"Sherlock. I... I'm sorry, but no." John looked away. "I just can't."
A small sigh came from Sherlock. He looked hurt and rejected. Closing the ring box, he slipped it back into his coat pocket. He turned and started to walk away. John grabbed his scarf, pulling him back.
The scarf fell off, and John snatched it. "Sherlock, please, just listen to my reasoning. I can't marry you because it's just not the right time. We've only started dating four months ago. No one knows yet, not even Mrs. Hudson. Maybe later, but not now," John turned Sherlock towards him. "Please understand."
Sherlock bit his lip. "It's fine John, really. I'll see you back at the flat," he turned away, hands in his pockets.
"Sherlock..." John walked after him.
"I said it's fine! Just, just leave me alone. I need to think," the detective walked faster. "Please. Just leave me be."
A tear rolled down Sherlock's face as he broke out into a run. John stopped walking as he looked on at the retreating figure. He hated telling Sherlock no, but he just wasn't ready. He just hadn't realized how much that 'no' was going to hurt Sherlock.
Back at the Flat
Sherlock ran up the stairs, ignoring Mrs. Hudson's 'hello Sherlock'. He locked the door into the main part of the flat, and then the one into his bedroom. He threw the ring box at the wall, it popping open and the ring falling out. He tried not to cry, he really did. But it wasn't long before the pain of it all took over. The tears started to fall and all he could do was cry. He should've seen it coming. He should've known John didn't care for him that much. Accepting that fact, he curled into a ball and just cried.
Speaking of the devil, he heard said person climbing the stairs and unlocked the main door. Sherlock knew it wasn't much of a blockage, but it was all he had. John tried the door handle to his bedroom and found it locked. Instead of unlocking it, it could be opened with a small flathead screwdriver, he knocked. When Sherlock didn't answer he spoke.
"Sherlock I know you're in there. Please come out, or at least unlock the door," his voice sounded desperate and sad.
Sherlock's own voice couldn't sound any more different than John's. His sounded cold and. wounded more than anything. "Go away. Just go away. I don't need you to hurt me anymore than you already have. You've done enough damage, must you do anymore?"
John winced. "Sherlock please. Just unlock the door and we..."
Sherlock threw the door open. "And we what? Can break my heart some more? Of maybe tell me that you hate me? I don't want to hear it. I just wanted you to love me forever. I just wanted to insure that you'd always be mine. I just wanted to..."
John cut him off, kissing him passionately. Sherlock, dispite his pain and anger for John right now, kissed him back, their tounges fighting for dominance in the other's mouth. As the kiss was finished, John left his hands on Sherlock's shoulders, staring in to his eyes. Seeing the distressed look, he frowned sadly.
"I never said I hated you. I love you Sherlock to the ends of the earth and back. Never think that I don't. It's just not the right time. I admire your enthusiasm. Hell, I admire everything about you. But we just need to take this slowly, not rush in so fast. And if marriage and love is what you're after, I promise you, you'll get it some day. Now, can you forgive me?" John whispered sweetly into Sherlock's ear.
A deep sigh was all he got in response. He leaned up against Sherlock. His Sherlock. The Sherlock who admired and loved him so much he was willing to marry him. A smile touched his face. Maybe things wouldn't end so badly after all.
"John?"
"Hmmm?" he responded.
"I love you John more than words can say," Sherlock spoke softly.
"I know. But I think we should be getting to bed. We do have a big day tomorrow. You know, Mycroft and the rest of bloody British government?" he laughed.
Sherlock couldn't help, but grin. "Oh no. Wouldn't want to miss that. Seeing my brother, dragged off to Buckingham Palace in a bedsheet, and being given a case I don't really want. Wouldn't want to miss that for the world," he snarked with a familiar hint of sarcasm.
"Yeah, yeah. I know how the relationship between you and your brother is. Or well, isn't. But still, let's go see what he wants. Goodnight Sherlock," John mumbled in his ear.
"Goodnight John," said Sherlock. With a slight kiss he added, "Sorry about today."
"Oh Sherlock, I'm not mad at you. One day we will, but for now, let's just be our own person, okay?"
"Okay."
Sherlock planted a kiss on John's forehead and the two parted. As the door closed behind him, John smiled. Everything would be okay.
And I'm back! Thank you to all who read and reviewed! I hope you thoroughly enjoy this chapter. Please review!
~Jaliee Holmes