Endurance

"SHERLO-!"

The 'L' had hardly flicked off John's tongue when the young detective pulled the trigger on the Browning L9A1 he gripped so tightly in his sweating hand. The bullet rifled through the air in what seemed to be like slow motion for both Sherlock and John, it finally reaching its destination and corroding its way through the explosives. Thinking through the fear that was quickly engulfing his mind, John dived into Sherlock's chest, launching them both into the pool to their right. The duo hit the water with force, shards of metal and glass hurdling towards them at maximum speed. The shock-waves ripped through everything in this path,

tiles being torn from their positions and into the gathering debris. A familiar hand managed to entwine around John's but his mind clouded over before he could respond.

'That's it? We don't know the first thing about each other. I don't even know your name.'

The taller man stared for a moment, his blue eyes smiling for him.

'The name's Sherlock Holmes.'

"John!"

From behind the safety of his eyelids, John heard various tones of beeps and talking, one voice like a soft sympathy to his ears. An almost unbearable pain dominated his body, originating from the entire left side of his entire body. As the numbness began to wear away, John realised he was strapped down to, what presumably was, a gurney. He attempted to loll his head from one side to the next, but stopped suddenly when shocks were sent down his spine. Naturally, his back stiffened, a small wince escaping his lips.

'What the hell happened? There was Sherlock...and Moriarty..and, oh hell, the explosives! What the hell is going on now?'

Watson unwillingly opened his eyes, the light dilating his pupils.

The doctor blinked rapidly, clear vision returning to him. He scanned his surroundings, and seeing various medical tools, he realized he was in the back of a moving ambulance. A silhouette suddenly towered over his small body.

"John?"

Sherlock's usual powerful tone wasn't present in his voice, instead, replaced with an alarming yet caring beat.

"Sh-sherlock?"

"I'm here, its okay." The detective saw the pain on his companions face. He felt it wasn't necessary for the 'professional' doctors to explain to Watson of his injuries; he'd deduced them simply by looking at the way John moved, the way he was transported into the vehicle.

"...you've endured light concussion and various fractures to your vertebrae, but you're gonna be okay, John."

John blinked. 'That explains the pain then.' Judging by the origin of the pain that constantly attacked him in waves, the fractured divisions of his spine were located close to the peak of the vertebrae.

Sherlock smiled weakly as his eyes began to brim with tears. He moved his hand and entwined his long finger's around John's.

"I sincerely hope those cuts aren't going to scar your face. They'll ruin it completely." With his other hand, Sherlock began stroking the small man's forehead with his thumb. Feeling the rough skin and harsh cuts underneath his touch caused a single tear to fall from Sherlock's icy eyes.

With one final smile, John allowed his eyes to close slowly, giving in to the amount of powerful medication that had been forced into him. He wouldn't give into the the approaching darkness.

He would never let the approaching darkness claim him.

Never.

THE END

A/N: Tried to make it a happy ending, I just can't resist a bit of angst. That's it for this story. Hope you enjoyed it :)