And...yes, before you ask, this chapter is fluff and smut. Think of it as exactly what the title says...the calm before the storm.

Chapter 13: The Calm Before the Storm

The next two weeks were quiet, almost disturbingly so; all Sherlock could think of was the calm before the storm, whatever the tempest would be. They trained a great deal, running over the files, practicing their shooting, and discussing ways to harm elementals. John was all healed, and everybody seemed a bit on edge. They had seen nothing of either the aqua lumini or the fire elemental, and tension was running high

That evening they were in the conference room, Sherlock poring over his files for the fifteenth time that day. John walked in, half a sandwich in his hand. "Put the files down. I think you know them by heart now," he murmured, sitting on the table next to the boy. "You need to relax, Sherlock."

The younger boy glanced up for a moment before returning to the files. "I want to make sure I'm not missing something. There has to be something here I'm not seeing," he muttered, running a hand through his hair.

"Let it rest. You know some of your best deductions come when you aren't pouring over the pages."

Sherlock rubbed his face with his hand. "I know, but I'm going out of my head here. It's too quiet!"

"And it will wait another night. I think our luck will hold. Come home."

He sighed, closing the file and putting it in the pile, standing. "Alright."

John finished his sandwich, pulling the boy towards the door. "Come on. Ianto's about to leave."

The Welshman led the boys to the car, driving them back to the flat; Sherlock seemed preoccupied as they drove home, staring out the window. John let them into the flat when they arrived, shutting and locking the door before turning to Sherlock. "Can I help? Let me help, please."

Sherlock turned to him. "Something big is coming and everyday something doesn't happen makes me nervous."

John opened his arms, enveloping the boy and holding him close. "Be here. Be here now with me. Forget the rest. It can wait for a bit. Let me help you forget it all."

Sherlock tucked his head into John's neck. "Okay."

John held him for a few minutes before he began kissing his head and neck, everything he could reach with his lips. It wasn't enough for long, and soon he captured his lover's mouth with his own. Sherlock hummed softly as John kissed him, draping his arms across the boy's shoulders. The blonde boy deepened the kiss, pressing Sherlock back against one of the walls of the flat, moaning softly. The taller boy grunted quietly as his back hit the wall, parting his lips for John who slipped his tongue past Sherlock's teeth, claiming his mouth for a moment before tugging him toward their room.

As soon as he'd kicked the door to the bedroom shut, John worked his hands underneath Sherlock's shirt, stroking the skin of his chest as they kissed. Sherlock shivered slightly at the touch; he ran his hands up and down John's back in response, feeling the warmth of his body. John pulled off his jumper, pressing his heated body against Sherlock and sucking one nipple into his mouth, nipping the skin before teasing it with his tongue. Their trousers were off quickly, shoes left by the front door out of habit. John ground his hips against Sherlock's, making the boy moan, smiling as his boyfriend lit up with every touch.

John placed three fingers in Sherlock's mouth as he tugged off the boy's pants, taking Sherlock in his mouth. Sherlock moaned, sucking gently on John's fingers to slick them. John pulled his fingers out soon after, working Sherlock open slowly, lovingly, always taking the most time with this part. Sherlock found it much easier now, when John stretched him, used to the process and taking far more pleasure in it than he ever thought he would.

John soon pulled his fingers out, slicking up his cock and pushing into Sherlock, gathering his lover in his arms as he did so. Sherlock's back was lifted off the mattress slightly as John entered him, making him groan. John kissed him again, slowly thrusting against him and pulling Sherlock into his lap, letting the boy ride him slowly. Sherlock whimpered, slowly bring his hips down on John's. He held onto John's shoulders tucking his head into the boy's neck. John growled, one hand on the back of Sherlock's neck, the other in the boy's hair, massaging his scalp. The taller boy rode his lover slowly, his throat vibrating against John's shoulder. He leaned his head back into John's hand.

"Yes...oh fuck yes, Sherlock..."

"John, oh god John!" he cried out, rocketing over the edge.

John thrust upward once and buried himself in the boy, riding out both their climaxes and gasping for air as he saw stars. Sherlock felt warmth fill him, and he collapsed in John's arms; he was still panting as John finished. "Oh god I love you," he breathed

John kissed him deeply. "And I love you too."

Sherlock lay back on the bed, "That was fantastic."

John was glowing with pride. "Good," he murmured, quickly cleaning them up before snuggling against his lover, kissing his chest.

"G'night." Sherlock whispered, reaching over John to turn the lamp out.

"Goodnight, love," John murmured, falling asleep to his favorite sound: Sherlock's heartbeat. The younger boy followed soon after, cradling the best thing that had ever happened to him to his chest.

oOoOo

Gwen let herself in at home. "Rhys? You here?"

"Kitchen!" Rhys called. He was seated at the table, reading the paper.

Gwen smiled as she walked over to him. "Evening, darling," she said, kissing him. Rhys kissed back, resting his hands on her hips.

"Bed," Gwen murmured against his lips. He picked Gwen up easily and carried her to the bedroom, laying her down gently; it had been ages since they'd last done this, and she'd been at work so frequently in the past few weeks that they'd barely seen each other. Gwen lay there, staring coyly up at her beau until he joined her on the bed. The former policewoman kissed him on the nose before rolling over, straddling her husband and rocking gently. Rhys groaned at the friction, laying his hands on her waist and running them up her sides. Gwen rocked harder, making Rhys firm between her thighs. "I might just make you come like this," she purred.

Rhys groaned. "I bet you could."

Gwen leaned down and kissed him, grinding in circles now. Rhys kissed back, grinding up needily. Beaming, Gwen went harder, faster, determined to make her man come in his pants, pulling away to suck on his neck. Rhys tilted his head away, running a hand through her hair gently, making Gwen purred softly as she thrust her hips harder against him.

"Oh god, Gwen you're fantastic!"

She grinned, feeling his pants grow warm and damp as she drove herself over the edge, shuddering and whimpering before she rolled off him and onto her back. He shuddered as they both released, moaning her name, then pulled her close, kissing her forehead; she wrapped her arms around his neck, quite pleased with herself. Rhys pressed his forehead against hers, rubbing their noses together.

"I love you."

"I love you too, sweetheart."

oOoOo

Ianto drove back to the hub, letting himself in; Jack was waiting for him in his bunk. The Welshman climbed down into the bunker, walking over to his lover and kissing him softly.

"I don't think things will be quiet for much longer," Jack murmured against Ianto's mouth.

"I think you're right...so let's make the most of it."

Jack tugged him down, pulling the coffee boy on top of him and kissing him deeply. Ianto straddled, Jack's hips, moving one of his hands to play with Jack's hair. Jack purred at the touch, cupping Ianto's face in his hands and rocking back against the man, groaning softly. Ianto pulled away to catch his breath. "I love you," he panted, running his hands up Jack's arms to his wrists.

"I love you more than my life," Jack whispered back, carding his fingers through Ianto's hair. The younger man smiled, kissing Jack lovingly, hands roaming across his chest.

"I want your lips around my cock," Jack whispered into the kiss, hard and desperate for the man.

Ianto traveled downwards, pausing just below Jack's navel as he undid the suspenders and slowly lowered the man's trousers. Jack's back arched, his thighs trembling as Ianto stripped him, the coffee boy placing his hands on the immortal's bare hips and slowly taking him in his mouth, allowing his teeth to graze the shaft ever so softly. Jack gasped, hands fisting in the sheets.

Ianto worked his head up and down slowly, making sure to see how Jack responded to his attentions before changing things around. Jack was a puddle under Ianto's touch, the Welshman's hands keeping him firmly against the mattress. He gasped Ianto's name and came without warning, gasping and shuddering. Ianto swallowed him, kissing his way back up Jack's chest to his lips. "How was that?"

"Fucking amazing. Want me to do it to you?"

"If you want. I don't mind either way."

Jack smirked, pinning the younger man to the bed and tugging off his trousers, staring at his cock as he released it. "Mine," he whispered, lowering his mouth to taste. Ianto gasped, his head whipping back against the pillow. "Oh god, Jack."

Jack smiled around Ianto's member, stroking the tender flesh of his thighs as he deep throated his favorite Welshman; he sucked and licked and swallowed, finally pressing Ianto's hips to the bed as he sped up, pulling the man over. Ianto panted, crying Jack's name as he toppled over the edge. "Oh Jack!"

Jack swallowed him down, still smirking as he came up to kiss Ianto. "Better?"

"Much," he nodded, kissing Jack softly. The immortal held Ianto until he fell asleep, trying with no avail to follow, tracing one finger down the relaxed, sleeping face of the love of his life.

If you have figured out what you think we have coming, feel free to send me a message with your guess or to leave it in the review. It's about to get real.