Hey, sorry about the late posting. My internet at home was being strange so I couldn't get on to the website. Now it's all good, so enjoy!
John's eyes fluttered open a few minutes before his alarm was due to go off. The air around him was still and quiet, still not knowing what would be happening that day. Clothes were put on slowly and calmly, as John tried to remain composed. Sherlock had not gone to bed last night, obviously unable to sleep. Instead, he spent the night playing his violin lightly and making many batches of tea, keeping his mind off the main point of his worries. John found him in the morning, dozing in his armchair with a mug of cold tea in his lap. Too many sleepless nights recently had finally caught up with him, and now he couldn't stay awake. John put his hand on Sherlock's knee, and the napping detective snapped upright, trying to look as if he weren't sleeping.
"John!" he yawned "you're up!"
"Sherlock, you look awful. Get some more sleep while I prepare breakfast, ok?"
Sherlock usually would have resisted, but he was already half asleep, so he let himself be dragged up to John's bed. Before going back down, John went to wake Hamish in his room. He warned the little boy to be quiet, and brought him downstairs. The look on the kid's face was so innocent, so pure. He knew nothing about what was happening, and would likely never understand it. With this thought, John busied himself and made eggs and bacon. Today was an important day, worthy of a nice meal.
After a bit of a late breakfast, Sherlock, John and Hamish got ready to go out. John hailed the cab this time, because Sherlock was busy 'not crying'. The cab took them to the airport, where John pulled his big suitcase and Sherlock nervously carried the smaller carry-on bag and their small son. When they entered, they saw the Scotland Yard team and Mrs. Hudson waiting inside. Together they went to have a coffee, since it would be the last time in a while that any of them would see John. The conversation was light at first, but then it began to turn to what would be happening where John was going, the war.
Tears pricked in almost everyone's eyes as the time grew nearer for John's departure. Everyone hugged, and promises were made. John promised everyone he would do his best to keep in touch, and Sherlock promised to take care of the child. Mrs. Hudson promised to take care of Sherlock, and to make sure the baby was never in any danger. Lestrade promised to keep Sherlock busy on cases, and Anderson and Donovan promised to never bring up John's leaving to get a rise out of Sherlock. In the last minutes, all the held back tears were shed and all the goodbyes were said.
John walked through the security gates, knowing that he might never see any of those faces again. The whole flight was a blur, although over half was spent red-faced and teary. People shot him questioning glances, but he was too preoccupied to notice or care. The sound of life was dulled and his reflexes were slowed. All of his defenses were down. Reality seemed like a far away universe.