And here we are, this is my sequel to Holmes Family and Friends Christmas Surprises. Might not make a lot of sense at first without reading the first story. I have lots of ideas for this fic, but I am always open to others, so reviews/comments are most welcome!
Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters.
Interestingly enough, when the two men arrived back at Baker Street things go relatively back to normal, as normal as it gets. There might be a few more brushes against eachother, but nothing really different. They unpack, John starts laundry and cleans up, they exchange gifts with Mrs. Hudson, eat Christmas dinner with her and then return to their flat where Sherlock goes to fiddle on his computer, and John sits down to read.
After a few hours of that, John gets up and stretches, shoulder and back popping a little, making him groan. Re-adjusting his shirt, he smirks a little as he notices a certain consulting detective watching him from his seat at the desk. Slowly, he walks over toward the younger man, bracing one hand on the desk, the other on the back of the chair, leaning in to give Sherlock a slow kiss. Letting the kiss linger for a few long minutes, he finally breaks it, and he smiles. "I'm going to bed." He says softly before he straightens. "I assume you won't be sleeping tonight, don't destroy anything, alright?" he asks, running a hand through Sherlock's hair before he smiles and turns to head toward the stairs up toward his room.
Watching the doctor stretch is a very attractive thing, Sherlock decides. So is watching him strut towards him. He merely nods a little to John's words before he watches the man walk away. "Where are you going?" Sherlock finally asks when he sees John heading toward the stairs.
"To bed. I just told you that, Sherlock." John says with a little shake of his head as he looks back at the younger man, looking patiently amused at least.
"Yes, yes, I heard that, John." Sherlock says impatiently, waving his hand a little through the air. "What I meant is.." he hesitates, frowns, opens his mouth, closes it, and then says, "We shared a bed last night." In a blunt sort of tone. "Was that an isolated incident? Are we not going to share a bed from now on?" He looks rather crestfallen, having looked forward to being able to sleep in the same bed as him again.
Yeah, John was wondering when that might come up, and he runs a hand through his hair, returning to the living room. "Sherlock, after last night.. I don't think that's a good idea." he says slowly as he watches the stubborn man. "Not after last night. I could have seriously hurt you, Sherlock, just because I had a nightmare. I'm not risking that again." he says in a firm tone, crossing his arms over his chest.
Another frown from the seated man. Nope, he is not having any of that. He is not about to be denied something that he wants so much. So, he does what consulting detectives do best, he deduces the man in front of him, slowly standing and clasping his hands behind his back. "That makes no logical sense, John." He finally says as he looks at the man. "Your nightmares have significantly decreased since coming to reside at Baker Street." He hesitates, then adds, "At least, while I was here." He says, wiggling his fingers a little where he has them clasped behind his back. "You think of this place as home, you're comfortable here. Christmas Eve you encountered trauma, in the form of nearly getting hypothermia. You were combative, on edge because of Mycroft, and the dinner and party." he says as he looks at John. "That increased your stress levels, which, combined with the unfamiliar atmosphere of my childhood home, and the emotional upheaval of our emotional revelation all combined to put you on edge. I believe that led to your increased likelihood of violent nightmares." he says as he walks over to stand in front of John. "And if we are going to.. attempt a relationship with any sort of intimacy beyond kissing, we are going to share a bed eventually. Acclimatizing yourself to sharing your bed from early on will help prevent incidents later." He offers logically, very happy with his argument.
"No." John simply says with a little shake of his head. "I can't risk it, Sherlock. Not with you." He says, reaching up to lay his hand along Sherlock's neck, eyes clouded and sad as he strokes the pale column of skin slowly.
A slightly annoyed look comes from Sherlock as he looks down at the shorter man. "Yes." He says firmly, then considers. "If it would make you feel better, since I did not plan on sleeping tonight, I will sit in bed with you and remain awake. I have plenty of work to do on my laptop. Then you can get used to my presence, and if there is any danger of violent nightmares, I will be able to get out of bed before you have a chance to hurt me." He says quietly, then he slowly reaches out his hands, hooking his fingers into John's belt loops to pull him closer. "Please, John." he whispers softly, leaning in and giving him a soft kiss. "I slept very well, next to you, John. Can we at least try? Perhaps.. sleeping next to you would encourage me not to mind sleeping so much." he offers, thumbs stroking John's sides slowly.
It's not as if John could ever say no to Sherlock before they got into a relationship. Sure, they would argue and fight and ultimately compromise. That is if John didn't just end up giving in to him. But now, with something like this, it's so much more tempting. The words spoken in the detective's beautiful, smooth baritone sends shivers down the doctor's spine. And of course the promise of getting Sherlock on a somewhat regular sleep schedule is the thing that clinches it. With a little sigh, John tilts his head forward to rest it against Sherlock's shoulder for a moment, letting out a little groan. "Fine. Alright." he says before he leans back a little, looking up at the detective. "We'll try it for a few nights. But if I attack you again, or have a nightmare like that again..." He trails off threateningly.
"Yes, yes. If that happens, we will stop the experiment." Sherlock says quickly, confident in his own deductions. "Your bed or mine?" he finally nearly purrs, hoping to distract his tiny soldier.
"That.. is just not fair." John says with a sigh, then he considers. "Yours. Probably more comfortable anyway, you bloody, sensual man." he says with a shake of his head, moving away from him and kissing his lips lightly. "I'll go change." he says before he disengages Sherlock's hands from him and retreats upstairs.
Satisfied, Sherlock grins and goes to his bedroom, changing his sheets quickly just to make sure that John doesn't comment and because he can't remember the last time he was in bed. He then retrieves books and his own laptop, setting them beside his side of the bed, even changing into his own pajamas before he waits for John.
It takes a few more moments, since John has his evening routine, but he eventually comes down in pajama pants and a t-shirt, though his t-shirt is a little more snug than ones he's worn before, knowing that the man waiting for him will appreciate it.
That is definitely the truth, as Sherlock stares at John as soon as the older man enters the room, looking him over slowly, before he smirks. "Showing off for me, John?" He asks playfully before he moves over to put his long arms around the smaller man. "If you wanted to do that, you should forego the shirt altogether.. Your body is much more impressive." He says with a little smile, sliding his hands up under John's shirt to start tugging it up a little.
John can't help but laugh a little. "Alright, alright.." he says before he strips off the shirt and lets it fall to the floor. "Better, you mad man?" He asks affectionately, giving him a quick kiss before he tries to escape those lanky arms so he can get into bed, taking the opportunity to look around the man's room. He'd only been in there once, when The Woman drugged him, and he was rather surprised since, compared to the rest of the flat, the bedroom is strikingly sparse and clean, but the periodic table on the wall always makes him smile. Seeing as how the detective has obviously claimed one side of the bed, John walks over to the other, pulling back the covers to slip beneath them. It's only then that he realizes how thoughtful Sherlock can really be, since he notices he won't have to lay on his bad shoulder if he wants to face Sherlock as he sleeps.
When the younger man just stands there, John props himself up on one elbow, leaning his head into his hand as he watches Sherlock. "Well?" He asks with amusement.
Sherlock couldn't help himself, he just wanted to watch his army doctor for a few moments, the confident grace, the utter awareness of himself and his surroundings. At least that's how it seemed. He watches the emotions play across John's face, as he realizes how Sherlock chose 'his' side of the bed, and he can't help but smile a little. And damn, if the older man doesn't look good in his bed, his brain supplies when John looks up, amused and curious.
"Nothing. Merely enjoying the new. Committing it to memory." Sherlock says quietly as he watches John, before he moves forward and slides into the bed, shuffling over to the older man for a moment in order to lean over him and place a soft kiss on his lips. "Goodnight, John." he says quietly with a little smile before he returns to his side of the bed, leaning over to grab his laptop as he props himself against the headboard.
Watching his mad flatmate's actions, John can't help but chuckle a little before he slips down into the bed, fluffing the pillow before he lays down on his stomach. It's an easy way for him to sleep but one that he doesn't usually feel comfortable sleeping in, because it's too vulnerable. But with Sherlock there beside him, he feels comfortable. Shifting a little, he turns his head toward Sherlock, admiring the man working on his laptop. Squirming a little until he gets comfortable, John feels Sherlock pull the covers up around his shoulders after closing his eyes and he smiles a little.
"Thank you. Goodnight, Sherlock."