Happy New Year! I swear, this piece is fully in my head, but apparently DocWatson's been playing with Sherlock (and those damn dwarves)so much that he's just plain forgotten about me! Well, hopefully after the New Year he'll straighten up and fly right! Actually, he's got so many stories going for me right now, it is often hard to keep them straight! Anyway, here's the remainder of dinner...and just WAIT 'til you see what's (or who's) for dessert!

Almost as soon as they were finished with their appetizers, Steven returned with their main course.

"Mr. Jones, for you I have the City Zen Minute Steak, a pan roasted ribeye, medium rare, a la Grecque and baby rainbow beets," he said, placing the beautifully designed plate in front of Sherlock, "And Mr. Smith I have the filet of Atlantic black bass with roasted cauliflower, Meyer lemon and sweet garlic-crème fraiche for you."

He laid the fish meal in front of John and bowed slightly.

"Enjoy, gentlemen," he said politely and then turned and walked away.

John took a delicate bite of the bass and hummed his appreciation. Sherlock cut into his steak and placed the perfectly done meat into his mouth. John had to remind himself to continue chewing as he watched Sherlock enjoy the small bite he had taken.

"Delicious, as promised," Sherlock said after he swallowed.

They both tucked in and ate in companionable silence, enjoying every bite. John's hand found its way into Sherlock's as they ate. Between bites, he would often rub his thumb across Sherlock's knuckles. He could feel the electricity rising between them and was glad for it. Sherlock removed his hand at one point and reached over to John's plate and speared a bite of the remnants of the fish on his fork. John couldn't help smiling. Of course, Sherlock noticed. He smiled at John in return.

"Sorry," he said quietly, a slight blush creeping up his neck to his cheeks, "I should have asked."

John grabbed his chin and pulled him into a brief kiss.

"Don't be," he whispered against Sherlock's lips, his eyes still closed, "I wouldn't expect any less of you."

Sherlock leaned back and chuckled, "No," he said, "I suppose you wouldn't."

John then reached over and tried what little remained of Sherlock's steak. Even slightly cold, it was still delectable. He looked at Sherlock and smiled as he finished chewing the morsel.

"Both were delicious," he said after he swallowed, "I don't know that I've ever had better."

Sherlock shot him a wry smirk, but said nothing. John's hand dropped to Sherlock's knee and the smirk was instantly wiped away. John enjoyed the fact that Sherlock had to clear his throat a couple of times before he could speak again. When he did, he began to give John a history lesson on the city of Washington.

"Most people just think Washington, DC is just the capital city of the United States. They think it is a place of brick and mortar and politics with no heart…no soul….But they are so wrong, John!" Sherlock said emphatically, "There is such a depth of beauty in the way Charles L'Enfant originally designed the city. But the eclectic architecture of the buildings and the monuments and the parks that Andrew Ellicott went on to create has a significance I never would have known if I had not come here!"

John just sat with one hand on Sherlock's knee and the other fisted under his chin, listening to Sherlock speak. He had missed that voice so much in the past half of a year. And the excitement that was all Sherlock was infectious, to say the least.

"What I find most intriguing," Sherlock continued, "is how airy the city feels. From what I have read, there is an actual act, the Heights of Buildings Act of 1910 that states that no building shall be taller in height than the width of the street it fronts! London has always felt so dark, so confined, so oppressive. Washington is so light, so open, so…so HA! So democratic!"

John laughed at that. Sherlock was on a high like he had never seen. He knew for a fact that he had had nothing that would artificially create that high, but he loved this side of Sherlock.

"So you like it here?" John asked, moving his hand from Sherlock's knee to the man's thigh, his fingers squeezing slightly on his inner thigh.

Sherlock hesitated. John watched as his eyes dilated and his breathing got a little more inhibited. He swallowed before he responded.

"Oh, yes," he said a little more sedately, "And I want to show it all to you!"

"And perhaps you shall," John said with a grin, "but first, I think we should retire. I don't know about you, but I am suddenly really wishing we were completely alone."

Sherlock dropped his eyes and a flush slid up his long neck to his cheeks. John was slightly taken aback by that. When Sherlock didn't respond, John put two fingers under his chin and raised it up again.

"Sherlock?"

The blush rose to cover Sherlock's full face.

"I-I-" Sherlock stammered.

"Sherlock," John said gently, leaning in for a sweet, gentle kiss, "What is it?"

"John," he said quietly, "you remember my nickname from Moriarty, right?"

It hit John like a ton of bricks. Sherlock was a virgin after all! A part of him thrilled to know that he would be Sherlock's first. Another part of him was suddenly as afraid and shy as Sherlock. As far as men went, he was a virgin, too. He gave Sherlock a small smile.

"Well figure it out together, Sher," he said, grabbing his hand and squeezing lightly, "I just want you in my arms, for a start."

"I-it's not that I can't do-" Sherlock started.

"Sherlock," John whispered to interrupt, "We'll figure it out."

Sherlock leaned in and kissed him this time. The passion behind his kiss was evident, but John didn't let it go far. He saw a new server out of the corner of his eye and pulled back, turning his head. Sherlock lowered his head again and wouldn't look at the server.

"Excuse me, sir," the girl with short blonde hair said, "My name is Amanda. Steven asked that I take over for him. He's tied up at the moment."

Both Sherlock and John looked at each other before John responded. John knew Sherlock was working on deducing this girl. He himself could see she was 21, perhaps 23 at the oldest. She was slim, but athletic, probably a martial artist or a swimmer. But what he saw, more than anything else was that the sweet smile she gave him did not reach her eyes. There was anger, maybe even hatred for him…for Sherlock…within her eyes.

"Amanda," John said in his best Army Major voice, "we'll take the remainder of our dinner to go, please."

"Oh," she said, the surprise evident in her face, "Well, if you gentlemen would like, I can deliver your remaining two courses to your suite later."

John glanced to Sherlock and saw the imperceptible shake of his head. Whatever Sherlock had seen had made him more suspicious than normal and only confirmed John's suspicions.

"No thanks," John replied, looking back at Amanda, "We'll want…I wouldn't want to put you through any trouble."

"Oh, it's really no trouble at all, Mr. Smith," she replied sweetly, "It's all part of the City Zen experience."

"No, I insist," he said seriously. He looked back to Sherlock as he said with a wicked grin, "I wouldn't want you to walk in on what I plan to do to Mr. Jones here."

Sherlock's eyes flew back to John. His eyes were wide, his face a completely look of utter shock. He heard the girl gasp before she almost literally ran out of the room. He chuckled as the blush rose in Sherlock's cheeks as Sherlock watched the girl leave. John decided he liked making Sherlock blush.

John grabbed the napkins from Sherlock's lap and his and dropped them on the table with his free hand. He tugged on Sherlock's hand and said quietly, "Come on, love. Time for bed."

Sherlock looked back to him and the look of lust in his eyes almost made John forget himself. He stood up, pulling Sherlock with him.

"Let's go," he growled, "Now."

See, John's impatient, too! Can't WAIT to see what he's got in store for Sherlock! And that creepy Amanda chick? We'll see if she shows up again...Yes, I know where it all goes, but you don't now, do you? Anyway, read and review...those reviews DO equal love! And right now, extra love from me and mine might help Doc come away from those flippin' dwarves! Just sayin'...