I originally wanted to post this as a long one-shot, and probably will once I finish it, but I really wanted to get some feedback on the individual parts. So, this is just the intro (hence it's length). Let me know what you think! :)


"Though my soul may set in darkness,

it will rise in perfect light;

I have loved the stars too fondly,

to be fearful of the night."

― Sarah Williams


"Ah, Dr. Watson, I should thank you for coming."

Across the room, John Watson pinches the bridge of his nose, his head throbbing angrily. He hasn't gotten a good night's sleep since he left Afghanistan all those years ago, and the events that have occurred since have done nothing to help the matter. Before his mind begins to assign blame, however, John blinks his heavily bagged eyes and refocuses on the situation at hand. Not even the lack of sleep could put a dent in his iron will.

John is well aware that deducing the situation is completely unnecessary. Unwelcome surprises have been such a frequent occurrence in John's life these days, that he very rarely will allow himself to succumb to the comforting warmth of denial- even though the temptation sits at the edge of his mind like a discarded blanket. The reality of the situation is unappealing, yes, but he'd much rather face it sooner rather than later when It'll just be harder to accept. He never has been one to wade in slowly just to get used to the temperature.

This time, however, he finds himself wanting to be somewhere else sobadly that he closes eyes and wills himself awake, although he knows exactly where he is, whom the voice coming from the pretentious looking chair belongs to, and that he is undoubtedly not asleep. He hasn't stepped out of the car yet, though, so he decides there's still time to try and fool himself into thinking this is only a dream (or, let's be honest, a nightmare).

John Watson is a sensible man, so if he hesitates, it's because he'd rather be thrashing violently in his bed trapped in one of his nightmares rather than stuck in this very real one after having just been kidnapped by Mycroft bloody Holmes for the first time in almost six years.

Nearly six years, and John hasn't even caught a wiff of the man (not that John is particularly sorry) since his pathetic attempt to apologize on the morning that his own bloody brother was to be put into the ground.