*Dedicated to Janie17! keep the suggestions coming, this was a really good one! pt 1
It wasn't the first time they had argued. It wasn't even the second, or the third. No, their relationship was founded on disagreement that lead to progression for both men. Generally, Sherlock did something wrong, John tried to explain, Sherlock would sulk, John would get angry, both men would yell. But after a cool down period, the partners would come back together to discuss why each of them was wrong, and their relationship would continue ahead, stronger for the new understandings between the two. Arguing was nothing new.
But this time was different.
This time, Sherlock pushed John to the edge, to the very brink, and John wasn't quite sure if he could stop himself from toppling over. This time could have ended them both, and it all started with a near ending of Sherlock.
The case had been going on for a week. Due to a miscommunication, the partners in solving crime had arrived at the scene only to find the scene wrapped up. All the evidence had been bagged and tagged, the body moved, and agents mostly gone. Sherlock had calmly whipped out his phone and called Lestrade. Despite Lestrade's apologies, Sherlock had been rather cross with him, and made several demands-which were quickly fulfilled- that included full access to the evidence, photographs, body, etc. However, this could bot make up for firsthand visuals of the crime scene that Sherlock so desperately wanted.
Sherlock did his best with what he was given, but there was something missing. Some crucial piece of evidence that he required to fully understand. It was driving him insane. By the end of the week, he had finally deduced where he could find the information-after no sleep for five whole days- and run off, by himself, to pursue the information. When John realized where he had gone, he rushed right after his boyfriend- yes they had officially progressed to this stage. Sherlock had run off to a warehouse that was flagged as suspicious for gang activity. He had gone alone, and unarmed. John was furious. Single handedly, John fought his way through no less than twenty gang members, found the room where the gang leader was holding Sherlock, rescued his drugged boyfriend, and escaped. He managed to sustain very minimal injury, and got Sherlock back to their flat- where, John was embarrassed to admit, a drugged Sherlock had coerced him into some rather fantastic sex.
The fight started the next morning-well, afternoon really, as Sherlock slept for a long time under the effects of drugs and pure exhaustion- when Sherlock fell into his regular chair at the kitchen table. John had been up for a bit, and had tea ready to serve. So he placed a cuppa in front of Sherlock, took one for himself, and sat down across from Sherlock. John didn't say a word, just sipped his tea with one eye brow raised.
Sherlock was oblivious at first; he seemed rather intent on his tea. Finally, h glanced up and caught sight of John's face. He groaned before saying "I suppose you want me to apologize for running off yesterday."
"That would be a good start, yeah," John replied, "but you need to do more than apologize, Sherlock. You need to change. What you did yesterday was just plain stupid. No matter how frustrated you were, you should have asked for backup. I care about you, I don't want to see you get hurt." Sherlock just rolled his eyes.
"John," Sherlock groaned, "I am a grown man, I do not need help. I don't need people. Furthermore, I am who and what I am, nobody can change me."
John was rather taken aback. When Sherlock said he didn't need people, John thought that it obviously included him. I thought we are in a relationship. That means we take care of each other, help each other. Not necessarily need each other, albeit, but still trust each other enough to help each other. Also, change is good, we should want to change for each other. I changed in a big way for him, why can't he make this little change for me? John thought. These thoughts only served to make John more and more angry.
"Oh, I see then. You don't love me enough to change for me. Not even a little. Don't need people, guess that includes me. If you don't need me, then fine, I'll leave" John shouted. He stormed upstairs before Sherlock could muster another word. John had let his anger get the best of him, and now needed to get out of the flat. He grabbed his emergency duffle and stormed back down the stairs and out of his and Sherlock's flat. He stormed out into the pleasant afternoon, not knowing where he was going, or caring for that matter. He was just so angry and confused. He really thought Sherlock had loved him, but if this was the case, why had Sherlock been so adamantly opposed to making a small change for John? Why had he said what he had?
John's head was swimming with questions that he couldn't answer, so his feet lead him to the one place he could always go for advice. His mom, Janie Watson.