Sorry, sorry, sorry it's taking so long. Still sorting through my new Supernatural addiction and work has been absolutely insane because we are so short staffed. Every time I get home I want to just sit and do nothing. Hoping this interview I have coming up works out well and I'll be doing what I really love to do and that will give me the motivation to work on this more often. Whelp onward, and please review! It gives me inspiration to write!

Sherlock scanned the sky, pupils blown wide with adrenaline and lightning crackled over his skin angrily. How dare anyone attack him, Sherlock? They would pay very dearly. He turned in time to see the black streak hurtling towards him and just barely dodged out of the way, shooting an attack after the dragon. The lightning blast struck the other dragon in the wing, knocking him off course and sending him spinning. Sherlock tore after the dragon who was trying to correct his flight, flapping weakly with his injured wing. Sherlock rocketed towards his enemy and slammed into him at full force, taking the dragon down into the jungle. They slammed into the forest floor, Sherlock pressing a clawed paw over the other dragon's throat. A snarl ripped from his throat and the other dragon started to chuckle in a rasping tone.

'Moriarty', he snarled to himself. His brief moment of surprise gave Moriarty the chance to flip him off, flinging him into a wide tree. Sherlock snarled, baring his teeth and blasting another lightning blast at Moriarty who leaped out of the way. His wing was obviously badly injured, it was hanging at his side, flapping weakly. Sherlock smirked feigning an attack to Moriarty's left and when the dragon lurched the other direction he blasted a shot right to his chest, knocking the black dragon back. Moriarty hit the ground and lay still, wings angled oddly behind him. Sherlock snorted, slamming his paws on the ground in a display of dominance and let a roar escape him. Animal instincts satisfied he took off back towards John, worried about his human.

John was close to drifting off when his branch shook, making him gasp in fear. Sherlock's big head was thrust into his arms, deep purring noises instantly calming him as he stroked the dragon's crest gingerly. Big golden eyes looked up at him, taking in his face and examining his injuries. He chirruped sadly and John shook his head, smiling up at the dragon.

"It's not your fault," he reassured, he leaned his head forward, resting it against Sherlock's broad muzzle. The dragon started shrinking, pulling John into his arms gingerly, wings wrapping around the two of them. He shifted behind the soldier, drawing him into his lap and cradling him gently. John immediately relaxed against him, nuzzling his face into Sherlock's neck. He quickly fell asleep in the warmth of Sherlock's hold, breathing evening out finally.

Sherlock rocked John gently, nuzzling into his shaggy hair. He felt extremely guilty about everything that had happened to his human. It was his job to protect John and he'd done a spectacular job failing at it. He pulled his wings in tighter around them as rain started falling, keeping John dry and warm. It started raining harder, thunder rumbling and making lightning crackle across his skin. He knew his spines along his back would be glowing if he were in his true form and fought the urge to change and go dance with the storm. John grumbled against him, curling up tighter and wrapping a hand around Sherlock's bicep as if trying to keep him close. He didn't know how long they sat there, but the sky darkened further as the storm raged on. John woke at one point and Sherlock helped him take more pain meds and apply more of the burn ointment. The soldier settled back against Sherlock's chest again, but didn't fall asleep, instead watching the raging storm and the crackle of lightning play across the dragon's skin.

"Should we be leaving?" John asked suddenly, followed by a watery sneeze. Sherlock nuzzled against his hair, tightening his wings around them and nodded slightly.

"Can you ride?"

"I'll tie myself on, I'll be okay," John chuckled. He pulled out of Sherlock's hold, crawling across the branch to their packs and Sherlock's harness. He extracted some rope and started tying one end around himself, starting when Sherlock was suddenly standing over him in his dragon form. John noticed his back spines were glowing a deep purple, lightning crackling over him and stared in awe a moment before Sherlock chirruped in concern. John shook his head to clear it and finished tying the rope to himself before working to strap Sherlock's harnesses back on him. Just doing that one task had John breathing heavily, leaning against Sherlock in exhaustion, his leg throbbing. Sherlock chirruped again in concern but John shook his head. "Just give me a minute, I'll be fine." He finally took a deep breath and stepped up into the saddle, swinging himself up quickly. He made quick work of the rope, tying it around the saddle and back to himself snugly and made sure all the packs were secure on the harness, especially the one with the package inside. "Ready," he finally muttered, patting Sherlock's neck affectionately. The dragon chirruped then pumped his wings and they were clearing the tree tops, John immediately getting soaked in the storm. Sherlock quickly made his way above the clouds and up into the clear evening sky and chirruped in concern as John shook, flinging some of the water off of him. "I'm okay," John reassured, zipping his coat up further against the cool wind now that he was soaked through. "Fly as long as you can, I'm fine here." So Sherlock did, taking care to fly as smoothly as possible when John fell asleep across his back. He wanted to get them both back to camp as soon as possible so someone would be able to treat John's injuries.

When John woke again the sun was rising and he realized his coat was almost completely dry. He sat up slowly, rolling his shoulders to release the tight muscles and looked around curiously.

"Is that camp?" he blanched, seeing a group of buildings and tents in the distance. Sherlock chirruped happily, glancing back at him with one golden eye. "You must have been hauling ass for us to have gotten this far." The dragon chortled, looking rather proud of himself as they started descending.

Sherlock landed a good ways away from the camp, not wanting a repeat of their previous fight, but didn't stop as he hit the ground. He galloped along the sandy desert, wings tucking against his sides, and made a series of whistles happily. John clung to the saddle wildly for a moment but quickly adjusted the rhythm of his own body to match the swaying movements of the dragon and grinned at the look of joy on Sherlock's face. The gates were opened for them as they neared and Sherlock didn't slow, blowing by the guardsmen and leaving them cursing in his dust. He chortled in amusement and angled towards the medical tent, sliding to a stop in front of a baffled Mike Stamford.

"John?" Mike stuttered, dropping the rolls of bandages he'd been holding. "What happened to you?" He quickly moved to cut the ropes John had tied himself down with, helping the man down and pulling his arm around his shoulder to help him move into the medical tent. John was sat down on a cot and Mike quickly went to work, cutting away the soiled bandages around his leg. Molly was at his elbow in a second, a bowl of clean water in her hands and clean bandages tucked against her side. Sherlock was in the tent a moment later in his human form, a pair of shorts pulled on haphazardly, and the bag with their package tucked under his arm. He sat the bag next to John and took the spot on the other side of the soldier, pressing into his side gently.

"You okay?" he asked softly when John winced. Mike was scrubbing the burn clean, intent on his work so John allowed himself to lean his head into Sherlock's shoulder a moment.

"I'll be fine," he murmured, patting the dragon's thigh gently. "You got us here so fast there should be hardly any chance of infection." Sherlock smiled in relief, nuzzling his face against John's a moment and catching the eye of Molly who was watching them with a small smile on her face. She quickly looked away, moving to hold a bandage for Mike as he started wrapping. Sherlock put some distance back between his soldier and himself just as the tent flap was opened with a flourish. Bowen stepped in, looking concerned and quickly waved them off as both soldiers struggled to get up.

"What happened?" he demanded, moving to stand in front of John and Sherlock.

"Ambushed by a dragon sir," John answered as Mike finished up his wrapping. "Got hit with a fireball when he attacked. I think he must have belonged to the enemy." Sherlock, who knew exactly who the dragon belonged to, looked down and kept quiet.

"You are one tough son of a bitch Watson," Bowen complimented, reaching out and squeezing John's shoulder in what was meant to be a show of awe and instead had John gasping in pain and Sherlock snarling at the commanding officer. The dragon was wrapped around John protectively, wings curving around the man and glaring at Bowen fiercely enough to make the general step back. Mike tutted John gently about not telling him about the other injury and sent Molly to get fresh water as Sherlock slowly relaxed his hold and helped John pull the shirt over his head.

"Your package is safe and right there," Sherlock grumbled when Bowen still hadn't moved to leave, gesturing at the bag on the cot. "Why don't you take what you came for and go?"

"Sherlock!" John reprimanded even as he was wincing in pain. "Don't talk to him like that!" The dragon dropped his gaze submissively, wings drooping, and pressed his forehead into John's bicep that wasn't currently being worked on.

"It's fine," Bowen chuckled, slinging the bag over his shoulder. "I'll get out of your hair, you need rest and pain meds. Get well soon Watson." John nodded, giving a shoddy salute and turned his attention back to the dragon that was curled against his side pouting.

"You'll get us both in trouble talking to them like that," John said gently, stroking Sherlock's curls. "Just watch that tongue okay?" Sherlock nodded like a scolded child as Mike finished up John's shoulder bandage and gave a nod of pleasure at his work.

"We'll get you some pain meds and you can get some much needed sleep," Mike told him as he took a bottle and syringe that Molly had ready for him. John took the injection without so much as blinking and eased down into the cot gingerly, allowing Sherlock to curl up against him. It didn't take long for the drugs to take effect and he was letting the darkness take him as gentle fingers carded through his hair.