Sherlock
John and I leave the hospital hand in hand. John still has a cast on the lower part of his left leg and arm. His torso wrapped tightly in fresh white gauze since he is still badly bruised and his ribs are still mending from being broken. He also received a nasty concussion that has been slow to heal. Since he still has stitches, the doctor required John to keep the gauze on until he gets his stitches out in a couple of days. This agitated John immensely much to my amusement.
My right hand is also still in a cast, since two of my fingers were broken in my scuffle with the escaped spy. My forearm was sliced deep; all the way to the bone. It'll be another week till they can take the stitches out. The stabbing I had received was more damaging than I had originally thought. It damaged the muscles and nerves around it extensively; the stitches will be out a couple days after the one in my forearm. I also have been instructed to do some sort of physical therapy to build up my strength in my abdomen. Both of us still have faint yellow bruises scattered across our faces and we are both still terribly sore, but John is definitely worse off. Every other step he takes is accompanied by a grunt or a wince in pain. My poor John. He needs to rest.
With my hand still clasped within John's, a raise my other hand and hail a cab. One immediately pulls up and John and I clamber in slowly.
Once inside, John leans his head on my shoulder, exhausted.
"You've got to teach me how you do that." He says, playing with my fingers with his hand like they are something he's never seen before.
I'm slightly thrown off as I'm completely lost and have not the foggiest on what he's talking about.
"Teach you what?" I ask softly, my voice tinged with confusion.
"How you hail a cab so quickly." He responds, looking up at me in amusement. I let out a soft chuckle. "Seriously. At least two pass me before one finally stops."
I lay my head on top of John's, smiling against it.
"Oh, honey it's all in the hips." I respond in an overtly feminine tone, waggling my eyebrows, and snapping my fingers across my face. John bursts out laughing, then inhales quickly with a loud snort. He picks his head off my shoulder and quiets down immediately at the snort. Our eyes lock and we both lose it, collapsing in a fit of laughter. The cabbie gives an agitated grunt and we try to quiet down.
"I can't believe you just said that." John says, biting his lip whilst his eyes water from laughing so hard. "Finger snap in all!"
"Neither can I." I respond trying to pinch my lips from laughing. "I can't believe you just snorted."
"Me, too." He smiles, his eyes dancing with amusement. "It was so loud, I'm pretty sure all of London heard it."
I close the tiny distance between us and lay my lips against his ears. "You haven't heard loud until I'm done with you." I whisper, my deep baritone voice going deeper. John shivers in pleasure as I pull back to look at him, running the pad of my thumb against his lips.
I grasp the back of his neck and pull his lips to mine. Our lips mould perfectly into one another, like they were made to be kissing each other. John's hand snakes around my waist and tugs me closer to him, rubbing small patterns against my hip. With a jolt, I realise what he's doing.
.. .-.. - ...- . -.- - ..-
I love you.
Morose Code. My heart swells with such love for the man. I quickly tap back my response.
.. .-.. - ...- . -.- - ..- - - -
I love you, too.
John smiles against my lips as his hands snake up, wrapping around my shoulder tightly afraid to let go.
Our lips dance with each other; exploring, feeling, and rejoicing in the others touch. So much lies ahead of us. So much left to explore. I can feel excitement flutter through me at the thought as my kiss turns urgent. John quickly catches on and returns it with just as much force. Warmth pools in my stomach as all my sense ignite zoning in on only John as everything else is tuned out.
John.
He makes my world explode in beautiful technicolour. I can feel his touch along my back as my hand clasps the back of his neck and the other high up on his thigh; caressing, stroking. John quivers under my touch so I pull him tighter not wanting to let him go.
"Oi! Knock it off, will ya! This isn't no bloody hotel!" The cabbie shouts at us, causing John and I to break our kiss.
"My apologies." I reply, smoothly whilst still holding onto John's hand.
I look over at my blogger to see him blushing redder than a ripe tomato. I chuckle and pull him closer to me, sliding down on my seat to rest my head on his shoulder. I intertwine our hands and give it a soft squeeze, which John returns immediately and lays his head on top of mine.
The traffic is dreadful today and the streets are packed making our journey home to Baker St a long one. My mind drifts to my pending return, I smile. I have missed home terribly. For the first time in a year I finally feel whole again. The hollowness I had drowned in now filled. I couldn't be more happier.
I sigh contently and feel a flutter of excitement as we get closer and closer to Baker St.
"Excited?" John chuckles, lifting his head to look down at me.
"How can you tell?" I smile, looking up at him.
"You're shaking. It's not cold in here, nor are you sick or anything like that. So, the only thing that explains your tremor is excitement and probably a bit of nervousness." He says nonchalantly.
I pick my head up from his shoulder and gawk at him. My face breaks into a smile as I look at my blogger. "John Watson, did you just deduce me?"
He smiles at me sheepishly with a small shrug. "Yeah. I've been practising. Not a good as you though." He finally says whilst a blush creeps across his cheeks.
I did not think it was possible to love this man anymore, but I just have been proven wrong. My heart has just fallen further into love with John. My John. My blogger. My deducing blogger. I smile at the last bit. I like the sound of that.
I wrap my arms tightly around his neck, pulling him closer. My heart beats painfully in my chest, with the overwhelming love I feel for John. He encompasses me in my embrace, returning it whole heartedly with a small chuckle.
We pull away after a couple minutes, resting our foreheads against each other.
"I love you, John. I love you more than my heart can express." I say closing my eyes and rejoicing in his touch.
John presses a small kiss to my nose, causing pleasant goosebumps to ghost across my skin. "I love you, too. I never want to leave your side ever again. I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
I press my lips against his briefly before pulling back. "I will never leave you again. We have the rest of our lives ahead of us. You and me against the world."
John sighs happily, humming a bit. He looks so tranquil. We sit with our foreheads still pressed together in silence whilst our cab slinks slowly towards home.
My mind drifts to Baker St and Mrs Hudson. I begin to wonder about how to tell Mrs Hudson of my return. How should we tell her that I'm alive. I wonder how she will react to my return...
"We need to think about how to tell Mrs Hudson." John says, suddenly breaking me from my train of thought and seemingly reading my mind.
John sees the incredulous expression on my face a chuckles. "No, I can't read your mind. You just look conflicted and taking into affect of what we will have to do soon. I figured it was about revealing yourself to Mrs Hudson."
"Amazing." I breathe out. It truly is. Now I understand why John was always so captivated by my own deductions. It truly is amazing.
John chuckles and kisses my lips tenderly. "Now you understand." He smiles, whispering against my lips. I nod enthusiastically, causing my raven curls to bounce.
"So how do you want to do this?" John asks.
"I can jump out of a cake." I respond, pursing my lips seriously. John laughs and shakes his head.
"You don't want to give her a heart attack now, do you?"
"Welllll..." I say jokingly, trailing off. John backhands me softly across my bicep. I put my hands up in surrender. "I was just kidding." I laugh.
"What about I go in and talk to her whilst you wait outside. I'll prepare her and then shout for you to come in." He shrugs. It's not extravagant anything. I much prefer the jumping out of the cake one, but it'll do.
"Sounds good." I smile.
We remain in silence and pull up to Baker St a couple minutes later. My heart is pounding painfully in my chest and I small sheen of sweat coats my entire body. I haven been here for a year. Will it still be home to me or will I never feel at home here. What if Mrs Hudson hates me for leaving like I did. Making her and John think I've been dead. Will she hold a grudge or forgive me. I begin to breath quick and heavy, panic setting in.
John sees my panic and pulls me closer, whispering words of comfort to me. He eases my anxiety a bit, enough to calm my erratic breathing. I give him a soft kiss in thanks, which he responds to happily.
"You ready?" He asks. I nod, my heart still pounding painfully.
We step out of the cab and John tosses a couple notes to the cabbie. He grasps my hands an give it a soft squeeze, my shaking hands return it.
We reach the familiar, old door of Baker St with its dark wood stain and brass letters. My hands trail gently across the letters as I feel emotions of sentiment course through me.
"Hey." John says, placing a hand on my cheek. "Everything will be okay. I promise."
I nod unable to speak.
"I'll be back in a couple of minutes, love." He says, softly kissing my forehead. I close my eyes against the kiss and lean into it.
With that John head inside. I press my ear against the door trying to pick up any sound. I hear a muffled knock, followed by the creaky door opening, and Mrs Hudson exclaiming loudly obviously over John's physical state. It quiets down after that. I can still catch onto what John is saying due to his deeper voice, but not Mrs Hudson's as her voice is softer and at a higher pitch.
"I'm fine, Mrs Hudson. Don't worry. I've been patched up." John says, trying to pacify Mrs Hudson's obvious hysterics.
Muffled silence.
"I'll explain everything later, but I need to show you something first."
Muffled silence.
"Yes, yes I know I should have called." John says, exasperated. I smirk at John getting an obvious ear full from Mrs Hudson.
Muffled silence.
"Well..." He trails off, thinking. "Perhaps it's best for you to wait up in the flat."
Muffled silence.
"It's important and it'll be easier to show you upstairs." John begs, trying to persuade her to listen. She sure can be stubborn when she wants to be.
Muffled silence.
"Thank you." John says, releived that she gave in.
I hear foot steps going up to the flat. Two. John is going up with her. The flat door opens and I just hear one set of foot steps up above. Mrs Hudson. I wait patiently as my heart begins to slam against my chest. I hear steps coming back down the stairs, shortly followed by John opening the front door.
"You ready?" He asks, seriously, but encouragingly.
"As ready as I'll ever be." I practically whisper. He nods and takes my hands.
We walk slowly up the steps hand in hand. I dodge the creaky stair boards, nervously. I don't want to alert Mrs Hudson prematurely of my well being, even though I have no idea why. She is going to find out soon anyways.
We reach the flat door and pause. Our eyes lock as we silently speak to each other. I nod and John opens up the door holding his hand out for me not to follow yet.
"Mrs Hudson, I don't want to alarm you. So, please remain calm." John begins.
"Oh no! You're leaving!" She exclaims hysterically, jumping to conclusions. I roll my eyes and smirk whilst John sighs loudly.
"No, Mrs Hudson quite the contrary actually. I have someone I want to show you." He says and motions me to step inside. I take a deep breathe in, holding it there, and step through the door.
My eyes flick around the flat and with a jolt I realise nothing has changed from the last time I was here. My lab equipment lays scattered on the kitchen table. The smiley face with the bullet holes still on the wall. My violin lies in the exact same spot I left it against my stand, with my unfinished sheet music resting on it. All the furniture and books have been unmoved. Not a speck of dust on anything. I feel my throat constrict and my eyes sting. John didn't change anything. He kept the flat exactly how I left it, perhaps a bit cleaner even though that's probably Mrs Hudson's doing. But it must have been so hard for him to remain here with so many reminders of me around. I feel a single tear drip down my face as I turn to Mrs Hudson.
She sits on the couch with her hands pressed firmly against her mouth. She looks like she's in shock. She's paler than a ghost and streams of tears fall down her face. We stare at each other in silence, neither of us saying a thing as we let the surprise sink in.
"Hello, Mrs Hudson." I finally say, my voice strong even though I feel weak inside as I pick nervously at the hem of my pants.
"Sher-Sherlock?" She aske brokenly, her voice cracking. "Is that really you?"
"Yes, it is." I say, walking slowly over and kneeling down in front of her taking her trembling hands into mine.
She whimpers quietly then throws her hands around my neck squeezing hard. I grunt at the force and hesitantly wrap my hands around her. She sobs into my coat squeezing harder. I let out a strained laugh, feeling tears fall down my face.
"Mrs Hudson... I... can't... breathe."
"Sorry, dear." She laughs and pulls away, wiping away her tears. "You're crying." She states, surprised.
"Umm... Yeah. Seem to be doing a lot of that as of late." I say, feeling a blush creep across my face. She's never seen me cry before.
She smiles through her tears, before her expression drops. She brings her hand back and slaps me across the face. Hard.
It surprises me, but then again unexpected it. I put her and John through hell this last year. I deserve it.
"Do you have any idea what you've done to John?!" She shreiks, her hands shaking with anger. "He was a wreck! I was afraid to leave him alone! He almost killed himself because he couldn't cope with you being gone! I almost lost both of you!"
My heart stops and I look back at John. He tried to kill himself... He didn't... he didn't tell me that.
He looks down at the ground and shrugs. Too ashamed to meet my eyes as he picks nervously at his hands.
I stand up and walk slowly over to John. I place my hand on both sides of his forearm and squeeze softly. "Is this true?" I ask, almost inaudible.
John looks up at me with his eyes pulling down sadly at the sides. His eyes full of unshed tears as he nods.
I wrap my arms around him, pulling him close. He exhales a jagged breath and holds me onto me, too.
"How?" I ask, even though I already know.
"Gun." He chokes. "Mrs Hudson walked in just as I was about to do it and stopped me. She threw a worse fit then the one she just gave you." He ends with a chuckle trying to lighten the situation whilst I nod. I was right. I knew he'd use the gun. "I'm glad she stopped me." He adds.
I pull away and look down at him, our foreheads resting against each other. "I'm glad she did, too. I don't know what I would have done if you... succeeded." I say, rubbing the pad of my thumb against his cheek. "Don't ever do that again." I add, seriously. My aquamarine eyes burning into his blue ones.
"Yeah. You, too."
"I would never again."
We stand in the middle of my old flat, peering into each other's eyes. John has his hands wrapped low on my waist whilst one of my hands rub his cheek and the other lies on his back. Mrs Hudson's presence briefly forgotten. I press my lips against his, tenderly. Trying to covey my love and gratitude that he's still alive with a kiss. We break apart when we hear a high pitched squeal from the couch.
We turn to see Mrs Hudson almost bouncing out of her chair in excitement. For an old woman with a bad hip, she's getting some air. Small squeals of excitement escape her lips every so often at the sight of us whilst her eyes shine with new happy tears.
John flushes with embarrassment. Clearly he forgot Mrs Hudson was still here, too. I on the other hand am glad to see her so elated at the sight of us. She always did ship us from the beginning.
"You... John... Sherlock... Together... Really!" She exclaims, unable to finish one sentence before jumping to another. I chuckle deeply and intertwine my fingers with John. He smiles bashfully at her.
"Yes. John and I are together. We..." I stop suddenly and look down at John, questioningly. We haven't really discussed about what we are yet. I hope I didn't cross a line.
John sees my panic and squeezes my hand. "Yes, we are together. We haven't really discussed it, but I thinks it's safe to say that we are boyfriends." John says smiling up at me. I smile back, liking the sound of that.
"That's fantastic!" Mrs Hudson exclaims, standing up an enveloping us into a massive hug. We both laugh and hug her back, our tears mingling with our smiles.
"I'm going to go downstairs and bring up some tea and something to nibble on whilst you tell me everything. I'll be back in a tic." She says, breaking from our hug.
One hour later.
"She's been gone for a while, Sherlock. Should we go check on her?" John asks, snuggled up next to me on the couch with my arm wrapped around his shoulder.
"No, she's fine. She's obviously making more than just a nibble. She'll be up in about two minutes and thirty-two seconds."
Two minutes an thirty-two seconds later.
"Yuhoo!" Mrs Hudson says coming into our flat with a tray full of yummy, delicious food. The smell consumes the air around us making my mouth water. I haven't eaten a lot, more so than I use to. My stomach growls loudly at the sight of the steaming warm food.
"Glad you're hungry, Sherlock. You are looking far too thin. Far too thin." Mrs Hudson says reprimanding me slightly whilst setting the food down on the table in front of the couch. John and I look hungrily at the food. Seafood linguine with yummy three cheese sauce and breadsticks.
"Well go on! Dig in!" She says as we grab our plates and pile the food on high.
We eat in comfortable silence. John finishes off two plates full of pasta whilst I finish my one and Mrs Hudson finishes off half if her's.
I lean against the back of the couch stuffed. I look over at John to see his belly protruding out a bit. I chuckle.
"Are you pregnant over there, John?" I ask, jokingly.
"Think so after that." He smiles.
"What are you? Five, six months along?" I say, poking his belly making a soft bloop noise when I do.
"Piss off." He says, swatting my hand away blushing whilst Mrs Hudson laughs.
I scoot closer to John and lay my head on his shoulder, curling up next to him like a small child. Mrs Hudson sighs contently, smiling at us.
"It's so great having you back. Both of you. It hasn't been the same since you've gone, Sherlock." John and I both nod I'm agreement as she continues. "Now I want both of you to tell me everything." She says, motioning to our wounds. I lift my head off of John's and peer into his eyes. Both of us silently agreeing to start from the beginning.
I jump into the story, explaining everything from the day of my fall to the moments counting up to revealing myself to Mrs Hudson. Both John and Mrs Hudson listen eagerly, asking questions when they have them. I leave out the bit about John and I sleeping in the same hopsital bed and whatnot. No need to go into detail about that. John looked relieved with my ommission. John added his bits of the story here and there. I listen intently as it was the first time I've heard his side of the story.
"What are we going to do about Sebastian, Sherlock? He would have killed John if Mycroft's men didn't show up." Mrs Hudson asks with tears in her eyes.
"No, he wouldn't have killed him. He was doing it to draw mw out. It would have worked if Mycroft's men didn't show up, but Mycroft's people are looking for him. He's unfourtunatley disappeared without a trace." I say, solemnly.
"Are you going to go look for him?" She asks, scared. Clearly she's worried about John and I being in danger.
I look at John and he nod at me, giving me am encouraging smile.
"We will eventually. As you can see, myself and especially John are in no state to search for him right now."
She nods, taking in the information as John snakes his hand in mine and squeezes.
I peer at my blogger and see dark, baggy circles under his eyes. He looks exhausted. I scoot over and motion for him to lay his head down on my shoulder. Much to mine and Mrs Hudson's surprise he lays his head down on my lap.
Mrs Hudson makes a soft 'oh' noise and blushes.
"I believe it's time for you boys to get some rest. You need your sleep to mend properly." She says standing up.
"I believe you are right Mrs Hudson." I say with a yawn becoming sleepy myself.
"If you need anything just give me a shout."
"Will do." I say, with a wink. She laughs softly and heads to the door. I hear a small snore coming from my lap and realise that John has already feel asleep. I smile and brush his hair to the side gently so I don't wake him. Mrs Hudson smiles at me fondly.
"I'm so happy you found each other, Sherlock. After all these years of you two tiptoeing around each other. It was quite maddening." She whispers as to not wake John.
"I know." I say, simply.
"You were made for each other. Two halves of a whole. Without the other half you two are not complete. You deserve each other more than anyone I have ever met. I'm so happy you found love in each other at last."
"Me, too." I respond, smiling up at her. Her words touch my heart deeply.
She walks quietly over to me and kisses me on the cheek. I smile against it, her motherly love warming my heart.
"Go on and get some rest. I'll check on you in the morning."
"Thank you." I say, sincerely. She smiles at me and departs, closing the door with a soft click.
I sit on the couch with John in my lap still brushing his hair with my fingers. I'm tempted to just sleep here with John in my lap, but as I look at John I know he'll wake terrible sore.
I make my decision and manoeuvre my way from under him and stand up. I pick him up and carry him bridal style to my old room. He's lighter than I thought and has lost a lot of weight in this last year. I walk quietly through the flat and to my old room thankfully the door is open. I feel John stir, but he stays asleep snoring adorably soft. I set him down on my bed and pull off his shoes and pull the duvet over him. He's still fully clothed, but I don't want disturb his peaceful sleep.
I stand at the edge of the bed conflicted. I don't know if I should join him or sleep elsewhere. Would it freak John out if he wakes up to me lying next to him? Would that be moving to fast? Would he think it would be weird? Would he...
"Get in here before you have a brain aneurysm." John says with his eyes still closed. I hadn't even realised he was up.
"How long have you been awake?"
"Since you lifted me up from the couch." He smiles.
"Oh." I say dumbfounded. "You were fake sleeping?" I continue in mock accusation.
"Yup." He says popping the 'p'.
"How dare you fool me." I smile. He laughs and then motions at the spot next to him.
I kick off my shoes and clamber in next to him. He lifts off the covers for me and I slid in. Once inside John cosies up to my side and rest his head in my chest with a content sigh. I wrap my arms around his shoulder pulling him closer. We lay in each other's arms happier than a hedgehog and otter in the Summer.
"Get some sleep, kay." John says, sleepily.
"You, too, my love."
"I will."
"Goodnight, John. Sweet dreams." I say kissing the top of his head.
"Goodnight, Sherlock. Love you." He responds smiling against my chest.
"I love you, too." I say as he picks his head off my shoulder, kissing my lips softly. My heart flutters at the touch as my entire body fills with warmth.
As he places his head back on my chest I'm pretty sure he's asleep before it hits. I smile happily with my sleeping John in my arms.
I close my eyes and lull myself slowly to sleep by listening to John's soft snores and his body moulded against mine. I feel the welcoming embrace of sleep begin to engulf me. I greet it as an old friend with a smile on my face and my blogger in my arms.
To be continued...