"So did you really talk to me because I displayed bravery?" John prompted S H as they exited the cab.
"Yes," S H stated, not feeling it necessary to elaborate.
"Why is bravery important to you?" John questioned as he opened the door to the restaurant.
S H's face pinched up as he considered the question. He followed John through the restaurant, mechanically moving forward as things ticked inside him trying to find a conclusion. He squeezed his eyes shut and searched through his programing and found that he couldn't find anything. He didn't know why he thought that bravery was necessary. He didn't know why he thought John Watson was so brave. He didn't seem able to draw any conclusion on bravery whatsoever.
"Bravery. Noun. The quality that allows someone to do things that are dangerous or frightening: the quality or state of being brave," S H bumped into a table as he droned out the dictionary definition.
His eyes opened to see John was already sitting at the table. He looked into the man's warm blue eyes and felt a spark inside him.
"Bravery is John Watson," he mumbled, taking the seat across from the man.
The corners of John's mouth went up and he tilted his head.
"That's not quite what I asked," He said, tapping his nose briefly, "But I am flattered for the sentiment."
"I was looking for someone with good moral character," S H buzzed distractedly, "You have good moral character. You have bravery. You are good."
John opened his mouth, but closed it again, not quite sure how to argue without sounding rude. Instead he decided to wave the waiter over. As he began to order he saw S H quivering out of the corner of his eye. He cut his sentence of mid-way and jerked his head to look at the cyborg. S H's eyes were fluttering and his mouth with twitching.
"S H?" John spoke clearly, "S H can you hear me?"
"Wh-who?" S H muttered.
He looked up, but John could tell his eyes weren't focusing. John stood up and slid into the booth next to S H, grabbing his wrist. S H's mouth opened and moved as though he was trying to speak, but no words came out.
"S H, talk to me," John said, gripping the pale wrist tighter.
"Should I get a doctor?" the waiter asked tentatively.
"I am a doctor," John said, "Can you just get us some water?"
S H turned his head to look at John and opened his mouth, but only a grinding, buzzing noise came out.
"S H?!" John raised his voice, "S H, what is wrong? You have to tell me what is wrong!"
John tried harder to focus on S H's pulse which seemed rather quick. S H's eyes rolled slightly as though they were going to flip all the way back into his skull. John started to feel his own pulse raise as he watched helplessly. He didn't know what was wrong. How did you diagnose a cyborg?
"S H?" John patted his porcelain cheek, "Stay with me."
S H's cheek felt slightly clammy and John began to seriously worry.
"Wh-who?" S H croaked.
S H's shaking began to intensify and John put his hand on his neck to steady him. Suddenly John realized the problem. There was dampness at the base of S H's hair. Shakiness. Sweating. Trouble focusing. Confusion. S H's blood sugars were too low. John nearly laughed with relief; this was something he could solve. He quickly shuffled for a moment and produced the blood sugar monitor which he used as calmly, but quickly as he could. The thing beeped and flashed a big 68 on the screen. He set it down, trying to stay as calm as he could, though his heart was pounding hard in his chest.
He glanced around to find that the waiter had already set the water on the table and was giving the pair space. John picked the glass up and shifted his hand so S H's head was tilted back slightly. He poured just a sip of the water into S H's mouth who looked confused, but his throat bobbed as he swallowed it.
"Excellent, love. That is wonderful," John cooed softly, "Now I'm going to pour some honey into your mouth. Please try and swallow it, if I pour it too quickly close your mouth. OK? S H, is that OK?"
S H blinked rapidly as he tried to focus on John's face. He gave a quick nod.
"That's a good man," John said soothingly.
John reached across the table, picking up the bottle of honey. He flipped the cap and tilted it over S H's mouth. S H stayed as still as his shaking body would allow and swallowed the honey dutifully. John estimated about a tablespoon and then pulled the bottle way. A bit of the sticky liquid dribbled onto S H's lips which made John even more nervous. He dabbled at S H's lips with a napkin as he waited for the honey to take effect.
After fifteen minutes, S H's shaking had subsided slightly and he could focus his eyes on John. John sighed with relief with S H whispered, asking if he could have more honey. John helped him drip a little more into his mouth and they waited a little longer.
John checked S H's blood sugars once again finding the large number was now a nice 74. He smiled at S H, telling him everything was going well and S H nodded. After a few more tablespoons of honey and a cup of tea, S H was no longer shaking and he was sitting up entirely.
"Are you feeling better?" John asked after about thirty minutes.
S H nodded and sipped at his second cup of tea.
"I think I do need to eat," S H admitted forlornly, "I was wrong about my previous assumption."
"Didn't Mycroft feed you?" John questioned, starting to get a little angry again.
"Indeed he did," S H answered, "But I always assumed that it was not necessary as I ate very little and didn't feel hungry at any time."
"Sounds like you just weren't eating right," John said, pursing his lips, "Well, that's going to change now. We're about to eat a nice big meal. How does pasta sound to you?"
"May I have spaghetti?" S H asked in a very small voice.
John looked at S H in surprise. For the most part, except for the blood sugars incident just then, S H had spoken with such conviction. Everything he said seemed to be spoken with authority and power. Even if he was speaking quietly, he was speaking with a big voice. However, now he was speaking in a tiny, unassured voice.
"Of course you can," John answered, smiling lightly, "You can have whatever you want."
S H's mouth turned up in an awkward smile. John grinned back at him. It was cute the way S H smiled like he wasn't sure how to move his face. John patted S H's knee and slid back over into the opposite seat. John ordered for the both of them and they sat mostly in silence for the next couple of hours. John felt a warmth growing in him as he sat there with S H. It had been a very long time since he'd had a friend like this. It felt nice in a way that made his heart flutter.
Little note: Oh my god, I am so sorry it took me so long to update. I feel so terrible. I hope this chapter is good enough to make up for it. I'm so sorry. Please still love me. T^T