AN: Okay here is the final chapter in which our boys get everything sorted out. Hope you guys like how I've ended this – I rewrote this chapter at least four times before I finally got the "vibe" I wanted. I wanted a happy ending; but I didn't want it to mushy; because that's just not JohnLock. Also - the italicized words are dialogue. There's a good bit in here and I was concerned it might get lost in the other stuff; so hopefully that doesn't throw anyone off. Oh and there will be an epilogue which I should be getting up in a few days – it will probably be rather fluffy.

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I'm praying to Santa to bring me the rights to Sherlock. Until he does so I own nothing.

Sherlock stirred . His head felt like it's been pounded by a hammer. He groaned as he rolled over, stretching out across the bed. There was no one else in bed; he realized.

His foggy mind was slow to understand the relevance of that fact.

Why would there be someone else? Slowly memories from the day before began to seep into his consciousness and he understood. "John!" He shouted leaping out of bed; headache completely forgotten. "John!" he shouted rushing into the living room. "Please be here!" "Joh-" "Sherlock!" the voice came sharply from the kitchen; cutting him off. He spun around to see John; looking equally exasperated and amused; standing there with two steaming mugs of tea. "You're here." He whispered almost disbelievingly. John smiled "Of course I am. I told you I would stay." He moved forward offering one mug to Sherlock; who took it still looking a bit bemused.

"You should sit down." John said gesturing over to the couch.

Sherlock didn't move; he simply asked "Why?" Now John was getting confused.

"Well, I just think you should. You're body still needs to recover from yesterday."

"No. Why are you here?" Now John was thoroughly confused. Hadn't they already covered this? "You asked me to stay last night Sherlock. So I did."

Sherlock let out an irritated sigh. "I know that John. What I mean is why did you come back in the first place?" "Oh; Lestrade called me. He was worried about you, said you weren't taking cases." Something shifted in Sherlock's demeanor. "Oh; so Lestrade sent you to check up on me then." He inquired; his voice strangely cool.

"Yeah, basically." Sherlock nodded his face stony; confusing John even more.

What was his problem? A case of wounded pride or something?

While John was working this over in his mind; Sherlock set his cup down before settling himself on the couch; looking resolutely away from John. "I'm sorry you had to see me like that John. But I'm fine now; you can text Lestrade and let him .I need to get started on the case. You should probably be getting home." John's completely lost; a bit hurt and rather irritated. How can Sherlock just dismiss him like this?

"Sherlock I'm not going anywhere. Not until we talk about last night." He said, unconsciously assuming a military stance and tone. Sherlock leaned back on the couch letting out an irritated huff. "Clearly there is nothing to talk about 'Captain Watson'." He snipped. Now John is just pissed. "What is hell are you on about Sherlock! Of course there is something to talk about. You confessed your love for me last night; or did that slip your brilliant mind?" "I'm quite aware of what I said last night John."

He responded coolly. "It simply doesn't matter." "Of course it does Sherlock! You said you love me; that's kind of a big deal; for normal people at least. Or was it just the drugs talking!" "Of course not John! Even in a drugged state I still have enough of my mental facilities to keep myself from making false confessions."

"So then why are you just sending me on my way? Why don't you want to talk this out? Why did you let me walk out of this flat two weeks ago without objection? Hell, you didn't even seem to care Sherlock!"

Sherlock spoke slowly; as if carefully choosing each word. "I didn't care John. Well, I did just not to the same degree. You were my friend and I was disappointed that you were leaving. But people always leave me John; I'm used to it."

John groaned in frustration; pinching the bridge of his nose. "I still don't understand Sherlock. How did we get from a disappointed friend to drugs and love confessions? You can't fall in love with someone in two weeks Sherlock! Especially when that person isn't in your life!" Sherlock wore his trademark that "Don't be stupid" look as he said

"I didn't fall in love with you in two weeks John." "But you just sai-" "I was already in love with you; have been for quite some time; it just took me two weeks of your absence to realize and admit it." "So what, you spent two weeks missing me so much that you realized you loved me?" "Don't be ridiculous John. You're absence alone was not enough." "Then what Sherlock? Walk me though this because I'm not understanding!"

"Nightmares John. After you left I started to have nightmares about your last day here. Only it was different. You said -" he faltered for a moment before continuing.

"You said I was cold and that I didn't care about anybody. I confess my love to you but you tell me that I am impossible to love. Then there's another one; Moriarty is in it and he torturing you. But he's doing it emotionally; telling you that I don't love you and such then he -" he stops again taking a breath "He blows you up. And I'm screaming and..."

Sherlock trails off his eye clenched shut; like him fighting off tears.

All John's anger has faded away leaving a sort of horror and sorrow at Sherlock's state. He knows about nightmares and how crippling they are.

Just as he starts to speak; Sherlock starts talking again. "I spent days analyzing them; trying to determine if they feeling I experienced in them were true. I realized they where and that I love you. But you left and I thought that meant that the other part of my nightmare were true." He pauses for a moment as if he's gathering up his courage.

"Am I impossible to love John?" He finally whispers so quietly that John almost misses it. That's the last question he ever expected to hear coming from Sherlock's mouth.

But then he never expected a love confession either. Sherlock is sitting there head hung, eyes closed as if he's already resigned himself to the answer he expects.

John moves toward Sherlock and sits down next to him. "No, you're not." Sherlock opens his eyes and sits up in surprise as John continues speaking "Unless I can do the impossible; which I've always thought of as more your area. I do love you; that's why I left. I was utterly convinced that you would never return my feelings and I was drowning in it. But that's also why I came back. Because I couldn't bear the thought that something might have happened to you." "So you left two weeks ago because you loved me and were convinced that I would never love you. While you're gone I come to realize my feelings for you through a series of nightmare and I'm convinced that you could never love me because you walked out two weeks ago; because you love me too much."

John lets out a soft chuckle "We're a right pair of idiots aren't we Sherlock?"

"I believe the term 'spectacularly ignorant' applies." he responds; joining in on the laughter.

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KP