Couples of notes: The next chapter will be up very soon as I promised I would do a double chapter this week. I've stopped separating John and Sherlock's POV's just because they switch so often in this chapter there would be quite a few. This is how I think Sherlock did it!

Please read and review! How do you think he survived? And what do you expect to happen next?

I hope you enjoy it! Thanks

John stares at Sherlock for a moment. He needs to know how Sherlock had done it but more importantly why. Why had he left? Why had he been dead for more than a year and a half? Why had he been left alone? Sherlock sits there silently and places his finger tips together. His elbows rest lightly on the arms of the chair and he has a small frown on his face; the one he usually pulls when in deep thought. It is so eerily familiar and so very comforting. John hadn't quite realised just how much he missed being able to look and see Sherlock; to watch that brilliant mind at work. He parts his lips with a dry click and begins to talk.

"First of all John…I need you to know that if there had been any other viable option to the one I took I would have chosen it" he says quietly and seriously. John can see in his eyes how much he means that.

"During our last case it became clear to me what Moriarty was trying to achieve. Moriarty had me trapped. There was obviously no key but he still had me. No matter what I did someone I cared for was going to get hurt; most likely die."

Sherlock watches John sit there; his face darkening at the memories and knuckles tightening to white bumps at the mention of Moriarty. He decides it was most likely best to finish his explanation as quickly as possible.

"It was then I realised what I had to do and I begun to make the necessary preparations. Once they were completed; I asked Moriarty to come to that particular roof. It was essential to my plans; to be the orchestrator of my own death scene. To be in control of that environment without Moriarty even being aware. You had left after the phone call about Mrs Hudson being shot and it had begun. I went to meet Moriarty on the roof. I had most of my homeless network preparing below me while I kept Moriarty talking; thinking that he had won. I asked for a moment alone so I could make sure everything was in place without him becoming aware of my plan. It was then he revealed that he had snipers trained on Lestrade, Mrs Hudson and you, John. The choice he offered to me was basic in its demand; my life or each of yours. I then acted as if I wanted the recall code from him to stop the snipers...causing him to realise that if he was dead I would have no choice; exactly as I had expected. He then, proving himself to be as insane we believed him to be, shot himself so I could not extract the code to call them off. And then I called you..."

He watches John's eyes water slightly and his breathing increased considerably; his chest rising and falling rapidly. His entire body was rigid as he listened intently to every word.

"I had to keep you where you were John; not just so you wouldn't see where I landed when I fell but to keep you alive. The sniper had his sight fixed on you leaving me unnoticed. However if you had tried to enter the building he would have killed you and everything would have been for nothing. Once…"

Sherlock found this particular memory difficult to cope with. After all those years of claiming to be an emotionless sociopath he had distinctly felt the consequences of actions. The pain he would cause. The isolation he would have to face. The tasks he would need to complete in order to return home. It had bubbled and swelled in his body; heart pounding, palms sweating and tears falling. He didn't even try to stop them while he was talking to John. There had been no need to act that time. The pain had been sharp and cut like a knife. He swallowed thickly chiding himself for getting caught up in such irrelevant distractions.

"Once I jumped I landed in a rubbish truck that was filled with a large amount of stuffed bags to break my fall. It was very simple after that. I climbed out of the truck and covered my face in blood. Placed a rubber ball under my armpit and lay in the pool of blood that had been put there. I had paid a biker to knock you over and to make sure you hit your head; enough to disorient you. In that state you checked my pulse that, thanks to the rubber ball, was not there. You were pulled away from me and I was carted away. I asked Molly to provide the John Doe and paperwork so that there was something to bury and proof of my death. Mycroft gave me the money and means to stay hidden and to begin hunting the remaining members of Moriarty's web. And now I'm, well, here." He finishes rather anticlimactically but it felt...freeing...to finally tell John. To release what he had been holding inside himself for so long. No more hiding. He could be himself again and come home...if John wanted him to.

John lets the information sink in and the memories wash over him. It all made a ridiculous amount of sense now. He is more than a little mad at himself for believing it. Sherlock had given up so much to keep them safe. To think he had accused Sherlock of not caring. He can feel an angry burning in his chest for what Moriarty had forced Sherlock to do. How much he had taken from all of them. How much he had take from Sherlock. He breathes deep to calm his thoughts and remind himself that Moriarty was dead. He takes his eyes from Sherlock and absently scratches his nail on the arm of the chair while focusing vacantly on some spot on the wall behind Sherlock.

"Are they all gone?" he asks gritting his teeth and praying it was over.

"They're gone. I would not have returned otherwise" Sherlock replies nodding.

John lets go of a breath he didn't know he is holding and relishes in how much lighter his muscles feel. Like a weight had been removed that he hadn't even known was there. He swallows thickly and looks at Sherlock who he can tell is probably assessing his every movement.

"Thank you. Sherlock…" he says and shakes his head slightly, it seems so ridiculous. That small word to convey his gratitude for everything Sherlock had done for him. So completely and utterly inadequate for the overwhelming feelings he was experiencing. "I…God Sherlock…thank you... I'm sorry I hit you" he adds sheepishly.

Sherlock smiles slightly, his fingers twitch to hold John again; to give him some sort of comfort. It was a strange and new feeling. Not unpleasant but most definitely unsettling. He pushes it aside as irrelevant and focuses on John.

"I had expected a reaction of the sort..." he remarks causing John to grin despite his best efforts to hide it. "Someone once told me that they often heard 'Punch me in the face' whenever I spoke." he adds smirking at John but then he carries on his voice low and meaningful.

"You must understand if I had believed that I could have told you; I would have. But there was too much risk involved. I could not guarantee that no-one would come after you… or Lestrade, Molly or Mrs Hudson." He says almost forgetting to add the others.

John folds his arms and his eyebrows rise in disbelief.

"Sherlock, if anyone could have worked out a way of telling me… it would have been you" he says sounding caught somewhere between trying to scold Sherlock and trying to compliment him. Sherlock smirks again; he had missed this. This easy conversation, the natural flow to their friendship and the occasional oblivious nature of John that both amused and frustrated him at times.

"Naturally… however there was also no guarantee that you would not try to help me or stop me, John" he replies. He watches John struggle with himself trying to deny the accusation before finally sagging in defeat. He knew John. His loyalty was limitless. There was no way he would have just left Sherlock if he could have helped it. It was one of his many admirable qualities Sherlock notes.

"I never wanted to cause you any pain but the alternative was far worse and something I was not willing to allow. I understand if you don't want me here again after everything that has happened but... Can I...can I come home? Can I come back to 221B Baker Street?" Sherlock asks. Those striking blue eyes look right into John and behind his cool façade John can see a trace of nervousness and fear as if he expects John to say no. He never thought he would those eyes again…

"Fine." He answers.

Sherlock blinks at him looking rather dumb. "Fine?" he repeats as to be sure he had heard John correctly.

John huffs and smiles "Yes. Fine, I don't know what else you expect me to say Sherlock. You sit there telling me about how you saved my life and everyone else's. Taking you away from the life you love in the process to stop Moriarty and his web of…of bloody minions and you expect me to mad? You expect me to not want you back here? You...you're..."

Sherlock smiles a little wistfully but his eyes twinkle with fondness " An idiot?" he supplies.

John smiles affectionately "Yes...you're an idiot, Sherlock and you're my best friend. Frankly I'm still half expecting to wake up tomorrow and for this all to be a dream. But god…"

He stops talking and stares for a moment at Sherlock "Its good to see you Sherlock. Right…ahem… I'm tired and I have to call work tomorrow and tell them I am ill, so I'm going to bed…" he gets up to leave but stops at the door placing a palm on its frame stroking it nervously.

"You'll still be here tomorrow won't you?" he asks Sherlock trying to keep the painful mix of hope and desperation out of his voice. He hopes Sherlock can't tell although of course he can.

"I'm not going anywhere John." Sherlock tells him and he watches John smile; still a little shell shocked and go upstairs to his bedroom. Everything was right again. To be back with John by his side; how it should always be. But he finds he cannot ignore that nagging feeling in the pit of his stomach that one day it might not be the case. However for now he was content to simply sit and soak in the nostalgia and familiarity of his surroundings. Home.

Next chapter will be up very soon. I hoped you liked it and please let me know in the review section what you thought! For those who are waiting for less bromance and more romance in this story, it will be coming soon! But if you're like me then there is nothing like a good build up!

What do you think will happen when Sherlock meets Mary? Who do you think will realise first? Thanks :)