John and Sherlock leave the hospital late that day, tired, but as elated as they had been each time they had solved a case together.

'You were wrong, John.' Sherlock says suddenly. 'Again.' He adds, with a small, gloating smile.

'Really? What about now?' John asks wearily.

'You said it that caring doesn't help to save people.'

'I did?'

'Yes.' Sherlock stops and looks at John squarely in the face. 'I asked you if caring would help save those people Moriaty strapped bombs to.'

John frowned as he tried to recollect the argument.

'And you said: 'No.'' Sherlock said. 'Remember?'

'Yes.' John sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

'You were wrong. Caring about Amy saved her.'

'How?' John asked.

'She has a reason to live.' Sherlock explained. 'You're a doctor, you know a person's pyschological condition can make a difference with recovery.'

'Yes, in a few cases.'

'Amy is one of those few cases.'

John thought about that. 'She's displaying only the first signs of remission, Sherlock, she's got a very long way to go. The cancer may still return, in fact, I would say, probably return.' He says sadly.

'Yes, but for now, she is living. She is saved. Because she realised there are things worth living for, things worth fighting for.' Sherlock smiles. He rather pleased about this, about saving one more life. He wonders if this might be making him into what John would refer to as a 'hero'. He shakes his head at this, still smiling.

John smiles too, and they head towards Baker Street. 'You know,' John says slowly as a smirk plays about his mouth, 'that means that you were wrong, too.'

Sherlock looks down at the older man, his expression unreadable. They stare at each other for a moment and then John laughs and Sherlock joins him. It is an infectious, careless laugh; the kind of laugh that they first shared after chasing the cabbie across London; the kind of laugh that makes the stomach ache and the eyes water; the kind of laugh that binds souls together.

'Chinese?' Sherlock gasps between giggles, smiling with his friend.

'Definitely.' John agrees and they head towards their favourite haunt.

And as they walk together, Sherlock marvels at the new friend he has gained and the friendship he has strengthened. And John wonders whether Sherlock has learnt something profound today. He wonders, too, if Sherlock himself has been saved. And maybe, just maybe, the great man is turning into a good one.

The End

"Teach us to care and not to care, teach us to sit still." - T S Eliot