A/N: Walter Donovan is from 'Indian Jones and the Last Crusade'. Yeah, I know the timeline is a little messed up for the Nazis but humor me.

"I can see why you were having such an issue translating this." John rubbed his chin and stared harder at the hieroglyphics before him.

"Let me see." Sherlock crouched down and pushed his way into John's personal space. John blinked a few times in surprise but didn't move away.

"It could possibly be something about rebirth..." Sherlock's eyes narrowed as he concentrated harder.

"That's plain to see but why are they writing that on a pillar out there and not in the main chamber?" John's eyes shifted over to glance at Sherlock.

The boy let out a long breath and steepled his hands under his chin. It was becoming a recognizable pose and John smirked at the sight of it. Suddenly remembering that they weren't alone, John looked over his shoulder to ask Mary what her opinion on the marks.

He opened his mouth but no words came out. Her smile was wide and her eyes glittered. Mary's eyes darted over to Sherlock for a moment before she raised a eyebrow at him.

A blush warmed John's skin. Is it that obvious? John offered her a weak smile and nothing else. If she wanted to make assumptions than let her. Oddly he wasn't bothered by it. He turned back to Sherlock and they continued with their translations.

"How's it going, boys?"

Sherlock and John stopped their conversation at the sound of a new voice. John turned to see Adler smiling at the both of them. John nodded once in greeting before standing up and dusting off his hands.

"And who might you be?" She smiled seductively as Sherlock stood up.

"Sherlock Holmes." He didn't offer a hand and Adler didn't seem offended. Instead she smiled even wider at his look of complete distain.

"Sherlock?" She seemed to be trying to hold back a laugh. "I believe Prof. Moriarty has mentioned that name once or twice."

Sherlock rose to the bait. "Oh, really? He has? I'm sure the two of you have lovely stimulating conversations."

Before Sherlock could say anymore, John interrupted him. "Yes, we met with Prof. Moriarty earlier. Tell me, what's he doing here and not a lecture hall in England?"

"It's been a while since he was out in the field and he plans on authoring a new book on reincarnation...so here we are." Adler crossed her arms. She locked eyes with Sherlock, despite the fact that she was answering him and John was surprised to see the boy blush.

"I would wish him good luck but I know he doesn't need any with such fine people at his disposal." Sherlock's words dripped of sarcasm.

Still Adler did not raise to the blatant example of rudeness. John wondered if Sherlock treated all woman with such aloofness. Remembering how he had treated Molly he supposed it was true. He must be a riot at all the parties. John pressed his together to keep a laugh for escaping.

Before Sherlock could say anything else, Lestrade was running up to them. "I'm glad I found you guys." He stopped short. "Greeting." He bowed to the two women. "I thought you were..." Lestrade faltered. He had mistook their genders because of their state of dress. The curator blushed slightly in embarrassment.

After quick introductions. Lestrade told them that the police had arrived and they wanted to talk to them.

"Sorry, Mary. I guess we'll have to finish with the translations later."

"No worries. I think I understand the part that confused me before." She gave him a warm smile.

"Ms Adler."

She smiled at him but her eyes lingered on Sherlock as she said her good-byes. For some reason he was extremely happy that Lestrade had arrived. John hadn't liked the predator way that Adler had been eyeing Sherlock. Would she try anything? John tried to tell himself that that was ridiculous...Even if his preference is men, there is no denying that she is an extremely attractive woman.

She had a seductive air and John was sure that Adler had tempted many men no matter what their orientation. He keep his eyes straight ahead and did not let them linger over to Sherlock. The last thing I need is that bloody git reading my thoughts.

They reached the temple and John squinted his eyes to adjust his vision to the dull light. Samra and Mycroft were already in the chamber along with two people that John didn't recognize.

"Ah, Sherlock, Dr. Watson. So happy you could join us." Mycroft tapped his umbrella and sounded as if he was less than pleased to have been dragged from the Sudan to show the police around a dark and dirty temple.

"Hello, gentlemen. My name is Sally Donovan and this is Anderson."

"Donovan?" John was sure he had heard that name before. The American? The Holy Grail? He had read about the business man's journey and how he had never been found.

"Yeah, I'm the niece of Walter Donovan."

John raised his eyebrows in surprised and tried to not ask the obvious question. Thankfully she answered it for him. "I'm adopted, if you're wondering."

Sherlock ignored the usually greetings and asked, "What have you done with the body? Why was it moved?"

"We need to take it back to the city to be certified." The man who had been introduced as Anderson said with a hint of superiority in his voice.

Oh, shit. This is not going to good well.

"I was still running tests on the wrappings to see what had happened to him! I need that body back now!" Sherlock's voice was practically a growl.

Anderson laughed. "Please. What were you doing? Fancy yourself an amateur detective, do you?"

Without another word, Sherlock stomped out of the chamber.

"That could have gone better." John tried to say lightly.

"No, if anything it should have gone worse." Mycroft sighed. "Come along. I'm sure my baby brother has decided it is necessary to steal the mummy off of the police boat."

John bit back a curse.


The group made their way to the boats. Sure enough Sherlock was engaged in a heated argument with another of the police officers at the boat. John kept his mouth shut. If Sherlock wanted to make a fool of himself and maybe get himself arrested than that was his own choice.

Before Mycroft could say anything, there came a shout from the Sudan. Anderson and Donovan ran off and John trailed behind. It had sounded as if the man had shouted-

"Almaut! Almaut! (Murder!)"

There was no mistaking it, they were yelling murder. What did they find on the ship?

"Wait! You can't go on that boat!" Anderson screamed at Sherlock as the boy went to board the Sudan.

"Why ever not? This is my ship!" Sherlock continued to board. Anderson shot out an arm and grabbed at Sherlock, lurching him back.

"Unhand me!" Sherlock looked furious. He raised his hand to strike the officer and John barely had enough time to grab Sherlock's wrist before he could do something that he was sure to regret.

Sherlock screamed and with one violent movement was out of the grasp of both John and Anderson. He stared at both of them for a moment with a look of complete distain. He turned and stomped away. John let out a shaky breath. Damn, that was too close.

"He's a rude one, isn't he?"

Suddenly John had his own urge to deck the officer. Before he could act on his own impulses, he excused himself to follow after Sherlock. For some reason it seemed important that Sherlock knew John had only stopped him from punching Anderson because he didn't want him locked up, not because he didn't think the prick didn't deserve to be punched.

After a few minutes, John found Sherlock sulking. He was staring off out at the bank and turned to face John only to turn away after giving him a look of disgust.

"What are you doing here?" Sherlock bit out when John went to stand next to him.

Calm, John.

"I thought you might like some company." It sounded rather forced even against his own ears.

"I don't need company and I don't need you." Sherlock spat out.

Okay, he's going to be like that is he. Don't take the bait. Don't take the bait.

"You don't have to act like such an entitled brat." Shit, that wasn't exactly what I wanted to say.

Sherlock turned to him. "Thanks, but I don't need your version of 'company' or 'friendship'."

John knew his mouth was hanging open. "That's uncalled for! I was trying to make sure they didn't lock you up! You ungrateful arse!" John tried to ignore how much Sherlock throwing their new friendship in his face hurt.

"Oh, Captain. Not everyone is going to fall on their knees at the privilege to have you as a friend!" Sherlock's eyes turned dark. "I'm sure Mary is falling all over herself to provide you with friendship."

"Take that back." John was tense with anger. He had almost forgotten how much he had wanted to punch Sherlock when they had first met, now the feeling was coming back in force.

"Why? I have no desire too."

John couldn't say what it was. Hell it was probably just an accumulation of everything. He had just seen that look of distain and 'I'm better than you' smirk one too many times that day and for once there was no one to stop him. John raised his first and it connected with Sherlock's left eye.

John stared in horror had what he had done. Sherlock stumbled back and held a hand over his face. "You just...you-"

"Oh my god, I'm sorry Sherlock. I-"

John had barely a moment to register it before Sherlock's fist connected with his cheek. He had not been expecting there to be that much force behind it and John lost his footing. John stared in shock at the other man. Damn that hurt! Maybe there was more to Sherlock than at first glance because no one could punch like that without some training.

In another flash, Sherlock was tackling him to the sand. John grunted as his body connected with the ground. Sherlock tried to pin his arms to his sides. However where John was smaller he was more compact. Sherlock growled when he saw he was being over powered and used his legs to try and shift their body weight.

Sherlock flipped them over again but John managed to get the taller man under him with another twist of their bodies. They spun around on the sand each struggling for dominance until John finally managed to pin one of Sherlock's arms over his head and clinch his legs together with his knees.

Sherlock struggled under him, refusing to give up that easily. Finally realizing that John wasn't going to let him go, Sherlock's movements stilled slightly. He was still breathing fast and his chest rose in small bursts.

"You have more fight than I thought you would." John smirked as he looked down at Sherlock.

"I practice baritsu."

John furrowed his brows. "But, your hands-"

"My mother didn't want anyone to know I was partaking in such a barbaric practice. She had a special cream made for my hands to make sure they stay unblemished. I'm only allowed to practice twice a week." Sherlock smirked. "Although I rarely follow the last rule. As long as I don't allow my body mass to change too dramatically she'll never notice."

John laughed because there didn't seem anything better to do. Sherlock looked confused for a moment and then joined in with the laughter. It felt good and hearing Sherlock laugh made John feel even better, so he laughed even harder. The tension in his shoulders finally seeped out.

Sherlock smiled up at him. One of those eye crinkling ones that John hadn't seen in far too long. John's lips tugged up. He still hadn't released Sherlock's wrist that was pinned above his head. John chose to ignore that fact till the other man mentioned it.

John searched for something else to say. There had to be more to say before he was forced to get up. Except all that there was to say were words that he wasn't ready to voice. Why are you doing this to me? Why can't I stop it? This isn't going to lead us anywhere good and I still want it more than anything. Do you want it too? What am I to you? Because I don't know what you are to me but you are important. Damn important.

"Watson," Sherlock said softly.

John's eyes refocused and he knew he had been lost in his swirl of complicated thoughts. He looked down at the man underneath him and somehow with it all, he had forgotten that Sherlock hadn't moved either. The younger man hadn't pushed him away or even complained. He just lay under John.

The heartbeat that had slowed down after their tussle sped up again. Sherlock just looked up at him and his eyes became hazy. John gulped and it was thick in his throat. His entire body was coming to life and his lips began to twitch with the need to have Sherlock's mouth on his. Except it wasn't just his lip that twitched and John knew there was no denying that the entire time Sherlock had been underneath him he had been incredibly hard. They both were.

Sherlock's head tilted up and his chin lifted slightly in invitation. John didn't give it another thought as he dropped his head so his mouth could cover Sherlock's parted lips.