Title: Making the Connection
Story Summary: A non-chronological collection of short chapters based on one word prompts, includes (pre-)slash for Johnlock & Mystrade
Chapter Summary: Sherlock takes John with him when he conducts an experiment, one that Mycroft would not approve of. Prompt: Trunk
Disclaimer: Everything belongs to Moffat, Gatiss & SACD.
A/N: And as most of the time the prompt came from oneword(dot)com, if you'd like to prompt me you can do so in a review or a PM.
Sherlock had been bored all afternoon since he had solved their last case at nine o'clock this morning. While John had turned his notes on the case in a blog entry his flatmate stood right behind him, peeking over his shoulder the entire time, mocking his choice of words and punctuation.
Shortly after dusk had fallen over the city Sherlock put on his coat, took his Leatherman from the mantelpiece and tightened his scarf around his neck.
"Do you want to come along for a walk in the park?", he asked.
"Sure, why not. Maybe we can pick up some dinner on our way home?" His friend suggested as he put on his own jacket.
The light in the park was dim, but the night air was mild. John's fingers nervously tapped on the heel of his hand when he followed Sherlock off the path into the little forest-like group of trees. "Sherlock, we are not taking a walk, are we?"
"Very well observed, John." He took out his multi tool knife. "We are here to conduct an experiment."
John groaned but took the torch that Sherlock held out to him. "What kind of experiment?"
"It's a long-term study which gives me the data I need to tell at what exact time something was carved into the bark of different kinds of trees." He popped up the knife of his Leatherman. John automatically raised the torch to enable Sherlock and himself to see exactly what he was doing.
After a few moments he realised what his friend was carving. "Sherlock! You can't write that!"
"It's a precaution John. I can hardly leave my own initials here." He smirked while he gave his experiment the finishing touches. He took a step back and seemed to be rather pleased with himself.
Scratched in the tree trunk were the initials MH and GL, framed by a heart.
"You better hope that your brother doesn't find out that you go around mutilating public property like that", John hissed to Sherlock as they stepped back onto the path and continued their walk, but the grin on his face betrayed his words.