Disclaimer: I don't not make money or own any of the characters I just warp them to my own plots.
Chapter 4:
John took his time returning to his bedsit, this time happier than when he left. He couldn't believe he found his good luck charm; John sat upon his bed and checked the text that Sherlock had sent off all it said was if brother has green ladder arrest brother. John decided to look Sherlock up, John was thrilled to find the Website even though there was little to no information but it was a start.
The next day John found himself wondering what to do while he waited the twelve hours until he met up with Sherlock. He contacted his sister for his forced check in and decided that a brunch would be nice since his sister was apparently between binges. After visiting his sister, John realized it had been years since he had seen her sober, by his calculation it had been before he left home so 19 years. John in that instant realized it had been 19 years since he had talked to his parents as well, he didn't even know if they were still alive. John also phoned Clara, the conversation started awkwardly and ended horribly. Harry apparently didn't tell Clara that she had given the phone over to John. John consoled his sister-In-law best he could and when this was all over John decided to walk to 221B Baker Street. As john knocked on the door he was greeted from the street behind him.
"Hello"
"Ahh, Mr. Holmes." John greeted holding out his hand.
"Sherlock please"
The door opened, after that comment and revealed a kindly looking woman dressed in purple. "Sherlock" was all she said before hugging the Consulting detective.
"Mrs. Hudson. Dr. John Watson". Sherlock introduced as the trio made their way up that stairs. John scanned the room he entered, it was a mess though a few items popped out at him, mainly the science equipment.
"Moved in already?" John asked
"I can tidy up a bit". Sherlock started pushing things around the room, and john watched him move gracefully around the clutter.
"What do you think Dr. Watson, there's another bedroom up stairs if you need two bedrooms" Asked the landlady.
"Of course we'll need two" John said confused.
"Oh don't worry dear, there's all sorts round here" Mrs. Hudson's voice dropped to a stage whisper. "Mrs. Tuner next door got married ones." John really didn't know how to respond to that so but it seemed he didn't have to "Oh Sherlock the mess you've made" Came a small yell from the kitchen. While John sat in the chair Sherlock just threw a union jack pillow.
"I looked you up on the internet last night" John said casually.
'Find anything interesting?"
"Found your website, The Science of deduction" Sherlock smiled at this.
"What did you think?"
"How can you identify a software designer by his tie, or …an airline pilot by his left thumb?"
"The same way I can identify your military career by your face and leg and your brother's drinking habits from his phone"
"Yes I asked how?" Sherlock just ignored the question and it was starting to frustrate John. He decided to just tell Sherlock that they met before John opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by Mrs. Hudson.
"What about these suicides then Sherlock? I thought that would be right up your street, Three exactly the same".
"Four, there's been a fourth and there is something different this time"
"A fourth Mrs. Hudson exclaimed as she put the newspaper on johns arm rest. But her voice was drowned out by the thumping of steps coming up the stairs. "Where?" Sherlock asked the unknown person.
"Brixton, Lauriston Gardens" answered the man John knew as the D.I. who helped him with Sherlock the night before he was deployed. John couldn't believe it so far he has re-met two people from his past, thinking about the other people he has met he wondered if this trend was going to continue, one he was guaranteed to re-meet this was Sherlock's brother who John was convinced the same Mycroft that he knew from Sandhurst. Now John had to somehow tell two people that he knew them.
"Brilliant!" Sherlock exclaimed and jumped in the classic TV celebration kind of way. John didn't realize people did that in real life. "Four serial suicides and now a note, it's Christmas" Sherlock was making him dizzy with his spinning around "Mrs. Hudson, might be late. Might need some food".
"I'm your landlady dear, not your house keeper"
"Something cold will do, John have a cup of tea and make yourself at home, don't wait up" Sherlock shot out the door before he stopped talking.
"Look at him dashing about; my husband was just the same."
"Yeah, he certainly is livelier than the last time I met him, Oh and where is Mr. Hudson."
"I am a widow; I hadn't realized you knew Sherlock."
"Sorry to hear…"
"Don't be dear Sherlock was the one to ensure that he died in Florida. So how do you know Sherlock?"
"Well I don't know him, though we have met about 5 years ago. Ran into him at a pub, just before I was deployed, I have been trying to tell him but I always seem to be interrupted".
"Now seems like a good time for that conversation John" Sherlock said from the doorway making John and Mrs., Hudson jump. "You can tell me in the cab" and once again Sherlock left the room.
"You better go dear, before you lose your chance to have that chat".
"Right thank you Mrs. Hudson"
John made his way onto the street just in time to see a cab pull up beside the curb. As John entered the car, he felt as though he stepped into an interrogation room. John took a breath to get used to the atmosphere within the small cab.
"Why didn't you tell me yesterday?"
John looked at the man and almost flinched at the intense gaze focused on him. "Mike deals in favors. I didn't want him having more knowledge that he already has."
"Yes, agreed Mike is the sort to hoard information. I think he fancies himself a spy; I assume you met me while I was high, and probably a hallucinogen because I deleted most of those experiences."
"How can you delete your life? Though at the time I admit I didn't believe you would remember any of it, because yes you were high".
"I treat my brain like a hard drive, and like you clean out your computer of unnecessary files, I do so with my brain. My mind is a gift, and I made a promise to look after it" Sherlock examined johns face "what?"
"I didn't think you would take what I said to heart, I told you that. You promised me you would get clean, I thought maybe you would start heading in the right direction."
"That was you? You sealed that promise with a kiss."
"And you thought I was an angel if I recall, you were right though" John smiled.
"Of course I was right, I'm always right… what was I right about?"
"It is good luck to kiss a soldier good-bye." Sherlock seemed to blush "I was shot in the shoulder, luckily by the best person possible, I also died three times and even with that I made a full recovery physically that is, mentally not so much." John gestured to his leg "I am betting D.I. Lestrade has forgotten me as well."
"I think he forgot that you were just a soldier. He renewed his faith after that night, I think he prays to you about me, usually when I get irritable and close to relapse only got really close twice, he usually pulls me back at the last minute. You changed so much in a couple of hours John, I think maybe both of us thought you were other worldly. Lestrade and I wouldn't have the relationship we have now if not for you."
John was shocked, first at the admission, and secondly at the emotion Sherlock was showing, even high, emotion was low if not present at all on the man's face. "All of that, just because I thought you were amazing."
"You are still the only one to think that, even Lestrade had to get used to my crassness." Sherlock explained. "Why is it that you seem so intent on hearing how I deduce things?"
"Well, I got a glimpse of the result, it's selfish really, I was so entranced by you listing off facts and then telling me the story of a person's life, even though it was my own. I never hid my past, never openly talked about it either but you knew, from looking at my hands of all things."
"Wait, I deduced your past, Give me your hand, you are almost impossible to deduce by just looking at you." Sherlock demanded his hand once more. "I know more about your brother than I do you." John laughed, "What?"
"You demanded my hand the last time too." And John gave Sherlock his left hand, and it twitched a bit. "Sorry" as Sherlock examined his hand once more this time only taking a few seconds before asking for the other one.
"So you know what I deduced from your hands"
"Yes, most of it. I don't know what you can tell from the new scars."
"Did you want to hear my deductions?"
"Yes, I would."
"So starting from yesterday, your hair cut and the way you hold yourself says military, your conversation said you trained at Bart's, Army doctor. Your face is tanned but not above the wrist, you have been abroad but not sunbathing. Your limp is really bad when you walk, but you don't ask for a chair and you stand like you forgotten about it, so it is at least partly psychosomatic. That says the original injury was Traumatic, Wounded in action. So you have been to either Afghanistan or Iraq. You have a psychosomatic limp, so you have a therapist. Your phone" John automatically hands over his mobile. "Tells me about your brother, it's expensive, email enabled, MP3 player. You are looking for a flat share and wouldn't waste money on this, it's a gift then. The scratches, not one, many over time, this phone has been in the same pocket as keys and coins. You wouldn't treat your luxury item like that so, previous owner. Clearly a family member, you know that deduction already"
"The engraving"
"Wouldn't be your father, this is a young man's gadget. You're a war hero who can't find a place to live; unlikely you have extended family, especially one you're close to, so brother it is. Now Clara who's Clara, three kisses means romantic attachment, the expense of the gift says Wife not Girlfriend, must have given it to him recently this phone is only 6 months old, marriage in trouble. Only six months old and giving it away, if she left him he would have kept it, sentiment, people do that, but no he wanted rid of it so he left her. He gave the phone to you that mean he wants to stay in touch, but you won't go to him for help that says you have a problem with him, maybe you liked his wife, and maybe you don't like his drinking."
"How can you possibly know about the drinking?"
"Shot in the dark a good one though, the power connection has scratches around the edge of it. Every night he goes to plug it in to charge but his hands are shaking. Never see those marks on a sober man's phone; never see drunks without them."
"That was remarkable, truly extraordinary" John exclaimed as they neared Brixton. And John felt nervous about seeing Lestrade again.