"How about that stroll now, John?" Sherlock said taking his hand as they stepped out into the beautiful summer's day. The sky had cleared and the sun shined in blue skies, a gentle breeze cooling the air.

"Now wait a minute," Hayter protested, "What just happened? I'm absolutely flabbergasted and need someone to fill me in."

Sherlock was surprised. The Colonel had followed them all along and was so far behind in his reasoning? And he'd taken him for an intelligent man.

"Sure, why don't you invite Acton over, too, tonight, and I'll lay out the case for you?"

John smiled to himself. Annoyed as Sherlock was by the average mind, you wouldn't find him objecting to a chance of showing off.

Hayter was relieved: "Excellent. That's mighty good of you. I'm sure he'll be happy to meet you too. I'll go over right now. A stiff drink is what I need after all this action," remembering his duties as a host he continued: "There's a nice path over in the park there. Just follow the road and it'll come up on the left. Lovely scenery."

Sherlock pressed his hand on John's back and headed for the recommended direction.

"Sherlock, shouldn't we go back and get you to bed?"

Sherlock laughed light-heartedly.

"Don't be stupid, John. There's nothing wrong with me." He stretched his arms, took in the summer's air yawning and started walking briskly.

"Nothing? Except you almost passed out not an hour ago and were nearly strangled!"

"Nonsense. Really, John? That's the best you can do?"

John took a deep breath.

"Okay. So you didn't nearly pass out. You faked that, because…?"

"I had to stop Forrester from reminding the Cunninghams of a vital piece of evidence they still held on to."

"The note. Right. Your pulse. It was perfectly normal. I should've realised." He felt like an idiot.

"Yeah, you should've. I was afraid you would. But you can be trusted, always so dependable in a moment of crisis," Sherlock smacked a kiss on him. "When you're in emotional turmoil over me, you lose your intellect altogether. That could be dangerous, you know. A steady head and a steady hand, don't they teach you something like that in the army?"

John wasn't flattered by the reliance. To be trusted to behave like an ass in crisis. Marvellous.

"Something like that, yes. But the strangling was real?" he hesitated.

"It was, yes. I have to admit that I'm a bit under the weather. It should take more than a couple of country brutes to get me down. Made for a fine show for the Inspector, though. He was a bit too taken in with the local notability."

"But why did they…" John was interrupted by Sherlock pulling him in to a silencing, and, admittedly, wonderful kiss.

"I'll explain later. Now, can we have that pleasant walk in the park I was promised?"

He caressed the back of John's neck and led them on.