A/N: Sometimes I feel sad because at first all Mofftiss were doing was writing fanfiction, and I'm like, "That's what I'm doing!" And then my brain says, "No..." like Mycroft and I cry a little bit, on the inside, because yeah, it's true. (In case it wasn't clear: I do not own Sherlock in any way, shape, or form. Sadly.)
Anyway. These chapters are standalone little fics. Some are longer than others. This one is particularly short. It was written in September of 2010, I think. I don't have a setup for it. One of their adventures puts Sherlock in the hospital and out of commission, and John does pretty well finishing the case on his own.
Uh, that's all. Enjoy.
"You solved it," said a low, hoarse voice when he shot into the room. Sherlock was lying back on the pillows-heavily sedated, John deduced - how else could he have been kept down while a case needed solving? - and wore a drowsy, crooked half-smile, staring at the ceiling. He gazed down and met John's eyes. "I knew you could do it."
John tried to swallow his grin and looked away, fighting the urge to swell with pride. He coughed. "Well," he said with as much nonchalance as he could muster. "I did have help."
"Of course you did," Sherlock whispered arrogantly from the white cot. John glanced at him-the other man's eyes were shut; he was close to falling asleep. John smiled at him and let a laugh escape. "What's so... funny...?" mumbled the detective, his eyes still closed.
"Nothing." He blinked. "Thanks."
"What for?"
John searched the walls for words. "For letting me try."
The smile crept back onto Sherlock's face. "I could hardly stop you."
"Mmm. Mycroft."
"Well... yes." One eye cracked open. "You're welcome. Now if you don't mind... I'm going to give in to the obnoxious amount of painkillers in my bloodstream and go to sleep."
"Sure. You rest."
Sherlock made a flippant noise in the back of his throat, like I-hardly-need-your-permission, and almost immediately his breathing slowed as he relinquished his hold on consciousness.
John slid his jacket off his shoulders and lay down on the standard-issue, maroon hospital couch.
He was asleep within five minutes.