Hello! Sorry about how long it's taken me to put this up, I've had a bit of a busy last few days. I had to do some last minute stuff for a baby shower and then fireworks yesterday and today is the 4th so it's been hectic! Also, I had someone ask the ages because it might be a bit confusing. Basically, from 1993 Sherlock is 15 and John is 17. John is about to go to Uni and Sherlock is going into Year 11. Amy is from 2012 (at about the same time she's with the Doctor is seasons five-six) and is about 23.

After two days passed, John was finally released from the hospital, and the four travelers were making their way back to the TARDIS. In that time John's leg and face fully healed. He was given two special creams: one that stitched the skin properly, and one that removed all scarring. He was pleased that he wouldn't have to explain any new scar to anyone, but he wanted desperately to leave the hospital, mostly so that he could wander into the depths of the TARDIS and escape the worried, anxious looks and stares from his three friends. And possibly get the chance to sort out this new relationship with Sherlock, whatever it was. It confused him beyond belief, one day Sherlock was attached to his hand, his arm, his hair. Anywhere he could keep his hold onto. And the next he became oddly distant, frequently leaving the room to take walks around the hospital. He wasn't going to pry though, he knew that if Sherlock wanted to talk about it with John, he would.

But John was not the only one confused by Sherlock's actions. Amy had told the Doctor of Sherlock's small outburst in the hall and of Sherlock's true feelings for John. She knew that he wouldn't be upset with her for telling the Doctor, and that he most likely had secretly hoped she would that he way wouldn't have to be the one to do it. When Sherlock began walking around the hospital more and more frequently, the Doctor began pacing about John's hospital room, arms crossed and occasionally wiping one hand over his mouth and chin. Amy kept an eye on the three of them as best she could, tracking how long Sherlock's walks lasted, making sure they all slept and ate, and checking on John to make sure he was recovering properly. She just wanted to get out of there so that things could go back normal- well, their kind of normal.

Sherlock's mind was at war with itself. His Mind Palace was crumbling from the destruction of his own thoughts, he would soon have to rest and rebuild the more important sections. He just wanted John to be safe, but if he had to choose between risk losing him in order for him to gain that safety or keeping him and getting him injured again or even killed, which was more important? Sherlock was a selfish being by nature, but since John had entered his life, he had slowly become Sherlock's main priority. Other than the conversation he had with Amy, he stayed silent while the four were in the hospital. When he found he wanted to say something to John, he left the room. He didn't want anyone to try and influence his decision until he wanted them to. But they were now re-entering the TARDIS and he had yet to make a decision. John's safety was the most important thing, surely. But would he be able to forgive Sherlock for leaving him home while Sherlock went off with the Doctor and Amy?

Of course there was always one other option. They could both go home, let the Doctor go off with Amy, let them have their own adventures. That would be a last resort option, because as much as he wanted John safe, he wanted to stay with the Doctor, for as long as he could.

There was one last thing that Sherlock had yet to take into consideration. He looked to his friend, raking his eyes across John's face, neck, torso and legs, and back up to his face meeting the startlingly, green eyes. He wondered briefly how long John had been staring at him, how long he had been staring at John, where they were, who was with them.

"Doctor, would you mind if I choose where we go next? I have a rather specific place that I want to go." Amy broke through his thoughts, making him break eye contact with John. He took in his surroundings. They were in the control room, Amy sat in a chair across the room, the Doctor ran about the controls pressing random buttons and pulling almost every lever twice. John was standing in front of him, still staring at him from barely an arm's length away, leaning against the stairway railing. They must have only walked into the TARDIS less than three minutes ago. He caught John's eye again and smiled causing John to flush and looking away, a small smile playing on his lips.

"Of course, Amelia, we can go where ever you like." Amy giggled when the Doctor bopped her on the nose."Well see, we haven't got any milk. And we haven't got Rory. So I thought, why not pop to Cardiff and pick up both?"

"Amy!" Rory called out to her, and broke into a run, swopping her into her arms. She kissed him smiling and laughing, as her spun her around. "It's been three month's since I last saw you. I missed you." He said, resting his forehead on hers.

"I know, I missed you too. Sorry it's taken so long, we had to pick up these two and battle some pirates." Amy said, separating herself slightly to show him Sherlock and John, but Rory saw someone else first.

"Doctor!" He quickly let go of his wife and hugged the Doctor.

"Rory the Roman! Good to see you! Right, well I'm off the get the milk."

"Why does he call you that?" John asked, confused, after the Doctor runs off.

"Call me what?" Did none of the others hear him call Rory a Roman?

"A Roman."

"Oh, uh, well I died and I came back as a Roman."

"You died?" John just stared at him, eyes wide in disbelief.

"Oh for goodness sake John, it's not that much of an accomplishment he's died six times." Sherlock snapped out as Amy began laughing, knowing what was about to come.

"Hey, two of those were in a weird dream-world, one of them was a hallucination and one of them I only had to pretend to die. So I've really only died twice, thanks." Amy's laughter rang louder and Sherlock rolled his eyes, smirking. "Amy, it's not funny! I died!" John could do nothing but stare between the three of them. They were kidding, right? He looked to Sherlock, but he was running off after the Doctor.
"Doctor!" He looked behind him to see Sherlock running out to him. "I want to talk to you about something, figured I'd help you get the milk as well. The stores a short distance away." Sherlock had planned for this and took a quick look at a map before they had left the TARDIS.

"Ah, Sherlock, always two steps ahead." Sherlock smiled, but it faltered slightly.

"Doctor, I have to ask you about something."

He thought back on the conversation he had with the Doctor for what could have been the millionth time.

"Doctor, will you do something for me?"

"Yes, of course, what is it?"

"Bring John home." The Doctor stopped walking, staring at Sherlock for a long time before answering.

"No. Sherlock, no. I won't bring him home unless he wants to." The Doctor started walking again, frowning deeply.

"Doctor, please, he's not safe here! He's not safe with me! I can't lose him Doctor! You know what that's like! I know you do." The Doctor stopped walking again, turning slowly to face Sherlock.

"What did you say?"

"You've lost people too, many times, people you wanted to look out for, protect. But one was different, and wouldn't let you. Who did you lose, Doctor? In the Library all that time ago, who was it? Someone important, to both you and Amy, a friend. But who?" Sherlock was never one to mince words, the Doctor frowned slightly.

"Yes, she was a friend. And so much more than a friend. Someone I trust with my life, someone I would die for again and again; as long as I can take her pain with me. And I know those feelings are mutual."

"Sentiment, Doctor. It's overriding your logic." His tone harsh, he had never acted this way to the Doctor before, and the frown deepened.

"No, Sherlock. That's just love. She loved me, and she died for me. And one day, I will die for her for the same reasons." For a moment confusion flickered across Sherlock's feature before the stony, detached demeanor returned.

"What are you trying to say, Doctor?"

"I'm saying, go to John. Tell him you love him before it's too late." The Doctor said quietly before turning back to the store and walking away. As he was opening the door, Sherlock spoke again.

"Wait, Doctor! What did she say, what did she do, to gain that level of trust?" The Doctor looked at him over his shoulder, a sad smile on his face.

"She told me my name. Just my name." And he walked into the store, not bothering to look for which direction Sherlock walked off to.

To Sherlock, it had been a completely useless conversation. He already knew that he would die for John and that he trusted him more than anyone else, more than Amy even. And he was certain that John felt the same way. But maybe Amy and the Doctor were right, it might be best to ask John how he would feel about it. He looked to his friend. He was leaning against a stone wall, across from where Sherlock sat on a bench. Amy, Rory and the Doctor went off to find dinner somewhere, leaving John and Sherlock alone for the first time since they were on the pirate ship. Would John be upset with this? Most likely yes. Should he soften it with compliments? Not happening. He'd just come right out with it.

"John, I must ask you something, of the utmost importance." John looked up at him, smiling, and slowly closed the short gap between them.

"Yeah, what is it?"

"Would you hate me completely if I sent you home?"

"I- what? What are you talking about Sherlock?" Smile gone, fists clenching at the sides. His face remained calm, but Sherlock knew there was anger and betrayal hidden beneath.

"I think that it's safe for you to travel with us and I would prefer if you went home."

"What the hell is this about? You expect me to just, just go home! Act like everything is fine, sit pretty and wait for your sorry arse to come back so that you can tell me all about the wonderful adventures you've had? No. No, I mean Jesus Sherlock, I actually thought you- no, forget it. I'm not going back. Not alone." Sherlock had expected him to be angry, that was a given, but he had not prepared for John to be hurt, to feel betrayed. He watched John start to walk away and, for the first time in years, was at a loss for words. What could he say to make this right? John stopped, turned and began walking towards him again.

"You know, Sherlock, the last couple days you've been acting weird and I dealt with it fine because I thought you were working up the courage to tell me- to say how you. Just." John shook his head and wiped his face with his palm. Sherlock's eyes met John's and his breath caught. John was expecting him to confess his feelings for him. Was it obvious? Was the kiss he placed on John's temple too much? Did John know that he had slept on Sherlock at the hospital, that Sherlock had never let go of his hand while he was asleep, that he had placed small pecks on John's head? He had to make this right, he couldn't lose John. But he already was, John was turning, ready to walk away.

"John, I-"

"No just shut up Sherlock! Okay? Just don't." He said, jabbing a finger at Sherlock's chest. "I've read it all wrong, haven't I? You're just trying to get rid of-" Sherlock grabbed John's hand, intertwining their fingers and John cut off suddenly, his mouth agape. Sherlock pulled him into a tight hug and kissed each of his temples.

"John, john, john. You've got it all wrong. I would never get rid of you. I'm not trying to leave you or make you unhappy. I'm just scared. Scared of losing you, and of you getting hurt. Please understand that." He spoke quietly, slowly, into John's ear, rubbing small circles into his back. John's hand clung to Sherlock's hips, pulling them closer. "I'm sorry, John. Please forgive me." John froze in his arms, looking up into Sherlock's eyes before nodding into his chest. He had never heard Sherlock apologize in their five years of friendship. John smiled. "Come along, John, let's get some dinner."