I don't own Sherlock, just having a little fun while I can.

Thanks go to Madyamisam for the editing, all remaining mistakes are my own.

Sorry for not updating yesterday, family were down for most of the day.


Chapter Twenty Nine

John looked around the room, he smiled as he began to relax a little and flopped down in his chair. It was getting closer to his heat and he needed to make sure that Sherlock remembered he wouldn't be around for a week and would be unwell for a while when he returned. He looked at the mug that was on the side table next to him and wondered if he should get up to make himself one. He gave a sigh and leaned back instead, it could wait a moment. John turned his head a little as he heard the front door downstairs open and someone bounding up the stairs. It wouldn't be Greg Lestrade, since he hadn't done that after the first time. The Detective Inspector had also apologised for doing so as well as his involvement with the drugs bust.

"John!" Sherlock called out. His voice was excited as he practically waltzed into the living room.

"Sherlock please don't mess anything up," John pleaded with him as he looked at his flatmate.

Sherlock stopped and looked around the room. He couldn't help the frown on his face as he asked, "Where are all my notes?"

"I went through them all and put them in order into two folders. I made sure that they were in the ordered that you talked about last night," John answered him as he pointed to the dark green folder and the light blue one that was underneath it.

The Alpha strode over to the desk and picked up the dark green one first. He went through it quickly and then did the same with the second one. Sherlock smiled and nodded his head in approval as he complimented, "Thank you John, they are all in the right order."

John snorted, "Of course they are. You might talk about some things that I don't fully understand, but I can at least remember enough to file things away." He rolled his eyes as he stood up, picking up his mug at the same time.

"Thank you," Sherlock gave a single abrupt nod as he then put them away.

"Tea?" He asked. Sherlock gave a nod and went over to the sofa and sat down. "So, where have you been?" John asked another question. His curiosity was getting the better of him, especially since coming to live with Sherlock..

"I was checking a few things out. An email came through for a case. It was only a three, but it was something to do for a little while. I've already solved it and will be sending an email back to the client later on with my findings," he answered him as he began to lay down and then thought better of it.

"Bored already?" he asked him as he glanced back into the living room, expecting to see Sherlock lying on the sofa. Only to his surprise, Sherlock was standing right there before him.

Sherlock shook his head, "No, just wondering what to do. Though, do you mind if I ask a few more personal questions?" He paused for a moment. What he wanted to know would be rude and might scare John away, but part of him was burning to know the details of John's past. "If you don't wish to answer any of them, just ignore them or tell me to shut up."

John looked a little shock as he watched Sherlock sit down at the table. "Okay," he replied, a little wary of what can of worms he was going to be opening agreeing to this.

"Why don't you use suppressants?" he began. "I know that they are different from what you would be used to after the Army, but why go to one of the Omega Sanctuaries to go through it?" he continued.

John couldn't help the shake of his head as he sighed. Sherlock really had no true concept of privacy, since it wasn't something an Alpha should ask an Omega unless they were involved, it just wasn't done. "I can't. I become ill after a heat and the suppressants make it worse. I did use Army issued ones but they have a slightly different compound and they aren't as bad.I still became ill, but not to the extent that I do when using standard civilian suppressants. So, really my best option now is to just go through with the heat," he tried to explain it as best as he could.

"Ah, since you're no longer part of the Army, they are no longer available," he nodded his head as he watched John make the two of them some tea.

"Exactly," John nodded as he poured the water and brought the tea over to the table and sat down opposite him.

Sherlock frowned for a moment, "Have you been able to see someone about that?" he asked. Concern was now entering his voice.

"Yes I have," he answered quickly. "Mike said that part of what I go through is because of the partial bond and my body calling for an Alpha that will never come," he winced as he said it. He still hated the thought of the partial bond and hated it when he was reminded of it.

"You told me that there is nothing that can be done about that," Sherlock nodded as he looked at the Omega.

"Right," he nodded back as he started to stare down into his tea before he took a few sips.

"So you're going to a Sanctuary? What will you do there? What is done there?" came a quick barrage of questions.

"An Omega Sanctuary or Clinic is where Omegas can go to go through their heats safely if they don't have an Alpha or a safe place they can go through them. We are vulnerable when going through a heat," he winced a little.

"So how are you getting through the heats?" Sherlock carried on the questions not realising that he was beginning to make John a little uncomfortable with the questions.

"I'll be in a room on my own, which can be locked on both sides. There is a monitor in there that can monitor my condition. Just in case something goes wrong. I prefer to go though my heat alone and with no one else there," he answered. Even though he felt uncomfortable, he could see the open curiosity and the genuine concerned look on Sherlock's face.

Some of the words made Sherlock frown and look at him, "Alone, so you can go with an Alpha there if you like?"

John shook his head, "No," he chuckled a little at the thought of an Alpha getting through the security at the Sanctuary. "No Alpha's are allowed in the clinic at all. Only Omega's and Beta's are allowed in there. An Omega that is going through a heat can have another Omega with them if they want. Omega's all have a touch of empathy. If one is trusted enough to enter the room of an Omega in heat, then there is a bond between them that can be used to ease it. It will be like a mild heat that a teenager would go through."

Sherlock nodded his head, "Ah, so why don't you do that?"

"The Omega's there, well I don't really know them that well and I find it hard to have people around me when I'm in heat, even those I trust."

"Because of what happened to you when you were young," he nodded in understanding.

"Yes. A lot of what I do goes back to that," he sighed. "The illness after my heat didn't start until the first time I had a heat after the bond was supposed to have been broken." Looking down the the now empty mug in his hands. He sighed again, he wanted another drink.

Sherlock got up and pulled the mug away from him and set about making the two of them another drink. "Why don't you go into the living room John and put something on?" he asked awkwardly, hoping to distract the Omega. He now realised what he had done by asking the questions he had. He had brought up painful memories once more for his flatmate.

John watched in shock as Sherlock began to make tea. He smiled and stood up, "Thank you."

Sherlock turned to watch him leave the room, a smile on his face. He turned back to the kettle and quickly made the tea. Sherlock brought it in and handed the mug to John, who smiled and thanked him. Sherlock took his usual seat on the sofa.

"You're welcome John," Sherlock smiled to him. "I know that Mycroft tends to drink a lot before he goes into a heat. I wonder if that is the same for you," he mentioned, a little unsure.

"I do get thirsty and a little more hungry during the lead up. A lot of Omega's do. It's the bodies way of preparing for a time when they won't get a lot," he told him, a smile on his face. "A lot of Omega's are more lucid during their time. So they are able to eat and drink, but some aren't."

Sherlock nodded, "Right. I have to admit I didn't pay that much attention to what Omega's go through. Or what they need."

"Don't worry. I might be able to find a few things for you to read. But if you do have questions ask and I should be able to answer you. If not me, Mike should. He's more of a specialist in that area," John smiled to him.

"So when do you have to leave?" Sherlock then asked him, trying to not bring up bad memories.

"The day before my heat starts, " he answered. He couldn't help but wonder why Sherlock knew so little about Omegas. Unless he did know and then deleted it.

"Thank you," Sherlock said once more as he settled back on the sofa. He had learned what he wanted and more. He waited for John to choose a film for the two of them. It didn't take long for the beginning credits to play and Sherlock bit back a sigh when he saw it was James Bond. He wasn't a fan of the series, he preferred crime thrillers though he could easily deduce the plot within the first five minutes. The two settled down for the night, enjoying each others company as talk turned to other things.


Thank you for the wonderful reviews. They are amazing. So happy that you are enjoying this story, I do hope that you have enjoyed this chapter as well.