Sherlock wondered what he was supposed to say, once John had finished his tale. For a lack of words he thought John might find appropriate, he remained still.
John spent several minutes in silence with Sherlock, finding comfort in the familiar presence of his friend. He felt drained but also relieved from having shared his fears as well as his thoughts.
Outside a lorry drove past and in the distant the siren of a police-car could be heard, interrupting the silence in the typical manner of London.
"You said, you would have dreaded dying down there because it was meaningless." Sherlock's voice seemed loud although he had spoken softly.
John nodded.
"So, dying for the right cause would have been", Sherlock hummed before deciding on an expression, "perhaps not all right but acceptable?"
"In a way, yes," John answered truthfully, when he had considered what he thought Sherlock had been asking.
While they pondered the question of sacrificing their life for a friend, both reaching the conclusion that it was something John Watson would do but not Sherlock Holmes, it began to rain outside. The drops were sounding like hesitating fingers tapping against the windowpane. Once more a hush fell over the flat. Had anybody bothered to look through the window that very moment, he would have seen two individuals who could only together form a harmonious whole; oblivious that fate would teach one of them in the not so distant future that the conclusions he had just drawn about self-sacrifice were wrong.
Thank you all again for reading, following, reviewing and of course rewarding the story with marking it as a favorite. I enjoy to hearing from all who comment. Also thank you so much again to Mapleleafcameo for beta-ing. And to Johnsarmylady the story was for, it's been a pleasure writing for you.