A/N: This penultimate chapter is both quite short an quite painful, so I apologize in advance on both counts.

Chapter 11

Greg was worried. When he'd talked on the phone with John, not ten minutes earlier, who had been unwilling to say what was going on. All he told Greg was that they needed to talk, and to meet him at a park near Baker Street. So, Greg had hopped in his car and driven to said park.

It wasn't the best day to be outdoors. The skies were gray, the wind was brisk, and the man on the radio warned of rain, so the park was practically deserted on his arrival.

Greg quickly located John and hurried over to him. He was sitting on a bench, staring up at the sky. Greg sat down next to him and asked, "John, what's wrong?"

"I've changed my mind." John turned to look at Greg, the corners of his mouth pulled up in a smile that did not reach his eyes. "I want you."

Greg smiled sadly. "Sherlock's not the only one who can deduce things, John. He turned you down." He shook his head slowly "Who ever would have thought?"

John's fake smile slid off his face, and then tried to reassert itself. "I'm serious, though! I really do want to get back together with you," he protested.

"I know. But... I can't do that. I always knew you loved Sherlock better than me, but it used to be, you didn't have an option. Now you do, and you'll never be happy with just me. And anyway..." Greg squeezed his eyes shut, and then opened them. The next words he spoke were so painful to him, he could hardly coax his mouth to form the words. "You dumped me. You dropped me like a hot potato for Sherlock. And that was fine. But running back to me just because he didn't want you? I do have some pride, John. I'm not some sort of consolation prize." Greg stood and turned so he was facing away from John. He reminded himself that he was doing what he had to do, and forced himself to ignore the pain in John's eyes. "I'm sorry John," he said, "but I just can't do it." He began to walk towards his car.

"Greg! I-" John called. Greg stopped, but did not turn around. He was sure if he saw John's face again, all his resolve would give out. "Never mind," John said, quietly.

The rain began to fall as Greg continued walking. When he reached his car, he glanced back at John, who was hailing a cab. He sat down in his car, turned the key in the ignition, and began to drive away.

A/N: Again, I'm so, so sorry. I promise, the next one will be much longer, and, hopefully, slightly less painful.