Upon entering 221B, Sherlock noticed nothing had changed. On the couch lay John, asleep, depressed. Sherlock sat on his chair and watched the man sleep on. For that little while it was peaceful. John stirred about 20 minutes later and Sherlock sighed, getting ready to meet him at last, after all that time of being "dead". John sat up and took a glance at Sherlock, eyes widened for a second and he sighed, mumbled Sherlock, and got up to make coffee. Sherlock was confused by it. But it went on for a while, John never brought it up. John would snap now and then, breaking something, or yelling. He couldn't help it.
Two weeks later, Lestrade came in while John was making coffee. Sherlock was seated in his chair.
"Ah, Lestrade. Nice to see you." John said, glancing in his general direction.
"Hello John." He replied.
"Care for a cuppa?" John asked, holding out a cup.
"Wouldn't mind, thanks." Lestrade took the cup and took a seat.
"Ah, Sherlock, how are you doing?" Lestrade asked, turning to face Sherlock. John's eyes widen and he dropped his cuppa. It broke on contact with the ground, splashing the coffee everywhere.
"John? What's the matter?" Lestrade asked, baffled at the sudden change in Watson.
"You...you can see him too?" John asked.
"Well, yea. I thought he was a goner, but apparently not." Lestrade replied. "Why? You didn't notice he was living here?"
"Hadn't really thought he was real...My..therapist..said I may experience hallucinations...I thought that was just my...mind." John mumbled.
"Hello? I'm sitting right here, if you haven't realized." Sherlock said, trying to hide the fact that his eyes were beginning to blur.
"SHERLOCK!" John shouted, his emotions spinning between anger and joy. He began swatting at Sherlock, hitting his arm repeatedly. "YOU! I. THOUGHT. YOU. WERE. DEAD!"
"I know..." Sherlock sighed
"How could you not tell me?! HOW COULD YOU JUST LET ME THINK IT'S MY IMAGINATION. AND I SAW YOU FALL, SHERLOCK! I SAW YOU LYING DEAD."
"John, I had to. To save you."
"To save me?"
"Moriarty had killers planted everywhere. Mrs. Hudson was in danger as well."
"So you sacrificed yourself...for me?...For us?" John's eyes were red and puffy as he collapsed on the couch. Sherlock collapsed next to him, wrapping his arms around his friend.
"Well...I should be going then. Sherlock, there has been four murders down the block if you want in." Lestrade said, looking over at the emotional doctor.
"No, I've got what I want. I don't need any murders. Just my John." Sherlock mumbled the last part and waved Lestrade out of the flat. John pulled away slightly, looking at Sherlock with disbelief.
"You don't...You don't want to solve any murders?"
"No. Not unless you are at my side the entire time."