John
I tighten my neck tie, it's going to be a long day. Sunday's always are. I straighten my jacket and fix my shoe laces before heading downstairs to get my coat. If I'm lucky I can slip out before Sherlock gives me a hard time about going to church. I ease open the door and feel around for my coat. Damn. Left it downstairs.
"John?" Damn.
"What Sherlock?"
"Where are you going?" I poke my head in,
"Church. Why?"
"Is it Sunday already?" He sits up and does a quick calculation. "Dull."
"Yeah, thanks. I'm going to go now." I retreat down the stairs again, praying that he won't follow me.
"John wait."
"What Sherlock?"
"Do you believe what you go to church for?"
"What?" I turn to look at him. Either he's questioning my faith, or he's questioning God.
"Do you believe in God?"
"Without a doubt."
"Why?"
"Sherlock, I'd love to talk about this right now, but I've got church and I need to leave right now to get there on time. If you absolutely must finish this conversation, get your coat and come with me."
"Really? You'd let me come to church with you?" I knew I shouldn't have said anything.
"What's to stop you?"
"Let me think about it." I grab my coat and pull it on,
"You've got five minutes." I open the door and step out into the street to hail a cab. The door behind me opens and Sherlock waltzes out, coat flaring behind him. "I see."
"What?"
"Nothing."
"So you believe in God."
"That's just a statement."
"And here's the question, Why?"
"I should have died in Afghanistan, but I didn't. Why is that?"
"Why do you think?" I glance out the window.
"Maybe I was needed for a bigger purpose. I don't think my time had come yet."
"So you don't think anything is chance?"
"I'm not sure. I think that some things are predestination, but some aren't."
"Oh. So would meeting me be predetermined?"
"Possibly. I must have done something really bad to be punished like this though." He nudges me,
"I'm not really that bad am I?" I smile at him,
"Not really." The cab stops outside of the modest church building. I pay the cab driver and go for the door. Sherlock hasn't said a word for a while now. "Do you believe in God?" The question has been nagging me for a while. Does he believe in God? Could a man like Sherlock Holmes have room to believe in God? Does he even care? He looks at me oddly for a minute as I take my seat in the pew. Back row, just as usual. He leans to my ear so as not to disturb the other worshipers.
"I don't know."
"What do you mean you don't know?"
"I don't know if I believe in God. I want to, but the idea is absurd."
"The belief that a higher being made us is absurd?"
"Yes. My life so far? I don't know. I'm just not sure I believe in God."
"You aren't sure?"
"No. Do you want me to leave?" He looks like he doesn't want to leave, and it's Sunday. I can't just make him go home and stay there. I can't just say, 'I asked you to come to church with me but since you don't believe in God, you can't stay. Go back to the flat'. That's rude. Who knows, maybe he'll learn something. He gets up to start to leave,
"No. It's fine. Stay." He smiles and takes his seat again.
"Thank you John."
"It's my pleasure." He smiles again.
"It's been years since I've been to church."
"What happened?"
"I just didn't go anymore."
"Lost faith?"
"I don't think I ever had it."
"Ah." The first hymn. I wonder if Sherlock can sing. I know he plays the violin, really well too, but can he sing? I've never heard him sing before. This should be interesting. I open the hymn book and turn to the appropriate page and start to sing,
"Abide with me. Fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens. Lord with me abide!
When other helpers fail an comforts flee,
help of the helpless, oh, abide with me!"
The second verse is my favorite, so it's a pleasant surprise when Sherlock starts to sing with me.
"Swift to it's close ebbs life's little day.
Earth's joys grow dim; it's glories pass away."
He's actually got a nice voice, and he manages to stay on key. Today's full of surprises.
"Change and decay in all around I see;
O thou who changest not, abide with me!
I need thy presence ev'ry passing hour.
What but thy grace can foil the tempter's power?
Who, like thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Thru cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me!"
It's such a beautiful song, just a good way to start the meeting. I lean back contentedly and Sherlock does the same.
"If you want me to go John you can just say something."
"No Sherlock. Really. Stay. I want you to stay."
"I know when you're lying John." I'm not lying now, I want him to stay. I think it'll be an interesting experience for both of us. Maybe this will convince Sherlock that God is real. Who else could have introduced such an unlikely pair? Only God. And only God could make it last this long.
"I'm not lying. Now shut up and pay attention."
"My soul doesn't need saving John."
"And I don't need to stay in our flat. So shut up. You might hear something you like." He scoffs,
"As if."
"If you're going to act like this you can leave, but I want you to stay. I like company when I go to church. Especially today. It's refreshing." He frowns but shuts up. At least for a little while.
"What's the name of that song John?"
"It's called 'Abide With Me'. Why?"
"It's a nice song. I like it. Will you sing with me if I play it when we get home?"
"Absolutely. Now you need to shut up or I'm going to tape your mouth shut. I'm trying to listen." He nods and leans his head against the wall, listening to the meeting. Sunday divine.