I HAVE OFFICIALLY FINISHED MY UNIVERSITY CAREER! *sobs* Ah well, it means I can have more time for other things...such as UPDATING! If I have any readers left I am so SO VERY SORRY about the wait. But with dissertations, essays and exams I couldn't really spend any time on...you know...life. For all those who have been waiting I hope this chapter does you justice and I will be updating regularly as now I am FREE! So, enjoy! :)

After a while John musters the courage to venture from his room, a book clutched firmly in his hand with a determination to push any strange thoughts of Sherlock from his mind. He enters the living room expecting to see Sherlock fiddling with one of his experiments or one of his other intellectual pursuits with which he fills his time but he finds that the flat is empty. He can't help but hate the feeling of emptiness that the absence brings; a painful reminder of how not too long ago Sherlock had been lost to the world and lost to him. He quickly pulls away from the direction his thoughts were heading and makes himself a cup of tea; resolutely ignoring why he didn't have one earlier. He settles himself down in his chair, feet up and takes a sip of tea allowing himself to unwind. He sighs and opens his book. Sometime later he thinks he hears the door open and close; but he is far too comfortable and engrossed to even acknowledge it.

Somewhere in his mind he knows that this is a dream. But it feels so real. Everything is so clear and yet fuzzy at the same time. Like peering into fog and only being able to see what is directly in front of you. It's different from his dreams of war. He feels adrenaline coursing through his veins and heat overcoming his body but not because of fear. This time it is because of the hands that touch and grasp his skin. The person almost possessively mapping out every detail of his flesh marking invisible lines of ownership with deft fingertips. A wicked mouth teases his body; nibbling and sucking his flesh causing him to groan. His body jolts pleasurably and hardens almost to the point of pain.

He kisses back against their lips, their movement's not a gentle meeting of mouths but a fight for dominance, lips embracing and fingers clasping; fuelled by a feeling of desperation that he has never felt. The other person tastes like something he has never known existed but tastes like home. He has kissed many women before but something about this kiss was different. The touches on his skin were strong and powerful, the body that he feels press against his had no soft curves that shudder under his finger tips or long hair that tickles his chest. Everything was hard, firm and strong. Two bodies claiming and marking each other with passionate ferocity; like animals rutting in heat. John tries to peer through the haze of his dream. To discover who this other person was who was causing him to go mad with desire. But no matter how hard he tries to focus on the persons face; he cannot see it. All he can do is continue to drown in the blissful sensations and pleasure overwhelming his body. He can feel the long fingers against his tongue as he caresses them; salty skin flooding his taste buds as he sucks them into his mouth. He can hear the harsh pants and pleasurable growls that echo from deep within the other person's chest. He reaches out to grasp at the person's hair; his fingers tickled by curly wild hairs that he grips and tugs, trying to warn them that he was too far gone. That he is close. He gives another yank to the hair clasped in his hand and this time the person allows themselves to be pulled up. His gaze is met by a pair of deep blue eyes and he knew.

" John…". He knew this person…

"JOHN!" Sherlock says, shaking the twitching and groaning man's shoulders that are clasped under his hands. He had come into the living room to see John groaning almost as if he was in pain; his heart rate and body temperature elevated. It must be another nightmare, Sherlock thinks, causing a dull thud in his chest at seeing John in distress. He shakes him again and moves his face closer to John's.

"Damn it, John! Wake up!" he roars.

"Sher….!" John gasps as he feels himself jolted from his dream by firm hands surrounding the top of his shoulders. He draws in a deep breath into his lungs and tries to calm his body down. His gaze darts frantically around the room in confusion before settling on the set of bright blue eyes before him. He can feel his stomach begin to churn at the look of gentle concern on his friend's face and the heat of Sherlock's hands on his shoulders. His fingers are brushing against his neck and his face is close. Far too close. John knows those eyes are the same from his dream, the same fingertips and lips that are now causing his arousal to press painfully against his trousers; thankfully hidden by his book. God… If Sherlock knew…if Mary knew…

Sherlock squeezes John's shoulders to draw his attention back to him.

"Are you alright, John?" he questions quietly; his voice a low rumble that permeates every fibre in John's body. He is so aware of Sherlock who is crouched in front of him; that his brain fumbles for a response.

"I…yes. I'm fine. Thank you Sherlock." He answers straining to keep his voice level and wills the thoughts of his dream away.

Sherlock stands releasing John's shoulders and tilts his head to the side; quietly contemplating him. In that moment John wills the universe to make Sherlock unable to see this one thing. To blind him to the real reason of why he can't draw enough breath into his lungs or why is his body is coursing with heat.

"Nightmare?" Sherlock asks and John fights the urge to sigh in relief.

"I err…something like that. Yes." He replies trying to avoid lying to Sherlock as much as possible. Sherlock studies John some more; he can tell that he is uncomfortable judging by the look on his face and suspects that John is trying to hide something from him. A futile effort on John's part; he can never hide much from Sherlock and he makes a promise to himself to find out. But for now he decides to ignore the feeling and focus on making John feel better; it's foreign to him. To see how John's distress moves him to the point of being willing to do almost anything to make him smile again. Feelings were most definitely strange and compelling things.

"Do you need anything?" he offers looking down at John's face flickering with too many emotions to decipher before settling on grateful. He looks down longingly at his half-full cup of tea and back up on Sherlock.

"A cup of tea wouldn't go amiss" he says a small smile that looks forced pulling up the corners of his mouth. Sherlock rolls his eyes at his request but moves to the kitchen taking John's cup with him.

"You do realise that the average British person drinks just under 3 cups of tea per day? That is 1,011 cups of tea per year. You, however John, drink according to my calculations approximately 1825 cups per year. It concerns me... I believe that you may have a problem." He quips from the kitchen; kettle boiling and the cutlery draw rattling as he makes John's tea. John realise Sherlock is trying to distract him and it works surprisingly. He huffs a genuine laugh at the idea that he is the one with an addiction problem but it is quickly diminished by the sickening feeling of guilt perforating his body.

He didn't know what to do. His…dream is something that he realises can never be a reality. If I wanted it to be, which I don't, he mentally adds to himself. Sherlock just isn't built that way. He is never intimate. He has never appeared to have an interest towards sex even when he literally had a naked woman stood right in front of him. He knows he can never be like that with Sherlock. And not just in a physical sense but any kind of intimacy. And that is just Sherlock. John, despite what people may or may not have talked about, had always believed that he was straight.

But now he is deeply confused. His dream had contained a very male and very real feeling Sherlock that his body appeared to have no problem with. Another wave of guilt rocks him as he remembers Mary. He cares deeply for Mary but staying with her when he was like experiencing this; it somehow felt like he was betraying her. He sighs and rubs an aggravated hand through his hair.

When had everything gotten so complicated? How had this bizarre and admittedly at times frustrating friendship that he honestly treasures turned into him wanting more than that? Or was that even what he wanted? Was he just happy to have Sherlock back in his life? Maybe he had just felt confused by Mary's words. His stomach jumped at the idea…did Mary perhaps think that John did have feelings towards Sherlock. Why is nothing ever simple with Sherlock? The thought immediately causes him to huff out loud. The word simple and Sherlock would never meet in such a context…idiot on the other hand. He is pulled from his musing by an elated shout of joy and Sherlock rushing into the living room; brandishing his phone in John's face and predictably holding no tea.

Sherlock whips it away before John has a chance to read it causing him to scowl at Sherlock who is pulling on his coat.

"We have a case! At last! I thought my mind was going to rot from boredom!" he states and wraps his scarf around his neck; practically vibrating with excitement. John smiles at the scene feeling tightness in his chest at being able to Sherlock like this again. Sherlock spins round and looks at John who isn't moving from his seat.

"John? Are you coming with me?" he asks sounding mostly impatient but John can hear that sliver of worry that perhaps John didn't want to.

"Always" he replies meaning it with every fibre of his being. Sherlock stills at John's words; a small smile tugging at the left side of his mouth and eyes softening at John as he pulls on his coat.

"Let's go then" he says his voice considerably softer and leads on down the stairs with John following close behind pushing his memories of his dream to the back of his mind. He still needed to work out what exactly it is he is feeling towards Sherlock; both for his sake and for Sherlock's and Mary's. But for now, they had a case.

Any errors are mine and for which I do apologise! So, if it turns out I do have readers that are lovely and take the time to review. I may just have to update within the next few days... :)

On another note I realise they haven't kissed yet but I believe that you will not have to wait long at all! Thank you for reading!