A light rapping on John's door was what woke him out of a deep sleep. He laid there for a moment, straining his ears in the deafening silence of the room. Maybe he had heard it in his sleep. Then he heard a voice.
"John."
His eyes shot open. Definitely, Sherlock. But he sounded..off. John could swear he had heard Sherlock's voice tremble when he said his name. Maybe he was imagining things. Sherlock Holmes didn't tremble when speaking. Not even when he had a right to.
John sat up straight, thankful that no one could see the concern etched on his face in the darkness.
"Sherlock?" He pulled on pants as he half-whispered him name.
He rushed to the door and pulled it open. Well, he tried. A large hand was wrapped around the knob. Not in a fashion as to open it, but to keep oneself steady.
John blinked a few times to clear his eyes and focused on the face in front of him. He fumbled to switch on the lamp sitting on his bedside table.
Sherlock looked...Well, he looked terrible.
Sherlock's head was hanging down, but John could see sweat glistening on his face. His other hand was planted on the door frame and John could see it was shaking.
John felt his heart miss a beat as he took in how harsh and slow Sherlock's breath was. The man's eyes were clenched shut as if in pain.
John instinctively reached for him. "What's wrong?" John asked, his voice trembling slightly.
"John," Sherlock repeated, but it wasn't more than a whisper this time.
John's head clasped around Sherlock's too thin arm, only half aware that he was subconsciously taking his pulse.
"Talk to me, Sherlock," John prompted. "Are you hurt?"
Sherlock was silent. His breathing was now fast and laboured, causing a pit of worry to grow in John's stomach.
"What's wrong?" John asked sternly, growing impatient.
Sherlock took a deep breath and lifted his head to look at John. John noticed that Sherlock's eyes were glazed over and red.
Sherlock reached in front of him to fist his hand in John's shirt. "John-" he tried to say, before his eyes rolled back and he collapsed.
A/N Please let me know what you thought!