A/n: Here you are! I hope you like this one, I quite like how it turned out, but I'm not 100% on it - sorry!


Confessions

He was running through the battlefield, head down and low, glancing back as he ran. They were closer and closer, they would soon be upon him. Cursing, he ran flat out. He could see the bunker in the distance; people calling his name. He knew it had been a bad idea to leave it's shelter and safety. But he had had to go; to find the owner of those screams – screams which had been on-going for almost a day now. When he had reached them, he was too late. Just as he knelt down beside the body; Sherlock, his best friend; it gave a final cry and death took him under.

John had been too late. He couldn't save him.

And now as he was running, the bunker coming nearer and nearer, he glanced back one more time, hearing the tell-tale BANG of a bullet. Opening his eyes wide, he realised – no, this could not be, how-

"JOHN!"

John opened his eyes and scrambled out of bed with the force of that same bullet; crawling towards his bedroom door. It wasn't real, it was just a dream, you're not dead. His whole body was shaking.

"John?"

He whirled around, and jumped in shock and surprise. There was Sherlock, a look of fear and – surely it couldn't be – concern on his face. "Are you alright?"

Sherlock had crossed the room over to where John sat, huddled up against the door, shaking.

"Wha- what happened? Oh god did I talk? Sherlock I'm sor-"

He was interrupted by Sherlock's warm embrace, his arms surrounding John's body, softly rubbing John's back. Not caring what Sherlock would think, John let the silent tears fall down his cheeks and into Sherlock's blue dressing gown, his body shaking even more. Neither of them spoke, content to let only the sound of John's almost-silent sobs fill the room.

Finally, Sherlock spoke. "Shall I make you some tea?" In response, John nodded against Sherlock's chest. Helping John up, Sherlock quickly went into the kitchen and put the kettle on, getting a cup as he did so. When he returned into John's bedroom, it was to find the ex-army doctor curled up in a ball, hugging his knees, lying back away from the door on the bed. Setting the cup down onto the bedside table, Sherlock gently tapped on John's shoulder.

"Go away." Came his muffled voice, still with a croaky aspect from the tears. Sherlock sighed. He couldn't say that he hadn't been half-expecting the embarrassment to appear, but it wasn't as if he wanted it nonetheless. Sitting on the corner of the bed, he put his hand on the small of John's back – resulting in John just shuffling further away on the bed. Sherlock smiled. For complaining about him being a child sometimes, John didn't exactly act much better.

Using John's distance as an advantage, Sherlock lay himself down on the bed, lying on his back. Picking up one of his books from John's table (it was lucky really that Sherlock did leave his stuff everywhere, you never know when it would come in handy) he began to read. He knew that John just needed some time.

After about 9.24 minutes (ok fine, Sherlock had been counting – so what?) John uncurled himself and rolled over, so that his head was resting on Sherlock's chest. Sherlock slid down the headboard to allow a more comfortable position to be reached, and waited.

"I'm sorry."

Sherlock knew John wasn't looking for anything in reply, so instead he let his actions speak for him. He ran his fingers through John's hair, tracing small circles. Putting down his book, he lay there, motionless but for his hand in John's hair, softly soothing him to sleep.

In only a few minutes time, John's slower breathing told him that he was asleep. Smiling to himself, Sherlock looked down at the sleeping doctor. He knew that neither one of them would say a word about this tomorrow, but right now that was the last thing on his mind.

He would continue to help John through every nightmare he got, and John sure wasn't going to stop him. In the end, the tea grew cold, the sun came up through the drawn curtains, and the world span on.

But when it became to much, the pair would always treasure this moment in their hearts, like a golden beam of light, guiding them through.


A/n: I tried my best. I'd love to hear how I did! :)