Author's Note: We're here with another chapter! Thanks again for all the reviews, keep 'em coming! Get ready for some more angst...
They laid there together until the sun rose and Sherlock started placing gentle kisses all over John's face. "Time to get up, love... you have to go to school," he murmured.
John didn't exactly go to sleep again but just drifted in and out, warm and sleepy with Sherlock holding him. When Sherlock told him it was time for school, he groaned and snuggled closer. "I don't want to go."
Sherlock chuckled, "I know, I don't want you to go either, but you have to." He smirked mischievously and put his lips up to John's ear. "If you don't get up, I'm just going to have to make you..." he whispered huskily.
John pouted. He didn't want to have to go to school, especially not if Sherlock wasn't going to be there with him. When Sherlock spoke in his ear he made a soft sound and turned to capture Sherlock's lips. "Talk like that and I'll never leave," he said against his lips.
Sherlock kissed John passionately for a few moments before smirking against his lips, "you asked for it," he murmured and reached down to his sides to begin tickling him. He used his knowledge of John's most sensitive spots and attacked them without mercy.
John kissed Sherlock back, figuring that he had won over him and could stay. As Sherlock's hands moved down he half-expected him to start touching him. But then he was being tickled and he squeaked before laughing uncontrollably and squirming. "Ah, Sher-Sherlock! Stop!" He laughed and rolled away, falling onto the floor. "Ok, alright. I'm up, you git." He chuckled softly as he caught his breath, standing and brushing himself off.
Sherlock laughed along with John as he squirmed and smiled triumphantly when he fell off the bed. He scooted over and hugged the pillow that his boyfriend had been laying on, burying his face in it and inhaling deeply before turning his face and grinning at John. "I'll be waiting not-so-patiently for you to return, my dear," he said, "try to pick up my homework from the office if you would, please."
John smiled and bent down to kiss Sherlock's forehead, hand cupping his face. "I will. I'm going to borrow your clothes by the way, since I don't have any of mine but the ones I wore yesterday. I hope no one looks at me funny if I'm trying to catch your scent on them all through class." He winked and went to the closet to find something that would fit him. Once he'd gathered an outfit he headed for the door. "See you later. I love you."
Sherlock smiled, "later darling, I love you too." As soon as John left the room he ran to his closet and pulled out a large chest. He pulled his necklace out from under his shirt and unlocked the chest with the key that hung from it.
He then removed a smaller case and opened it, revealing his violin. He smiled fondly and ran his fingers along the strings. It had been a while since he'd played, but he had nothing else to occupy himself today and he wanted to do something special for John.
Walking from the closet with his violin and bow in hand, he applied the rosin to the bow and nestled the violin under his chin. He raised the bow and drew it slowly across the strings, starting a sweet tune. He smiled and closed his eyes, thinking of John as he continue to play.
John rode to school alone on his bike, already wishing the school day was over. At least there were only a few days til the weekend, and he could spend the whole two days with Sherlock. Though he did sort of hope his father would call soon. It wasn't that he didn't like living with Sherlock, it was fabulous. But he wanted to make amends, and he really wanted his father to get to know the boy he loved.
The first half of the day went pretty smoothly. During lunch break John went to the office where he was giving quite a stack of homework for Sherlock. Whatever classes his boyfriend was taking, he was quite glad that he wasn't in them. After stuffing those away in his bag, he went to the cafeteria and bought himself lunch. But...Where was he going to sit? He'd sort of alienated himself with his dating and defense of Sherlock. And with the other boy not here, John found himself completely alone. This must be what it felt like for Sherlock, and it broke John's heart that he'd had to go through that for so long.
John finally found a spot outside at one of the older benches where no one sat. He set his tray down and started to eat, looking up at the passing clouds overhead
Sebastian had gathered up a few of the rugby players and walked over to the bench where John was sitting. He clenched his jaw and knocked the tray out of the shorter boy's lap to get his attention. "Where's the freak?" he growled and smirked.
John let out a breath through his nose. Keep calm. Don't let your temper go. He looked up at Sebastian with a forced smile plastered onto his face. "Sherlock is at home. Recuperating from the near death experience that you and your group of brainless lemmings arranged. How's your eye by the way?"
Sebastian frowned, "It's fine, nothing I can't handle..." he shook off the comment and spoke again. "Too bad we didn't get to finish, eh boys?" he looked back at the other players with him and they all laughed. "You see, you caught us by surprise before we could teach him a proper lesson. Looks like we'll just have to try again," he shrugged and smiled evilly.
It was all John could do to keep from tackling him to the ground and choking him. He stood calmly, as tall as he could, and stared up defiantly at Sebastian. "You lay one finger on him and you'll find out exactly how it feels to be on the other side of one of your 'lessons'," he said, voice low. He was right on the edge of losing it. If Sebastian made one wrong move...
Sebastian laughed, "ooooh, we're so scared!" he shoved John against the wall, "look, you're still new here, so we're going to go easy on you this time..." he said and turned away slightly before rearing his fist back and punching John in the gut.
John tried to wrench himself free when he was pinned to the wall, but Sebastian was bigger than him. He glared at him until he turned away, admonishing himself for his pounding heart. He didn't even have time to prepare for the punch and he fell to the ground hard. But John Watson wasn't going to let him get away with that. He stuck his leg out as Sebastian was walking away, tripping him so that he fell directly on his face.
Sebastian groaned in pain and pushed himself up off the ground. "You really shouldn't have done that," he growled. He gave a quick look to the other players and they pushed John onto his back, holding his arms out and putting their knees on his elbows to keep him from being able to move them.
Sebastian advanced on him and sat on his chest, beginning to throw punches to every part of his upper body. A blow to his jaw, one to his shoulder, several to his stomach and chest. In a blind rage now, he just kept pummeling him as hard and as fast as he could.
John knew he was in for it once he had done it, but he didn't care. Sebastian could beat him all he wanted, that wasn't going to change the fact that he would defend Sherlock with his life. And with the way he was getting attacked now, that might just be a possibility.
No one was there to save him like he was for Sherlock, and he was way outnumbered. He struggled as much as he could, tears pouring down his face out of his control, but his head hit the ground one too many times as he was being punched and soon he was falling away into blackness.
"Sebastian Moran! Stop that right this instant!" Sebastian stopped and looked back at the commanding voice. It was one of the professors, Mr. Lestrade. He panicked and got up, running away with the other players not far behind.
The professor decided to let them run, he'd seen all their faces and knew their names. He immediately pulled out his mobile and called for an ambulance, then knelt down next to John and held his head up off the ground, taking off his blazer and laying it under his head. As soon as the paramedics arrived, John's father was called and he was rushed to the hospital.
When John's father got the call, he paled and nearly fainted. He didn't even tell his boss where he was going as he ran from the building, and nearly sprinted all the way to the hospital. He felt just...terrible. He kicked his son out of the house, and now he had been beaten within an inch of his life. If John... No, he wouldn't think like that. He went straight to the emergency room and demanded to see his son.
Sherlock was still playing his violin when Mycroft burst into his room. "Myc, what the hell?! You're interrupting!" he shouted and scowled at him. "Sherlock, shut up. There's been... a situation at the school. It's John, Sebastian went after him."
Sherlock felt all the air leave his lungs and he dropped his violin. "Let's go. Now," he said and ran towards the door. Mycroft grabbed his car keys and followed Sherlock outside, dashing to the car and speeding off to the hospital where John was taken.
They only let Mr. Watson inside after about fifteen minutes badgering. He went into the room and gasped at the sight, swallowing hard. John's face was bruised, he was hooked up to wires and tubes, and he was covered in bloodied bandages. He could barely stand. He sank into the chair by his bed and put his face in his hands. "I'm so sorry..."
Sherlock burst through the door of the A & E, marching straight up to the nurses' station. "I'm here to see John Watson," he said firmly. The nurse looked back at him and raised her eyebrow, "I'm sorry, son, only relatives are allowed back at this time." Sherlock felt his eyes filling with angry tears, "I'm his boyfriend dammit! I demand to be able to see him!" he shouted and pounded his fist on the counter.
Mycroft stepped up behind him and gripped his shoulder, "now, now Sherlock. Calm down." He looked at the nurse and smiled, "I do apologise for my brother's behaviour. It's that Holmes temper in him." The nurses eyes got wide, "Holmes? As in... the Holmes'?" she said and gasped. "I'm terribly sorry sir, right this way." She led them back to John's room immediately.
Sherlock's brow furrowed in confusion, "What... How did that even work?" he said and looked up at Mycroft. His older brother just smiled, "Mummy and Daddy have donated quite a bit of money to this particular hospital," he said and shrugged. Sherlock nodded in understanding. He swallowed hard before he entered John's room. "John..." he whispered and started to walk towards him before he saw John's father sitting by the bed and his eyes widened as he stepped back again.
John's father looked up and turned as he heard Sherlock speak. With a deep breath he stood and walked closer to Sherlock, holding out his hand. "I have to apologise for the other day," he said, voice a little choked. "It's just been very difficult since John's mother left us and when he came home with you... it was just a shock." He attempted a smile. "John must really care about you to want to take the chance of my disapproving. You must really be something special."
Sherlock swallowed a lump in his throat and nodded, "I care about him too... More than anyone," he looked at John lying in the hospital bed and then back to his father. "I'm very much in love with your son, Mr. Watson. He means everything to me and he has saved me twice since we have met... I'm just sorry I wasn't there to do the same for him," he ended in a whisper and felt tears coming to his eyes. He walked slowly over to the bed and took John's hand in his, kissing the back of it and lifting it to his cheek.
Mr. Watson watched the display, feelings still a little mixed. It was one thing for Harry to like girls but another for John, his only son, to turn around and have a boyfriend. It just wasn't what he expected. But the way that Sherlock talked about him, and the emotion in his actions, was enough to make him forget for a moment that they were both boys. He put a hand on Sherlock's shoulder. "It isn't your fault, son," he said. "We could all blame ourselves for not being there when it happened."
Sherlock nodded and smiled weakly up at John's father, "yes, I suppose that's true." He kept a hold of John's hand and reached with his other one to gently brush John's hair away from his face. "I'm here, love," he said softly, tears running down his face. All he could do now was wait patiently for his boyfriend to wake up.
They sat for a while, silently keeping vigil over John. It was about an hour before he started to stir. God, did that hurt. In fact, everything hurt. He groaned and opened his eyes, Sherlock swimming into his vision first, and he smiled weakly. But then he noticed the presence of Mycroft and..."Da?' he rasped, eyes widening.
"John." Mr. Watson moved closer and smiled, feeling a bit choked again. "How are you feeling, lad?"
John didn't answer. He was just overwhelmed. His father didn't seem upset at all and he was here in the same room with Sherlock. For as much pain as he was in, it was worth it if it changed things with his father. John felt tears welling in his eyes as he looked up at him with a smile.
Sherlock gave John a watery smile, tears still falling down his cheeks. He grasped his hand a little tighter before letting it go and laying his head on the bed next to John's side. "I'm sorry, John..." he murmured, "I'm so sorry I wasn't there to stop him," he sobbed, turning his face and burying it in the blankets.
John tried to move but that was far too painful. So he lifted his hand and stroked Sherlock's hair. "Sherlock, stop. It's not your fault, love." He flushed a little using the term in front of his father, but he needed to comfort Sherlock. "There was nothing that you could have done. They would have gotten you too."
"Those boys had better be expelled for this," Mr. Watson said, tone fierce. "They shouldn't be allowed to terrorize students this way."
"Being expelled isn't the only thing they'll have to worry about," Mycroft spoke up from where he was leaned up against the wall. He walked forward as he spoke, "they've also been banned from every athletic program and have to do community work for the rest of the year." Mycroft put a hand on Sherlock's shoulder, "I think it's safe to say they'll be paying for what they did to both of you." He smiled and winked at John.
John grinned and he ruffled Sherlock's hair a little. "See? Everything's alright now." He reached under to tilt Sherlock's chin up. "We're both going to be fine," he said with a smile.
Mr. Watson cleared his throat a little and John flushed, pulling his hand back from Sherlock's face. He tried to push himself up, wincing at the pain that shot through his body. "Um...thanks, Da. You don't know how much it means to me that you're here."
John's father stepped closer and reached over to touch his son's shoulder. "What kind of father would I be if I let one little spat keep me from my son when he's in need?" He gave him a smile. "You and Sherlock have something very special, and I feel terrible that it took for you to be in the hospital for me to realise it. It's going to take a little getting used to, but I do give you my blessing."
John swallowed and smiled up at him. "I love you, Da."
"I love you, too, lad."
Sherlock smiled at the whole exchange and kissed the back of John's hand again. Mycroft cleared his throat and raised his eyebrow at Sherlock. He looked at his older brother, confused until it dawned on him. "Oh! Um... Mr. Watson? My parents were hoping to have you and John over for dinner sometime... When John feels better, of course," he added and smiled at his boyfriend.
John's father grinned at Sherlock. "Thank you, that sounds wonderful." Just then, Mr. Watson's mobile rang. "Excuse me," he said, answering it. "Hello? Oh, yes, I'm sorry. My son...Well, yes but...He was taken to the hospital!" Not wanting to upset John while he was still in bad shape, he left the room to finish the conversation.
John watched him go, wondering who that might be on the other end. His father was supposed to be working today. He must have ran out as soon as he found out John was here. Hopefully nothing bad happened because of that.