CHAPTER EIGHT

John turned to head back to his room but couldn't quite face Sherlock just yet so made his way down the stairs. Percival's cryptic remark weighing on his mind.

"I'll be there for New Year. - Of course they don't know…."

John frowned at the overheard conversation. He couldn't place the voice. Sneaking quietly up to the door and peered around the corner.

Leo stood with his back to the door, a phone pressed to his ear. John continued to listen to the secret phone call.

"Yes, I have the package. - I will call you when my flight lands. - I have to go become someone comes looking for me."

John rushed away from the door confused at what he'd heard. Walking at a pace into the large lounge. He came to a halt at the sight of Anna playing with her baby. John instantly felt sympathetic and guilt. Anna was a nice girl who did deserve to be lied to. - none of the Holmes family did.

"Hello John." she smiled up at his entrance. "Look Mickey, it's uncle John…." she said in a baby voice. "I think uncle John and uncle Locky have had a fight, yes I do." anna pouted at the baby, who seemed to girgle in agreement.

John gave a blushed smile and took a seat on the hard sofa watching the young mother and child.

"He never means it you know. - well, he does mean it, but not out of spite."

"Huh - what?"

"The thing with the gift. Sherlock has always been one to speak with out thinking… surely you've noticed that by now?"

"Huh, yeah." he should remember that.

From the moment he'd met the world only consulting detective he'd noticed his inability to think. Sherlock would simply say whatever came to mind without taking into consideration those around him. Sherlock may be a crime solving genius, he could tell the brand of cigarettes simply by the ash but he could not tell when to keep his mouth closed. He could not see how telling a girl that she's put on weight or that they guy she was dating was gay might be seen as heartless. He called everyone an idiot. So was it really that unusable for Sherlock to scorn the gifts he'd been given?

"He still shouldn't have said it." John sighed.

Anna shrugged. "Honestly I only brought the thing to get a rise out of him." she chuckled. "…we all do. I guess you could say it's another of our family traditions. How can get Sherlock the worst present."

John smirked at that. It seemed he wasn't the only one who enjoyed pushing Sherlock's buttons when at all possible.

"You know he was a lot nicer this year." Anna announced turning her attention to him. "And I think that's because of you. - Mycroft's right, your good for him."

"I doubt that."

"I don't." Anna gave him a warm thankful smile. "I hope you two can make it up. I'd hate to see Sherlock fall back to his…. Old ways."

"Old ways?" John frowned, shifting forward on the seat.

"It's really not my place to say…" Anna blushed. "…but I will say that you should keep an eye on Jacob. - Our parents don't know about him and Sherlock or what happened between them, but I do. I know that's why Sherlock stayed away. - But now he has you and he's back. I would hate to lose him again."

John watched Anna's pretty face mellow at the idea of losing the brother she so clearly idolised. He hated having to lie to her and the rest of the family. They had welcomed him with open arms. It was far of him, Sherlock and Mycroft to lead them astray like this. They had to come clean… but coming clean would put Sherlock at risk of falling back in with Jacob and with Anna, Mycroft and his own instincts telling him that wouldn't be a good idea, he knew he had little option but to continue wearing the mask.

He lifted his gaze as Leo strolled causally strolled in. John may not be able to tell Anna and the family the truth about him and Sherlock, but discovering what Leo was up to was the least he could do. He needed to speak to Sherlock about his step-brother in law. - and maybe even apologies… a little.

"I'll leave you to it." John said getting to his feet.

Anna gave his a knowing smile. "See you later."

~ SHERLOCK ~

Sherlock lay on the bed with his eyes closed and the sleeve of his white silk shirt rolled up. Three nicotine patches adoring his pale forearm. If he was going to get through to day he needed to relax and calm himself.

"that looks comfy."

Sherlock's eyes flew up and he shot up right to meet Jacob's smile as the man stood watching him from the foot of the bed. Swallowing he forced himself to be calm. He was Sherlock Holmes for god sake. "Jacob, what can I do for you?"

Jacob shrugged nonchalantly and began to stole around the room. "We haven't really had any alone time. - Thought we could catch up."

Sherlock watched him lift the jumper John had worn yesterday off the back of a chair.

"At least you have a way of disposing of Anna's present. It looks like it would suit your friend's taste."

Where Sherlock spoke without thinking, there for not meaning insult, Jacob most certainly thought about every word that left his lips and the impact of them.

Sherlock's face hardened at the insult of John's dress sense but was unable to voice a retort. It was a common side effect of being in the same room with Jacob and he hated himself for it.

Climbing off the bed Sherlock stormed towards Jacob, snatching John ugly brown jumper out of his former lovers grasp. Folding it neatly - well, as neat as Sherlock was capable of being. - he placed it on the window seat. When he turned back he saw Jacob's intrigued features.

"Aren't we suddenly the domestic goddess. - doesn't suit you Sherlly." his voice grew husky as he took a step towards the detective. "…though I like the idea of you scrubbing my floors."

Sherlock swallowed at the image that filled his mind, his gaze locking with the other man's. He could feel the pull of those green eyes and the promise of firm lips. It had been so long since he'd kissed anyone, so long since he'd had any physical contact. He told himself and everyone else, over and over that he was past such base desires but the truth was he wasn't.

He missed knowing someone was always there when you needed them, he missed the feeling of another persons touch whether out of comfort or desire. - he missed sex.

Sherlock's jaw tightened and his flesh grew warm as he prepared t give in to that pull. He saw the humour and challenge in Jacob's eyes but couldn't bring himself to care. He just wanted to feel wanted again.

"Sherlock I thing there's something…"

"Sherlock leapt away from Jacob with a guilty blush on his well defined cheeks. His eyes focused on John as the doctor stood motionless in the doorway. The intense moment seemed to drag out for eternity, until John finally cleared his throat and spoke.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt." his tome hard and regimental. "When your free Sherlock I'd like to talk to you about something." with that John turned on his heels and marched in a very military style down the hall.

Sherlock silently groaned. He felt guilty, though there was no real reason to. It wasn't like he and John were actually together. But the guilt was there all the same and if there was one thing Sherlock hated more than being wrong, it was feeling guilty.

"Well, that was awkward." Jacob smirked at the now vacant doorway.

"Goodbye Jacob." Sherlock snapped before walking past him. "I am not available any longer, please remember that and stay away from me."

"Oh come on Sherlly, I can see you still want me."

Sherlock sent him a cold glare before walking out of his room and going after his flat-mate.

A/N: Thanks for reading, reviewing and faving. :D