Chapter 8: Home

8 Months later

John takes a deep breath in. He hadn't hasn't smelled the air of London in over a year. He had forgotten how humid it can be. The fog he had seen from the plane had has disappeared but the sky was is covered with thick dark clouds that look dangerously down on at him. Rain was something very dangerous in the desert. It doesn't rain often but when it comes down, the water has enough power to destroy everything on its way.

Back in London John had hoped to feel at home again. He wasn't isn't sure what he should do next. His carrier career was is over, with his destroyed shoulder and six months in a military hospital for recovery, John has to find a new way.

Uncertain about his next step, that should probably be more than finding a place for the night, the battled soldier follows a path that is somehow familiar but still new to him. He had studied in this city, but it was long ago and the city had has changed.

John sits down on a park bench and stares up into the sky;, soon it will rain but until then he can stay here. He should call his sister, telling her that he will be there soon or better that he is still alive and has comes home. Finding a new flat will be difficult, his pension isn't London suited. John sighs and closes his eyes.

Like every time he lets his thoughts fly, they find their way back to Sherlock, John hadn't hasn't heard a thing about the whereabouts of the young man, nothing. No message of alive or dead. Nothing about his condition or if he even made it to the hospital. John had been out of reach and after that he was shot, hurt and unconscious for months. He sighst again.

His instinct awakens first, he feels someone coming over to him. John´s body reacts, all muscles are tense and he opens his eyes, the desert and the war hadn't haven't left him jet yet, but his first thought was is that he is dreaming right now because the person he sees can't be there.

Right in front of him stands Sherlock Holmes, not like the last time he saw him, hurt and unconscious, no, dressed in a dark coat, wearing a scarf and smiling at him under dark curly hair. John was is shocked and it probably shown shows on his face because Sherlock slides next to him on the bench and lays his hand on his shoulder.

"Sorry, didn't want to surprise you that much." John turns his head to Sherlock who had has put on a look of pure innocents innocence. "I guess the news of my survival didn't reach you in time?"

"No I guess the enemy's bullet was faster than it." John was is glad he got his tongue tough to work again. Looking up and down at Sherlock John notices that he was is still too thin to call healthy, small white scars were are visible at his forehead and at the edge of his scarf. If you would meet met him on the streets the small signs of what had happened to the man weren't visible at first, but when you know knew where to look for he could see the suffering Sherlock had has endured over the months of capture.

"My brother told me I have to thank you for rescuing me in timethank you for my rescuer in time." John was is amazed how calm Sherlock said says it, but after looking closer he could can see the shadows under Sherlock´s eyes: a sign of awake nights and restless sleep. It wasn't isn't like Sherlock was is acting; John guessed guesses he tries tried to keep up his appearance like in the camp., As as Sherlock had claimed he doesn't didn't need anyone and this the whole messed up mission was a walk in the park.

"You don't let leave you men behind. Not even yourself. It's an unspoken promise every soldier has to take, at least of in my unit has to take. We go in together and we leave together. Nothing else stands above it. No mission, no target, nothing." It was is true, John told his men every time they started a mission that he wants wanted them all back at the camp as uninjured as possible. Even being dead isn't an excuse. then at At least your body should return home to your family. In a war, death is unavoidable.

Sherlock stays silence silent for a few minutes and John doesn't feel the need to break it. For the first time since the day they got Sherlock back he could can breathe freely without thinking about the young man he nearly let slip away. "What are your plans now, Captain?"

"Not sure, I should start looking for a new job, a flat first; I have to call my sister to ask her if I can stay a while until I get back on my feet. Hadn´t thought that it would hit me so hart hard to return. What are you doing? Still working for your brother?"

Sherlock shakes his head. "I decided to try something else. My abilities can be used in many fields, right now I´m a consultant for the police." Sherlock had has an unreadable look in his eyes until a spark ignites. "I´m looking for a flatmate, I have my eyes on a nice place in central London, the owner owes me a favor, so when we split the rent we should be able to afford it."

John was is astonished and just starring stares at Sherlock. Was Is he really offering him a place to live after a five minute talk, a meeting in the desert and a rescue? He had been thinking often about the young man that had walked into his camp, young and alone, covered in dust and blood, was this men This man was still the most beautiful thing John had has ever seen. What could be the worst that happened? They could start something great, friendships (and maybe something more) were started at more strange places as like a campfire in a war zone. "Lead the way."

Sherlock cracked cracks a smile and John knows he has made the right decisionJohn knows he had taken the right decision. What the man had offered was generous and not something out of obligation. "Don't worry John we will find something for you need of adrenalin." Confused John starred stares at Sherlock´s back. What need? "I need an assistant and police work can be very exciting." Sherlock turns around and winked winks at him.

Oh what has he done, falling for a crazy person. But John just smiles, the biggest and most honest smile he had since Sherlock left his eyesight.