Just one more miracle for me Sherlock. Don't be…dead." John managed to choke out. "Just for me, just stop it. Just stop this." He couldn't handle it any more, breaking down in tears.
Sherlock watched from the distance. Could he do this, could he actually leave John like this?
John tried to gather himself together and left the tombstone. He got halfway towards Mrs Hudson before turning around and walking back to Sherlock's grave.
"I-I love you, Sherlock." He closed his eyes and took a deep breath "I know you don't feel 'sentiment' and I know you're d...But I love you."
Sherlock choked back a sob. Damn it John, shut up! If John kept up like this, his resolve would crack completely. He never knew... How could HE have not known?
John gave up and sat down. He talked for hours. He talked about everything he needed to say, everything about Sherlock he loved, everything he had pretended to be annoyed by and how much he loved Sherlock. He wasn't sure at what point he had started crying, and frankly he didn't care, or even notice. He cried himself to sleep still whispering that he loved Sherlock and he always will.
Sherlock sat, watching John for the last three hours and forty-seven minutes, tears silently streaming down his face. When he was sure the man was asleep, he did the stupidest thing he could have done. He silently crept over to the man, kissed him on the temple, and slid a piece of paper in his hand. A phone number.
John woke up in the morning with a piece of paper in his hand. He read the phone number and excitedly dialled it, praying that this was a sign. A sign from Sherlock. After one ring, the call was terminated. John heart sank into his stomach and he gave up. Gave up on everything
[44 ERROR: This phone is no longer in working service, if you feel you have reached this message in error, please try your *text message* again.]
Sherlock stared at the phone. One call and this could all be over. One call, and he could be back with the man he loved. One call and that man could be dead. This had to be done right.