Title: Of Doctors and Detectives
Chapter Summary: John has a date and Sherlock isn't happy. Neither is John.
"I'm going now but i'll be back later tonight," John says.
He's been preoccupied with adjusting his tie and tweaking his hair infront of the mirror for the past hour. Maybe even longer.
Sherlock watches him from his position on the armchair.
John notices this from the reflection in the mirror and recognises the look immediately; it's the scrutinizing look the Detective gives when trying to work out a particularly hard to solve puzzle.
It unnerves John to know that he's currently the subject of Sherlock's intense scrutiny. "What?" He demands, turning his back to the mirror he stares directly back at his flatmate.
"It's a date," Sherlock accuses. The accusation hangs in the air around them like a foul stench.
"I told you I'm going to the pub for a drink. Alone," John glares back at him defiantly.
Sherlock looks at him, surprised.
"Do you really think you can lie to me?" He asks. Sherlock feels suddenly hurt for reasons logic can't explain and so he chooses to ignore it completely.
John doesn't answer. He's trying to make out he's focused on the television but Sherlock knows it's an act. "You're wearing aftershave. You never wear aftershave," he explains in a whisper. His voice is barely audible against the buzz of the television but John hears it loud and clear.
"Damn it, Sherlock!" John explodes into raw rage. His stony expression is betrayed by emotion filled eyes but Sherlock focuses on neither. Instead the Detective stares down at his feet like a scolded child.
"Why do you even care what my intentions are? I'm going on a date with a woman-" an intentional jibe at him there "-and yes, I will have sex with her and probably never see her again. Are you happy now?"
Sherlock flinches and John's expression immediately softens as his anger fades. "I don't know," Sherlock admits meekly.
"Right," John sighs.
He sounds both disappointed and upset by Sherlock's response. It's almost as though he's been hoping for something else which Sherlock hasn't given yet.
The silence drags on around them, only it doesn't feel like silence at all; it's filled by too much awkwardness and too many thoughts, feelings and unspoken questions to be anything like silence.
It's deafening and the atmosphere is so tense neither dares to move for fear of unsettling things further.
It feels like hours have passed when John finally sighs. He looks defeated as he makes towards the door. "I'll speak to you later, Sherlock," he says.
Sherlock looks up. His eyes are filled with something John doesn't recognise and doesn't really want to question.
The stocky man pauses at the door for a moment, hand hovering beside the handle. Sherlock thinks he's still searching for what he couldn't earlier find. It's another awkward moment, neither man is sure of what to say or do.
That's when Sherlock finally realises just what John was looking for.
His brain has been working overtime trying to make sense of all the unfamiliar emotions flooding through him. Suddenly he knows exactly what to say to make everything better between himself and John.
But now it's too late. John's left and Sherlock's alone, staring at the empty space John had once filled.
"I love you," Sherlock says to the empty space.
He's not scared of saying those words where no-one can hear them.
