A/N: Thanks for reading so far, I hope y'all are enjoying this story. I have finally figured out what direction to take this story, and this chapter really illustrates that. Also...I don't own Sherlock.
The next day John didn't have to go to work so they spent most of the day in a peaceful silence. Sherlock worked on his experiments in the kitchen while John read the paper and worked on his blog in the sitting room. They ordered takeaway for lunch and ate while watching a movie John had picked out on telly. Sherlock protested the movie at first, deeming it not worth his time, but eventually he gave in. He laid down and put his head in John's lap; John played with Sherlock's hair with one hand, the other he laced with Sherlock's.
When the movie ended Sherlock moved so he was looking up at John, who smiled down at him and continued to run a hand through Sherlock's curls. Sherlock reach up and ran his finger along John's cheek and across his lips. John placed a tender kiss on the pad of Sherlock's finger, then leaned down and kissed Sherlock.
There was nothing demanding or urgent about this kiss, and for the first time since the experiment had begun Sherlock was beginning to feel like things were actually moving forward.
John maneuvered so that he was on top of Sherlock and then he deepened the kiss. The urgency that had been missing from the moment suddenly crept into their kiss and took over. Hands groped frantically, undoing buttons and tugging at the clothing that separated their bodies.
The telly drowned out the sound of the footsteps on the stairs. There was a knock at the door and then Lestrade came in holding a manilla folder.
John and Sherlock quickly pulled apart and moved to opposite sides of the couch. For a few awkward moments none of them said anything, and then Lestrade spoke, clearing his throat first. "Mrs. Hudson let me in. I need your help on a case, I brought you the details." He handed the folder to Sherlock who took it and quickly flipped through it, then handed it to John.
"I'll need to see the body," Sherlock announced as he put on his coat and scarf. John put his own coat on and awkwardly followed the other two out of the flat.
When they got back to the flat a few hours later, crime solved and murdered arrested, John went upstairs without a word to Sherlock. Sherlock sat in his armchair while he mulled over the events from that day.
After an hour Sherlock decided he had no choice but to face the matter head on. He ascended the stairs and knocked gently, not waiting for John to answer before stepping inside. Sherlock leaned against the doorframe and looked at John, who was sitting on the edge of the bed and staring at the floor.
"If I have done anything to upset you then I apologize," Sherlock said softly. John chuckled and shook his head. He looked at Sherlock and then motioned for him to sit down. Sherlock sat down gingerly next to John, making sure to keep a few inches of space between them.
John closed the distance between them and placed his head on Sherlock's shoulder, but he still didn't say anything.
"It doesn't make you any less of a man," Sherlock said. John nodded but he clung tighter to Sherlock. "Let's get some sleep, you'll feel better in the morning." John still didn't say anything but didn't protest when Sherlock nudged him back onto the bed and under the blankets. They stripped down to their pants, Sherlock got up to shut the door and turn off the light and then he slipped into bed next to John.
"What do you want?" John asked after they had been laying in the dark for a few minutes. "From me, I mean."
"I thought it was obvious, John. I want you."
John kissed Sherlock, long and slow, and then settled down next to him. It was a long time before either of them fell asleep, but they didn't say anything else that night.
Sherlock woke up before John the next morning. He lay in bed with his arms around John and contemplated why things with John were so difficult. After a long time of pondering he came to the conclusion he was going to need the advice of someone who understood relationships better than he did.
His first thought was Molly but seeing as she had a habit of placing herself in relationships that were doomed to implode he didn't think it would help, and the same went for Mrs. Hudson. There was no chance he would go to Mycroft for help and this was not the type of thing he wanted to discuss with his parents. This left Lestrade as his only option.
Later that day while John was at work Sherlock went to see Lestrade. He walked into Lestrade's office and began to pace rapidly.
"Can I help you with something?" Lestrade asked. Sherlock stopped pacing and flung himself into the chair opposite of Lestrade.
"It's John, I need advice." Lestrade looked as if this was the last thing on earth he had expected Sherlock to want to discuss. He slowly nodded and then looked at Sherlock, waiting for him to go on.
"He keeps telling me he is not gay. He is very insistent on it, and things between us are at a standstill."
Lestrade was silent for a long time, clearly trying to come up with the right answer.
"It seems like while John is worried that coming out as gay may damage his reputation there is more to it. If I had to guess I'd say he's worried you will get bored and move on. This is why he doesn't want to take things further, to avoid coming out for you and then have that thrown back in his face."
Sherlock stared at Lestrade in wonder for a few moments. "I'd never do that to him."
"You'll need to reassure him of that."
To be continued...
A/N: I love the friendship between Sherlock and Lestrade which is why I always like to pull him into these little pieces I write.