They have run in the rain for long and their clothes are damp. The dimly lit cab is warmer than outside but they are still freezing. John is exhausted, but they are both still high on adrenaline. John sits with his hands on his knees to warm them.
"That was too close Sherlock…." John looks Sherlock in the eyes.
"It won't happen again."
"I almost lost you there... Please… I can't lose you again."
Something changes in Sherlock eyes, the cold armor disappears.
Without a word he puts his hand on John's hand on top of John's knee. Sherlock sends John a short soft smile then looks down. He squeezes John's hand a bit, then pulls his Hand way.
John sits completely still. He wonders whether Sherlock Holmes knows that what he just did clearly overstepped the boundaries of what two straight men do with each other. John looks at Sherlock who suddenly looks slightly insecure. John looks out the window, then without much thought he puts his hand on Sherlock knee and squeezes a little bit. When he's about to remove his hand, he feels Sherlock's slightly bigger hand on his. I seems to John, that Sherlock is aware that this is not entirely platonic. But it feels good.
They sit like that for a while in a silence that is tensed yet comfortable. Then the cabs stops, they're at Baker Street, Sherlock get out, John pays as usual and follow him up the stairs of 221b.
AN/ Might be continued. Love reviews J