-:- Sherlock -:-
I stood in front of the door, as I waited for John at Baker Street. I didn't know why, but I felt slightly stronger today... Of course it was probably just a fluke, whatever it was. She still paced in my chest, as eager to see John as I. There was something about him; his voice, his smell, his face, that made me feel alive. It was maddening. Why on Earth was this happening now, when I only had months to live?
His cab pulled up, and I instantly relaxed, as soon as I saw his grin. God. What the hell was happening to me? How could a complete and total stranger make me feel this way? I pulled my Thermos out of my satchel, and drank a few large gulps, immediately feeling the relief of Raina's herbs. "Hello, John." I said, as he knocked on the door.
"Hello, Sherlock. What's that you're drinking? It smells... interesting." He asked, frowning as I put the Thermos back in my bag. "Makes my nose tingle," he added.
"It's nothing, just tea. Helps with my wolf hormones." I said, leaving out the bit about it keeping me alive. It was a little bit early to talk about that with John. Even though my heart wanted to. I'd had a chat with the woman keeping my heart ticking, Raina, and she told me, well, confirmed my suspicions that John was my mate. She said that if he Claimed me, and vice versa, John could at the very least ease my passing, or care for my wolf.
"Sherlock! Oh, you, come here..." I turned to the sound of Mrs Hudson's voice, after giving him a small - hopefully reassuring - smile, and put on a fake grin for the old woman. I gently gave her the required hug, and looked to John.
"I helped her out a few years ago. Ruffians and whatnot." I explained, and turned to Hudders. "This is Dr John Watson, Mrs Hudson."
"Alright, come on in, boys..." She held the door open for us, and ushered us down a short hallway. "Now down there is where you can go for the full moon," she gestured to a stairway leading down to the basement, "there's two bunkers down there with a few blankets and a wolf-proof mattress each. It's a little bit chilly right now, but that's just because I need to turn the basement heat on soon." Then we walked up a carpeted stairway, and to the vacant flat that I viewed yesterday. It was a simple two bedroom flat, with an airy sitting room, and a small kitchen in the back, and was cheerily furnished.
"There's a second bedroom for you, John, and a nice Tesco down the street for groceries. Do you think you'll take it?" Mrs Hudson asked us as if we could find anything else that was this perfect.
I looked to John, and he seemed amazed Mrs Hudson's kindness. We'll, he didn't know her as well as I do, if he had, he would expect this. My old friend always had a soft spot for lost causes, and her late husband had been a Were, like us.
"I like it, what about you, Sherlock?" He looked up at me hopefully. I was surprised he hadn't noticed that I had already moved in.
I grinned, nodding. It would certainly be interesting, living with John. Our conditions would see to it that it was never boring.
-:- John -:-
"So, are you going to tell me what that was, back at Bart's, I'm still confused about that. I..."
Sherlock finished unpacking his books, putting them on the shelves next to the fireplace, and sat next to me on the couch.
When I first saw him, he'd looked like death warmed over, twice; now he seemed slightly healthier, almost like he wasn't a corpse. But I noticed how, several times today, as we'd went about unpacking, he'd drink from that strange smelling Thermos. I wonder if it was helping, his 'tea'. Honestly, I prayed it was, Sherlock was a truly interesting person. Dashingly handsome, and clever. He told me my life story after I asked him for an example of his deductions. It was amazing. I truly hoped he'd get better, because I really wanted to date him. Being attracted to a man was nothing new to me, I am bisexual, after all, but my wolf kept sneaking into my mind at all the wrong moments, begging me to sleep with him.
"John, your pamphlet, it really didn't say anything about this?" Sherlock's gaze was focused on a speck of dust on his knee, and he shifted uncomfortably. Almost like this was a very taboo subject amongst Weres. Or like he was asking me out...
Oh. I recalled a vague hint about something in the video, a hint about 'mates'. Apparently they were the person your wolf was destined to be with. That was why my wolf was losing his damn mind. Sherlock is my mate. A sense of relief washed through me at the thought, the simple acceptance of the bond giving me a blissful sense of peace.
"We're mates." I said, looking to him for confirmation of the fact. I knew I was falling for him, but was he doing the same with me? Could he want me as much as I need him?
"Yes, John... We're mates... But I... We..." Tears fell from his eyes, as he struggled to find the right words.
I carefully took him into my arms, soothingly rubbing his back, as my very perceptive wolf paced in my chest. We both knew that something was off. Something was wrong with this. Why...
"I'm dying, John."
-:- Sherlock -:-
I uttered those three little words. Three words that brought my entire life tumbling down about my ears. I'm dying. There was no way around it. Yes, John we are mates. Yes, John, I'm I love with you already. But no, John, we will never see our true potential. I couldn't even dream of what we could be if only I'd been even just nineteen when I was bit. If I could live... There was so much more than what he knew about me, but I didn't have the heart to tell him.
I rested my head on his shoulder, as the tears slowly subsided to the usual calm acceptance of the hand fate dealt me.
"I'm sorry I dragged you into this John. I didn't mean to ever find my mate. I'd only break his heart sooner or later." I said at last, pulling away, and drying my eyes. I couldn't read his expression, it seemed to be somewhere between determination and affection. Odd.
"Why are you dying?" He asked at last. Gently, he ran his hand through my hair, and I leaned into his touch. It soothed the ragged ache in my chest, and seemed to make it easier to breathe.
"I was turned young, at sixteen. I... It's a miracle I'm still alive to be telling you this. The hormones..." I could smell his wonderful scent, my wolf curled up and almost purring inside me.
"You said the tea, it helps?" His face turned sad, as his palm rested on my face. I wanted to take it away, his pain. He shouldn't have to suffer with me.
I looked deep into his blue eyes, my heart absolutely breaking for this poor man. To find your mate as he slowly wasted away before your eyes... "The tea helps, but it's merely temporary. Eventually, sooner rather than later, it will stop working, and either my body will shut down, or my wolf will take over. Either way, I'll be gone in a few months. I'm sorry."
He blinked, a tear rolling down his cheek. "I won't let you do this alone, Sherlock. I'll be here for you through this. Even take care of your wolf, if that's what it comes down to. I'm falling hard, and I can tell you need me. Do does your wolf."
I nodded in agreement. "She does, John. God... I wish that I wasn't going to die. If I lived we could... We'll, it's useless to dream." I muttered the last bit, leaning my head back on his shoulder, and curling into his side. His arms wrapped around my sickly thin frame, and we stayed like that for a long time. I hoped he would never ask about the reason my wolf was a she, and all of the internal complications that entailed.