Author's Note: I am sorry this took so long; I have been rather busy doing job interviews and keeping up with doing some extra work to stay on top of the bills. Hopefully this is good with everyone. If you find a mistake or have some suggestions for improving the "fight" scene please share them.

SHERLOCK SHERLOCK

John was at the corner when he stopped for a moment and removed his mobile from his packet to check that it was on and the ringer was loud enough for him to hear it over the city traffic. Part of him was surprised that he had made it as far as the corner without a call from Lestrade. John held on to his phone as he crossed the street. He walked quickly wanting to make the trip as short as possible. John thought about texting Sherlock to check on him but Lestrade was with him so he didn't waste the time, he had yet to learn to text and walk at the same time. When he reached the store he quickly grabbed some milk and some of Sherlock's favorite biscuits. He had brought cash, he did not have the time to deal with the chip and pin machines. He was just accepting his change when his phone rang, he was taken by surprise. He quickly glanced at the text as he exited the store.

How much longer? -SH

John hocked the bag over his arm and text back.

Just leaving the shop. - JW

John pocketed his phone and began to quickly walk back to Baker Street. He knew in his gut that something was wrong.

Please hurry. - SH

John wondered about texting Lestrade to ask him what was going on but that would take time that he could use to keep walking to get home sooner. He was just happy to be out of the flat for a few minutes getting so much needed fresh air and some alone time. Although his thoughts were still only of Sherlock at least he didn't have to worry about him for a few minutes, he was being watched of by Lestrade.

SHERLOCK SHERLOCK

John ran up the stairs to the flat, Lestrade was sitting where John had left him not twenty minutes before. Nothing seemed to out of sorts that didn't mean that everything was okay because with Sherlock nothing was as it seemed.

"Hello," said John looking around the flat.

"That was quick," said Lestrade.

"Is something wrong?" Asked John.

Lestrade shook his head standing up. John put the bag on the kitchen table and headed for Sherlock's room. There were no sounds coming from the room.

"Sherlock," said John knocking on the door.

"John," replied Sherlock in a panicked tone.

John opened the door entering the room; Sherlock was on the floor on the far side of the bed curled up in a ball.

"Sherlock, what's wrong?" Said John walking around the bed.

"I need to use the loo." Said Sherlock.

John had to suppress a smile. To an outsider it would appear funny that Sherlock was too scared to leave the room to go the two paces to the bathroom down the hall but John knew better, for Sherlock it would have been a leap of faith that he was not ready to take. Sherlock wouldn't leave the flat without John; he wouldn't even visit Mrs. Hudson. Leaving him with Lestrade had been a huge step.

John put out his hands and helped Sherlock to his feet, together they walked to the bathroom. John stood outside while Sherlock took care of his needs. When he was done Sherlock went back to his room, John watched him go.

"I will call you when dinner is ready," said John heading back to the sitting,

Lestrade was on the phone pacing the small sitting room, John could tell that it was worked related so he went to turn on the kettle and set about making dinner.

"Everything okay?" Asked Lestrade.

"Yes," replied John, he wouldn't say anything about Sherlock not wanting to leave his room to use the loo.

"Sherlock was correct, it was the partner, he admitted it all." Said Lestrade after looking at text on his phone.

John smiled, Sherlock had solved another one, his first since his ordeal, and hopefully it wouldn't be his last.

"He drowned him in the bath in a jealous rage." Added the detective.

That's when it all made sense to John, it was the water, it was the fact that the man had been drowned. John knew that Sherlock had been subject to some sort of water torture but did not on know the details. What he did know was the Sherlock would not take a shower and that when he did bath John had to be there no matter what. John would still help him with some things but mostly he just sat and read the paper, Sherlock would panic if he even tried to leave the room.

Silence filled the space while John set about making dinner for himself and Sherlock.

"Do you want to stay for dinner?" asked John.

"I had better not; I don't want to make any more upset than he already is."

"Don't worry about him; it's nothing you did really."

"But I do worry, even after everything I have seen he has never been like this." Said Lestrade.

"Give it time; we have only been back here at Baker Street a fortnight."

Greg started towards the door.

"You take care of him and I will see about finding you some more cases."

"Thanks." Replied John. "And thanks for watching him so I could run to the shop."

"Call me if you need anything." Replied Greg heading down the stairs.

John listened as the door leading out was opened and then firmly shut and quickly followed by Sherlock coming out of his room.

"Is he gone?" asked Sherlock timidly.

"Yes," John held is tongue at that.

"Good." Said Sherlock heading for the sofa.

SHERLOCK SHERLOCK

After dinner John settled in to watch some mindless show, Sherlock had eaten half a bowl of pasta before taking up residence on the sofa. He seemed happier now that they were once again alone in the flat. Mrs. Hudson had long since given up visiting outside of her normal Tuesday morning visit with John, Sherlock never reacted well to her unexpected visits. John wasn't really watching the telly, his mind instead drifted back to the night much like this one when everything had changed.

John slowly climbed the stairs up to the flat, it had been a very rough day at the clinic. He had given a lovely old woman the horrible news that she probably wouldn't make it to Christmas, she had cancer. Then there was the young man who was looking to marry who now had to deal with the news of having HIV. It had been a very rough shift and it was made worse knowing that he was going home to a very bored Sherlock Holmes. He hadn't had a case in over a week and it was growing tedious. All John wanted as a strong cup of tea and a few minutes to reflect on his day without interruption.

When john entered the flat Sherlock was laid out on the sofa dressed in his suit pants, a dress shirt and his blue silk dressing gown, it was were John had left his that morning. John headed into the kitchen, he put the kettle on, pulled out two mugs, dropped in a couple of tea bags and went to the fridge to get the milk. He opened the door just waiting for today's surprise, today it was a hand.

"Where's the milk?" asked John.

"I needed the bottle for an experiment." Replied Sherlock, his voice muffled by the sofa.

"I only picked that up yesterday when you left the last bottle out to go off." Said John taking a couple of deep breaths.

"Bad day at the clinic?" asked Sherlock.

"Yes, nice observation, it was a bloody brilliant day at the clinic." Replied John

"John, it doesn't matter." Replied Sherlock rather off handedly.

"Of course it matters, three people will not get to do fulfill their dreams."

"They don't matter."

"Then what really matters, Sherlock?"

"The work." He replied. "They are just idiotic drones wandering through life on some meaningless journey through life."

"Thank you Sherlock, thank you for making that so clear to me."

John put on his coat, he needed out the apartment before he lost his temper, he didn't have the energy to fight with Sherlock, not after today.

"Where are you going?" asked Sherlock.

"I need some fresh air," said John.

"Just open the window." Said Sherlock still not moving from his place on the sofa.

"You are an idiot, I need out of the place, I need away from you. I just wanted to come home and have a cup tea but no you decided to toss my milk so that you could use the bottle for one of your experiments. You don't think of anyone other than yourself, like last week when you left me in some mysterious part of London without cab fair or when you destroyed one of my good sweaters a few weeks back." He paused. " When I can't keep up with you, you call me an idiot or worse, then you remind me just how useless I am and then you expect me to ignore the simple fact that you make me feel like I am worthless to you. I can't do this anymore, you just take, take, take and give nothing in return except rude comments and hurt feelings."

John walked out of the kitchen and up to his room, he pulled out his ruck sack and suitcase from the closet. And hour later he was out of the door and in a cab to his sister's.

There was still so much that needed to be said but it would never happen, Sherlock might have changed in many way but there were some things that would never change.

"John." Said Sherlock.

"Yes," replied John.

"I am sorry I made you leave." Said Sherlock.

"It doesn't matter now Sherlock, I am here now."

"It does matter," said Sherlock. "When you left . . . . "

John got up from where he sat and moved to the sofa, he kneeled down next to the sofa. John placed his hand on Sherlock's shoulder; John hadn't noticed how tense Sherlock was when he started to relax at John's touch.

"I am here now."

Sherlock rolled to face John, something wasn't right. John pulled Sherlock into an embrace. Sherlock began to sob gently; John slowly rubbed circles on Sherlock's back to calm him. Something had upset him, probably the incident at the crime scene. Since John's return Sherlock no longer fled from human contact at least with John.

"Was it the water?" asked John eventually.

Sherlock nodded gently still tucked up against John's chest.

That confirmed John's suspicion, John would put money on that at some point Sherlock had been subject to some level of torture that may have led to being drowned.