With Christmas approaching soon, it seems to be on everyone's mind, and everyone this morning is rather cheerful in the mess when John gets there, still tired and getting himself coffee and whatever is being served for breakfast before he goes over and sits with a small group of people that he's become close to.
"Morning. Not discussing Christmas again?" John asks in amusement as he hears the conversation that was going on when he approached, slowly taking a seat across from some of the others.
The man – young, moderately handsome and clean-shaven, with an open, innocent expression – sitting across from John smirks a little. "Of course, it's the best thing we have to talk about, Captain. I heard you were going back to London this year as well. Kind of unusual for you, if you ask the old salts." He says with a little smirk, his shirt proclaiming his last name to be Jackson.
" Not everyone can be as lucky as you and Karen, to have huge families to return to." John says vaguely with a shake of his head. "I thought it was about time I go home, though." He says with a small shrug, looking down to focus on his food as he eats, avoiding eye contact with any of them.
The woman in question – Karen – just laughs a little, only a few years younger than john, her hair long but back in a French braid and then twisted into a bun to keep it up and out o the way. "Captain Watson, this is unusual for you." She pushes her tray forward and leans her elbows on the table, a coffee mug held between her hands. "So? Who's the lucky lady?" She asks, eager for some sort of gossip, especially when it's about John.
Rolling his eyes a little, John sighs as he looks at the woman sitting next to Jackson. "There is no lady, Karen. I just decided that it was time I took a trip home. I can only take so much of your lovely company." He says with some sarcasm, shaking his head for a few moments. "I swear, you and Luke are the biggest gossips in the company, you think I would tell you anything?" he asks, eyebrows going up a little.
Luke, who is sitting next to John, elbows him in the ribs. "Oh, come on, Watson. We're not so bad. Got to have some reason to go home, not going to spend Christmas all alone, I hope." He says before he snickers a little. "Of course, I doubt Three Continents Watson has to worry about spending the holidays alone." He says playfully with a little laugh.
"I don't think he's got to worry about that anyway, Luke. Don't you see those letters he's always reading and writing? He's got a sweetheart back in London, he just doesn't want to tell any of us about it. He's always real secretive about those letters. "Jackson says in a slightly more serious tone, though he's still amused, and speaking quietly in a conspiratorial tone.
"And you've accused me of gossiping, Jackson?" Luke asks, before he grins, "But he has a point, sir. You ARE writing an awful lot, and whenever you get a letter, you always disappear somewhere so you can read it without any of us bothering you. And you're telling us it's not your sweetheart?" he asks, eyebrows going up challengingly.
Amused and shaking his head a little, the doctor just glances at the three pair of eyes trained on him. "Bloody hell, you will not let that go. No, the letters are not from my sweetheart." He says with a slight blush. "Just a mate I have back home. Yes, I am going to be staying with him over the holidays, he doesn't usually have anyone to spend with during the holidays either." Which is a partial lie he knows because Sherlock has his family he could spend the holidays with, he just doesn't like or want to spend the holidays with his family. But that's not something he's going to tell his friends.
"Of course we won't let it go. You're not a very mysterious man. Mostly transparent, actually, you can't lie worth a damn, and now suddenly you have this big secret. It's the most interesting thing to happen around here for months." Karen says with a bright smile as she looks at John. "If they're just letters from a mate, why do you hide away with them, hmm?" She challenges with a broad smile.
John sighs a little, quickly finishing his food and taking a little more time with his coffee. "Because anything you all saw in them, you would read into and I would never hear the end of it. Bloody hell, some people like to have a ruddy private life, and keep it private." He says firmly as he finishes his coffee. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to report to the infirmary." He says as he gets up and refills his coffee before he heads that way, deciding to make the escape while he can before he gets interrogated any more. Hiding a little bit of a blush behind his coffee mug, the doctor shakes his head a little as he thinks about his and Sherlock's relationship. They are friends, at least that's what he thinks they are, but at the same time they have told eachother more intimate things than you might tell just a mate, so where does that put them? Sighing a little, John decides to not think about that right now, shaking his head as he makes his way to the infirmary to start his work.
Here's a little bit of a bonus chapter to let you get a little insight into John's life because.. 329 followers! Wow. Just.. wow. I happened to glance at it and I wanted to give you guys something to express how incredibly awesome I think you guys are, and how overwhelmed I am. You guys are awesome, I'm so glad that so many of you like this. Thank you!
Reviews/comments welcome! (Your regular chapter update to follow. :) )