"Piss off, Sherlock." John grumbles as he glares at the detective half-heartedly. Of course, it doesn't help the way he's clinging to the detective to keep him upright. He tentatively puts weight on his injured leg, hissing a little. "Bloody hell, this is going to get old fast.." He mumbles. It takes time, work, and pain to get John into the bathroom, and Sherlock leaves briefly to retrieve his soaps and shampoos, and also to let him use the facilities.
"I think a bath would be better than a shower, considering your leg and the IV stand." Sherlock advises once he's let back into the bathroom to see John sitting on the toilet seat, looking a little pale and sweaty. The detective is concerned as she looks at him, then he quietly goes and plugs the tub, starting to fill it. He leaves once again to get the plastic piece that the nurse left. "This is to cover your bandage.." he says, putting it on the sink and looking at it curiously. Slowly, he shrugs out of his suit jacket and hangs it on the back of the door, rolling his sleeves up quietly.
Watching Sherlock with amusement, John chuckles a little. "I know how to use it.. you don't have to stay here, Sherlock. I can manage the rest on my own, it's not the first time I've been injured." He points out as he watches the younger man move around, being able to tell how awkward he feels.
Looking over at the older man, Sherlock shakes his head firmly. "What if you fell and injured yourself more? Your shoulder is sore from being dislocated, not to mention it's the same shoulder that was previously shot, you have two cracked ribs and an injured leg. You can barely sit up on your own, John. I will help you. It's my fault you're like this, I should have paid more attention, and you saved me." He points out in a firm tone, not willing to take any arguments. Instead he goes over and tests the temperature of the water, then he crouches down, tipping one knee forward onto the floor before he glances at John. "Being a doctor and a former soldier, at least you should be less shy about nudity." He observes as he helps to get the plastic piece over the bandage, cinching it closed on either end.
Knowing that when Sherlock gets like this, there's nothing that John can do about it, and admitting defeat when he realizes how right the detective is, the doctor just sighs and nods quietly. He merely complies when Sherlock puts on the cover. "Alright, alright.. You're right, not shy about nudity in general.. Doesn't mean I want to go showing off to all and sundry. I do have some modesty, Sherlock." he says with a little shake of his head. "Thank you, for your help. I do appreciate it. Doctors make the worst patients, you know." he says with a slight smirk, sighing a little before he stands when Sherlock is done. "You'll have to untie the back.. and it feels like they have some sort of binding around my ribs. About all you can do for cracked or broken ribs." he says quietly as he balances on mostly on one foot.
Nodding a little in acknowledgement, Sherlock gets up and undoes the back and the arm of John's hospital gown, pulling it away and setting it aside, looking at the bruised and battered backside of the doctor. He finds the edge to the binding which is essentially a big Ace Bandage before he starts to undo it. "Lift your arms a bit." He commands, waiting until John's arms are away from his body before he starts to unwrap his ribs, trying not to take advantage of John by ogling his backside.
Only feeling a little embarrassed since he can't remember a time where Sherlock has ever seen him nude, he hopes that he's not blushing as he lifts his arms a little, wincing a little as his ribs are released from their binding. "Blimey, I hate cracked ribs.. Always feels better and worse when they're not bound.." He mumbles quietly.
"Not your first time having them, then?" Sherlock asks, putting the wrappings aside before moving past John to the tub, shutting off the water before he takes John's good arm to help him into the water. It takes a bit of doing, and Sherlock has to support most of John's weight as he slowly sits down in the water, but they get there, with the IV stand arranged properly, Sherlock sighing. "It would be better if we just took this out." he says as he motions to the IV. "You don't need it anymore, the food, such as it was, seems to have settled fine with you." he points out as he brings over John's preferred cleaning products, and picks up a small bucket like thing that he can use to help John wash his hair.
Considering the IV and everything he's been told, John nods a little. "They can give me pills for the pain.." he says quietly, before he shifts, pulling the tape off before he pulls the needle out, tossing it to the side. "That's better." he says with a nod of his head.
Sherlock takes the tube away, looping it over the top of the stand to keep it out of the way. Leaning over the edge of the tub a little, the detective dips a wash cloth into the water and helps John get his arms and shoulders cleaned off before he lifts it carefully to clean John's face, pressing the cloth into the doctor's hand afterward. "Close your eyes." The detective says quietly, surprised at the emotions welling up as he takes care of his doctor, dumping water over the man's head slowly to wet down his hair, then he works some shampoo into it as John cleans the rest of himself off. Finally, Sherlock pours water over John's head again to wash the shampoo out, remaining silent as he considers the man before him.
It was rather accurate when John called him a stalker. After meeting for the first time Sherlock was a bit of a stalker, he followed the man around, did his research to find out more about him. The more he found out, the more confused he was. John Watson should be a boring man by all accounts. A very boring man. Sherlock has found that the doctor's personality makes him very much not boring. Constantly finding that the older man is saying or doing things completely unexpected has drawn Sherlock in like a moth to a flame. He can understand how the other version of himself might have become friends so easily, but the detective finds himself wanting a little more from the doctor than just friendship. Hence the date, and the way he acted when he saw John bounce off that car. Firmly shaking his head, Sherlock finishes washing John's hair, running his hand over it slowly before he adds, "Give me that, and lean forward a little, I'll get your back." he says brusquely before taking the cloth back from John to do just that.
For his part, John has to admit that he enjoys the attention a bit from Sherlock, not sure where this surprisingly tender side comes from. "Thank you.." He says quietly as he carefully washes himself off, then hands the cloth to the younger man, leaning forward with some effort since it hurts his ribs. When Sherlock is finished, the doctor leans back carefully and he sighs softly as he tilts his head back against the wall, eyes closing. "Need to get out soon.. I'm getting sleepy again." He says with some frustration, rubbing his good hand through his hair.
"Yes, best not to fall asleep in the tub." Sherlock says with a little smirk before he goes toward the room and the bag he left, grabbing some pants for John and then pulling the plug on the drain and getting a towel within reach. it takes some more doing but they finally get John up and out of the tub and then dried off. Protection taken off of his leg bandage, and wrappings around his ribs, it's not long before John is in his pants and hospital gown again. It takes another few minutes to get them back to the bed, and by the time John is laying down he's thoroughly exhausted.
"You don't have to stay, Sherlock. I'm sure you have things to do.. class.. oh! Classes.. I need to contact my professors, and work..." John says before he groans and closes his eyes. "I'll call tomorrow.. it's Saturday, right? Was Friday when we had the date..." He says as he looks at Sherlock, trying to focus.
The future consulting detective just watches John, nodding quietly. "Get some sleep, John. I'll take care of everything." He offers as he watches the doctor. Sherlock takes a deep breath, tucking the blankets around him carefully before taking his seat, ignoring his slightly damp shirt and pants from the tub struggle.
Feeling himself grow tired again, John sighs as he watches the detective, shaking his head for a few moments as he gets comfortable, just admiring the man in front of him, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath.
"Bloody good looking, tall, smug prat.."
Sleepy John says strange things. :) And Sherlock is being so caring. Don't worry, he'll eventually go back to the aloof detective we know, when he doesn't have to worry about his doctor anymore.
I am thinking of having Mycroft come and visit next chapter, maybe while Sherlock is away doing something, what do you all think?
Thank you so much for the reviews and follows, it's lovely to know you guys like this!
Reviews/comments are very welcome!