreciate all the work you put into your amazing blog

Hey Nonny *HUGS*

Ahhh regretfully I've only one new Rev.Reich fic since my last published lists:

Impossible to Feign by achray (M, 49,204 w., 12 Ch. || TRF Rewrite / Reverse Reichenbach, Suicidal Ideations / Discussions, Drug Use/Abuse, Mutual Pining, Friends With Benefits, John Accepts his Sexuality, Anxious Sherlock, Meddling Mycroft, Depression, Hallucinations, Secret Agent John, BAMF John, Reunion, Make-Up Sex, Ambiguous Ending) – Sherlock leant forward, his long fingers curving round to grip John’s.“I won’t let him win,” he said, eyes hard. “I will do whatever it takes to get you out.”

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But here are lists relating to everything you're asking for:

Reverse Reichenbach

Reverse Reichenbach Pt. 2

John Jumps Instead of Sherlock in TRF

John Fakes his Death

Reunion and Other Post TRF Fics

Reunion and Other Post TRF Fics Pt. 2

Reunion and Other Post-TRF Fics Pt. 3

John Joins Sherlock During Hiatus

Sherlock Returns from Hiatus Injured

The Empty Hearse-Related Fics

Parentlock with Rosie (Dec 2021) (COMM RECS)

If anyone has additions for anything Nonny is looking for, please do!