~5 days Later 8:45 am~

Sherlock never really gave his doctor an explanation but after a quick few chats with Lestrade and Mycroft, John soon figured it out for himself.

"Sherlock... This is the second time that there's been a head in the fridge."

They had moved into a flat together and Sherlock didn't see a need to spare him of his most gruel experiments. First there was an ear that John had thrown out. Wrong decision. But after awhile the body parts in the fridge became a daily occurrence and for the time being he could tolerate it.

"It's for an experiment John. Of all people you should know that."

John sighed and closed the fridge. Seriously this guy can too much sometimes.

"Well yes I do know that but seriously, you have enough pounds. Go buy a separate mini fridge. I don't want to wake up one morning to an ear in my cereal."

Sherlock was done arguing. He had already closed his eyes and sat in his 'thinking chair'. John knew he wouldn't change his ways but it was worth a try. After fixing two teas he went over to the couch and before sitting down quickly gave Sherlock his mug.

John was still upset but he was still a decent man. Whenever he made tea he made sure that whomever else was in the room was at least offered some. Sherlock seemed to be in his mind state so John didn't even bother asking.

~20 min later~

After finishing the latest entry to his blog, John had realized that he reached the bottom of his mug. He sighed and went to go retrieve some more but was stopped by an outstretched foot.

He raised his eyebrow at the silent detective. Sherlock still seemed to be in his mind place but he had at some point finished the tea John had made earlier.

Chuckling, John took the mug and shuffled over to the pot. He figured Sherlock was still stuck over their current case which involved two men, a shotgun wound to one's head barely missing the most vital parts, and the other being absolutely ripped to shreds.

Scotland Yard got there first thanks to heavy traffic, keeping John and Sherlock from professionally analyzing the scene, meaning the crime scene was severely tampered with. With things left and right placed in little plastic evidence baggies, Sherlock was no less than fuming when he discovered what they had done.

He practically called all of Scotland Yard 'Misguided idiots that need to reconsider a job that didn't require a minimum amount of intelligence'. John had hard time holding back a laugh at that one.

A smile still plastered at his lips, John began pouring the steaming water into the two mugs. His mind was elsewhere as he accidentally overfilled his own cup.

"Bloody hell!" The boiling water spilled over the edge of the table as well as all over his hand. He quickly set down the kettle, almost dropping it in the process.

The initial heat had subsided but his skin was still on fire and aching. He knew that it would hurt even more later if he didn't treat it then.

Turning to leave the kitchen John was surprised to see Sherlock already prepared with a medical kit in and.

"Oh John, can't handle the heat can we?" His smirk shone through and John was caught off guard. It was a playful and almost teasing one that John had never seen before. Sherlock usually only smirked after lowering the self esteem of Lestrade or anyone that got in his way.

John caught himself after a quick sideways glance by Sherlock. Quickly walking over to Sherlock he sat down, still holding his injured hand with his other.

"Sherlock it's only a slight burn, don't worry it's not even that- BLOODY HELL SHERLOCK WHAT THE HELL?!"

Without warning Sherlock grabs his doctor's hand and applied a strange substance to it. Definitely not Aloe Vera or a burn salve. It had a glossy appearance and a thick slimy texture.

Sherlock, deep in thought and concentration, gently rubbed the substance thoroughly over the wound. John had subconsciously tried to pull his hand back after being startled but found his hand firmly held by Sherlock.

"Sherlock...?" John was starting to get weird sensations down his arms. The solution was generously applied and already worked in and yet Sherlock continued to work it in with every slight swipe of his delicate fingers.

John gave up trying to grab the attention of the detective and worked instead on trying to figure out why Sherlock was being so gentle. With a blush, John realized that that was the first time he had ever seen that side of Sherlock. This was getting too confusing.

"Sherlock... What exactly is that?"

Sherlock looked up with a devious grin. 'Oh this is not going to be good' thought John.

"My latest experiment of course. Does this look like Aloe Vera to you?"

"What?!" John tries to pull back his hand, any experiment done by Sherlock was never good news. "Sherlock!"

"John stay still I want to see if it works. You should be honored I chose you to be my first test subject." John wasn't really Sherlock's first test subject, he had already tested and regularly used the salve himself. He just liked to get a reaction out of him.

"At least tell me what it's supposed to do!"

Sherlock ignored John and instead grabbed his hand with both of his slender fingers and used his thumbs to massage the area. John could not believe this man.

John's eyes widened in surprise. He didn't notice before but his burn no longer hurt. It was as if it never happened. He put down his wall and stopped straining, with an intake of breath he realized that the pain had dissipated just as soon as it had appeared.

John looked at Sherlock in surprise but Sherlock was still at it. Rubbing tenderly at his hand.

It was as if Sherlock himself were in a trance. His fingers soon found a rhythm and never left it. He would swipe with his left thumb and simultaneously rub with his right. Switching between the two as if he were tending to something very dear to him.

After awhile John's hand began to numb from all the rubbing, just as he was about to complain Sherlock released him.

John peered down at his hand and saw that there wasn't even a mark left behind. Whatever kind of salve it was, it had worked. His hand was practically brand new.

"Wow Sherlock... Where'd you get this stuff?"

Sherlock shifted in his seat, he looked bored again and almost uncomfortable at that moment.

Looking away he began putting his utensils away before muttering, "Made it myself. Now try not to get that anywhere near your mouth, it is still a working progress."

John whispered "Wow..." and took out a self adhering wrap as a safety precaution to whatever negative effects the salve could have on him.

"It's not something to wow about John. I am a chemist." Sherlock took notice of John's struggle to wrap himself one-handed. After a disappointing loss against the wrap, John looked to Sherlock for help with a teasing pout.

Without hesitation Sherlock took the band from John and placed John's hand on his thigh getting to work. John was at the least a bit uncomfortable but it was manageable and almost pleasant.

"I would've thought that after being a doctor for your amount of years that you'd be able to bandage yourself by now."

"Easy for you to say. I was just subjected to a mysterious substance that I still don't know the properties of and now I'm being wrapped because you don't either."

Sherlock scowled. Not liking the comment he pulled the bandage hard and cut the end. John sighed, even though they lived together he noticed that they barely interact other than when Sherlock calls him to go to a crime scene.

John didn't hate him but he didn't enjoy the man's devious and slightly rude personality. He had a hard time questioning any victims or suspects as they were all at fault to him which he had come to see very fast.

Sherlock got up and went to the bathroom to wash his hands. Before he got a chance to take any more steps though, John grabbed his hand and stopped him. He wanted to remember this moment but at the time didn't totally understand why.

Sherlock's slightly widened eyes caught John by surprise. The cool grey eyes had an almost hypnotic effect on him. He got lost in his eyes and almost forgot why he had grabbed for the man in the first place.

"I- Thank you... For helping me I mean..."

Sherlock waved his hand back as if saying, 'It was nothing'.

Despite his nonchalant reaction to the situation, Sherlock was in an inner turmoil. His mind working faster than it had ever worked before. He quickly shuffled to his room to try to escape the reason he was acting that way.

He locked himself in his room and covered his face with his hands, breathing hard. Carefully, he stepped over to his small mirror he had in the corner of the room as he had no real concern for appearance.

He analyzed himself which was a change.

There was a faint redness to his warm cheeks as well as his ears. He checked his heart rate and found it almost concerning how fast it was pulsing through his veins.

In a last effort he looked at his eyes...

Dilated. Of course...