"Hello, Mr. Holmes," said Jane as she opened the door to her flat. She was dressed in a simple light forest green dress with matching heels. Her wave brown hair was done up in an elegant bun. She smiled.
"Are you ready to go?" asked Sherlock. He was wearing his purple shirt and a black suit. He had left the coat and scarf at home as it was a surprisingly warm evening.
"Yes I am. So where are we going?" she asked. Sherlock thought back to what John had told him earlier that evening when he had asked for dating advice.
"Take her someplace nice," said John, who was watching telly and drinking tea.
"Okay. Anything else? What am I supposed to wear? For once, I am asking you for advice!" said Sherlock. He was nervous, a feeling entirely new to Sherlock Holmes. John silently giggled at the fact that Sherlock had come to him for dating advice.
"Wear the purple shirt and don't be an arse," John suggested.
"Why that shirt?" asked Sherlock.
"Women stare at you more when you wear it," said John staring past his upheld tea into whatever mindless program had been on.
"We are going to a nice restaurant," said Sherlock. They both climbed into the cab. "I thought you might enjoy Italian."
"Yes actually, it's my favourite," said Jane. She smiled and Sherlock smiled back.
John, I need you to stay at Lestrade's tonight. SH
Why? JW
I need the flat. SH
What for? JW
A possibly noisy experiment. SH
Fine. I'll text Lestrade. JW
John sent Lestrade a text and he couldn't help but feel slightly disappointed. He wanted the date to go well for Sherlock but at the same time, he didn't. He shook it off. She would probably be good for Sherlock. Maybe someone in his life that could look after him in a way John couldn't, would help him be less... Well... Of an arse...
Still, deep down where John refused to look, he felt a pang of jealousy.
"You just texted John saying you'll need the flat tonight," Jane said with a smirk.
"Just for insurance. If the date does not go well, I have a noisy experiment that I can get over with that I'm sure John would not want to be at home for," said Sherlock.
"I think the date is going very well," said Jane. "I think that it is probably wise that John not be there. However I think that we should probably get to know each other before we jump the gun so to say."
"Your favourite colour is green. You're write romantic comedies in your spare time but you've never sent anything to be published. You have a bird and you play the viola," said Sherlock. "Your turn."
"You like the colour purple because it's the colour of royalty and you think of yourself very highly. You play the violin. You know you're an arse but you don't care about what people other then myself and your flatmate think of you because they are dreadfully ordinary or you don't care about them," said Jane. "And you are extremely turned on right now."
"Then I have a question. Would you like to come back to my place or stay for dessert?" asked Sherlock, surprised to hear the words coming out of his mouth. He couldn't believe what he was saying. There was only one person who he had ever felt this way about before this but they didn't feel the same. Now here was someone who was interested in him. Who didn't think he was so much of an arse that they couldn't be in the same room as him. This person sitting with him was so clever, almost as clever as himself. He really hoped they could leave. Another odd, unfamiliar impulse...
"I don't know, I mean I guess we could go back to your flat," said Jane grinning. They both stood up and Sherlock took her hand. He wrote a note telling them to send Mycroft the bill. They called for a cab and soon were gone.
It had been three months since the Italian restaurant and to the surprise of anyone who knew Sherlock Holmes (and the slight dismay of John, but that was buried deep inside), Jane and Sherlock were still together. That slight ping however did not disturb John in the slightest because Sherlock was the happiest John had ever seen him. Plus as it turns out, when Sherlock is happy, he's less of an arse. Still an arse just slightly less of one.
Sherlock seemed happy and that made John happy. However one day, Sherlock and Jane seemed... Less happy then usual. They hadn't gotten into a fight or anything they just seemed worn out...
Sherlock stepped out. Someone had showed up at the door asking about some lab equipment missing from Bart's. Jane walked over to where John was making tea in the kitchen. She had her hair down that day. She wore an old band t-shirt and skinny jeans with grey flats. She looked almost sad.
"You don't like me, do you, John?" said Jane. He looked at her, almost surprised that she had picked up on it.
"I like you perfectly fine. You make Sherlock happy, and you're a lovely person to be around," said John, looking away.
"No you don't. I see the way you look at me. I see the way you look at him," said Jane.
"I am not jealous if that's what you're implying," said John, trying not to get worked up.
"Yes you are, John. I can see how much you care about him. He cares about you too. Can't you see the way he looks at you? He clearly loves you very much and you clearly feel the same way," said Jane. John stood there silently, half wishing that everything she said was true. Did Sherlock really look at him like that? "You aren't going to have to worry about me anymore though, John."
"What do you mean?" John asked, concerned.
"I'm... Well... I'm leaving tomorrow," said Jane.
"What do you mean by leaving?" said John.
"John, you know exactly what I mean by leaving. I'm leaving. Sherlock and I, neither of us feels the way we used to," Jane explained.
"This will break his heart. He doesn't let many people in, Jane," John said. He was slightly angry. Angry at this woman who would break his friend. Angry at himself for helping cause her leaving.
"I don't think I will. He doesn't love me, John. He feels happy here because we're around you. When it's just me and him, it's like he isn't there. Yeah the sex is great but you can't simply have a relationship based entirely on that. Even with Sherlock Holmes," said Jane.
"I really hope you're right because if this breaks him," John growled.
"I know but I think that perhaps my leaving will be for the best," Jane said. "Just take care of him and make sure he doesn't do anything truly idiotic."
"I'll try," said John. He didn't know what would happen. He was scared though.
A door slammed. A car engine faded. John came out of his bed room to find Sherlock lying on the couch, staring angrily across the room.
"Sherlock?"
"She's gone. Left. She wouldn't tell me why because she said I already know," he said. He looked as if he might begin to cry at any moment. John went over and sat next to the couch on the floor. "John?"
"Yes Sherlock?" said John.
"Promise me you'll never leave me," Sherlock choked out as the tears began to fall. John took the sleeve of his jumper and wiped them away.
"I promise, Sherlock."
