Yay! An update!
Honestly, I think this was one of my favourite chapters to write. Enjoy and please review!
Chapter XXXXXI
"John, I'm serious." Sherlock said, his face reflecting the seriousness of his tone. John stopped laughing, noticing how solemn is friend was.
"Really? You want my help?" John asked, more then a bit confused.
"That is what I said, isn't it?" Sherlock asked back grouchily. He hated having to ask for help in the first place, but John was making it even more difficult.
"Yeah, but, you're 'the great Sherlock Holmes'. I didn't think you needed anyone's help." John mused, a smirk on his lips. Sherlock sighed dramatically.
"Clearly, you are not as observant as I had thought, John." Sherlock retorted. John tried to hide a snigger. Sherlock rolled his eyes at his flatmate and got up.
"Never mind. I can see you are not going to take this seriously." He huffed. But John shook his head and pushed the consulting detective back into his chair.
"You're not going anywhere, Sherlock. I am, from now on, going to take this seriously. I guess I just didn't think you needed help. But now, I can see it's time for me to teach you something, for once." He said as he took his place across from Sherlock, a big grin on his face.
Sherlock sighed again dramatically, though inside he was secretly happy for the help. John was more experienced in this area, and the one Sherlock trusted most.
"Ok, so, umm, first things first, do you know how to kiss?" John asked, a bit awkwardly, but he powered through. Sherlock rolled his eyes again as he responded.
"Of course, John. I am completely educated on the subject." He answered. This comment produced a small smirk from the doctor.
"Alright, just checking. So, romance then. Ok. First, think about her. Often. Tell her how beautiful she is, or how nice she smells or how brightly her eyes sparkle. Basically, complement her, but in your own way. And not 'I can tell from your perfume you wish me to notice you.' " John started his speech. Sherlock groaned, but continued listening.
"Buy her something ever once in awhile. Give her gifts. And I am not talking about the gifts like you gave poor Molly Hooper for Christmas last year." John added.
"It's perfectly expectable for me to give a healthy lung to an pathologist." Sherlock huffed out defensively. John decided to ignore him and press on.
"Let her know you think about her. Do things with her, like watch telly or get something to eat together or just talk. Open up. Tell her something about yourself that others may not know." John continued, only to be interrupted by the consulting detective.
"What could I possibly tell her about myself that she doesn't already know?" Sherlock asked, confused.
"Well, maybe, tell her about your childhood. Where you grew up. Why you and your brother fight all the time. I don't know, but I'm sure there's loads of things you could say about yourself." John answered, his tone indicating he was done talking about this, leaving a brief pause before he moved on.
"Kiss her. Often. Surprise her with it. When she's working in the kitchen or relaxing on the sofa or whenever. Trust me, it's one if the best things you can give her. However, snogging her in public, without her permission, might not end well." John explain.
"As if I would." Sherlock scoffed. John gave him a pointed look before continuing.
"Trust her, and show that you trust her. Let her inside that huge brain of yours and see what you're really like. And make sure she feels that she can do the same for you. But above all else, listen to her. And I don't mean how your listening to me, Sherlock Holmes." John stated, looking his friend in the eyes. Sherlocks attention seemed to have wavered slightly. Sherlock rolled his eyes, but focused on Johns next words.
"I mean listen, really listen, to her. Like she was telling you the most interesting things in the world. Because, in a way, she is. She's letting you into her mind, and even you can't get into her thoughts without listening to her." John let his words hang in the air for a minute, letting their importance sink in. Sherlock was now captivated by John, hanging off his every word. John gave him a small, friendly smile.
"And one final thing, Sherlock. Tell her you love her. Tell her what she means to you. And tell her often. If you do that, it doesn't really matter what else you do, because she will know you really, truly love her." John finished, leaning closer to his friend. John smiled reassuringly at Sherlock, who looked somewhat scared. After a moment of silence, Sherlock finally spoke up.
"So... how... how do I tell her? That I... you know..." Sherlock stumbled over the words coming out of his mouth. John chuckled briefly at his distressed friend.
"You just say it Sherlock. Three little words that can change the world. But it doesn't really matter how you say it, as long as you mean it and you show it." John said, beaming.
There was something about helping Sherlock with his new relationship that made him happy. Maybe because he was helping or maybe it was that he was seeing a different side to Sherlock, a more sensitive, and clumsy, one. Either way, the smile remained firmly fixed on his face. There was a long silence, which Sherlock ended.
"So... that's it? There's nothing else?" Sherlock huffed, annoyed.
"Well... How far are you wanting things to go?" John asked awkwardly. Sherlock just stared at him, trying to process what he was implying.
"What do you mean?" Sherlock asked, tilting his head at John. John went bright red and let out an awkward cough.
"Well... umm... Are you wanting to... umm..." John stuttered out, not making eye contact. After all his teasing remarks to Sherlock, this topic had all of a sudden become very awkward. Sherlock observed him for a moment. John was obviously embarrassed about what he was trying to say.
"Just spit it out John." Sherlock said impatiently. John sighed and cleared his throat.
"Do I need to instruct you in the ways of... bedroom activities?" John asked, clearly uncomfortable. Sherlock scoffed, repulsed at the idea John was presenting.
"Honestly, John, I am an adult male. I know how to have sex." Sherlock bit out harshly.
"Ok, ok. Just making sure." John said defensively, relieved not to have had to talk to Sherlock on the topic. Of course, then his 'good friend' instincts had to kick in.
"If you ever... you know, have any questions..." John let his unfinished sentence hang in the air. Sherlock blinked at his friend, mentally filling in the blanks.
"Yes... I'll be sure to let you know." He responded slowly. John just gave a nod, afraid of upsetting the now deafeningly awkward silence that had settled in.
"John..." Sherlock began slowly. John raised his eyes to meet Sherlocks.
"What is a socially acceptable present to get ones..." Sherlock couldn't bring himself to say the word. It didn't sound right. It didn't describe what Ariel was to him. And yet, it was the only appropriate term. "... Girlfriend?"
"Well," John began, a smirk on his face. "That would probably depend on the girl. Although, chocolate and flowers are always a safe bet. What does Ariel like?" Sherlock froze. He wasn't sure how to answer that question. He knew she liked sentimental things. But what made something sentimental? He knew she loved him, but outside of that, what did she like?
"I... I'm not sure." Sherlock admitted, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. John gave him an understanding nod.
"Then take the time to get to know her. Ask her what she likes. And observe. You're good at that." John said with a chuckle. Sherlock gave him a brief smile, which quickly turned into a frown.
"John, in the two weeks you I were gone, something happened to me... I'm not sure what it is." Sherlock said, shaking his head. This feeling had been bothering him for quite some time now.
"It's... It's like a tightness in my chest, and a slight fog in my mind, and a sort of... hypersensitivity. I feel numb and alive, clear and foggy, awake and asleep, all at the same time. It's... It's mind boggling." Sherlock attempted to explain. He was trying not to sound like his usual, clinical self, but he didn't exactly have the right words otherwise.
John gave him a small chuckle and a wide grin.
"That's called love, mate." He said. Sherlock shook his head.
"Really?" Sherlock asked, not believing it.
"Really." John affirmed. Sherlock took a moment to think this information through.
"And normal people want to experience this? It's debilitating." Sherlock asked in what was probably supposed to sound like mock horror, but in reality, sounded much more real then faked.
"Yeah, it can do that. But that's not all it does." John chuckled out. Sherlock groaned. He wish he understood this better.
"Do I have to take her out to dinner now?" Sherlock asked with a small sigh.
"Well, she may like it if you went out on a date sometimes, but you really should ask her what she wants." John answered. "Girls are funny that way, they all like different things." Sherlock shook his head.
"This is possibly the most confusing subject I have ever attempted to study." He muttered, his head held in his hands. Johns eyes widened in surprise before he let out a sympathetic laugh. Sherlock had studied advanced sciences, maths and a variety of topics a normal person would consider confusing and complex. But Sherlocks biggest struggle was the dealing with, and understanding of, emotions.
"That's women for you." John chuckled out. Sherlock looked at John, tilting his head as he studied.
"But you're exceptionally good at understanding and pleasing women. It can't be that difficult." Sherlock said, though it sounded like he was mostly talking to himself.
"The key is listening to what they say. If you want to make them happy listen and look for what does. It's not exactly rocket science." John answered.
"No, rocket science is approximately seven times harder than understanding emotions for a normal human being." Sherlock muttered.
John watched Sherlock, watching his mind work, watching him try desperately to put together the puzzle of human emotions. John sighed and walked over to his friend. Sherlock looked up at him, and John saw in his eyes just how lost he was.
"Listen." John said, placing a hand on his friends shoulder. "She fell in love with you. You, and your big, daft brain. All she wants is for you to love her back, in the only way you can." The doctor gave Sherlock a reassuring smile.
He felt him sigh and relax under his hand. Sherlocks eyes fell closed as he forced himself to relax and store this new knowledge. He began to drift off into his mind palace. John noticed his friend drifting away, so he headed to make himself some tea.
He was half-way to the kitchen when he heard Sherlock say, in a low, deep voice;
"Thank you."
John smiled. He would do anything for this man, who had saved his life, on more than one occasion. Giving him dating advice was nothing.
"You're welcome, you git." He said to himself with another low chuckle. John disappeared into the kitchen, putting on the kettle.
Sherlock sat completely still in his chair, thinking, memorizing and storing his conversation with John. He didn't want to forget a single thing John had said, as it just might come in handy one day. Sherlock was still nervous about his new relationship with Ariel, but John had helped to clarify somethings.
He had taught Sherlock that the one simple phrase had the power to change everything. Sherlock marvelled at how humans had managed to attract such meaning to so few words.
He vowed to show Ariel, every day just how much he loved her. Yes, he loved her. He was sure of it. Any doubt had been wiped out of his mind. And he was going to prove it.
Well, what did you think? Was it everything you hoped for? Did you love it? Or hate it? Please, leave a review and let me know!
