So this is my first fanfic ever, so go easy on me :) I would love any input you have! Tell me how to improve my stories and make them a better read, please! I am halfway through Chapter 3 already, so more is coming. Sherlock and John's relationship will eventually become a smutty one, so stick around :D

John slowly walked his way home, all sorts of thoughts swimming through his head, each fighting for attention.

"What have I don-Oh God… How am I going to tell them?"

John was just twenty. He graduated with good enough marks, but he didn't know what he wanted to do after high school, so had decided to take a year off. He had been graduated for almost two years now, sitting idle had never been in the plans, but he still had no idea what he wanted to do. He had seen a recruitment commercial on the telly for the military, so he went to the centre to get more information on what kind of people they were looking for. There was a program that caught his eye, one that would help him through medical school if he worked a number of years overseas as a army doctor.

Brilliant!

John always had an interest in Medical School but would never have been able to afford it. The idea of being a doctor in the middle of war scared John, but somehow the attraction of it ran deeper than the fear and awoke something in John that he hadn't felt before.

John had decided to keep his application a secret from his family, no need to worry them if nothing came of it. That changed one sunny afternoon, when his mobile started buzzing away impatiently on his desk.

He didn't recognize the number and answered questioningly, "Hello?"

The voice on the other end was that of a young, energetic woman, "John Watson?"
"Yes."

"Hi! My name is Emmelia. I'm calling about your application to the Medical-Military program. "

"Ah, hi," John's nerves jumped with hope and anticipation.

"We've been looking over your application and school records and everything seems to be in order. We would love for you to join the program, if you are still interested."

"Ye-Yes, brilliant! I'm still very interested!" John replied rapidly. He was on a hormone high, his nerves were dancing. Strangely enough, he felt sick in a good way.

"Great! There are some forms to sign and information packages you'll have to pick up from the office. You'll also have to go to Queen's to sign up for a few first year courses to start some of the classes for the program. Do you have free time today?"

"Yes!" John didn't care if he had plans with Jeanette. He was so excited about his acceptance that he couldn't wait to get down to the centre and sign the forms.

"Perfect, I'll see you in a bit!"

John desperately wanted to share his news with someone, but he was home alone. Both his parents were at work and his sister, Harry, had just moved in with her girlfriend, Clara. He called Harry and she eagerly agreed to meet him at the centre.

John and Harry walked back to the Watson residence after filling out all the forms and making the registration official.

"How do you think Dad and Mum are going to take it?" John was worried. It's not that his parents were against the military, but they wouldn't want to see him go off.

"I'm really not sure, John," Harry replied distantly, lost in thought. "I can imagine that they won't be happy but more than anything else, they want to see you happy."

"Let's hope so."

The rest of their walk was in silence. They arrived as their father drove into the drive.

"Harry! Good to see you around the house again! Good to see you too, of course, John!" Hamish Watson greeted his children boisterously. They entered the house, and it was evident that Madeline Watson had also just gotten home from work. She greeted her children with equal enthusiasm, sweeping Harry up into a hug.

"Harriet, you need to come by the house more often, dear."

She gave her daughter a look, and she in turn replied with a sigh, "I know, Mum. It's not that I don't want to, things have just been busy. Clara and I are still trying to organize the flat."

"We miss you is all."

A small grumble emitted from Hamish's stomach, which cued the question, "Who wants Chinese?"

Sounds of approval were heard from all, so Hamish dialled their favourite Chinese restaurant.

Dinner arrived and they sat around the table, opening and passing different containers of delicious foreign foods until they all had full plates. John anxiously looked over at Harry who gave him an encouraging smile.

"I've got some news…" John blurted out, a little too fast and much too quiet.

"Sorry?" Hamish turned to his son.

"I-I've got some news."

John took a deep breath, aware that both his parents had stopped eating and were looking at him expectantly.

"I've signed up… I saw this one commercial… There's this program I heard about," John finished weakly.

"What kind of program?" Madeline looked at her son, unblinking.

"Well, it's to become a medical doctor."

"My son, become a doctor?" Hamish beamed proudly at the thought.

"How are you going to afford that, John?" Madeline was a bit more sceptical.

"There's a program… through the military…"John's sentence lost its way.

Hamish's face fell ever-so-slightly. Madeline's heart dropped.

"Don't say no just yet. They pay for my schooling, and I'll be taking courses at Queen's so I'll still be in town for at least a semester."

Madeline was the first to say anything. "And what do they want in return?"

"Five years as a army doctor overseas," John replied quietly.

Hamish shook his head and Madeline sighed.

"Oi! Give him a chance to explain. We Watson kids have a tendency of doing things our own way, and it always turns out fine. You don't have to accept or support us, but it helps if you do. Remember when I told you about Clara? Finding out that I was gay was difficult for you, I know it was. But look at where we are now! I've moved in with her and you love her like a second daughter!" Harry's outburst was unexpected and uninterrupted.

"You're right, dear. Thank you," Madeline replied, took a deep breath and faced John. "Tell us about this program."

John started off slowly, "Well, I'm tired of being stuck here, with no plans for the futu-"

"Joining the military and signing your life away to unknown places is not how you deal with your frustrations. You take a few first year courses at Queen's and see what you like and don't like, and go from there."

"But I want to be a doctor, and I have for a long time. When am I ever going to have an opportunity like this again?" John's gusto grew. "I've been sitting idle here for two years now, working in the same shop, doing nothing with my life. I could be a doctor! A doctor, Dad! I can be overseas, traveling through foreign countries! And I know that is a romanticized view of war, but think of the experiences that I will have that I can't have here!"

It was Madeline's turn to shake her head.

"What happens if you're hurt, John? Or killed? What will I do then? You're my only son," and with a small smile at Harry, "And it's not like I'll be inheriting a son-in-law anytime soon."

"I don't know what to say, Mum. I'd do my best to stay safe, of course. We don't even have to worry about that yet, I've got some courses at Queen's to do this fall first. This is what I want to do."

Madeline looked at Hamish, pleading for help. Hamish couldn't do anything to ease his wife's pain, or his own. He turned towards his son, feeling more exhausted than he had in a long time.

"When do you have to register by, son?" Hamish asked quietly.

"I already have." John almost whispered.

The rest of the dinner was consumed slowly and in silence.