I'm so sorry this took so long but I've had loads of work to do towards my GCSEs which caught me out slightly.

I have the next chapter planned out in my head already and that's the bit that takes longest so hopefully it will be up soon.

I'd really appreciate some reviews, guys. Just so I know that I'm heading in the right direction. If you have any ideas for me, they're really welcome!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with Sherlock.

John awoke to the continuous buzzing of the doorbell. He couldn't help wonder if he had been told whether or not to answer, or whether there was a secret ring, or anything.

"Don't be stupid, John. There are multiple police officers surrounding the house and down the street. Anybody that hasn't got permission to be here wouldn't be allowed within spitting distance of you." The doctor continued to battle with his instincts as he approached the door.

His hand graced the handle and waited for a moment before gently persuading the door towards his chest and poking his head through the narrow gap.

"Oh, you hung around then." John sighed with a slight sense of relief, but also frustration. Mycroft elegantly shimmied his way past the smaller man. "Come on in why don't you." John pushed the door closed reluctantly. "What have I done to deserve the pleasure of seeing you again so soon, Mycroft?" John, however, did not look too impressed.

"I'm here to discuss my brother. Now, for a long time I have suspected you to be an item, and I am glad someone has finally managed to get him to act… like a human being, but…" John cut him off.

"Sherlock and I… we're not… we're not a cou… we're not… together. What you witnessed earlier was a… mistake… on both of our parts." John hung his head but not conspicuously enough for Mycroft to notice.

"Nevertheless, no one, as far as I am concerned, which is quite a way I'll have you know, has ever even got that far with him. I don't mean to pry or intrude on your… feelings or… intentions, but remember that it is not in his nature and I would hate for his concentration to be… compromised." John was taken aback by this comment, especially as he thought he saw Mycroft wink out of the corner of his eye, but he couldn't be sure. Did he mean Sherlock's concentration on the cases or on John?

The smaller man stood straight, trying to level out the height difference of the two. John stared just over Mycroft's shoulder into mid-space for a moment before realising what he was doing and snapped himself back into reality, but even that snippet of time gave him a chance to think. "I understand."

Mycroft frowned. "You do? That's remarkable because I hadn't even finished with what I was saying, In fact I hadn't finished making my point…" John grabbed his coat off the hook just behind him and shoved past the taller, and larger, man. Mycroft stumbled back marginally as he did so. "Oh, okay… where are you going?"

John must have not heard what the elder man had said as he jogged away from the house. He ran towards the car parked a few houses down and jumped in. "Take me to the station."

The policeman in the driver's seat turned his head and looked shocked. "Sir, I recommend you go back to the house where we can protect you."

"You mean to say that I won't be protected in a police station where there are lots of policemen?" John's eyebrows lifted in expectation of backchat.

"Sorry, sir. To the station." The army doctor couldn't help but admit that he felt a little smug at what he'd just achieved. He almost expected a salute.

The twenty-five minute journey felt more light twenty-five hours to John as he thought over what he would say and do when he got to Sherlock. Would he talk to him, hug him, kiss him or punch him… who knew? All he did know was that they were going to talk and get their feelings about each other clear and in the open.

At long last, the car pulled up outside the police station. John flung the door open and jumped out, sprinting to the doors. He passed an officer on his way that quickly recognised John and caught his attention.

"Sir, are you looking for Sherlock?" The officer's eyebrows knitted.

"Yeah, do you know where he is? He said he'd be here." John looked expectant of an answer.

"D.I. Lestrade and Sergeant Donovan have followed him to a hostage's house. I don't know which one but if you ring D.I. Lestrade I'm sure he'd be more than happy to tell you. Mind you, this is Sherlock he's dealing with so I may need to withdraw my last comment."

"Okay, cheers." John turned back around and jumped into a cab, ringing Lestrade as he did so.

Twenty minutes later, he was walking up to a house where the door was wide open and Lestrade and Donovan were attempting to haul a struggling, and succeeding, Sherlock out of the front door.

"Sherlock, what the hell? What are you doing?" He rushed over to his flatmates side and batted the two police officers away. "I know he can be a dick but is this really necessary?" John raised his eyebrows. Eventually he ignored them and looked down at Sherlock. "I've been chasing around London looking for you. We need to talk."

"Someone's in the dog house." Donovan chipped in.

"I'm not angry, just a little confused. I'm too happy to be angry." John seemed nervous, out of breath and overall confused.

Sherlock grasped John's arm and scurried to the pavement. "Are you okay? You seem… high."

John frowned a little. "I suppose that's a reasonable assumption, but no, I'm not. I'm very aware of what I'm doing and I have not had any drugs or alcohol."

"Right… okay. As long as we have that cleared up. What are you doing here?"

John breathed out deeply, preparing himself for what he was about to say. He looked deeply into Sherlock's eyes, getting lost in the deepness of his naivety to emotions and just reality in general. John froze and, in reaction to this, so did Sherlock.

John opened his mouth but for a moment nothing came out. He cleared his throat gently and tried again. "Sherlock, since the day I met you, you've fascinated me and left me gaping in awe. I admire you for the way you don't take notice of what people say about you and I take great pleasure in watching you do what you do best. That's why…" His eyes narrowed ever so slightly as if to bring the taller man's face into zoom like a camera. "I love you… and have done since I met you."

Sherlock stared back at his flatmate, his jaw hanging slightly in amazement. He moved towards John as if to embrace him. His mouth ended up next to John's ear as he whispered. "You've no idea how long I've been waiting for you to tell me that."