Looking down at the small bundle inside the box, Sherlock almost immediately realizes what it is, and he pulls out the black leather roll, unwrapping the leather cord from around it before he rolls it open. Inside is everything that he could need in an investigation, from fingerprint powder, to a magnifying glass, small bags for evidence to - surprisingly - a lock pick kit. All wrapped into a compact bundle that would easily fit inside the detective's jacket unnoticed.
"I found that in an antiques shop of all things. Some are original, some are things I added, that I thought you might be able to use." John explains as he looks at it, then looks at Sherlock, not able to read him very well so not sure if it's good or bad.
"This is brilliant." Sherlock decides as he looks at it, removing a few things to see what's in each of the pouches, for a moment seeming almost childlike in his discovery of it before he seems to recover himself. "Thank you. I believe this will be quite useful to my work. I'm glad you didn't see fit to purchase anything frivolous or useless." Apparently his little lapse in demeanor causes the detective to think he has to stick in an acerbic comment to save face.
"I'm glad you liked it." John says with some amusement, shaking his head for a few moments at the man's attitude. For a few moments the doctor wonders why Sherlock feels that he has to push everyone away and not allow himself to feel any emotion. Eventually he will figure that out, but that is not a discussion for Christmas. And definitely not one to have sober. "Alright.. Last present for me, and then we can do your brother's presents." He says as he reaches out and pulls the last box over besides the ones that Mycroft mysteriously left. Out of the corner of his eye he does see the other man continuing to look through the kit, finally wrapping it back up carefully.
"You know, you could have just gotten me the tea set, Sherlock, that was more than enough. Bloody hell, I feel like I should have gotten you something more.." he admits with a small shake of his head, feeling like his gifts were a little dinky compared to what Sherlock has given him so far. But at least they were heartfelt, and his mother always told him that a gift from the heart was better than the most expensive thing you could buy.
"Your gifts are more than sufficient, John. They show thoughtfulness." Sherlock says in a slightly dismissive way, watching the older blond tear at the wrapping paper around the remaining box.
This box is a little more ironic, John muses as he opens the top and sees what's inside. A small smile also curls over his mouth as he pulls out the bag. It's a black leather bag, a replica of a vintage doctor's bag, complete with square handles along the top opening. On the side is a little bronze metal plate that is engraved with 'JHW'. "Very nice, thank you, Sherlock." he says with a small chuckle. "This may actually be rather useful." he muses thoughtfully as he pulls apart the two handles and looks inside. He's not sure if this is something that he wants to take with him though, since it's so nice and he doesn't want it to be ruined.
Sherlock merely bows his head slowly for a moment and then he glances at the last two boxes. "It seems we've come to the last of the presents." He says in a suspicious tone as he looks at the last two boxes, one which is definitely smaller than the other. Slowly, he gets up and walks over to bring the boxes back, not surprised that the smaller of the two is for himself.
"I'm not sure that I want to open this. I'm still not clear if your brother actually likes me or not." John says as he looks at the package, looking it over for a few moments before he starts to open it.
When Sherlock gets his smaller package open, he just frowns at it for a few moments, before he snaps the box shut and glares at it for a few moments.. Apparently whatever he got he was not pleased with, and given the relationship between the two, it is likely that the gift is less heartfelt and more as another dig.
"Not what you wanted?" John asks as he unwraps his rather plain box and then starts to open it as well, only half paying attention as he tries to figure out why Sherlock reacted so violently to the present.
"No. Another attempt by my brother to prove that he is somehow superior." Sherlock says simply as he steeples his fingers, elbows resting on his knees, narrowing his eyes a little at John before he nods toward the present. "Do continue." he says casually.
While that is not exactly reassuring, John sighs a little and nods. "Alright, alright..." He mutters before he opens the large, heavier package, this being heavier than any of the others he has. Inside is what looks like a wooden box with a handle and a drawer on the side. Which very much confuses the doctor until he puts it on the floor and finds the clasp near the top. Once he opens it though he understands and the look on his face is surprised to the say the least. While he knew it looked older from the outside, when he opens it he realizes it's an old fashioned portable desk. Complete with places for ink well, pens, and other such things at the top, the drawer on the side being there to hold the paper, while the top folds down into an angled writing surface. "Bloody hell, your family doesn't mess around with their presents." With a glance at the detective who seems deep in thought, John pulls out a slip of paper that was stuck into one of the cubbies at the top, John reads it out loud after reading it over once. "I thought this might be useful, seeing as a bunk does not have a proper writing surface. We cannot have you lapsing in your letters. Mycroft."
"Interesting." Sherlock says with a pensive look as he stares at the desk and then looks back up at John, fingers steepled in front of himself, brushing his chin back and forth against his fingertips subtly as he stares at the gift.
"And here I thought he didn't like me." John admits as he closes the desk up and locks it before he starts to clean up the wrapping paper, stuffing it into the now empty boxes. "Thank you, for the presents, Sherlock. They're all wonderful. I'll have to arrange what to do with some of it.. how to get it with me safely, don't think it'll be able to come with me otherwise." Pushing away the confusion over Mycroft's present, he lets the excitement and joy take over again, nodding a little as he gets up, offering Sherlock a hand up.
For a few moments, Sherlock just stares at the offered hand before he grasps it, letting the soldier pull him to his feet, though he is a little shocked when the smaller man uses that connection to pull the detective into a hug. The initial reaction is shock, but after that wears off, the brunette awkwardly returns the hug. "Thank you as well for your presents, John."
John releases Sherlock just as abruptly as he pulled him into the hug, nodding awkwardly. "You're welcome." He says before he picks up the empty boxes and stacks them by the door to go to the trash, then he awkwardly moves off toward the kitchen, avoiding looking at Sherlock as he checks on the food.
And this is one of the reasons that Sherlock will never understand people or emotions, or at least that is what he thinks as he watches John move around, gathering his presents and carefully putting the detective kit on his desk, hanging the scarf up with his jacket before he moves over to his chair, snatching up the newspaper again.
Now that his back is to Sherlock, John leans against the counter for a moment, having made himself another cup of coffee in the meantime. He allows himself a genuine smile that is both elated and affectionate. It's been a long time since he had a Christmas like this, and even longer since someone put such thought into gifts for him. That was the reason he hugged Sherlock, because he was getting so emotional over everything. He only wishes that he had somehow been able to take pictures of everything so he could remember it even better. After a moment of stillness, John takes a deep breath, a drink of coffee, then he goes back to checking on the food, and finally goes back out to sit in 'his' chair and flicks on the tellie again just in time to watch some crap TV before the food is ready.
And here it is! Sorry I kept you waiting longer than I anticipated, I had this half done last night and fell asleep at my keyboard! I'm glad you guys enjoyed the last chapter, cliffhanger and all. :) I hope you enjoy this one as well!
EDIT: I changed it from the Queen's speech to food being ready because a lovely British reader of mine informed me that Her Majesty's speech isn't usually until around 3pm, and that is a bit late for what I had the boys doing. lol. :)
Reviews/Comments welcome! :)