Why is this so much fun to write? I absolutely love it! Perhaps it's because it's John and he's a dog, and the fact that both are undeniably adorable...

Anyway, enjoy loves!

This story was inspired by ausherlock's Little Companion story collection

Disclaimer: Still own nothing.

Footsteps pounded up the stairs.

"Sherlock, I've got something you'll love. Double homicide. This one...what the hell is that?"

Sherlock turned from the window and lowered his violin to find Lestrade looking down at John, who was chewing on a rawhide bone across the room, with a look of complete incomprehension.

Sherlock rolled his eyes, "Come now, Lestrade. Even you aren't idiotic enough to not recognize a dog when you see one."

Lestrade simply gaped at him, "But it's in your flat!"

"Your powers of deduction never cease to amaze me, please do go on."

John looked up from his treat as the two humans exchanged words. Judging by the way his alpha seemed relaxed, if not excited, at the presence of the new human, he figured the other man was a packmate.

John licked his chops and got up to greet Lestrade, tail wagging and ears flattened to signal his friendly intention.

Sherlock looked over at the sound of John's claw clicks on the floor. He found himself slightly proud when he noticed the dog trotted over to the two with noticeably less of a limp than he'd had the past week, although it was still bad enough to hinder his walk.

He sniffed at the Detective Inspector's pant's leg eagerly, and looked up at Lestrade in an endearing way, silently begging to be pet.

Sherlock didn't know why, he had pet the dog just two hours ago. It should have appeased him.

"Lestrade, this is John Watson, recently retired police dog, and my new flat mate. John, this is Detective Inspector Lestrade. Close your mouth, Lestrade, before dust particles accumulate in your teeth."

Lestrade promptly closed his mouth, but kept the dumbfounded look on his face, "You have a dog? What, do you do experiments on the poor thing?"

"Oh, don't be absurd, I do experiments, but they're completely harmless."

"You do know I can charge you for animal abuse if it get's to far, right?"

Sherlock groaned and put his violin down on the sofa, "Oh God! Are you really going to give me a lecture on that? Of all things? I told you they're harmless, it's just calculating changes in his coat texture when he eats different food. Eggs produce the softest fur, by the way. Just changes in the environment. I'm not injecting him full of nitric acid, if that's what you're implying."

Lestrade seemed to contemplate arguing back for a moment, before closing his eyes and shaking his head. Sherlock just barely caught the muttered words, "Just when I think I know you."

Sherlock deftly narrowed his eyes at the graying inspector, "What was that?"

"Nothing," Lestrade finally brought his attention down to the mutt at his feet, he smiled and bent down to scratch John behind the ears.

"Hi there John, wow, you're a handsome boy aren't you? I bet all the ladies adore you. It's too bad you have to live with grumpy ole Sherlock."

John's tongue rolled out of his mouth and his tail thumped against the floor in delight. He moved forward and licked Lestrade on the nose.

"He's a dog, Lestrade, he doesn't understand what you're saying."

The detective inspector laughed, "Well he's a good dog, if anything."

Lestrade stopped petting John, but the dog must have enjoyed it because he pawed at Lestrade and let out a small, low howl.

Lestrade laughed, and Sherlock noted the sound in his mind and crossed off potential breeds in John's lineage, "Hm…definitely Siberian Husky or Alaskan Malamute."

Lestrade bend down again pulled John against his leg to give the pup a good rundown.

"I think he likes me better."

"Don't be absurd, he probably just has fleas and you scratched the right spot."

"You're just jealous that your dog likes me more."

"Didn't you come here to tell me something about a case?"

"Oh, right! Double homicide twelve blocks down the road. The victim's eyes, ears, and nose have all been removed from the body, no sign of forced entry. Will you come?"

Sherlock was already reaching for his scarf, "You go on ahead, I'll be there in five minutes."

Lestrade looked down at John, looking reluctant to leave the creature, "…You said he was a police dog."

"No, he's not coming."

Lestrade furrowed his brow at the answer, "Well…why not?"

"Do you not see the limp? The stitching on his shoulder? If he went out now he'd wreck it and we'd be starting all over again. I've scheduled an appointment with a veterinarian to get him an assessment for next week-"

"You mean your landlady told you to."

Sherlock turned back from where he was gathering his coat and scarf, "Don't you have a crime scene to be at? I think Anderson will probably be wandering around, staring at the sky in confusion, judging by how long you've been here."

Lestrade looked at John, feeling let down at the abrupt dismissal, "Fine. See you soon, John. Maybe you'll keep your master in line for us when he brings you on cases."

Lestrade walked out the door, and John made to follow before Sherlock held his foot out to stop him.

"Not yet, I know the danger appeals to your predatory instincts, but not yet. I can't have you slowing me down when I run after criminals. Now go back to your animal skin treat. I'll be back shortly….maybe. If not call for Mrs. Hudson."

John looked up at Sherlock, tongue rolling out of his mouth in a goofy dog grin.

"And don't make that expression, it's pathetic."

John licked at his hand once and went back to his bone, stopping in the middle of the living room to scratch under his forearm.

Sherlock turned to him, "John, if you would refrain from shedding on the carpet, please."

He heard Lestrade's distant call, "He's a dog, Sherlock, he doesn't understand what you're saying!"

"Shut up!'