Disclaimer: settings and characters as depicted in BBC series not mine. No money being made. Plot is mine.
Avoidance Techniques
When John awoke the next morning, Sherlock insisted on assisting him with the physiotherapy exercises recommended by his doctors, which John did on the condition that Sherlock also complete his own, followed by a shower, shave and dressings change. These simple activities took the greater part of the morning and so exhausted John that he drifted off to sleep before lunch, resting on the couch which Sherlock had refreshed with clean linen on the pillows and new blankets. Mrs Hudson collected those John had been using with the intention of laundering them, which meant that Sherlock had some time to himself to contemplate the pending Conversation.
He started researching job opportunities for John instead. Although he would be happy to pay John's portion of the rent – technically he didn't need a flatmate, but had been desirous of company provided it was the right sort – he knew that his flatmate would not be happy with the idea of accepting charity from Sherlock and would thus need a job.
Sherlock had several criteria for any work that John was to undertake. Firstly, it should pay enough for John to stay in Baker Street, but not so much that he decided to move out and live in his own flat. Secondly, it needed to offer the option of John choosing his own hours to some degree – shift work at the surgery had been ideal in a way, because John could tailor his workloads to the caseload, picking up more shifts when there was less of Sherlock's work and so on. Thirdly, the work needed to be of a variety that would interest John, because his flatmate disliked being bored as much as Sherlock did, though he was better about distracting himself from the situation.
Sherlock looked through several extensive websites, evaluating the jobs market for someone with John's skill set and then narrowing down his choices based on his own criteria. Once he identified three different jobs that John was qualified to do and would suit their lifestyle, Sherlock emailed a cover letter and John's resume to the various organisations and then spent a few minutes making the appropriate notes for John to review.
Pleased that he'd sorted out John's employment status, Sherlock spent a few minutes going over his own website, looking for cases that had points of interest. Three different ones stood out among the others and he spent a few pleasurable hours while John snoozed on the couch, researching, thinking and solving. When John finally woke to a late lunch, Sherlock was able to proudly announce that he'd solved two cases already, was working on a third and had put the wheels in motion to find John a new job.
His flatmate seemed a little dazed by this announcement, but sat up with Sherlock's assistance and listened closely as the consulting detective expounded on the two cases he'd solved: outlining his methods and conclusions in detail. The third, as yet unsolved case was also discussed, with John making several quite good comments that allowed Sherlock to discard or expand his own lines of inquiry. Mrs Hudson had brought them both soup and toast, which they'd finished while working, and Sherlock took the empty things into the kitchen to clean them while John shuffled slowly to the bathroom to take care of natures call.
"This is working very well, John, much better than the hospital would have," Sherlock gave his flatmate a pleased smile as they resumed their places in the front room.
"Yeah, I hate being in hospital," John grunted as he sat down once more, waving Sherlock's assistance off. That was a rather alarming statement, which caused Sherlock to frown.
"Oh, had I known that I would not have applied to the position at St Thomas' – they need a locum in their emergency room who can also work in day surgery," Sherlock frowned, "Though I must say, it does seem odd for a doctor to dislike hospitals."
"I hate being a patient in hospital," John clarified, "Perhaps you should tell me which jobs you've applied for in my name."
Sherlock sighed and put aside his research for a moment to come and sit beside John on the couch, the notes he'd taken in his hand.
"Well, as I said, there was the position at St Thomas'," Sherlock began, "The pay is better than at the surgery and I thought the variety of patients would appeal to you. Also, the shift work is for a set number of hours a week, but not a set shift, so you can schedule it around my cases."
"I see," John's voice was neutral, no doubt because he wished to see all of his options before making up his mind.
"The next position is another surgery – though it is a little further away from Baker Street than the last one. You'd be working under very much the same conditions as before, but I believe that this surgery also offers a home care service, which means that some of your patients would require you to travel to them. I thought you'd perhaps enjoy the novelty of performing rounds in the community," Sherlock handed the second set of details over, watching John read them as carefully as he had the first set. Sherlock approved of this, because he didn't want John rushing into something that he'd regret again. Should his flatmate be reckless enough to attempt another workplace romance, Sherlock would be sure to remind him how the last one ended.
"The last position is quite different. They're looking for another coroner, one to work on a part time basis, with the understanding that the successful applicant may be called upon to work longer hours on an 'emergency' basis. I thought that as we are often involved with murder investigations, it might be an interesting position for you," Sherlock passed the last of the notes over, "You're required to have five years of medical experience only and to be a doctor of good standing with the BMC, so that's in order."
"Yes," John murmured. Sherlock frowned a little. He hadn't been expecting John to gush at him or anything, but a little enthusiasm would be appropriate here. Unless…
"Are you in pain again?" Sherlock reached out to test John's temperature, concerned that an infection may have crept in to take hold despite the intravenous antibiotic course that John had completed and the follow up medications he was taking on schedule under Sherlock's close supervision.
"No, Sherlock, it's not that," John assured him, peeling his hand away and keeping hold of it. Sherlock stared down at their twined fingers in surprise. That felt good, in a way that he had never expected.
"What is it then? Obviously I can't guarantee you'll get all of these jobs, but I had thought that one of them would suit you," Sherlock stated, most of his mind unexpectedly held captive by the sensation of John gently holding his hand.
"It's just… I hadn't thought about a job just yet," John sighed, "I only just lost my last one."
"I know," Sherlock reminded him, still staring at their hands and his fingers which were slowly curling more firmly around John's, apparently of their own volition, "I was here when you did, remember? I felt it would be best for you if I did the initial research: obviously the work you take up will also impact upon mine to some degree."
There was a moment of silence as Sherlock watched his fingers slide and grip rhythmically in John's, tugging a little just to get his flatmate to hold on tighter. This was fascinating, why hadn't he known how good John's hand felt in his? What else would feel like this?
"Sherlock, are you saying that I'm a part of your work now? Not just a sometime accessory and alibi?" John's voice sounded amused and when Sherlock looked up reluctantly he realised his flatmate was smiling at him in an indulgent fashion.
"Of course you're part of my work. You're my partner in this agency, John: do keep up," Sherlock sighed, "Why do I like holding your hand?"
"I could not begin to venture a theory about that," John replied, "There are so many areas to choose from. I take it that hand holding didn't occur often on your previous dates?"
"No," Sherlock replied in a repressive tone, not wanting to get into the whole 'Sherlock's sexual exploits in Uni' discussion. John, as always, picked that subtext up brilliantly and let the matter drop, returning his attention to the notes he'd spread upon his lap. Sherlock went back to playing with their hands, curious about the different touches he could experience and their affect on his pulse and skin. When it all became a bit overwhelming he forced his fingers to be still, leaving them in John's loosened grip.
"Thank you for this, Sherlock," John said quietly then, perhaps sensing that Sherlock needed a different sort of distraction now, "It was very… well researched."
Sherlock beamed and got up off the couch to make them both some tea. He had noted that John liked to have a cup at this time of the day if they were home. He switched on the telly on the way past, tuning it to a show he knew John watched now and then.
As he put water in the kettle, Sherlock felt that he had done something Good.
Now all he had to do was weather the coming Conversation.