Silent.
So silent.
Sherlock shifted slowly, unwilling to disturb the peace around him. He was currently stretched out on the couch, one arm hanging limply. That arm had two nicotine patches on it, but he had long since deleted that fact.
Everything had been so simple. So... effortless.
The simplest things always made the hardest cases. The tiniest item could make the case most perplexing.
Sherlock had missed something. He had missed something, one tiny, little thing. He had caught it, of course, but too late. Almost. But no. Still too late. They had watched the bomb go off from not one hundred feet away. His ears had been ringing ever since. But not with the noise. They were ringing with the silence. The silence that had followed.
He had been trying to think. Trying to... place an explanation. The reason that he had failed. The cover story for those who would ask, when they would ask, because they all would, in the end. Inevitably.
Sherlock let out a brief sigh, something barely heard. It barely broke the silence.
"Sherlock?" John's voice- worried- broke the silence, then. Sherlock ignored him. "Sherlock, it's been three days."
Sherlock continued to ignore him, closing his eyes again. He drew in a deep breath and held it there, letting it stay home in his lungs until he had to exhale. Breathing. Breathing was a sign of life. That was all John was going to get out of him.
"Sherlock, please," John started, raw emotion in his voice. But the doctor stopped quickly, and when he next spoke, his tone was measured. "No one blames you, Sherlock."
John thought that Sherlock was feeling guilty. He wasn't- not anymore than he normally did when people he was supposed to save died, really- but he didn't care to voice that out loud. He wasn't voicing anything out loud at the most current moment.
"Just... say something," John said, a pleading note to his voice. "Please."
Sherlock didn't move, save for his continued meticulous breathing.
If John didn't like the silence, then he could get out of the house.
Somewhat dark chapter. Well, maybe dismal. But... it's a bit not good, either way. [I like it.]
Sorry for the wait! Sherlock's Trusting [and severely injured] is next!