Everything had been perfectly fine until that moment. For a split second Sherlock stood in shock, just as he was just seconds previously, before clasping a hand to his chest and collapsing against John.
"NO." John didn't bother to even look for who had done it; the only thing that was important right now was Sherlock. "No, no, Sherlock, no, please no. Christ, Sherlock."
Struggling to hold his friend upright, John fell to his knees on the ground. Tears were already welling up in his eyes as he sat on the floor with Sherlock across his lap.
"It's okay, John, really," Sherlock said, grimacing, between deep breaths in an attempt to console John.
"No, it's NOT okay!" John yelled in frustration that he was helpless, that Sherlock had been right. There's a time and place for everyone... but here and now? A single tear fell onto Sherlock's face as he leaned over him, followed by more.
"Stay with me, Sherlock, stay with me. You're going to be fine, we can- I can fix this."
Despite being in obvious unbearable pain, Sherlock managed to crack a sad smile up at his friend- his one best friend, who had stayed with him the whole time, who loved him even through his lower-than-average social skills, his rather unreasonable antics, his sociopathic tendencies. "I'd like to believe that."
"Sherlock, please- you can't- just don't-" John sobbed, memories from years ago replaying themselves in a devastating and nightmarish cycle: seeing Sherlock's body sprawled on the ground, standing at his grave- it had all been fake.
Sherlock reached a shaking hand up and gently turned John's face towards his so they were looking into each other's eyes. "I'm sorry, John, I'm so sorry," he said, his voice breaking. "It's not a trick this time."
John drew him into a tight embrace, sobbing over his shoulder and catching his last whispered word.
"Goodbye."
He buried his face in the detective's shoulder, wanting desperately to convey what he really thought of his friend, but being unable to form words. "Just don't- be dead," he finished. Sherlock's arms loosened their grip around him.
John didn't let go.
