Warnings: Johnlock slash (Rating could go up), Unbeta'd, I'm not British, Bullying Mentions of drug abuse, AU
Disclaimer: I don't own Sherlock.
Special Thanks: Anne, my lovely Beta, who keeps reassuring me and giving me wonderful advice and the wonderful Ariane DeVere for posting the transcript (Link here: . )
More notes at the end of Chapter.
Most people would have assumed, when hearing the wonderful news, that John was the one that had proposed but they would, of course, have been wrong. Sherlock had been thinking about this for a few months, and when he was injured he had had plenty of time to formalize the thoughts into some semblance of order. 'As soon as I get out of this insufferable hospital, I've got some plans to make.'
The four weeks have been terribly LONG but, not unproductive. The first two weeks while John was away at the surgery, were spent furiously trying to find the perfect way to propose to his extraordinary blogger. He knew that he was an uneasy man to live with and wanted to make this the best he could so that his lovely doctor would say yes.
He began by searching the internet on 'How to Propose to Someone' (on his own computer, it wouldn't do for John to become aware of Sherlock's plans before he could implement them) but he had come up empty handed. The websites were decidedly unhelpful. All they had to suggest were plebeian, boring things that made Sherlock feel as though his brain were leaking through his ears. He finally swallowed his pride and asked Mycroft for help which he would only ever do for John.
Sent To: Mycroft Holmes, 6:08 p.m.
I need your help. -SH
Message Received From Mycroft Holmes, 6:09 p.m.
I will assist you any way I can, brother dear. -MH
Sent To: Mycroft Holmes, 6:11 p.m.
Meet me at 221 B Baker Street tomorrow at 5:34 p.m. -SH
Message Received From Mycroft Holmes, 6:12 p.m.
I assume Doctor Watson will be away. -MH
Since it wasn't a question, Mycroft obviously knew the answer anyway, Sherlock didn't reply. John would return any moment now so he had to quickly wipe all traces of today's activities in case John happened to stumble across his browser history. Now all Sherlock had to do was gauge John's reaction to marriage. Would he even be amenable to being Sherlock's husband?
Once that was completed, Sherlock carefully flops down onto the couch, places his hands under his chin in a prayer-like fashion and closes his eyes. When he is in position, the door then opens to reveal a tired looking John behind it.
"Hello love, how was your day?"
"Bored." John's answering chuckle makes Sherlock smile. He can hear the army doctor bumping about in the kitchen. When he has collected his tea mug, John walks over to the couch, leans forward, and presses a lingering kiss against soft cupid bowed lips. A hum of approval escapes both individuals. When the two separate, Sherlock's eyes flutter open and he sits up to allow John to snuggle into his side. When both doctor and detective have settled, John turns on the telly.
A trite "Soap Opera" (Which didn't make sense. The only thing the show had anything to do with bathing would be the 'smutty' shower scene and the only reason Sherlock had known that word would be because John had said it once before.) was on. Besides the holey and repetitive plot-line, the obsessive fascination to sex ('Someone seems to be compensating for something!' Sherlock thinks with a smirk), and the overly dramatic actors, the show didn't have much going for it. The only thing Sherlock found the least bit entertaining would be the horrid acting. The way the leading actress threw herself at any man with male genitalia was quite hilarious. Sherlock gets the opportunity he was hoping for when the ditzy blonde woman, who was pregnant with the leading man's child and was cheating on her current boyfriend, gets proposed to her by said idiotic boyfriend.
Sherlock subtly looks down at his blogger but can't read anything in his neutral expression. He snorts in disgust in an attempt to draw a reaction out of the army doctor. John looks up just as the blonde and her ditzy boyfriend kiss. "You say something, love?"
Sherlock snorts again and mumbles, "No, just...marriage." John blinks up Sherlock when continues, "A wedding is, in my considered opinion, nothing short of a celebration of all that is false and specious and irrational and sentimental in this ailing and morally compromised world."
John then scrambles up staring wide eyed at his detective as he stutters out, "But...but, what if we were to get married? Would that ever be something that you would want?"
Sherlock joyfully thinks to himself, 'Oh! It's Christmas!'He says instead though, "I doubt I'd ever get married. The promise of forever is just a delusional attempt to strengthen a promise that many individuals do not intend to keep."
The blogger blinks up at the detective for a moment before standing, knocking Sherlock off balance, and saying, "I think I'll sleep in my own room tonight." Sherlock stands too, stretching before saying, "I'll come with you. I've not slept in… three days? That sounds right... After about 30 hours pass, the time spent awake becomes a bit hazy." John had taken a few steps before rounding on the detective that was following closely behind him before furiously proclaiming, "You sleep in your OWN room!"
With that, the saddened army doctor stomps up the remaining steps and then slams his room's door behind him. The consulting detective watches him go and his brow furrows only momentarily before he jump up into the air in a fist bumping motion. That of course jostles his stitches and when his feet touch the ground once more, he winces at the slight discomfort. He quickly goes over and retrieves his phone before texting his older brother in order to ask if he wouldn't mind picking him up tonight so that they might talk.
Message Received From Mycroft Holmes, 7:53
A car has been sent and it will be there shortly. -MH
Sherlock only had to wait for about ten minutes before another text was received, telling him that the car was parked outside. Sherlock grabs his coat and trade-mark scarf before making his way to the door. There, he hesitates only momentarily before calling up the stairs to John room informing him that he would be back shortly. When no reply came, he was out the door thundering down the stairs before slamming the other door on the ground level. He was in the car his brother had sent him in only a matter of minutes. This is one of the only few times Sherlock can remember being thrilled to see his brother.
When the car has stopped outside of the Diogenes Club Sherlock quickly makes his way to the back room in which his brother occupies. Once they are completely alone, Sherlock begins to speak, "I wish to marry John." Mycroft's ever smug expression slips only momentarily into one of confusion before it is firmly back in place when he replies with, "Of course, brother. Congratulations….What does any of this have to do with me?"
John heard the front door slam so he knew he was finally alone. He slowly exhales and let's wave of disappointment settle over him. He knows he shouldn't be upset but he can still recall that eight year old little boy who had dreamt of a country home, a gorgeous husband, and possibly two adopted children. The husband fantasy now seems to be out and no adoption agency would ever take two unmarried blokes seriously if they had even tried to broach the subject of adoption.
When he was younger, though, he had never really pictured the life he was living now… Now was excitement, staying up late at night going of case files, chasing suspects till four in the morning, and now was loving a moody consulting detective who pouted when he didn't get his way.
In John's personal opinion, Now was a lot better than Then. He couldn't possibly imagine his life any other way. He was happy to have Sherlock in his life. The genius was a total pain in the arse at times but without Sherlock, his life would be so meaningless. When the consulting detective had left the first time, John had been so heart broken and alone. No, Sherlock might not want marriage or children, but John wouldn't change him for anything in the world. Sherlock was his and he was Sherlock's. The blogger would take the detective any way he could get. He had never really thought that Sherlock would ever let anyone in, let alone love him. John falls asleep then with a smile on his face.
"I don't know how to propose to John."
Mycroft finally lets the all-knowing facade fall away and lets the confusion consume his facial expression. "And you think I do?!"
"You are married to your threadmate, how did you do it?"
"I took Gregory out to our favorite restaurant, treated him to anything he could want, and proposed. He said yes." All of this was said with an abnormally fond smile from Mycroft Holmes.
Sherlock sat for a moment but shook his head furiously, "No, that won't do, John and I visit Angelo's regularly. I want this to be special." Mycroft looks at his younger brother before saying, "This actually means something to you. Why do you care so much? You've never gotten involved with this sort of thing before."
Sherlock's shoulders visibly deflate and his eyes cast downward. When he does reply it's in a quiet hesitant tone, "I never thought I would have a soulmate. When I had found John, though, I had given up. I knew I was doomed to never find love and that I would always be alone. He had tried to court me on our first case together but I didn't want anyone, at the time, who wasn't my soulmate. Soon all that had changed and I found myself reluctantly in love with him. When we had found out that we are threadmates it no longer mattered, it just added to the love I already possessed. I constantly worry that he will find someone better. I am the most unpleasant, rude, ignorant and all-round obnoxious arsehole that anyone could possibly have the misfortune to meet, yet John loves me anyway. I don't deserve him. I've put him through so much. I just want this to be good for him. I just want to do one good thing for him after all the damage I've caused."
If Mycroft hadn't seen Sherlock's depreciated demeanor he would have accused Sherlock of trying to deceive him, but here before him was the once proud consulting detective finally learning to bare his heart and let others in. Mycroft might have been known as the iceman but his heart was not cold and unused. He would never tease his younger brother when he knew it was something truly important to him.
"The place does not matter. It's the sentiment behind it. Is there anywhere you can think of that has some significant value?" With the eldest Holmes words, Sherlock's eyes widen and he jumps up racing around the room gathering his coat and scarf. He then turns to the british government and says, "I've got the place! I'll need your help getting everything in order...will you….I mean…. would you want to-"
"Yes, brother. Text me the details." Sherlock rushes forward and envelopes his older brother in a brief, out of character, hug while saying, "Thank you." before dashing out of the room and back into the car his brother had sent. Mycroft only smiles and exits the way he came.
Sherlock enters 221B with a flourish of his coat and a dramatic entrance. Only….he has no audience. 'Where is John?' The consulting detective then remembers the hurt look on John's face as he storms up the stairs into his own room. Sherlock pauses for a moment before meekly walking over to the foot of the stairs and quietly calling up, "John?" He waits a moment before asking, "Are you still mad?" He takes a step up when there is no reply. "Can I come up there with you?" He takes another step, "If I can't come up, say so...now." When there is still no reply he silently walks up the remaining stairs and gently opens the blogger 's door.
When he sees John sleeping on the bed, he pauses momentarily to smile at his adorable sleeping blogger. He efficiently strips down to only his underwear until he can proceed to climb into the bed to cuddle around his small army doctor. John doesn't wake, but borrows into Sherlock's warmth with his face pressed against the detectives neck. It only takes a moment before the raven haired man joins his beloved blogger into sleep.
Notes: Mystrade because my friend likes the pairing and Mycroft needed a soul mate. I'm going to have to change the update day to "whenever I can" because my computer crashed and everything (EVERYTHING for Red) was deleted. I'm slowly getting everything back but it's taking a while. It usually takes me 3-4 days to write but now it is taking me longer due to the fact that I have to borrow someone else's computer. Fortunately (unfortunately?) There are only about two more chapters left and then Red will be over! If you all will stick with me, I have a series taking hold in my mind and it's begging to be written. Anyway, on to the reviews!
DemonicAngel363:I'm with you a hundred percent. I hated Donovan the most though. She was cruel and vile. (So was Anderson, but he got better) I still can't stand the characters. :p Sherlock is my baby. When he is sad or depressed. It kills me and no one can brushoff taunts forever. I just don't like them. My next story will possibly have John punching one of them :D (I find the idea very amusing XD)
Viridianaln9:I'm very glad you are liking the story! :D It makes me so happy to receive reviews like yours
Randomplotbunny:Well then, you are Wondtabulous :D (Wonderful+Terrific+Fabulous) I know that's a word but it sounds pretend so I made you a pretend word because I think you're great I had a feeling I had some Anderson fans (which is totally fine btw :D). I love sassy John. He is wonderful. (I know Anderson's better so I will try to fix him next chapter, but you are right, I don't believe Sally can be fixed :/) Here you are dear! :D
TheMysteriousGeek2345: I hope the case made sense! (I've never written a case-fic before so, I hope it wasn't complicated?) Yes, they were both horrible, but I promise by the time the wedding has been written they will be better *hugs*
Kestrel98:*HUGS YOU TIGHTLY* If you need to talk to someone (vent wise) you can always PM me. I'll listen and try to give some advice. I've been told I'm a good listener. I don't judge and offer virtual hugs *hugs* I'm sorry you had a bad week! Are you feeling better? I'm glad this story makes you feel better and I hope you, if you've had another bad week, that it gets better. I've always been told that there is always rain before the sun shines through :) (you are very welcome, love).