John is leaving.
Not far, of course, Sherlock wouldn't want to stray too far from London.
He is testing Jim, trying to see just how far he will go to see John, if he'll fall for the bait and leave the area where he is safest. It is a good test. Can John become a distraction and weakness to them because he is important to Jim? Can Jim influence Moriarty?
He is testing Moriarty, looking to see if he will stop them from leaving, if he will play his cards earlier than intended to rise to Sherlock's taunt. Moriarty cares not, he can conduct his affairs from anywhere, and as long as Johnny boy is coming back, he doesn't need to do a thing. Besides, Harry is here.
It may not be rational, and it may be playing into Sherlock's hand but Jim doesn't want to let John go, he's not going to lose what he hasn't even found. He doesn't have to stay long, he doesn't have to do much, just remind the boys that he is in their lives for good now, and that running away isn't an option. He is interested in John. John is interesting. That shouldn't be news to Sherlock. Moriarty is the one Sherlock is trying to figure out anyway.
…
John is out for a jog when Jim first sees him. The trip to Ireland and stay in the house must be driving him stir crazy, an unintended consequence of Sherlock's rush to get him out of London. Since Sherlock is at his parents' home, Jim can watch John in comfort. John is painfully unobservant at times and won't notice him. The supposed murder of interest is solved in a few days, longer than it took Jim to gather the nerve to follow them, so any delay here is a poor attempt at avoiding him.
Jim sits in the shade of a tree in shorts and a T-shirt, blending into the large amount of people in the park. John turns the bend on the running loop and starts jogging towards him. In another few minutes John should make it to where Jim is. Still, Jim is certain he won't be noticed, and he isn't.
He isn't noticed for a week, and so he moves to a more visible spot.
Jim is leaning against a car when John first sees him later that week. He is in attire that either party would wear and John freezes as he tries to decide if he's dealing with Jim or Moriarty. Jim doesn't give a clue away or say anything, surprising himself with the amusement he's getting from John's reaction. No one looks at Jim that way. John takes a deep breath then jerks his head to the sides to check for others or potentially Sherlock.
"Let's get dinner," Jim suggests, and John visibly relaxes. His shoulders fall as his eyes close and he nods.
"Yeah, sure. Sherlock?"
"He'll figure it out." Jim smiles. "Eventually."
…
"Moriarty isn't around." John ventures as they are seated at the restaurant Jim has chosen.
"No, otherwise this would be going very differently."
"Right." John tenses. Moriarty is going to bring his gun. This may be the last problem you ever solve. "so why are you here?"
"Dinner." Jim smiles and changes the topic to John's war buddies.
When John gets back, Sherlock's mother scolds him for disappearing, and John is forced to listen to the screams of a dying violin all night.
"You seemed to be afraid of them." Sherlock suddenly starts as he jerks the bow across the violin strings. He turns to John and lowers his arms and voice. "You even asked my brother if you should just let him do whatever," Sherlock's voice turns low and slow and dangerous, like a dissection. "To come kill you whenever he felt like it," John swallows and Sherlock stalks towards him. "Next time," Sherlock annunciates so pointedly his face contorts with the words "make it a little harder."
Before John can respond, Sherlock leaves the room. The house is suddenly quiet as the sun rises.
The next time they have dinner they talk about rugby, and John only mentions Moriarty once. Sherlock is so scared he crushes John into a hug when he sees him again. He says Don't let him take you from me and John has no response.
The time after that they talk about how much Jim used to like swimming, and Moriarty doesn't come up at all. John stops seeing these requests as mandatory and Sherlock declares being away from London pointless if the reason they left keeps following them.
…
Let's get dinner
John stares at the text message with a frown. He doesn't figure that he has too much of a choice in the matter, but it is nice to be asked. Downstairs, Sherlock is composing his song, and John likes to listen to the process, so not tonight.
When?
I'm outside!
John does not have a choice. Jim has seemingly carried their dinners from Ireland to London. John heads down the flight of stairs to the main floor and then turns to Sherlock's form by the violin. He's stopped playing the song, but left his hands on the violin.
Sherlock, this is what's happening, is what John wants to say. After a second of silence, the bow draws across the violin, the scattered oscillations in the air are chaotic and followed immediately by another violent tremor. John is surprised the strings don't snap.
"Go." Sherlock all but orders, and John leaves without saying a word.
…
"Has Moriarty been around?" John warms his hand around the cup of tea in front of him. He hasn't brought Moriarty up in a while, but he's been thinking about it constantly.
"Yes." Jim takes a bite of his dessert.
"Has he been interested in me?" Jim shakes his head.
"Not in a while. Does that bother you?"
"I'm relieved, truly, but do you really think he's done with me?"
"No." Jim looks away, "I don't think so." John takes a sip and Jim looks back to him. "I'm not done with you either."
John's face tenses and his fingers twitch, but he says nothing in response and Jim lets the conversation die until the check comes.
John counted text messages, Sherlock finds himself counting dinners.
…
It surprises John when the person waiting outside for him is not Jim, but Mycroft, which he decides not to think too hard about. John happily gets in the car and shoots a text to Sherlock. After 15 minutes of driving around, Mycroft brings up the reason for the visit.
"You want me to spy on Moriarty; I don't know if I'm the best person for that." John summarizes and responds.
"He is interested in you, so you'll interact with him anyway. Most importantly, Jim trusts you."
"I don't know if I can find anything out. Moriarty hasn't been around when I'm there."
"Just keep seeing him, if something changes, let me know." John nods.
When the car drops him off, he half expects Jim to be there waiting, but he enters his apartment to make his own dinner and convince Sherlock to eat some toast.
…
"You've been instructed to spy on me." John stares at the table before taking a deep breath.
"Yes." He lets it out and Jim taps the table.
"Your reports are going to be rather boring I suppose."
"Boring is good. I like boring." Especially when exciting means that he's in pain and danger. Boring is fantastic. Boring is talking to Jim about patients and learning about Jim's odd talents.
"Same time tomorrow?" Jim asks, and John smiles.
…
Another dinner.
John wears his date shoes, he cancels plans.
"Are you aware you are dating Jim?" Sherlock says to the window. John looks up from his spot on the couch to stare at the back of Sherlock's head.
"What? No."
"It's odd." Sherlock joins him at the table, grabbing the now lukewarm tea. "According to Mycroft, it seems you have successfully reduced his crime rates by 50%."
"I'm not gay, and the crimes have gone down because Moriarty hasn't been around."
"Pick up milk after today's dinner."
On cue, his phone buzzes. Sherlock lifts the teacup to his mouth, mumbles a number, and drinks his tea as John groans in annoyance.
…
"What's bothering you today?" Jim asks, and John hesitantly repeats the conversation from before. He expects Jim to laugh, to deny, he doesn't expect a thoughtful but approving look.
"One could see it that way, we are having dinner more often than not." John sputters, but can't protest the dinners. "I have no use for those labels."
"We're not dating." John is firm.
"We lack physical intimacy." Jim continues.
"What, like kissing and stuff?" He questions.
"Right," Jim looks up at him "Oh, that's interesting."
"What?"
"You'll want it eventually, well that's okay. I'll give that to you. It's nothing compared to what you do for me." John drags his hand over his face as he sighs.
"Well I don't want it, so don't worry." Jim, thankfully, lets the topic drop.
After Jim takes care of the check he stands and steps closer to John; the waitress behind John prevents him from taking a step back. John looks away from Jim but Jim smiles anyway.
"I could start. A goodnight kiss is certainly a great way to end a dinner."
A dinner.
A dinner date.
This place is close enough that John can walk home, and so he turns and walks away. After John gets home, he realizes he never tells Jim that they aren't dating so he sends a text. Firm without too much denial.
We're not dating
Right
Dates end with goodnight kisses, and maybe a little more.
It's clearly an offer. One John does not plan to take.
He doesn't plan to dream about it either.
Then again, he never planned for any of this.