Chapter 25: The violist on a sinking ship

'Present, London - 2010'

How John made it home the day before was a big question mark. He suspects that Greg had something to do with Greg and a limo. Why the heck has their division a limo? John was too shocked that Sherlock said it back. He hadn't thought Sherlock would think like that about him. John was fallen for this man some time ago, probably as they met in the museum. Without knowing it, he loved the man nearly his whole life and Sherlock loved him back.

If feels unreal and amazing, scary and absolutely fantastic. And right now it was a big problem because in his shocked condition he had told his boss that he had kissed their target, his charge. Will Mycroft take the case from him or will he have to change something. He could get a baby sitter. That would be awkward. Someone who is watching him and Sherlock in their strange way of communicating. They had sometimes only minutes together but it felt like years. It was like Sherlock was breathing out his story, his thoughts and feelings and John would absorb them like a sponge.

John tries to calm down, it was Thursday and he would have to stay at home after tomorrow for two whole days. 48 hours without Sherlock. What should he do? He decided he wouldn't worry unnecessarily. John couldn't know what Mycroft has planned for him so he would wait.

Today John is taking the subway, he is running late and after the last impression he let behind at work he should try to work on his image, John would have to ask Greg how he got home yesterday.

As he walked between the crowed the feeling that something was missing grows in his mind. It took John the time to his destination to find out what it was, the street musician, the man that played the beautiful music with his violin. John really enjoys listening to the man and his hunted songs of love and lost, of hope and desperation.

John pushed the thought about the man in the back of his mind, it wouldn't help when he was distracted but he decided to take the subway on his way back. Maybe the violinist would be back by then.

John was greeted like every day. Greg waved as he entered still busy with HOPE and Molly gives him his new set of clothes. She smiled and wished him a good time in the past. John had wished that he could spend a bit more time before he had to face Mycroft. He takes a deep breath and gets ready to face his boss.

"Good morning agent, I'm happy to see you found your way back alone today." John swallowed, he needs Greg to ask what happened, really soon.

"Yes sir and good morning. Ready for the next mission." Mycroft didn't comment on it further and gives him a picture, an old photo to be precise. John looked at it and had nearly let go of it.

The picture was of him, him and Sherlock. John couldn't care less for the surrounding, there were the two of them together on a picture, standing close together and smiling brightly into the camera.

"As you see Mr. Watson will you next mission be on board of the very famous ship Titanic." John's head shot up and back to the picture, yes, there was a sign telling everyone who would see the picture that the two man were on the Titanic, furniture and decoration matches the image in his mind from the movie and the documentary he had once watched while waiting for his flight to take off.

"What's the mission?" John hears himself ask, still far to focus on the beautiful man beside him in the photo.

"Sherlock is part of the crew, a violinist, playing in the background and for the amusement of the passenger. Find out why he chose this line of work and if he intends to leave the ship in America. Mr. Watson you know the ship will never arrive at its destination but I would prefer when you refer from telling anyone about it." And here it came the sentence that told John he really had spoken the very unprofessional words the day before.

"Of course sir, I would never compromise the mission." John stands more upright then before.

"I know Mr. Watson. Don't stay too long. We all know how it ends." With these words Mycroft sends him off to his mission. John can't wait to see Sherlock again. Thirty years for him, only one night for John. The difference between the two.

'~1912 AD, Between Ireland and New York'

Sherlock let the music travel through the halls. It was his turn to guide the passenger through to the dining room. He really didn't care where his boss stationers him. Sherlock was happy as long as he was allowed to play his music. He found music again, a voice of his own that can get his thoughts out of his crowed mind.

Many of the passengers ask him who wrote the pieces he was playing. They tell him they can feel the love that the composer had for the person he wrote them for. Sherlock never tells them lies. He only has to read how much they know about the history of music and give them a name of one of the less famous composer. There are enough, he would never tell them that he had wrote them for John, only for John.

As Sherlock finished another one he could feel it. John was coming. The air changes and Sherlock puts down his violin, he checks the clock at the wall, his shift will be over in a few minutes. Sherlock starts to play again. John would come for him and after he had finished for today they could spend some time together.

The first notes were already capture the passengers, he had call this song 'Dear John' and the people loved it.

It was easy to spot John between the passengers. He was the only one looking at Sherlock like a love drunk idiot. Apparently he notice his behavior and disappears in a cabin. The violinist finished his song and with it his shift. He harvest his applause and leaves to find John. Sherlock knocks at the door where John had disappeared behind and opens it.

John was waiting for him at the window, smiling brightly as he saw Sherlock. "Hey there Mr. Musician." A wide grim appears on Sherlock's face.

Both men walk to the middle of the room and meet. Sherlock could see the hesitation that suddenly appears in John's eyes. To stop it Sherlock lend down and let their lips meet for a short moment. It was only a small kiss, a 'hey there love, I missed you' that tells John he didn't need to wait for him to make the first move.

John looked with this amazing blue eyes at him. "I didn't ... I mean I'm happy to see you again. You play beautiful." This insecurity was a bit sweet.

"Thank you, I wrote them all for you." The crimson face that appears in front of him was the cutest thing Sherlock had ever seen. But he wouldn't tell John he was cute, another day but not today. Some mysteries have to stay hidden for a while. "Would you like to see the ship? It's the greatest ever build and unsinkable. The last part has to been proved first but this is its first time crossing the ocean." Sherlock really likes the ship and hopes he can work here for a while. John nods and takes Sherlock's hand.

"Show me." At the door John gives Sherlock's hand free again. "Sometime soon." With another kiss they leave the cabin.

John tries to compare the movie and the real thing. He couldn't really remember it but he never thought that it would be like that. Right now they were in the first class; it looks like you could sharp off pieces of gold from the walls, all a bit much, posh and too much of everything. John couldn't relax between all the people with their money and mighty glory. "Sherlock show me your part. Not this work place of yours where no one is really happy." Sherlock leads him to a door that was for stuff only. John was glad Sherlock did the first step he wasn't sure how to greet him. What when Sherlock wasn't ready or didn't want this, whatever that is between them. But Sherlock wants it, and that's what counts and with the kiss he showed it.

Before they could walk through the door John hears the sound of an old fashion flash from a camera, he turns around and sees the background from the photo Mycroft had shown him. Before John could ask or form a question, Sherlock already pulls him to the photograph.

"John you want a picture right?" John nods, amazed how Sherlock had read his mind again. "I know the man; I can get it after the journey."

The man releases a couple as Sherlock touches him in the shoulder. "Hey Ian, would you mind taking a picture of me and my ... friend?"

"Of course not. Just play my favorite tomorrow while I'm working." John and Sherlock pose and John could believe he really was in a picture together with Sherlock. Both man smile and the unspoken word 'boy' for friends float between them. "Finished, I will work on it as soon as I'm finished for today." Ian told them before John and Sherlock leave again, this time they made it through the door.

Sherlock knew all the secrets of this ship; he told John that he knew the architect that was part of the construction team. One of the reasons why he chose this ship to work on and practice his music. The other was "John, you are the reason. This ship is famous and you told me once it's easier for you to find me at settings of great importance." Sherlock wasn't sure if they would stay in America or return to Europa. Maybe he would stay and work on the Titanic for a while.

The ship was huge and as they enter the third class the mood of the people become more honest.

John got many questioned looks. His clothing was meant to be for the first class as Molly intended because that is where he would meet Sherlock. But as soon as John opens his mouth they saw that he and Sherlock belonged to them. They had a little party as it seems and Sherlock was taken to play the violin.

Sherlock plays a beautiful, funny and very catchy melody. Soon the people began to dance as was John. The air was filled with joy and excitement. The people laugh and John catches how Sherlock looks at him like he must have looked at him playing the violin for the rich.

Neither of them notice how much time passes, they could finally separate themselves from the passenger and made their way on top of the deck. It was already night and in John grows the feeling that he had forgotten something important. Sherlock leads him to the front and they look out in the open water. Stars cover the sky and the cold air burned slightly in their lungs. They were alone outside too cold and suddenly remembers that he can't stay die much longer or he and HOPE would sink together with the Titanic to the bottom of the ocean.

Sherlock shows him the stars they stand close and were holding hands; no one was there to notice. "Love, I have to go now. I was here too long already. I loved every second of it but I have to leave now." Sherlock understands. He also sees the fear in John's eyes. Something very bad is about to happen, he could feel it.

"One last kiss for today?" John blushed again but lends forward to meet Sherlock's lips. The world stands still as they deeper the kiss, feeling centuries of waiting melting away.

Time starts again to matter as the sickening sound of sliced metal meet their ears. The ground was shaking and the ship stands still. There he was the iceberg, right next to them. Pieces of ice broke of and fall in deck. Sherlock and John separate and stare in horror at the mass of ice.

Sherlock turns to John, wants to calm him. This was the unsinkable ship; nothing bad would happen but the horror in John's eyes stop him. This was not good. "Sherlock you need to go to the lifesaving boats now." It was a whisper filled with fear. "I forgot the time." Panic peaked and Sherlock suddenly understand this ship will sink and meet her brothers and sisters at the bottom of the ocean.

"No, we need to get you back to your vehicle." Sherlock takes hold on John's wrist and pulled him back to the ship. "Where did you leave HOPE?" John was trying to keep up with Sherlock's larger legs and tells him the room number he arrived in.

The ship, its crew and passenger weren't in panic, not jet at least. They were confused and busy finding out what happen and what they would have to do now. Sherlock and John pass them all in a hurry. The cabin he had arrived him was somewhere in the middle of the ship but John knows why Mycroft had told him not to stay for too long. This cabin will be filled with water very fast and at the beginning of the sinking process, that would take over an hour.

The two men were ignored, no one cared that there were men holding hands while running through the ship. The fear grew in the passenger as they were asked to go to the lifesaving boats. Another stairs down and their feet step right into the icy cold water of the Atlantic sea. "Sherlock I will find my way. Please go back; you need a seat in the boats." Sherlock just shakes his head he wouldn't let John alone until he wasn't sure he was safe. They walk through the water and their trousers get soaked. Their feet are cold and heavy from the water but they arrive at the cabin. John opens the door and finds HOPE untouched like always.

"Now, you have to promise something." Sherlock looked at him. "You brought me to safety, now you will find a way on one of the boats. This ship is sinking. Nothing will stop it. I know you are immortal and all but when you sink in the bottom of the ocean this immortality won't help you to rise again. So you promise me that you will do everything to survive." John's eyes where hard and filled with passion as a smile appears. "I want to see you again soon." Sherlock promised John to survive and they said their good byes more with looks then with words.

Sherlock runs upstairs to the boats but there were too many people, worst it were panicking people. He couldn't fight his way through them. Sherlock know exactly how cold this water is. He had a meeting with it before and had hoped not to repeat this experience.

With the promise fresh in his mind Sherlock makes his way to the end of the ship, he saw the large crack in it and can imagine what will happen next. It will break into two parts. He needs to be on the part that stays on the surface a bit longer. The last moment he would enter the water and swim to the boats in the distance. He had to or he would eat with the fish as they say.

The screaming and shouting of the frighten people wasn't the worst that Sherlock had ever heard but it wasn't helping the situation. He wished he could help them all but he wasn't some almighty creature. He was just a man that was unable to die.

While the part of the ship he was on starts to sink to the bottom of the ocean Sherlock was glad that John was safe but at the same time he wishes for his company. The taste of his lips still on the tip of his tough Sherlock tights the grip on the fence he was holding on to. He would survive and he will reach these boats so he could return to the coast.

Maybe she should stay for another few years in Europa, the world was changing suddenly so much faster and there was much to learn and see. He wouldn't be bored and maybe he finds a good place to stay. With nice people and enough excitement to get John´s attention.

Sherlock was pulled out of his daydreaming as the surface came closer; mare seconds separate him from the cold water. He takes a deep breath and jumps. The pull from the ship wouldn't take him far this way and he can start his fight with Mother Nature and the icy cold water of the Atlantic ocean.

'Present, London - 2010 '

John was shaking from the cold as he opens the door of HOPE. Worried eyes form Greg and Molly meet him. Mycroft wasn't in sight but he was probably back soon. Greg helps him out and pushed him to the shower. "You idiot. Why did you stay that long, you could have died and get the time machine destroyed." John could hear that Greg wasn't worried about HOPE but he tried to distract from the fact that he was very worried about John.

"Sorry, forgot the time and we needed longer than thought back to HOPE." John tries to open his shoes but his finger became numb somewhere between 1912 and today. "Greg can you help me with these." Greg saw his hand and opens the shoes.

"Go, up under the shower and don't come out until you feel your fingers and toes again." John loses the rest of his clothes and disappears in the shower room. When he comes out a fluffy white towel will wait for him as his clothes.

John had finished his report and looked up his blog, no new message, no comment that suggested that Sherlock had found his message. While reading through it he has an idea.

Blog of J. H. Watson

Dear Sherlock,

I´m not sure if you aware of our timetable but today we had a great evening at the maiden trip of a ship. Compare to some ships today you could call it a small one. I really enjoyed your music even when the thought that you wrote them all for me is a bit embarrassing. By the way, the next dance belongs only to you. I notice your look while you played for us.

You know what happens next and most likely found a good place to live in the presents. I hope to see you soon at a place where we both are equal in time.

Always yours.

John

The text wasn't too telling and only Sherlock would fully understand. John hit the send bottom and closes the laptop. Molly had told him to drink tea and go to bed early with a hot-water bottle. He will listen to her or he will have to answer to her if he gets sick.

AN: Next Chapter: My little princess