"I've got to go, don't touch anything in the fridge!" John yelled, exasperated.
"You're leaving?" Lestrade asked. "We're still going to search the place."
"Sherlock needs me. I have to go." John told him, searching for his gun.
"Well, if he asks you for a light, don't give it to him." Lestrade offered a bit of advice.
"Why would I even have a light, Greg?" John found his gun, slipping it into his pocket and struggling with his shoes.
"I don't know, you could keep one in your jumper." Greg grinned and waved.
John glared. "Don't break anything." He left, catching a cab and repeating the address Sherlock had given him. After they arrived, John paid the cabbie and walked up the stairs to the flat. He knocked on the door.
Sherlock and Jim both heard the sounds of John's footsteps coming up before he knocked. Reluctantly pulling apart, they grinned at each other, Sherlock smoothing his hair and Jim fixing his collar.
"It's open!" Sherlock called. The two genius relaxed on the couch as John came into the room. John, however, became far from relaxed when he saw Moriarty. He didn't draw his gun, because he saw Sherlock looked perfectly at ease, but he did ask in a hard tone, "What is he doing here?"
Sherlock looked at the army doctor. "Have a seat, John, we have something to tell you."
John sat. Looking, bewildered, between the two men, he asked, "Is this the guy you've been seeing?"
"He picks thing up quick, I see why you like him." Jim whispered audibly to Sherlock.
John scowled. "Seriously, Sherlock? Moriarty? You want a psychopath as a boyfriend, is that wise?"
Jim took Sherlock's hand and held it. "Oh, John, of course it's not wise! Nor is it practical. But it is rather perfect, if you think about it. We're two sides of the same coin. No matter how hard we try, we're always connected."
Sherlock nodded. "Precisely. And after Jim contacted me the first time-"
"Our first date!" Jim squealed.
"-we gradually realized a joint union would be conceivable and probably the best option." Sherlock finished.
"By which he means we fell in love, and he's too stuffy to say it!" Jim chuckled, tossing an arm casually around Sherlock's neck.
Sherlock blinked. John watched him carefully, still trying to come to terms with this in his head.
"I do love you." Sherlock smiled that adorable smile at Jim, who pecked his lips before leaning his head on the detective's shoulder.
"See? Nothing to worry about, Johnnyboy, it's all good." Jim drawled.
John nodded slowly. "...Sherlock? Could I have a word with Moriarty?"
Sherlock squeezed Jim's hand as he obliged, getting up and going downstairs.
John sat still for a few seconds, debating the best way to ask what he wanted to know.
"Screw it." He drew his gun, holding it out in front of him, but away from Jim. "What sort of sick game is this, huh? Setting up crimes wasn't enough, now you have to break his heart, too? I don't know how you got Sherlock to fall for this, but I haven't you hear? I know you're up to something and I won't let you hurt him. How could even think of something like this? First poor Molly, and now him? You are one messed-up bastard, You know that?" He shouted angrily.
To his surprise, Jim smiled. "You are certainly protective. That's good... a loyal friend would go to the ends of the earth for those he trusts. But this isn't a game." His voice grew serious. "I do love Sherlock. And I have no intention of breaking his heart. I won't hurt him, John. Do you believe me? I won't hurt him."
John took a step back. Somehow, Jim had moved from the couch to right in John's face, looking deadly serious.
"You don't have to trust me." Jim said. "But trust Sherlock. He knows. He loves me. You heard him just now. Do you think he's capable of saying those words to someone he doesn't believe in, mind, heart and soul? Maybe we've only been on friendly terms for a short while, but that's all the time people like us need to understand. There's no backing out. There's no changing our minds. And there's no breaking our hearts." Jim stared at John, letting his words sink in.
John clutched his gun. Jim noticed the movement, smiling once again and seating himself back on the sofa. "Is that all?" He asked, examining his nails. "I'd like to see my boyfriend again."
John tucked the weapon away again. Peering at Jim curiously now, he called, "Okay, Sherlock, come on in!"
The detective walked in cautiously, glancing at John as he sat beside Jim, snaking an arm around the smaller man's waist and holding him close. "Well?"
John took a breath. "I suppose I can't really do anything to stop this, much as I distrust Moriarty, but he seems to have convinced me that, if nothing else, you know what you're doing and if it falls to shit I'll be there to put a bullet in his skull. So, I guess this is okay, but I don't want to hear about your... exploits or anything, because I'll be sick. Now I'm going to go and make fun of Lestrade and his team because I need to take my mind off the fact I just agreed to letting my best friend date the most dangerous man in pretty much the world. Sherlock, buy tea on your way home, we're out." And with that, he stood and walked out.
Sherlock and Jim listened to his footsteps as he walked down the hall and out the door. When they heard him leave, both of them simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief.
"Well, that went well." Jim observed after a heavy silence.
They both broke out laughing.
"Lestrade, you can leave now." John said as he entered 221B. There were cops all over the flat, mostly gagging at various grisly experiments.
"We haven't finished." Greg told him. "Sorry, but we can't leave."
"Yes you can. I know why Sherlock's seemed happier lately, and it isn't drugs." John sighed, looking around at all of the people.
Lestrade looked at him. "Really? I'm glad to hear it. What is it?"
John made a face. "It's his... boyfriend."
The room sort of stopped. Those who had heard John just froze in their tracks, and those who hadn't copied because they didn't know what was going on.
"The Freak has a boyfriend?!" An annoying voice asked. "Is it you?"
"What... when did he get here?" John asked, spluttering. "I swear he wasn't here when I left."
Lestrade sighed. "He showed up as soon as he heard we were having a drugs bust. Apologies, John. Anderson, keep moving! In fact, pack it up, we're leaving!"
Anderson glowered. "No but really, is it you?" He repeated, snickering.
"Course it's not me!" John denied. "I'm not gay!"
Lestrade yelled at Anderson again and the man slunk off to collect his supplies. The rest of the team did the same, packing up their things and whispering to each other.
After a few minutes, Lestrade asked, "So, um, who is it then?"
John paused. "Ah... some bloke."
"You've met him, then?" Lestrade checked.
"Yeah, he seems nice." John was uncomfortable discussing this. "Maybe Sherlock ought to tell you."
"Alright." Lestrade signaled to the team. "Come on then, we've all got work to do somewhere else!"
On his way out, Lestrade told John, "Hey, have Sherlock call me. I'd like to meet this guy."
"Can do, Greg." John waved as they left.
Sighing, he dropped into his chair. At least his leg was feeling well. The excitement of the day wasn't all bad. He closed his eyes for a doze.
Sherlock left Jim's flat, parting with a long kiss to Jim and a nod to Sebastian, who had returned earlier. He stopped by Tesco's and bought tea, then returned to 221B.
He saw John napping in his chair. Smiling, he set the tea in the kitchen and woke the doctor.
"Wha...?" The man asked, opening his eyes.
"You didn't look very comfortable." Sherlock said, laying on the couch and picking up his laptop.
John shook a crick out of his neck. "No, I wasnt. How was... Jim?"
"Jim's good." Sherlock said. Then he looked at John. "I'd like to thank you for caring about me enough to threaten him, and also for trusting me enough to let me stay with him."
"It's really not my place to tell you who you can or can't date, Sherlock-" John started, but Sherlock cut him off.
"No, it really isn't, but your opinion still means a lot to me because you are my best friend, and I think that gives your voice weight in situations like these. Thank you for not making me choose and also for not shooting Jim. That would have been not good." Sherlock quirked a lip.
John chuckled. "Hey, as long as he doesn't actually burn your heart out, I think I can get used to it."
"Good." Sherlock went back to his laptop.
John picked up a book nearby and started reading. Then he thought, "Oh god, what will Lestrade say?"
Sherlock laughed.
Remember to review, you guys, and let me know if I should continue this! I'm debating whether to end it here or to write in NSY's and Mycroft's and Molly's reactions. Tell me what you think!