Nearly a month after that drunken night and things fell back into routine. John went to work and helped Sherlock on cases. He gets exasperated with Sherlock and his experiments, though at least there are no body parts in the fridge anymore. He still gets angry sometimes and storms out of the flat. But there are differences now as well. Though the Yard knows they're together, they aren't very big on public displays of affection. They may stand closer together, exchange a different kind of look, or sometimes arrive on scene holding hands, but other than that, they aren't expressive... at least not in public.
Behind the closed doors of 221B things are different as well. Sherlock isn't always considerate, and he still gets himself in a strop sometimes when he's bored. But John is better about it now. He knows how to soothe his detective with a few kisses, sometimes just sitting and letting Sherlock rest his head in the doctor's lap to stroke his hair and relax him. And then there are lazy days where they don't get out of bed for hours, snuggling and kissing lazily, and those are mornings that John absolutely adores. Because there are also mornings where John wakes up to an empty flat because his boyfriend got an idea in the middle of the night. But there's always a note sitting on the bedside table, or a text telling him where Sherlock went.
Sherlock sleeps more now, and John has fewer nightmares when they share a bed, even if Sherlock isn't sleeping. The detective has gained half a stone because when push comes to shove, John will use his Captain's voice to make sure that Sherlock eats at least one meal a day. The doctor continues to wear his tags since Sherlock continues to like them. But there still is no sex, even if they often stop just short of it. They have other ways of satisfying each other, even if John's libido is more than just healthy.
One day while John is work, Sherlock actually bothers himself to go down and get the mail, leaving Mrs. Hudson's on the hall table before he heads up with his own. Some things from clients, and then he spots a very official looking letter. It's from the RAMC, and that worries the consulting detective. Still in his pajamas and dressing gown even though it's afternoon, he sits down on his chair and turns the letter over. It's addressed to John - of course it is! - so he shouldn't really open it. But then again, John understands how he is.
Before he can stop himself, Sherlock opens the letter and pulls it out, reading it over and feeling his heart drop into his stomach. He stares at the letter, then looks over at the fireplace slowly. He could. He could throw it in and John would never know. No, that wasn't right. Even Sherlock could realize that at this point. If his soldier ever found out, he would be more than angry, and it's something that could end their relationship. And that is something that Sherlock just can't risk. So carefully, he folds the letter back up, tucks it into its envelope, then folds the envelope in half to slide it into his dressing gown pocket. It wouldn't be long before his doctor would be home from his shift at the clinic, and then he would give it to him. It might tear out his heart, but he'll give him the letter. And then he knows his world will end.
Right on time, John arrives back from a long day at the clinic, and he smiles as he enters his flat, looking forward to seeing Sherlock and really wanting just to have a quiet night in, cuddling and watching tellie. And maybe a beer. He's taken to keeping a six pack in the fridge for these nights. It's not like he drinks them very often, so they last a while. Trudging up the seventeen steps to the flat, John is already removing his coat and scarf. "Sherlock? I was thinking chinese tonight, what do you think?" He calls, not sure where his boyfriend is, but he hasn't received a text to indicate otherwise so he knows the other man is in the flat somewhere.
"That's fine, John." Sherlock says as he walks over to John when he comes in, sliding his arms around the older man from behind, nuzzling his head down into the man's neck and taking a deep breath.
"Hey, hey.. What's wrong, love?" John asks, putting his hand on top of Sherlock's arms, leaning back into him reassuringly before one hand slides up to run through his hair. "I'm fine, I didn't get accosted on the way home.. did something happen while I was at work?" This was a rare thing for Sherlock to be this clingy, as if something is wrong, without him receiving a text from a distressed detective.
Instead of responding to that question, Sherlock remains sullenly quiet, clinging to his doctor for a few more moments before he finally starts to release him. But he doesn't look him in the eye, just produces the letter from his pocket and holds it out to John. "I opened it." He states the obvious, but it's more of an apology, and a sort of 'and I am still giving it to you' implication in his tone, having been trying to occasionally make him proud.
With a little smile, John nods a little. "It's alright, love." he reassures, giving the detective a soft kiss, still worried as he unfolds the envelope, frowning when he sees the symbol on the front, and finally pulling the letter out from the inside. When he reads over the letter, he steps to the side twice and slowly sits down on the couch, staring at the contents. Two members of his former unit have gone MIA, they suspect that they have been kidnapped and are being held as prisoners of war. Apparently their former commanding officer, knowing how tight the unit used to be, has contacted them all to get them together for a formal rescue operation. Including John, who will be temporarily reinstated for the duration of the mission, which is estimated to take no longer than three months, one month prep to get those who were discharged already - like John - back into fighting condition, and then two to find the other soldiers. It's not an order, it's a request, more of a courtesy.
And John wants to do it. He was really close to those men and women in his unit, they were a family, and he feels bad for not keeping in touch with them more once he was invalided home. They saved each other more times than John can count, not only out in the field, but just by being there for one another. There's just one problem, and that is the tall man standing beside him, fidgeting with his dressing gown in a obviously nervous and uncertain way. Now the way he was accosted when he came home suddenly makes sense. Sliding down the couch a little, John holds out his hand to Sherlock, drawing the younger man over to sit down beside him. For now, he puts the letter down on the coffee table, turning his attention to his insecure boyfriend. Not something he would ever have thought Sherlock capable of before Christmas.
"Oh, Sherlock.." John says quietly, leaning in to give him a reassuring kiss before he pulls back. "Can you understand why I want to do this, love?" He asks quietly, keeping his tone quiet and gentle as he looks at the younger man, hand cupping his cheek, stroking his skin softly with his thumb.
Very much like a feline he sometimes resembles, Sherlock tilts his head into the warm, calloused hand and rubs his cheek into it gently. "Yes, I do understand.." he says quietly in a small, unsure tone. "I don't want you to go." He adds shortly afterwards, looking up into his eyes. "I don't want you to leave me, John." he says as he looks into the dark blue eyes of his doctor.
Shaking his head for a moment, John watches the gorgeous but vulnerable man in front of him. "You know that this doesn't have to change anything between us, right? We'll just be long-distance for a few months. I'll take my laptop, we can video chat, talk on the phone, exchange emails when I have reception. It just means that I won't be here, physically with you, for three months. We can handle this. You can do cases without me. Hell, you talk to me when I'm not here anyway, and you lasted two years without me, might I remind you." He points out as he watches the younger man.
Sherlock can't help it, he pouts at the man in front of him. "It won't be the same!" He cries, leaning over and putting his head down on John's lap, feet sweeping up onto the other end of the couch. "You won't be here to yell at me over my experiments, you can't help me at crime scenes, you can't kiss me, you won't be able to keep me from getting bored." He objects as he nuzzles his head down into John's lap gently.
Nodding a little, John chuckles when he ends up with a lap full of consulting detective, running his hands through the soft brunette curls. "I know, Sherlock.." He soothes quietly as he runs his hand down over the soft, vulnerable skin at the back of Sherlock's neck, then back up into his hair. "I'm not saying it won't be hard. But we can do this. I waited for two years for you, Sherlock. Surely you can manage three months without me." It's a dirty trick, and he knows it, but the doctor really feels like this is something he has to do. He owes it to his unit.
A little sigh is given from Sherlock, and he grumbles a little. "I won't stop you from going, John. I know you want to, and I know you feel you need to. You're a good man and you naturally feel loyal to those you served with. Plus you're getting older, and I'm sure one part of you wants to prove to itself that you can still be the soldier if you need." He says with a little shake of his head. "Promise me you'll come back to me, John." He says before he slowly sits up a little and crawls fully into John's lap, straddling his thighs, facing him.
Adjusting to the new position, John puts his arm around the thin man, pulling him in for another light kiss before just holding him tight. He doesn't see this as a hugely dangerous mission, so he just nods. "I promise, I'll come back to you, Sherlock.." he says as he continues to stroke the man's hair slowly, placing a soft kiss on his shoulder, otherwise just holding him. Only two or three times has he sees Sherlock this clingy, and it's usually after something bad has happened. A near-death experience for one or both of them, or something that triggers what few insecurities that the detective has.
Seeming content with that promise, Sherlock nods a little against John's neck. "I know you won't leave for a few weeks, but before you go, I want one more thing, John." He says in the most serious of ways, pulling back to look into the doctor's eyes.
For a few moments John considers how dangerous that could be, before he just nods a little as he watches Sherlock. "Alright, what do you need, love?" He asks, rubbing the younger man's legs, then up his sides and his back slowly, trying to soothe and comfort him.
Sighing a little, Sherlock leans forward, giving John a slow kiss that starts off as a teasing brush of lips, then turns into a deeper kiss but still sensual, deepening it a little more before he finally pulls back, looking into the older man's eyes as his arms slide around him.
"I want you to shag me senseless before you leave."
Ramping up for some interesting stuff coming up! I am super-inspired, so I even might get another chapter up tonight. We'll see what happens. :D
I hope you all enjoy! Please let me know what you think!
