Chapter 3: Fever
At some point John drifted off into sleep, only to be woken up another nightmare, a nightmare of Sherlock screaming in pain after finding him on the rooftop of St Bart's a gunshot wound to the shoulder… No it sounded too real. Another scream ringed in John's ears jerking him awake, his eyes snapped open only to see Sherlock's flailing his arms, gasping for air, his eyes still sealed shut. Nightmare. John rushed to his side, joining him on the bed, kneeling cradling Sherlock's head in his palms, to prevent him from aggravating the concussion.
"Sherlock! Sherlock! It's okay, it's only a nightmare! You're here safe in Baker Street!" John comforted.
"Nnnoo…lying…Jjawn dead… hurts."
"I'm here Sherlock, John's here. Just open your eyes, trust me!"
Sherlock's eyes finally opened. The wild unfocused blue met the calming hazel brown, Sherlock bolted up wrapping his arms around John, tight, resting his head on John's shoulder.
"It's okay, everything's okay now Sherlock, it was just a nightmare." John reassured, hugging back stroking Sherlock's back. Sherlock's breathing still way to fast.
"I need you to slowly even out your breathing, try to follow my breathing, deep breaths."
"Inhale… Exhale… Inhale… Exhale"
Sherlock tried his best to follow, taking deeper breaths rather than the shallow ragged ones earlier on.
"I dreamt that Moriarty killed you and I wasn't able to stop him… John you died!" Sherlock wailed unable to hold back tears anymore. John could feel that Sherlock was crying, his jumper beginning to moisten.
"No one's going to hurt you anymore, Moriarty's dead he's certainly not going to harm me and I don't plan on going anywhere." John said still stroking Sherlock's back noticing that he's body temperature's a little too warm for liking.
"Sherlock I think you're running a fever, let me take your temperature" John said attempting to unwrap himself from Sherlock but with no avail.
"Don't go…please." Sherlock croaked. John contemplated and finally said
"Okay, but if this fever gets worst I'm going to have to give you something for it." John relented, hoping it wasn't a fever caused by the infection. John felt Sherlock's now even breathing against his chest and Sherlock felt John's steady strong heartbeat, slowly falling back asleep, body resting on John. Both remained in that position until John's leg which was folded in became too numb. He rested Sherlock back onto the bed, cradling his head gently resting it onto the pillow, choosing to not tuck Sherlock in fearing his temperature would rise. He turned about climbing off the bed slowly and shook his leg to restore the blood circulation faster before proceeding to the kitchen to retrieve a glass of water, some fever medication and a thermometer before heading back into the room once again.
He set the items on the bedside table telling himself he'll give it to Sherlock the next time he wakes. He was exhausted and he smelt like a mixture of sweat and cologne, he decided to go for a quick shower before returning to Sherlock's side.
John emerged out of the steaming bathroom, towel slung over his head, he felt refreshed and replayed tonight's events in his head. Tonight was much more interesting compared to the other mundane days of going to work. Work. He had been so caught up with Sherlock's return he didn't go for work today, he dashed into the living room grabbed his phone and dialed it.
Ring…Ring…..Ring….Ri-
"Mary Morstan who is this?" the voice over the phone buzzed.
"Mary! Great, its John calling from the house phone, I'm so so sorry I didn't turn up for work today I had a personal matter to attend to, I would also like to apply leave for the next two weeks would that be okay?"
"John, is everything okay?"
John hesitated before saying "Yeah, everything's fine I just have some things to clear up, and would need some time off… I know this is very last minute but I really need these two weeks."
…
"Yeah, yeah of course, I'll get someone to fill in for you for the next two weeks. Hey, if you need anything just call me alright?" Mary finally replied.
"Yes, I will. Thank you so much Mary. Goodbye." John replied gratefully.
John hung up the phone and went to the kitchen making himself a hot cup of coffee before going back into the bedroom. He was relieved to see Sherlock still asleep, his chest rising and falling evenly. John settled himself back in the chair and resumed staring at Sherlock, his mind racing with questions that desperately needed answers.
I saw him fall off that roof… I saw the blood… I took his pulse.
How is he still alive?
What happened to him?
Did Moriarty do this?
How did he even get back here? Did he walk?
Does Mycroft know what's happening?
He's back and your wish has been granted. You should be happy.
Can I fix him?
John felt conflicted and mostly confused, he didn't know what to do and felt so helpless. All he could do was to be there for Sherlock and for him to pull through and recover. Hope again. John really needed hope to be on his side this time. John let his tired body fall into a deep slumber.
John awoke not knowing how long he had slept, except it must have been quite long, his leg was numb and his neck ached. He blinked a few times and yawned shifting his glance to the empty bed. The bed was empty, where was Sherlock? John bolted up from the chair his eyes alert and wild. John glanced at the clock, 10.30am. John slept for 9 hours.
"Shit! Sherlock! Sherlock where are you?" John exclaimed.
There was no reply.
"Sherlock! Oh my god… Sherlock!" John continued, his voice bouncing off the walls.
John stopped at the corridor finding the toilet door ajar. He approached with caution, pushing the toilet door back until it hit something with a thud sound.
"Sherlock?"
John found Sherlock behind the door, body against the wall in an awkward position.
"Jesus, Sherlock what are you doing here?" John said as he kneeled down beside the unconscious Sherlock. John put his hand on Sherlock's shoulder and gently squeezed it, eliciting a groan from Sherlock.
"Hhurts…"
"What hurts Sherlock?"
"Everything."
John gently put the back of his hand on Sherlock's forehead, it was even hotter than before, this was not good at all. John slipped his arms under Sherlock's armpits attempting to lift him up, this only made things worse. Sherlock flailed his arms around, a scream escaping his throat.
"No, don't touch me! No Moriarty, please no I beg you please." Sherlock cried.
"Moriarty what? Sherlock its John you are at Baker Street, there's no Moriarty, you are safe." John said.
Sherlock's eyes tried focusing on John's.
"John! John please don't let Moriarty take me away again… please." Sherlock begged.
"Shhhh…shhh Moriarty's not going to hurt you, Sherlock you are safe."
"Everything hurts John…"
"I know… I know. It's the fever alright, everything's alright. Come on, let's get you up and back into bed alright?"
"Ye…yeah" Sherlock replied, attempting to lift himself off the tiled floor with no luck.
"I got you, lean on me." John said, pushing Sherlock's body onto his.
They made it back into the bedroom in one piece but barely holding it together. Sherlock was back in bed and John coaxed him into taking the fever medication, he laid beside Sherlock, patting him until he fell back asleep. This is not good, Sherlock's never going to make it like this and John knew that. He got off the bed, picked up the phone and dialed.
"John?" The voice said.
"Oh my goodness, Mary, yes, I really really need your help could you do me a big favor please?" John asked.
"What favor John? Is everything okay?"
"No, not exactly… I need you to bring over a few bags of saline for a drip, I also need pain medication, preferably not an opiate and some clean dressings from the clinic."
"John are you okay?"
"Yeah it's not me, I'm fine. Could you bring it over and I'll explain when you get here…please?"
"…"
"Yeah… okay I'll bring them over now, 221B Baker Street right? ETA 1hour." Mary said.
"Oh great! Thank you so much Mary, see you!" John exclaimed before hanging up the phone. Thank god for Mary he thought to himself going back into the room to rejoin Sherlock.
About an hour later, John looked at the clock telling himself Mary would arrive anytime soon, just then,
Buzz…Buzzzzzzzz
John rushed to the door at the sound of the doorbell ringing. He opened the door and was glad to see Mary, medical bag in hand.
"Mary thank god! You are so punctual, come up stairs."
"John you haven't told me what's happening yet." Mary said as she ascended up the wooden stairs into the apartment.
"Help me set the stand please."
"John! What's going on?" Mary said grabbing his arm.
"Take a peek." John said gesturing towards the room.
Mary craned her neck and saw Sherlock's still form under the sheets.
"That's your personal problem?" Mary joked.
"Haha… yeah, collapsed at my doorstep two nights ago in a tank and jeans drenched in rain and sweat after thinking he was dead for a year."
"Wait. Wait. That's Sherlock Holmes?" Mary said disbelievingly.
"Yup."
"But I thought you said he jumped off a roof?"
"I thought so too… I have so many unanswered questions, he's too out of it for questions now. The fever's messing with his mind and he's extremely dehydrated."
"I see, okay let's get all these stuff into the room." Mary said taking the medical bag venturing into the dark bedroom.
John undimmed the lights just bright enough for Mary to see the full scale of destruction. She gasped,
"John, he should be in hospital!"
"I know… I don't know what's really going on right now, plus Sherlock hates hospitals so I'm avoiding that as much as possible."
"Jj.. John… Someone else here?" A voice came from under the sheets.
"Sherlock, yes its Mary, my colleague from the clinic I'm working at, she delivered the additional medical supplies, you can trust her."
Sherlock's eyes peered open barely focusing on Mary who's standing at the foot of his bed.
"Thank…You." Sherlock mumbled before shifting his gaze to John who's currently setting up the IV line.
"You are welcome Sherlock." Mary replied softly.
"We should probably change his dressings before attaching the IV, John." Mary then said.
"Right, yes of course. Sherlock can I lift your shirt up to change your dressings?"
Sherlock barely nodded. John quickly changed Sherlock's dressings while Mary gave Sherlock another round of pain and fever medication. John then attached the IV into Sherlock's vein and checked flow, letting out a breath he didn't know he was holding when he saw the transparent fluid flow into Sherlock's vein. Sherlock's eyes never leaving John this whole time. Mary finally broke the silence.
"Looks like you boys can handle yourselves for now, John if you need food or anything call me alright? And Sherlock, you rest, I'll see you soon." Mary said smiling.
"Thank you again Mary, I owe you one."
"Most welcome John, It's okay I know the way out, you stay with him." Mary said before turning and leaving the room.
"I like her…" Sherlock said with a weak smile.
"Hahaha she's nice, go to sleep Sherlock, let the meds do their job, I'll be here when you wake." John said, running his hand through Sherlock's curls.
"Sl…sleep's bor…boring…" Sherlock slurred before the meds took him in.
"Good night Sherlock." John said, a slight smile found its way out.
John settled himself back into the chair, his head resting on his hand. It wasn't for another two hours till John moved from that position. His lips parted.
"Look…uhmm… Listen Sherlock, I don't know how to put this." John said to the sleeping Sherlock.
"I… I was so lost, so confused and so alone after the war. For Christ sake I even had a psychosomatic limp. And then you found me, you saved me and I was happy for the first time in a long time. You were able to help me leave the war behind and move forward. I'm so thankful to have met you. And... and then you were gone and I felt so lost and so alone again and I hate… I hate this feeling so much! Now… now I'm given a second chance and Sherlock I am running out of second chances. Sherlock you… you fight this you stubborn git, I can't make it without you. You fight this… you fight this for me." John said sounding exasperated.
"Okay." A hoarse voice came from the bed.
"I'll fight… I'll fight for you."
John looked up, warm tears flowing down his cheek.
"Thank you."
Here's a longer and much more emotional chapter, hope you guys enjoy this one :D More updates to come! LEAVE REVIEWS! I LOVE REVIEWS! REVIEWS MAKE MY DAY :D