Spoiler alert: Study in Pink
Still not beta-ed
Chapter 5 in which Doctor Watson discovers what makes Sherlock tick.
When they sat down in the booth that big and strangely polite burglar of an owner assumed John was Sherlock's date. That wouldn't bother him too much but it was second time that day he was thought to be gay. That didn't happen to him ever; he just had that straight vibe that both women and men could detect. He decided not to pay any attention to it. Ex-burglar had similar quality as Mrs Hudson, he didn't pay attention to what other people were saying, not really.
John ate and tried to scoop out something more about Sherlock.
John inquired about a possible normal thing like a girlfriend. He didn't really expect it after all he had seen today. Women were easily offended and Sherlock had a lot of disturbing observations at his sleeve and he was far too untamed to have someone that could take that kind of company. But he still paused because second parts of that sentence `not really my area` could mean he has an area.
"Boyfriend?" he asked cautiously people are known to be delicate about the whole gay issue, he had a gay sister so he knew that well, he got slapped on the head about it more than one time. He trained himself to be quite neutrally polite about the whole subject of rejections and disapproval that was followed by showing off and rightness rage. Sherlock looked at him and he could tell from experience that there is something there, some kind of caution and expectancy of rejection, a wall and he ushered to reassure the man that it wouldn't be a problem, not with him.
"No" was the answer that wasn't surprising, if there was a man in Sherlock's life he would look different, less on the edge of dashing off on his own. John was fine with that because it made them more similar unattached and uncomplicated with all that jumping around significant half that needs to be attended to.
Sherlock misinterpreted his interest that was based on collecting the basic data about the man he was thinking to live with. John almost choked on his food. His mind was processing like crazy trying to find a subtle way to let him down gently. Luckily Sherlock declared himself married to his work and John reassured him it is all fine, sex life of no sex life, that wasn't John concern or business. When Sherlock looked away letting his guard down John exhaled thinking to him how awkward was that. He wasn't just mistaken for a gay date but mistaken for hitting on the other man.
The man from the cab talked to the real police officer and they started to run again this time at a slow pace towards home. John hadn't noticed he's thinking about Baker Street as home.
When they entered the hall and leaned against the wall panting John declared that that was the silliest thing he had ever done and they laughed some more, this time Sherlock joined his laughter it was a pleasant sound. Then Sherlock declared to Mrs Hudson that he will take the room upstairs, but John didn't even decide to stay, let alone take the upper room.
"Says who?" John was ready to argue.
"Says the man on the door" Sherlock smiled at him undisturbed and like magic, there was a knock on the door. Angelo from the restaurant was standing there with his cane in his hands. John took it with a smile of awe and amazement. He was more than little grateful for that act of proving the point. John grabbed his cane firmly lucky to stand on his two feet. His damn leg was working and that wasn't something John will easily forget but there wasn't any time to give proper thank you because things were already happening again.
John ran out when he realized where Sherlock went. He went with the murderer. He got the cab and tried to get hold of detectives, but he didn't have any real numbers, nobody knew John's name, and they didn't get back to the station yet. He was on his own having the only laptop to track down Sherlock. John ran down the corridors checking every open room that could be the location of that pulsing dot, why can't it be more specific? He felt fear growing inside of him. It would be so stupid to die like this, he's just met him but he was far too interesting to die.
When he finally found Sherlock he was terrified. John instinctively shouted his name but it was in vain, consulting detective was in the building across the street. John felt powerless and despair took over him. He will have to watch him die.
Sherlock lifted something small looking at it against the light. John pushed the window but it was still too far to be heard; only a gunshot would be so loud. John suddenly remembered his forgotten gun. He took it from his belt suddenly calm and in control. He wasn't powerless, not even wounded. John aimed to wait a second for Sherlock to reclaim his senses and throw away that pill, but then he lifted it slowly and the killer took his pill against his mouth mirroring Sherlock's gestures. The man talked while the pill was closer and closer to his mouth and John pulled the trigger. When the man fell down John froze for a moment but then his newfound legs started to run carrying him towards the exit.
John stood there behind the rubber line and watched at Sherlock who was sitting down with a blanket on his back. He just sat there not noticing his surroundings for a while and John thought he looked young. John looked at other things too, he didn't stare, but he was just really relieved that his new flatmate sat there unharmed. Sherlock stood up when Lestrade started to talk to him. John was trying to determine what he was saying; it looked like he's thinking. Will he figure it out? It didn't matter, Sherlock looked at him noticing him just now, John looked away; he did the right thing.
In the next moment, Sherlock was right beside him looking at him exclusively not thinking and noticing a hundred different things. He spoke low and he figured it out, John wasn't surprised by that.
"Of course I'm alright" John held himself firm and was somehow confused by Sherlock's concern, it was just death; he's seen it every day but he tried to explain his lack of compassion because he realized Sherlock is worried.
"Frankly a bloody awful cabby," he said and felt how tension eases. Sherlock backed out accepting it, and they walked away. With Sherlock's next line John started to giggle but he quickly controlled his nerves.
"That's how you get your kicks," John said to Sherlock knowing he's right "proving you're clever" he felt at ease with the other man.
He felt like he knows him well, better than those people that knew him for years. Sherlock was clever beyond comprehension and wanted to show that, but besides that, he was an idiot like the rest of them. Sherlock took that with a smile and they went for dinner.
John walked away with Sherlock somewhat pleased with his new company. Although he was overly confident and insulted people left and right it was easy, really, to put him back to his place. All he had to do is to listen and not take his word like a law. Sherlock was brilliant but just because he was fishing in the dark all the time.