John was having a hard day. He'd woken up late, not surprising, considering how long he'd stayed up, first talking with and then thinking about Sherlock. He'd got to the hospital, just in time for his eight 'o' clock surgery. He'd had two back to back operations, and then an emergency right after...so it was four by the time he finally got back to his office. He was hungry and tired and he was now facing a pile of paper work.

He decided that he would go to the cafeteria and get something to eat first. He ran into Mike on the way.

"Going to the cafeteria John?"

"Yeah...for a very late lunch."

"It is tea time for me, mate. I'll join you. "

They made their way into the near empty cafeteria. John got himself a sandwich and a cup of tea. Mike confined himself to the tea though he looked rather wistfully at the cake and the scones.

"I take it you're having a busy day." Mike said as they sat down.

"Three operations...one of then an emergency," John said,

"Ah the exciting life of a surgeon. But then you were always one for excitement."

"What about you?"

"I teach mate, how exciting do you think that is?"

John laughed. "Not exciting maybe, but certainly stressful. I'd go running into a war zone without thinking, but I'd be terrified of walking into a classroom...not if your students are anything like we used to be."

"They're worse, mate. They're a lot worse." Mike said smiling.

John and Mike had been through med school together, they'd known each other for over ten years now. So they fell into conversation like the old friends that they were. They weren't close, not really, but they had shared enough of their lives to always have something to talk about. Besides, it was Mike who had been instrumental in getting John this job at Bart's...something that John would always be grateful for.

He got back to his office and buried himself in the paper work, looking up only when he heard his phone beep....

When do you get off work? SH

How did you get my number? JW

I took it when I borrowed your phone last night. SH

Sherlock was above using emoticons, but John could almost see the smile as he read that message.

Six thirty. Why? JW

I've been working on something. I want to know what you think. SH

Really? He wants my opinion of his music. This is surreal, no other word for it. I like it though...I really like it. And honestly, I cannot wait to go home and see him again.

That thought took him entirely by surprise. I've known him for just over a day now. How I can already be so fond of him? He was still trying to figure that out when his phone beeped again.

John? SH

Sorry. Just got caught up in something. I'd love to hear anything that you've been working on. JW

Good. SH

That sounded like the end of the conversation. There was something else that John wanted to ask...but he hesitated. I don't want to be presumptuous, he thought. He sat there toying with his phone and then he quickly typed a message and sent it, before he could talk himself out of it.

What about dinner? Take away? JW

Of course. I'm in the mood for Thai. SH

Of course? So I wasn't the only one who had a very good time yesterday...good... great.

Okay. I'll pick it up on the way home. JW

He did. And they had another evening of music and conversation. Sherlock had spent all day working on the final part of the concerto. It was good. But he hadn't finished it yet. And what was done could be better, he thought. John agreed and so they went to work on it...

Sherlock wrote and rewrote the composition. John listened and critiqued. Sherlock had worked with other people before...a certain Victor Trevor came to mind. But it had never been so easy...John was no musician. His knowledge and understanding of music did not come anywhere close to Sherlock's.

But he was very well informed for an amateur. He had an excellent ear for music and he seemed to know almost instinctively what worked and what didn't. And he had no trouble voicing his opinion.

The best thing though, was that he was completely unfazed by Sherlock's behaviour which grew increasingly erratic and irritated when things didn't go right. John just patiently waited it out and then he continued like nothing had happened. Sherlock found it completely disarming...

They kept at it for over three hours...only stopping when John couldn't hold back his yawns and looked in danger of falling asleep on his feet. He was exhausted but he'd had what was probably the best day of his life, so he wasn't complaining.

Sherlock of course, wasn't tired at all. He was overjoyed at being able to compose again. He was a real sight...bright-eyed and literally bursting with energy. Just like a child, John thought, before he nodded off in his chair again. Sherlock took pity on him this time. He woke him up and led him next door and got him into bed.

He stood there looking at John and he was surprised at the ease with which they had become friends. I can't believe that I've only known him for less than two days...It was a full five minutes before he realised that he had just been standing there and watching John sleep.

Before he realised what he was doing, he reached down and kissed John softly on his fore head...