Fog
by: Ismira Daugene

Chapter 9: Purl

John rummaged through his closet selecting what to wear after taking a hot relaxing shower. It was nearly 1600 hours and he was going to be late meeting up with Greg if he didn't get moving. So he quickly selected a white undershirt, a blue plaid button up, and a cozy cream jumper along with a favorite pair of jeans. Dressing quickly, he was just grabbing his keys and wallet when Sherlock stepped in front of him, a scowl on his face. "Where are you going?"

"To meet up with Lestrade. I told you about this, Sherlock. We're going to a bar, maybe grab a bite to eat and then I'll be back. Four hours, tops."

Sherlock studied him for a moment before nodding. "You have your mobile?"

"Of course," John grumbled stepping around his mate to grab his jacket.

"And you'll text me when you get there and when you leave?"

John pulled the jacket on and turned to give Sherlock an eye roll. "Yes, mum."

The blond man was just about to turn the doorknob and head down stairs when a hand pulled him back around and pressed him against the door. Dark curly hair swooped down and chapped lips met his in a rough dominating kiss. John was surprised for a moment and started to push away, but then Sherlock bit at his lower lip and moved the kisses down John's neck, nibbling and nipping. The former army doctor was gasping and clutching at the silky robe of his mate, unsure whether he should be pushing or pulling. With a final sharp nip to his neck, Sherlock pulled back, a smirk on his face.

John leaned heavily on the door behind him, panting. "What the bloody hell was that about?" he asked in between breaths.

"Making sure that anyone you encounter knows that you are claimed."

John ran a hand along his neck, grimacing at the tender spot where Sherlock had bitten. "Was that really necessary? I'm only going a few blocks away."

"Absolutely."

John eyed his mate, but decided against further argument. "Right, I need to go." Sherlock nodded and stepped back to allow the shorter man room to maneuver. John gave him one last speculative look before leaving, noticing that the consulting detective seemed to be fighting the impulse to follow.

The entire way to the bar John kept readjusting his jacket, self-conscious of the bite mark that was probably a fabulous shade of red and purple right about now. When he finally got to Purl, he quickly descended the stairs and entered while firing off a text to Sherlock. The bar was cozy, reminiscent of a speak-easy from the American 1920s and John found himself liking it immediately. Greg wasn't there yet, so John walked up to the bar and ordered a pint of bitter for himself. He had just found a seat in one of the many cozy armchairs that were scattered in groups around low tables when the silver haired detective walked in.

John caught his eye and waved. Greg nodded back and placed his order at the bar before joining John with a bitter of his own. "Sorry, bit late," he said as he sat down, shedding his coat.

"Don't worry about it. Just got here myself," John replied sipping at his drink. "I'm glad we could meet up. Sherlock's been driving me 'round the bend," he rolled his eyes.

Greg chuckled. "I know what you mean. I get quiet enough of him at crime scenes. I can hardly imagine what it's like being mated to him." Greg smirked as he eyed the mark on John's neck.

The blond man groaned and pulled the collar of his shirt up higher, not that it did any good in hiding the mark. "Possessive git," he muttered.

"Yeah, the Holmes brothers are both like that. Though it's a trait that runs common in all Dominant werewolves."

John sat up a bit at this. "Speaking of… you sounded eager to get me down here before. What was it you wanted to discuss?"

Greg shrugged as he took another drink. "Needed to get away from Mycroft for a bit. That and I doubt Sherlock has explained much about being a werewolf to you?"

John shook his head. "Well… a bit, but no not really."

"I thought as much. Well, I suppose I could start with the whole Dom/sub issue?" John nodded in agreement and Greg set down his bitter before leaning forward. "The biggest thing that you need to know about being a submissive is that you don't have to let it rule your life. It doesn't mean that you are always submissive to Sherlock; just that usually he's the one being a possessive git." Greg grinned a bit before continuing. "Doms want their subs to be happy. That's their biggest fault and their greatest asset. If you really don't want to do something or really want to do something that he doesn't, don't be afraid to argue. It's just like in any relationship, there's give and take."

John nodded. "I've already experienced that a bit. Even tried explaining it to Sherlock."

"How'd that go?" Greg snorted.

"Considering that he'd just put me through a massive headache, I think I got through to him a bit," John gave a wry smile, remembering the pain of not following Sherlock's orders.

Greg grimaced. "Didn't follow a direct order?"

John nodded. "Found out the hard way what it feels like."

"Mother Nature's way of screwing us over," Greg shook his head. "Mycroft and I have had that conversation a few times. He rarely compels me to do anything now, but in the beginning of our relationship…" he trailed off, a small shiver stealing through him as he revisited painful memories.

"Yeah, Sherlock mentioned that they were taught how to handle subs in whatever messed up school they went to," John put in. Greg nodded before taking another sip of his drink. "Okay, so they want us to be happy, but what about societal expectations? I mean, it seems like I'm suppose to refer back to Sherlock on everything I do. It feels like I have no rights of my own." John gave the DI a pleading look, begging him to prove him wrong.

Greg frowned though. "It is true that society expects you to be meek and subservient. As you can tell though," he gestured to himself at this. "Not everyone does. By normal submissive standards, I am far outside the box being a detective inspector. But it works with our relationship. I am not a reserved person as I'm sure you've noticed, and yet I am the submissive in the relationship because that's the way the hormones ran." He shrugged.

"So, I could still be a doctor?" John could feel his hopes rising.

Greg nodded. "In theory, yes. However it depends on the hospital and how reluctant Sherlock is."

"But I thought you just said…"
"You may be able to win him over and convince him to let you, but that doesn't mean he'll be happy about it. Trust me, if that is the situation you'll be able to tell when he's upset. It spreads across the bond and makes you more upset and irritable."

"Bloody hell," John leaned back, his drink sloshing around and almost spilling with the jolt.

Greg gave him a sympathetic look before asking, "So how are you and Sherlock getting on? Really?"

John frowned a bit as he thought about how to answer. "We're improving," he replied finally. "I still don't feel like we're in an actual relationship though. It feels like a temporary insanity truth be told. Like it'll end soon. But then I remember what he's like when I even go upstairs to my own room." John let out a sigh before continuing. "He follows me around and occasionally I'll wake up to him sitting on my bed just staring at me. Even just coming here I had to remind him that it was you I was meeting and that it wouldn't be very long. And he still felt the need to mark me," he gestured to the bruise on his throat.

Greg nodded and leaned forward. "Look, I need to tell you something that not all subs know. Mycroft would probably kill me if he knew I was going to tell you, but I think you have the right to know."

John leaned forward as well, but was surprised when Greg rose leaving his drink on the table and indicated for John to follow him. The blond man quickly followed suit and followed Greg towards the men's room. A confused look crossed his face as he entered and Greg turned on all of the taps before standing in the middle of the room. There was no one else besides them thankfully. "What's this about?" John asked pointing towards the taps.

"Mycroft has ears and eyes everywhere. However it's illegal to have cameras in the loo. The water helps cover up our voices."

"Alright, what's so important?" John crossed his arms and eyed Greg speculatively.

Greg took in a deep breath before continuing. "It's about your attraction to Sherlock. And before you question me, I'm just telling you what I know!" he rushed. "When a bond is first formed between a Dom and a sub, there is an excretion of hormones between the two. The hormones make you want to stay near each other, and the thing is the longer you spend with your mate the more addictive they become."

John was silent for a long minute staring at Greg. Finally his mouth fell open, but nothing came out. He tried again. "What you're saying is… that what I'm feeling isn't real? That it's the bond forcing me to like Sherlock?"

Greg held up his hands in surrender. "I honestly don't know. I haven't been around you two enough to help you there. All I know is that had I known this information after I was first bonded, I probably would have taken off. The bond can be broken more easily when it's newer. I'm not saying it isn't difficult, but it's doable."

"So, if my feelings weren't real… if it was just the bond and I left Sherlock, I would start to feel like I did before meeting him?"

Greg nodded. "You'd still be a werewolf of course, and a submissive one at that. That won't change. And frankly it might be more dangerous because submissives are more susceptible to being compelled, but yeah. You'd go back to being normal John Watson who's a GP at the local clinic."

John found himself leaning back against one of the sinks. His mind was rushing with this new information and how he should treat it. Should he leave Sherlock? Would he be able to? What if something happened like that other Dom in the park? John mentally shook himself. He'd always been able to manage himself before, why not now? There were a few other factors to consider, but he would still be able to defend himself, wouldn't he?

"John?" Greg was suddenly closer to him. John wondered how long he'd been thinking.

"Yeah, sorry. Just a lot to think about."

Greg nodded and gave him a sympathetic smile. "I just thought you deserved to know."

"Yeah, thanks, mate," John smiled back before following Greg back out of the toilet after shutting the taps off.

"Look, I've got to get going. Mycroft is expecting me. Promise me you won't do anything stupid, okay?"

John shook his head. "Yeah, yeah. I'll be fine."

"Yeah, just be careful, John."

John nodded once and watched Greg leave. Their glasses had been cleared from the table in their absence and John didn't want to get another drink by himself so he made his way towards the exit as well. He walked slowly, his thoughts tumbling over themselves as he tried to sort things out. Odd how he came to meet with Lestrade to clear some things up and ended up leaving more confused than before.

Looking up, he noticed that he'd managed to get to Marylbone Road. Home was only another block or so, but the Baker Street tube line was right there. A strange kind of chill ran through John as he stood on the corner of the street staring at the entrance to the Underground. It would be so easy. Just hop on the tube to Euston then take the train to Holyhead where he could get out of England and across the Irish Sea to Dublin where he could fly anywhere he wanted. He had his debit card. All he had to do was take as much as he could from a cash point and leave. He didn't have his passport, but finding the right people and bribing wasn't that difficult. So easy…

A small tugging in his chest tried to remind him of what it had felt like to be snogged by Sherlock before he'd left. But then he had to reprimand himself that it was possible to have only been the hormones from the bond. What he felt for Sherlock could be a lie.

"Sir?" a voice called out right next to him.

John startled and looked to his right to see a tall man with reddish brown hair and a muscular build. He had a faint scar crossing over one eye that faded into his cheek. "Yes?"

"Are you alright? Been standing here for quite a while. I wouldn't have noticed, but I'm waiting for my ride anyway," the man said.

"No, I'm… I'm fine. Thanks though… er…"

"Seb," the man supplied.

"Right… um, thanks. I'll just be going then."

Seb nodded and watched as John crossed Marylbone Road and entered the Baker Street tube station. A smile crossed his face and he pulled out a mobile from his pocket and fired off a text message. He's running – SM

A reply pinged back a few seconds later: Excellent. Keep an eye on him. – JM

Author's Note: Sorry to leave you with a bit of a cliff hanger, but OOOH! It gets interesting! lol... I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I've actually been planning it since before chapter 4. Also, fun fact! Purl is an actual bar not too far from Baker Street. You can Google it! Though if you try to do Google street view, be warned that only the sign for the bar is there because it's underground. Still pretty cool though.

Thanks for reading!