Disclaimer: I don't own Sherlock. All rights go to Steven Moffat and BBC.
Authors Note: This is a prologue. This is John before Sherlock and the war. The character Matt is only in this chapter. You can assume that after this chapter, John went to the war and moved out and stopped being friends. I hope you like this chapter. It doesn't really have anything to do with the plot, but it doesn't need to be done to understand a couple of things. I'm sorry the ending is really bad and a little rushed. Please review. I like feedback. Enjoy!
John Watson prepared himself for a night he would never forget. Tonight was the last night he would ever spend with his closest friend, Tom. John walked into the pub where they had first met. It was in the middle of London, usually very busy, but tonight there was hardly anyone in. It was almost like the whole city knew that this was a different night.
John sat down in the same table he sat in the night they met. He thought of the first time he saw Tom. He was younger than. He was single, No kids, looked as though he didn't have a care in the world. He thought of the night they came down after Tom's wife died. He was so broken. He looked so empty, like a part of him was missing. John, this night, looked exactly the same.
A light flashed in front of his eyes. A cab parked in front of the pub. John saw his flat mate, Matt, run to the other side of the door. Matt reached out and helped another man out. The other man carried a cane and looked deathly ill. John knew who it was. It broke his heart to see Tom like this. He looked as if all the light had been drained out of him. He limped over to the door and asked Matt for help. He looked slightly embarrassed to ask for it though. Tom limped over to John, who stood up to help him. John grabbed Tom's arm and helped him over to the table.
"You look awful. Sit down, you stupid idiot. We did have to come here. We could have gone somewhere else." John said as he helped him sit down. As Tom sat he gave out the most painful groan that any one has ever heard as he sat down.
"No, no it's fine I wanted to come here. It's where we meet. Seems fit, you know. To meet here the first and the⦠Well we want this to be happy, don't we?" Tom said with his normal smile. But there was something different about this smile. Under that smile, Tom was frowning. He knew what was going to happen. He was sad and scared. John could see that. Even Matt could. Even though Matt hadn't known him as long as John, He could read Tom like a book. He was his best friend.
"Ya, a happy ending." John said, patting Tom lightly on the back. The three of them laughed and talked for hours. It was like old times. They all had forgotten about what was to happen to Tom. For the first time since Tom had given the new, they were all happy. But their happiness was short lived. Tom started to cough.
"Mind if I step outside a minute. I need some fresh air." Tom asked as he slowly got up and limped his way to the door. John and Matt looked at each other with the same concerning look.
"I'll go with you." Matt said trying to offer help, knowing something was wrong. John looked out the window to find Tom coughing uncontrollably.
"John come out here quickly." Matt said as he busted through the door. John jumped up and ran quickly.
"I can't breathe. I can't breathe" Tom said gasped out, as he lay on the floor shaking. "John get help."
"Someone call 911!" John screamed.
"Ya I got." A man said of which none of them had ever seen.
"Thank you" Matt said, shaking the man's hand.
"John, Matt, everything is blurry" Tom said sounding so lost.
"We're here, Tom. We're getting help" Matt said as both he and John kneeled down next to Tom. "You're going to be fine." They both knew he was lying. We both knew this was it. He wasn't going to last much longer.
"Matt. John. Are you going to leave me?" Tom asked. His eyes stared into nothing. He couldn't see anything. He reached out to find one of his friend's hands.
"Never" John said grabbing Tom's hand. He held on to it just staring at his friend shaking and twitching on the floor. Tom gasped out for air. He was fighting so hard for an unwinnable war with himself. John felt himself starting to cry. But he didn't care. He pulled up Tom's hand and kissed it.
"Guys, you were the best friends I could have had. Please make sure my kid end up in a safe place." Tom said panting hard.
"Of course" John answered. Suddenly Tom's panting stopped. He stopped twitching and shaking. Both, John and Matt froze in terror.
"Hey guys, remember me. But not the sick man I've been. The guy you first meet. Remember me when I was on top. When I was happy. Please don't forget me." Tom begged grabbing Matt's hand and still holding on to John's.
"I'd never forget you. You're my best friend." John said between tears.
"Guy's I'm scared. I don't want to leave." Tom said sounding like a scared child. Then he was still. His hand stared to lose its warmth. Matt bust into a sob and cradled Tom's lifeless body. John stood up and stared to walk away. He heard Matt sobbing behind him.
"Don't you leave me Tom!" Matt screamed. John walked away from the scene crying silently. He looked up at the sky.
"Tom, I'll make sure your kids are never harmed." John said. He walked to adoption office and signed papers for Tom's kids to go to him if anything happened. That night John kept his promise. That night would change John's life forever.
