The Case

John, would you be able to get a week off work? – SH

A week? Sarah wouldn't be too happy, with it being flu season, but I'm sure I could try. What for? – JW

A case has come up. Brighton. Asked for us specifically according to Lestrade – SH

Alright, well I don't suppose I really have a choice. Can't have myself substituted with Greg again, we all know how that went last time. I'm sure I can get the week off – JW

That was his own fault, he shouldn't be so squeamish but it's much appreciated, John – SH

So what's so important they need us specifically then? – JW

Seven disappearances. Connecting factor being a hotel – SH

Brilliant. So they're linked by the hotel? – JW

Yes – SH

We can't say we don't get the interesting ones, I guess. Told Sarah we're on police business again, I get the week off starting in ten minutes. When are we needed? – JW

Tonight. Only the Brighton police force know we will be coming, the hotel staff and owner will think us just normal customers – SH

...We're staying in the hotel? – JW

Yes, also we're to act as a couple – SH

You're insane, I'm insane for going along with this – JW

The missing people are also linked by their sexual preferences. They're all openly homosexual – SH

So we're going to be bait? Openly gay couple bait? – JW

Yes John, I see no problem with that. Do you? – SH

No, no, no problem, I mean, it'll stop more disappearances if we catch the criminal so whatever we have to do – JW

Exactly. I've already books us a room. For purposes of our charade relationship our story will be much the same as the facts, how we met, being flatmates and such. Obviously we'll add that we fell in love and our cover is that we're on holiday because it will be our year anniversary in two days – SH

Right, makes sense. I'll catch a cab and make my way back then, if we're needed tonight – JW

I have already finished packing, I only wait for you – SH

Shouldn't take all too long, half an hour tops – JW

Very good – SH

John hopped out of the cab on Baker Street and paid the driver - something that was becoming an increasing occurrence since living with Sherlock - before moving up to the all too familiar black front door. He let himself in and started shedding his jacket on the stairs up to the flat. He couldn't believe he was going to have to do this.

All for the name of the case, of course, but he couldn't shake the frustrating buzz in the back of his mind that was making him doubt he was agreeing with this completely in the name of all that was good and just. John shook the thought from his mind as he placed his jacket on the hook on the back of the door, scanning around the flat for his genius flatmate.

"Sherlock?"

Said genius flatmate came out from his bedroom, carrying his own packed case and an empty one for John. He set them both down on the floor.

"Hello, John," he said as he looked at the other man. He moved through to the kitchen, having to deal with several experiments that wouldn't keep a week.

"I'm putting complete faith in your acting ability, you do realise that?" John called through to the kitchen, lumping the empty case over his shoulder as he watched the taller man flit around his experiments, "I mean, we pass just by walking down the street, but this is different. Not that I need to be telling you that, but I guess I'm just checking you know what this is going to entail."

He really didn't want to think about it, not in depth, but his brain was filling his head with all sorts of possibilities.

John physically shook his head to get rid of the thoughts, moving out along the hall and halfway up the stairs, on route to packing.

"I'm well aware how to act within a relationship John!" Sherlock called back before smirking to himself.

He was going to enjoy this. It was rather amusing when John constantly had to deny rumours that they were in a relationship but now that the man would have to confirm them, and even act on them, Sherlock thought this was going to provide some interesting data about his flatmate.

"But don't worry, I shan't be requiring sex, I think that would be pushing the charade a little too far."

John went to roll his eyes as he moved up the stairs, but Sherlock's last comment seemed to stop him in his tracks. He stood there for what felt like an age before figuring that Sherlock would have heard him falter and he picked up the pace again.

He made his way up into his bedroom, cursing his bad luck that this stupid bloody case would require him to act as though he was in a relationship with his bloody brilliant, attractive-No.

John sat down on the corner of his bed and ruffled his hands through his hair.

Think objectively.

It's a case, not a week away with Sherlock where this is completely normal.

It's a case...

John took a deep breath before he stood, flinging open the doors to his wardrobe and packing whatever he saw first - shirts, jeans, jumpers, underwear (obviously) - into the case provided. He packed his gun underneath his clothes and couldn't help but chuckle at how ridiculous it looked packed in beside toiletries. John zipped his case up and made his way downstairs, essentially ready to leave.

Sherlock had pulled on his coat and scarf and was now standing over by the window, looking out over London. He turned his head as John came down the stairs and watched as John wheeled the case into the hall and left it at the top of the stairs, heading back to the door to shrug his jacket back on.

"All set?"

Sherlock nodded and fetched his own case.

"Cab's waiting downstairs," Sherlock moved over, stroking his hand across John's chest as he passed him on the way down the stairs, "come on darling," he said, shooting a smirk to the other man.

John would get him back for this, one way or another of course but for now, John could show Sherlock just how well he could play this up. The consulting detective wasn't the only one with a decent acting ability, after all.

As he moved past him, John shifted forwards and tapped Sherlock's arse gently, chuckling to himself.

"Coming, honey," he retorted, rolling his eyes as he lifted his case and followed Sherlock out to the cab. If he could keep it jovial, he'd be fine.

Mostly.

Sherlock chuckled deep in his throat and opened the door to the cab, gesturing for John to get in.

"After you my sweet," he said, looking intensely into John's eyes. He had to admit that his heart had fluttered when John had touched his arse but had filed away the information that John was definitely not afraid to act using physical measures.

"Ugh, come on, that's sickly even for you. We need to agree on pet names if we're going to keep this up. If you keep doing that I'm just going to end up laughing at you every time you open your mouth," John said with a grin, shaking his head as he slid into the cab. He set his case to the left of his feet, against the furthest door, and patted the seat beside him for Sherlock to join him.

"Come on love, we're going to end up being late and I'll be too tired to indulge you if we are."

God, he was going to have to stop insinuating things, especially so bloody early into their facade.

Christ.

Sherlock smirked and slid in beside John, sitting very close. He put his own case beside his feet and closed the door, rattling off the address and town to the cabbie. As the cab set off Sherlock let his hand rest on John's thigh and he moved down to whisper in John's ear; "well, we can't have that can we?"

Bastard.

John's jaw clenched for a fraction of a second before he relaxed, shifting in towards Sherlock and putting an arm across his shoulders. They were going to have to play it up for a week, he may as well start properly now. He covered Sherlock's hand with his own, drawing a line up from this knuckles to the cuff of his shirt before moving his hand back.

"We certainly can't."

He felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end at the closeness, the lips right next to his ear. All he'd have to do is turn his head... How close were they going to be? How convincing? He didn't know, and he'd let Sherlock draw the line on that one.

Sherlock's other hand snaked around John's waist and smiled. This was certainly better than he'd anticipated, John going much further than he thought the man would be comfortable with. Sherlock gave John's thigh a small squeeze, running it further up slightly.

"Well, for someone who isn't gay you certainly know how to act that part very well," Sherlock purred, turning his head to look at John, his breath ghosting over the man's lips as he spoke.

"Hmm, well you can thank Harry for this. Especially recently. My dear sister has managed to worm her way under my skin, I'm surprised you didn't catch on to the confession she'd pulled out of me."

John smiled gently, tightening the arm on Sherlock's shoulders marginally.

Harry had managed to explain and shown John that he was, in fact, bisexual and had been since he was a teenager. He'd just never registered it before. Not gay, so that wasn't wholly a lie, but not one-hundred-percent straight either. He licked his lips before he knew what he was doing, but managed to hold Sherlock's gaze.

"For someone who is married to their work and doesn't do relationships, you're not doing so badly yourself."

Sherlock smirked. He had known about John's little revelation but thought it best not to mention it, instead waiting for John to feel ready to tell him. It seems his flatmate had taught him some things about manners and personal business. He chuckled and moved to press a kiss to John's neck.

"I wasn't always married to my work," he hissed into John's ear hotly before pulling back, putting some distance between them and returning to his normal state, starting to talk about the case.

John turned back to face the front of the cab as he let out a small, breathy chuckle. The detective continued to jabber on about the case and John folded his arms across his chest, leaning his head back against the head rest to listen half-heartedly.

It would be a long ride to Brighton and it had been one Hell of a day at the clinic. He didn't trust himself not to nod off if Sherlock kept talking about factors and variables and possible suspects.

Sherlock suddenly stopped talking mid sentence, as if someone had turned off a radio, and coiled his arm around John's shoulders, pulling the other man to lean against his body.

"Sleep, I'll wake you up when we get there," Sherlock said, although his voice was blank like normal and held nothing of its flirtatious nature such as before.

John rolled his head to the side in the crook of Sherlock's arm and his brow furrowed, looking up at the other from where he'd been tugged into his side. Like he was going to get anything from Sherlock's face as it was, but it never stopped him trying. Broken from his revere by a yawn, John had to agree that sleep sounded like a bloody brilliant idea.

He shifted to lean properly against the taller man, rubbing at his eyes with the heel of his hands before he tilted his head and pecked a small kiss to the underside of Sherlock's jaw, half on his neck. His eyes slipped closed and he yawned again, drawing Sherlock's arm across his chest for extra warmth.

"Yeah, if y'wake me up-" another yawn, "-with a smack to my forehead, I'll kill you." Sherlock gave a small chuckle and coiled his arms tighter around John, bringing him closer to share his warmth.

"I can't promise anything," he said with a smile that only just teased his lips. He pressed a small kiss onto John's forehead in return to the one he had received and let the man slowly fall asleep in his arms, smiling at how good it felt to have John so close.

Usually he hated physical contact and to be truthful, the idea of doing this with any other person made Sherlock feel nauseas but this was John and he was certainly looking forward to a week of similar positions.

John curled closer to Sherlock in his sleep, the other man surprisingly warm for once. He mumbled in his sleep, his hand finding its way onto Sherlock's stomach and fisting in his shirt.

Sherlock merely smiled and retreated to his Mind Palace, which seemed to have locked every room bar the ones he'd dedicated quite willingly to the man in his arms.

A:N - This started off life as an RP with myself and .com :) More to come! Stay tuned! xx