Sherlock breezed into the flat, shedding his coat and tossing his scarf aside. He paused briefly sniffing the air.
"John? Did you work today?"
"Yes, I did." John looked up from his laptop.
"You're supposed to be staying off that leg," Sherlock pointed out with a frown.
"No, he said not to over do it. There's a difference," John sighed.
"Irrelevant."
"It's almost two am. You never answered any of my texts."
"You texted?" Sherlock glanced down at his phone. "So you did. Well, it was a case. I was preoccupied."
"Well, it's fine. At least Molly was willing to let me know what you were up to and that you were alive."
"Yes, very accommodating of her." Sherlock turned his ear "I see Sherrinford isn't home. Harry's then?"
"Yes. Very good deduction. I didn't want him around when we start to argue."
"Are we starting to argue?" Sherlock's eyebrow raised.
"I don't know. Depends."
"Depends?"
"On whether you will be reasonable."
"John, I am always reasonable." Sherlock huffed, plopping down in his chair.
John stood up and started for the kitchen "Tea?"
"Yes. That would be nice."
John sighed, trying to work out how he was going to bring up his issues. He knew how his mate could be and wanted to head off any tantrums or misunderstandings beforehand.
"Just out with it, John, so you can finally go to bed. I can see you're tired."
"Sherlock." John sat on the arm of his mate's chair, ignoring the pain in his leg. He leaned in pulling the curly head into his chest, kissing the mess of brunette locks.
"John?" the deep baritone replied pulling the doctor down onto the Alpha's lap. The dark haired Alpha began to nuzzle John's neck.
"Sherlock." John caught his breath, it was startling the effect the man had on him even now after all this time together.
"We should continue this conversation or argument in the bedroom."
"Nice try." John pulled away reluctantly, shuffling away from his mate. To Sherlock's credit, he held back the urge to pull his Omega back down onto his lap as a show of dominance. "Sherlock, why didn't you tell me you were having Molly assist you?"
There. John got it out and he managed to not sound the least bit jealous. Maybe.
"It was irrelevant. "
"Irrelevant that you were calling in another doctor to assist you out on cases when a perfectly good one was right here at home with nothing better to do."
"You are supposed to be healing, John."
"I'm fine, Sherlock. I'm cleared for duty. I can't run as fast but I can still keep up. And I can still examine dead bodies. I don't know if you noticed but they tend to just lay there."
"John, your attempt at humor is lost on me. I simply do not wish for you to accompany me until you've recovered fully. Even then we can discuss-"
"Discuss what?" John was on edge now. He knew the direction this would go, and had prepared himself for Sherlock's urge to protect. The man could be so infuriating when it came to these things.
"Perhaps it's best for Sherrinford and our home that you remain here. "
"What?" John narrowed his eyes, hands crossed over his chest. "I'm not going to suddenly start playing housewife."
"John. That's not what I'm asking! I'm simply saying it's illogical that we both face dangerous situations. If something were to happen to you and myself where would that leave Sherrinford?"
"Don't," John growled. "Don't you dare try to guilt me. We've been doing this for a few years now. Don't you try and use Sherrinford as a cop out. Just say what you want, no beating around the bush. You think I'm too weak? That I should be here and play the dutiful Omega awaiting his Alpha to return every night, keeping the house clean and dinner on the table?"
"That's not what-" Sherlock responded to his mates challenging stance. He stood towering over the shorter Omega. "Maybe that's what should happen, John, now that you bring it up. It's better to know you're safe here at home with our son than buried under some wreckage." Sherlock growled. "And I don't need guilt, John. I am the Alpha. I am your Alpha. You've forgotten that."
John didn't reply. He didn't know how to. That and the urge to submit was so strong. Sherlock was flooding the room with his alpha dominate pheromones.
"Don't-just don't. We are trying to have a conversation. When you play that card it makes it very, very difficult." The Omega's voice shook, as he clasped his eyes closed, trying to maintain calm.
"John. This tête-à-tête has reached it's end. I've already decided that we wait until you're completely healed before you venture out. And that includes working at the clinic."
Sherlock didn't want to tell John that Moriarty was most definitely back. He didn't want to inform his mate that the bomb casing he found (mostly intact) had the words BIG BAD WOLF etched to it in red paint. It was just the start to a game that he couldn't afford to allow John to be apart of. Especially when he nearly lost his mate. He almost lost one of the two things in his life that really mattered.
If John were to go, Sherlock knew he would follow shortly after, as selfish as it sounded. He knew he would be no good to take care of a child. If the situation were reversed, John had the instinct and fortitude to stay breathing just for Sherrinford. Sherlock knew that made John all the more valuable. Still he couldn't manage the words, so he decided on this route. "You will stay here with Sherrinford, and I wont have you leaving unescorted, either of you."
John took a step back as if he had been slapped. The words stung and rebellion stirred.
"No."
"John. This isn't a negotiation."
"No, it's not. I refuse to be told what to do. You and I are supposed to be together in this. A team. " John took a step closer to his Alpha, wanting to mend this hurt between them. "Tell me what's really wrong. This has never been an issue. We've been through so much."
Sherlock clenched his fists at his side. How could he admit weakness? He would not, could not. Never to John. He was supposed to be the Alpha, the stronger of the two. When he had thought John died his whole body had shut down. His mind went blank and he couldn't breathe. It had nothing to do with the smoke, or the force from the explosion that had tossed him up against the cab. It was the knowledge that John was dead. His Omega had died. The thought that his mate had been ripped from him with little effort... it was disturbing and crippling. Sherlock never wanted to feel that emptiness, that cold, drowning feeling that he wanted to go, too. That if John wasn't breathing anymore then he, Sherlock Holmes, would do the same. Cease to be.
"There is nothing really going on. I've made my decision, John." Sherlock bit out.
The ex soldier moved back, putting distance between the two he turned on his heels going for his coat.
"Where-"
"Out! I need some air!"
"No," Sherlock growled. They'd just went over this.
"I wont be treated like this, Sherlock. I wont be kept. Others have tried and it doesn't work. It's not who I am and this-" John gestured to his mate's rigid form, "is not who you are."
"John!" Sherlock grabbed for the shorter man, only to have his Omega turn and snarl at him. John was leaving. The Alpha in him wanted to pull John from the doorway, drag him to their bedroom, and prove his dominance. Logic and pride overriding this kept him thankfully rooted in place. He flinched hearing the slamming of the front door. Moving to glance out the window, he could see the street lights casting shadows over his John's unsteady retreat.
~0~
The angry Omega made it a few blocks when the fight left him, leaving him to feel feel hollow. It was senseless, this little demonstration. He was being a child, just like his Alpha. Sometimes the genius could be such an idiot. John knew better. Something else was bothering his mate. No point to fight, this was just one of Sherlock's ways of pushing him away or locking him out. John knew better, and he'd taken the bait.
With a sad shake of his head he turned to go back. Besides it was bloody cold out.
He heard the sounds of shuffling feet and the powerful scent of two Alphas surrounded him. Too late, John broke into a run only to feel strong arms wrap around his waist and then a rag soaked in chloroform was held over his mouth and nose. He struggled, but the strong chemical was rapidly filling his lungs and burning his nostrils. The last thoughts he had were for his mate. Sherlock would think he ran away and then the dark took him.
~0~
"Aww, Reece, my sweet boy. You've brought Daddy a present." Moriarty clapped his hands together. "Hmmm, but it's not enough. I wanted the pup, too."
Moriarty frowned over dramatically, his big brown eyes and pouting face turning towards his champion. Reece was quick to step over the unconscious Omega he'd tossed at Jim's feet, and the Alpha was pulling the dark haired Irishman into him. A warm hungry mouth took Jim's thinned lips and the Omega moaned, opening in response.
Reece held Jim against him, making sure his erection was felt hard against his Omega's leg. "No worries, my love. I'll have the pup tomorrow. This was just too easy an opportunity. I couldn't pass it up."
Moriarty groaned feeling the hard cock through the Alpha's suddenly snug-fitting jeans. "You are a bad boy, Reece. Now the faster you take care of our guest, the faster I can have you naked again." James nipped at the henchman's bottom lip. He caught his breath, feeling the sudden tightening of Reece's arms around him. The man was so responsive and easy to read and to fuck. James couldn't believe he'd never considered keeping a live-in one. Alphas like Reece were few and far between. Reece knew exactly where to touch and when to pinch. Perhaps he was breeding material. Their children would be beautiful, strong, and genius; a deadly combination.
"I'll be right back," Reece panted "Keep your clothes on. You know how I love to rip them off of you."
"Promises, promises." James smirked palming the delicious man's erection through his jeans.