A/N: Thank you for your reviews on the first chapter, everyone! I certainly hope you all continue to enjoy the story!

TRIGGER WARNINGS: SELF-HARM, SUICIDE ATTEMPT AND PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS MENTIONED. IF THOSE THINGS BOTHER YOU, PLEASE DON'T READ THIS STORY!

Disclaimer: Moffat, Gatiss, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle own everything; I don't. Please don't sue me!

John wasn't quite sure how long he'd been wandering about London.

Considering how far he was from Baker Street, he figured it had to be a few hours. At least three, judging by how dark it was getting. Ordinarily he'd be concerned about not being able to find his way home, but at this point, Baker Street could no longer be called home. He pressed the heels of his hands into his eyes, hissing out a breath through his nose.

The ex-army doctor had been doing his best to push the events leading up to this evening jaunt out of his mind, but now it seemed like the harder he tried to forget, the faster the memories of the afternoon flooded his brain. He shook his head furiously. "No, get a bloody grip, John." He tugged his jacket tighter around him, wishing he'd grabbed a heavier coat before he stormed out.

He almost smiled. Like he'd have even thought of that.

John rubbed his hands together furiously, watching his breath create the lightest mist in the air. He was beginning to wonder where he'd stay tonight. He didn't even have any of his valuables with him. The doctor sighed heavily. He sure as hell wasn't going back to the flat to deal with Sherlock. No, definitely not.

3 HOURS EARLIER...

"This," grumbled John as he slammed the door shut. "May quite possibly be the worst day I've had in a long time."

His lover barely glanced at him over steepled fingers. "Why?" This was asked in a tone that implied Sherlock didn't particularly care about the answer, but that he was merely asking to be polite. Good, then. At least John had taught him to feign interest in things he didn't care about.

"I was just at Harry's." John began, firing up the kettle and then moving to stand in the kitchen entryway, leaning against the wall with arms folded.

"And let me guess," sighed Sherlock.

"She's not sober," the pair spoke in unison. John sighed. "How'd you know?" Sherlock snorted. "John, really. I don't need to deduce that. Only a certifiable idiot would fail to realize that fact."

The blond felt his face harden. "What do you mean by that?"

Sherlock turned to look at him, his expression impassive. "I mean just what I said, John. Harry is a chronic alcoholic. She's said, in the time I've known you, that she's 'sober'," Here he used air quotes to emphasize. "At least half a dozen times. I don't understand why you keep believing it. She's not only an alcoholic but evidently, she's also a compulsive liar. Even SHE knows she won't stay sober."

John's jaw clenched harder the longer Sherlock spoke. By the end of the detective's monologue, he was quite certain his teeth were going to shatter in his mouth. "How dare you," he gritted out in no more than a whisper.

He strode heavily to the door and grabbed his jacket.

Sherlock looked baffled. "John? Where are you going?" He seemed genuinely confused, and ordinarily, John would turn around and the rage would be forgotten.

But this time, the asshole had gone too far.

"Out," John snapped. "Don't wait up,"

And the door slammed shut.

Even now, hours later, the doctor still couldn't think about Sherlock's words without seeing red. He growled and clenched his fists. "What a goddamned FUCKING idiot," He tipped his head back to direct the words at the now blackened London sky.

Despite his rage, John also knew he at least needed to go back to get some clothes and other necessities for the night.

And so, with a deliberately slow and measured breath, he started off in the general direction of Baker Street.

A/N: I'd like to thank all my readers and reviewers so far! Your critiques help me immensely, :) John is a very difficult character to write for me; it was hard to make him so angry as he's so patient! Unfortunately, I cannot post lyrics with this fic, I am terribly sorry. I'd love to be able to, it would add a lot, I think. But I'm sure you'd all prefer me to leave this fic up, right?

DFTBA guys, :)