AN: Sorry for the delay RL got in the way, I do dislike allergies and head colds. Love for all of you who have read, reviewed, favorited, and story alerted.
Disclaimer: Still don't own...
SH/JW
He had touched John. He couldn't help it either. He stared down at his hand, it still didn't feel like it was real. He had only meant to talk to John and set out clear ground rules, but it seems that the other man had been ready for that and already had rules ready for him. Why couldn't this be easy? He sank back into his chair and let his hands rest on the chair's arms, his eyes raised to the ceiling. He had been ready for arguments and stubbornness, not a smiling acceptance of rules that John already knew, but that he himself did not. He was so far out of his depth that he didn't know where to go from here. Maybe he should just accept it.
But…
Mycroft had always said that caring was not an advantage. He had always told him that it didn't do to get attached to people, because all they would do was break your heart. That sentiment was a defect found in the losing side.
But…
John was always there to tell him when things were a 'bit not good' or when he should care. For John caring was never about an advantage, he just did. Even before Irene Adler, John had taken care of him for no other reason but that he cared.
Maybe…
He supposed that maybe, just maybe, John might be right and Mycroft wrong. Maybe sometimes caring was okay. It was what had driven him to search so hard for John over the last six months. It was what had driven him to accept help from Greg the day after the kidnapping while he was still fighting off the effects of the sedative that Irene Adler had dosed him with.
Oh yes that day…
He had lost focus for a moment secure in his victory, but it was just long enough for that woman to jab a sedative filled needle into his arm. He had lost more than just her phone in that moment of distraction, he had lost John too. He had lain there helpless with John kneeling over him. As he was fighting for consciousness, he had seen her coming up behind his friend with one of the CIA operatives guns in her hand. All he could do was try to say John's name, but it hadn't been enough. Not nearly enough.
'Come with me you're my insurance.'
She had rushed his friend out of the room as he lay there desperately trying to stay awake and get up off of the floor in order to give chase. Greg had come and hadn't left him there unable to help. He had held Sherlock in his arms as he had lost consciousness. The Detective Inspector had also gotten him the medical aid he had needed and had gotten him home and into his own bed. He had watched over the flat the whole night as well, not that it had done any good.
Adler had come to him as he had lain there in his bed and had spoken to him, words that even now he had trouble remembering clearly. But aside from a few words, it was mostly just the impression of her visit that remained. But, she hadn't returned the most important thing… John.
'Hush now. Don't worry. I'll take good care of him. It's okay. I'm only returning your coat.'
He knew why he was so distraught over John being taken, how can he not. His heart had gotten involved with John. Unlike what many believed, love was not a total mystery to him. Just because he had never… he did understand the chemistry of it.
Like just a bit ago when he had touched John, oh how wonderful and terrifying a feeling. His pulse had been racing and he had felt like he wasn't getting enough air, all clear signs that he was attracted to his blogger. He would even go so far as to say that he was in love with the man, but he wasn't sure of that himself. This was new. Or maybe it wasn't. The panic he had felt when he had seen John strapped into a vest covered in Semtex back at that pool at the end of last March, and the even greater panic he had felt when the CIA operative had been about to kill John back in September… how could he have missed it. And yesterday at the petrol station…
He breathed out a sigh as he pulled his feet up and wrapped his arms around his legs. With a bit of effort he lifted his head and rested his chin on his knees.
Yesterday. Yesterday was dangerous. If Mycroft or Moriarty ever found out… but they didn't know where he was now. He let a soft smile lift his lips. He wasn't Sherlock Holmes any more now was he...
Mycroft was getting what he deserved. Let him spend the rest of his life worrying over what had become of his little brother and dealing with the fallout from Moriarty finding out that he was gone. What a happy Spring this was going to be. And maybe he would let his heart out to play now that he had the freedom to acknowledge it.
SH/JW
AH2: Regular update will go up as scheduled for Saturday... Cookies for all.