He found Sherlock curled into a ball on the chaise lounge that sat in front of the floor to ceiling windows that overlooked the Tidal Basin and Jefferson Memorial. John had the thought that he had never seen Sherlock look so small. He hesitated as he stepped in the room and heard a sob. He froze.

In the three years he had known Sherlock, he had seen tears in the man's eyes; he had even watched them fall. But he had never heard a sound from Sherlock, let alone one of such despair. He had done that. John hated himself for that.

He couldn't decide whether to walk away and let Sherlock grieve as he should or go to him to comfort him. He wasn't sure whether he would be comforting Sherlock or himself, but he didn't feel he had the right to be near Sherlock at that moment. He turned to walk back into the living room.

"Please don't leave me, John," Sherlock begged through the sobs, "Please."

Decision made, John immediately stepped over to him and wrapped his arms around him as he dropped to his knees next to the small couch. He held Sherlock as he cried, the sobs wracking his body. They stayed that way for a long time.

As Sherlock's sobs continued, John berated himself for allowing things to get as bad as they had. He blamed himself for the pain Sherlock was currently in, but he knew that it wasn't completely his fault. He didn't care. He would fix it somehow.

After a while, John's knees began to hurt and he could feel the strain on his back. He moved to stand and Sherlock whimpered. He slid onto the edge of the lounge.

"Budge over, love," he said softly as he slid further onto the couch that was really too small for Sherlock let alone him.

Sherlock straightened himself out as he moved over slightly. John felt the tension ease out of Sherlock as he pulled John's arms tighter around him.

"I never would, you know," John said softly as he kissed the taller man on the back of his neck. Sherlock relaxed further as he took a deep breath and turned his head to look back at John.

"Thank you," he said with a small, unsure smile, his eyelashes wet from the fallen tears.

John leaned up and kissed his cheek.

"I love you," he whispered, "Nothing will change that. What happened-"

"John," Sherlock growled as his body tensed and he turned back to face the wall of windows, "drop it."

John knew better than to argue. He simply held Sherlock tightly and matched his breathing to his. He knew Sherlock was locking it all away back deep in the dungeon of his Mind Palace so that it would not interfere with his thoughts and deductions. But John knew he would never forget. For Sherlock, he would stuff down his anger and hatred of Sebastian Wilkes, but also for Sherlock, he would never, ever forget what he and those frat boys had done.

"John," Sherlock growled again, "Damn it, I said drop it."

"I'm not you, Sherlock, as you have told me repeatedly over the years," he chided gently, "I can't lock it away like you do, love. I would that I could."

He felt Sherlock tense again and continued quickly.

"I'm done talking about it, Sherlock," he said, "I swear I will never bring it up again. But it is going to take me some time to lock it away. But if you ever want to- But no, you never will. I already know that."

"John," Sherlock whispered so quietly that only the low rumble in his chest let John know he had spoken, "please."

John pulled Sherlock tighter, feeling like he couldn't hold him tight enough.

"Trust me, love," he murmured, his lips moving against the nape of Sherlock's neck as he spoke, "Just trust me to take care of it in my own time."

Sherlock was silent for a few minutes more before he responded, "I do, John. Just don't take too long, please?"

John chuckled and kissed the back of Sherlock's neck gently.

"I won't," he promised, "However, I think perhaps we need to get out of this room for a while."

John released Sherlock and rolled awkwardly off the lounge. Sherlock whinged and he sighed.

"For now, love," he said with a smile, "I think we need to get out of here and explore this town you've ensconced yourself in. And if we stay here, I will do something that I might regret."

Sherlock rolled to face him, his robe falling open. John had to close his eyes to avoid the rush of lust that ran through him at the sight of his mostly naked lover. He bit his tongue in order to not move. He could not touch Sherlock again so soon or he would lose his resolve to let their next time be different from the rough and tumble sex they'd had for the past twenty-four hours.

His eyes opened and he grinned like a loon. Sherlock looked at him questioningly.

"We've only been together for twenty-four hours and it feels like a lifetime," John explained, "A year ago, you would have never been able to tell me you love me…and I would not have either. But I look back to the day we met and can't understand how I didn't see it then."

Sherlock's grin melted all the sadness away as he said as he stood, "It's because you're an idiot, John."

John laughed and grabbed Sherlock's hand, pulling him into a tight hug.

"I am, aren't I?" he said as he held him tightly, "I really am."

Sherlock pulled away slightly and kissed John chastely at the corner of his mouth.

"We both are, John," Sherlock said softly, "We both are."

Aww...dey're so cute! Ok...don't know where that silliness came from, but it's staying...Reviews are love people!