Chapter 1: Candy Canes
John ambled up the stairs and walked into the living room of 221B with trepidation. Knowing that Sherlock didn't have a case on and the storm outside hadn't let up all day, John didn't want to know what the detective had done to the flat while he was at the surgery. Instead of bullet holes in walls or the flat imitating a disaster zone, he found Sherlock sitting at the table in the living room with his laptop open in front of him; right where he had left him hours earlier. "I see you haven't moved since I left," John said as he shrugged out of his soaking wet jacket and hung it over a kitchen chair to dry.
"You were only gone four hours. Besides, it's raining," Sherlock replied with his eyes never leaving the screen in front of him. With a small smile, he saved the page he was reading to his bookmarks. He then clicked the back button to click on another link from his search.
"But you have no case on or any experiments to conduct. You should be bored. You've always been bored." Wanting a cuppa to warm him up, John filled the kettle with water.
Sherlock quickly glanced at John's retreating back then returned his attention to his laptop. "Not bored. Researching." Hearing John go up the stairs to his room after turning the kettle on, Sherlock picked up the object that was sitting next to his laptop, moved the plastic wrapping out of the way and took a few licks. Not satisfied, he took a small bite, then covered it back up with the plastic and set it back down on the table next to his laptop.
Just as the water began to boil in the kettle, John returned to the kitchen. He made two cups of tea and brought them to the sitting room. He placed once next to Sherlock and took his to the sofa where he sank down into it wearily.
Sherlock continued reading while sipping his tea.
"What are those?" John asked a few minutes later, shattering the silence in the flat.
"Hmmm?"
"Those," John repeated, pointing to the bowl on the coffee table that now held individually wrapped candy canes instead of the odds and ends that it usually held.
Sherlock glanced at the bowl that John was pointed at then brought his eyes over to John. He raised an eyebrow. "I thought what they are would be fairly obvious to you. They are a confection popular this time of year. They taste like peppermint and are made from sugar…"
"I know what they are, Sherlock," John interrupted exasperated. "What are they doing here?"
Sherlock turned his full attention to John, arms resting on the table. "As I said, they are popular this time of year."
"Sherlock!"
"It's December." Sherlock glanced away from John.
Now it was John's turn to raise an eyebrow. "And?"
"And?"
John looked at Sherlock pointedly. "December really doesn't tell me why they are here. Are they for an experiment?"
Sherlock turned his attention back to his laptop. "I like candy canes," he said quietly, his face going slightly pink. He could have answered with a lie, but for some reason he really didn't want to.
John broke out in a wide grin at the detective's admission and embarrassment over something as simple as a candy cane. "Do you mind if I have one?"
"Help yourself," Sherlock answered distractedly.
After grabbing a candy cane for himself, John sat back on the sofa and looked to Sherlock. He was still in shock that the detective actually liked candy canes.
While reading the article that was currently on his browser, Sherlock picked up his half-eaten candy cane and took a few licks.
John couldn't help the smile that widened on his face. "You know, I never thought I'd see you eating a candy cane."
In response, Sherlock began to type frantically on his laptop while his cheeks had gone a deeper shade of pink.
As discreetly as he could, John pulled out his phone and quickly snapped a picture, wanting to remember this particular event for the rest of his life. Sherlock was staring intently at the laptop, his cheeks still a deep pink from embarrassment, and licking a candy cane.