Sherlock's POV
He enjoys the welcome home dinner, finds the banter fun, and is surprisingly comfortable in his own skin. When they get done eating and visiting, he rides home with his brother. It's an over all good night.

He doesn't realize how exhausted he was until he wakes up and checks his phone, startled to discover that he slept for nearly sixteen hours, it's nearly seven pm. Stretching, he gets out of bed and grabs a change of clothes before getting a quick shower. He wants to talk with John about them, their friendship and if it could be something more. He wants it to be something more so very much.

Once he is ready, he sends a quick text to his brother, mostly so not to panic Mycroft, before leaving the flat and flagging down the first cab he sees. Absently he rattles off the clinics address and spends the ride staring out the window as he calls to mind what each street and alley they pass or drive on.

"Thanks," he mutters as he pays the man before heading to the door and pressing the doorlight. It's after business hours so he uses the side door, the one closer to the back and the stairs to John's flat.

Just a little after two minutes have passed, his friend opens the door, a questioning look on his face until their eyes meet.

—Hello Sherlock, come in,—John greets him warmly, —I wasn't actually expecting you today, figured you'd spend it resting and getting back into the flow of things.—

He grins, replying, —I slept all day, but I really wanted to talk to you.—

They don't say anything else as they head upstairs to the flat above the clinic.

—Tea?— his friend queries before turning towards the small kitchen area.

—Please,— he agrees with a smile. He loves John's tea more than anyone else he knows.

While the blonde makes their drinks, he prowls around the living room before finally settling on the sofa. He's hoping that John will sit beside him rather than in one of the armchairs, but doesn't know at this point. John's one of the few people who sometimes confuses him when he tries to understand what's going on. Mostly because the doctor doesn't do what's expected most the time.

A few minutes later the shorter man brings their teas out, setting them on the coffee table and settling beside him on the sofa.

—What do you want to talk about?— John asks curiously, watching him with those intelligent slate colored eyes.

—Will you date me?— he practically blurts.

That seems to startle his friend who just blinks at him in shock for what seems like forever rather than answering. Shit, he's just ruined their friendship. He didn't want to ruin their friendship, he wanted something more. Why is he such an idiot when it comes to emotions?

"Sherlock," John's rough voice cuts through the panic and thoughts racing circles in his mind.

Not looking up at his friend he mutters, "Yeah?" before remembering the fact John is deaf, and blushing for doing something so silly.

It takes him several long moments to get his thoughts at least a little bit under control before he looks up, —Yes John?—

—We're friends, that's not going to change. But you have to understand, at least for now, there can't be anything else.— The blonde explains gently, expression open and sincere.

—Why?— he demands, not liking that answer, because what has he done wrong now?

—That, for one thing,— John replies, —You're still a teenager, with the moods to match. You were my patient not event five months ago. And someone recovering from an addiction should take at least a year without making any really big emotional changes in their life. Because if those changes fail, they can make it too easy to fall back into bad habits.—

—That won't happen to me, we'd be brilliant together. You actually listen to me and pay attention and care.— He retorts almost pleading.

—It can happen to anyone Sherlock. So no, I will not date you at this time. If in the future after you've turned twenty you want to discuss it again,— the shorter man pauses for a moment as if finding exactly the right words. —If you want to discuss it then, I would be more than willing to do so. I appreciate our friendship and don't want to lose it. Can we be friends?—

It's his turn to pause and think of the right words. He wants to argue the point, but it strikes him that would be proving John's point. He doesn't want to just be a teenager. He wants to prove that he's more mature than that. That means he has to respect John's decision even though he doesn't like it. he wants to stay friends too but will they actually stay friends or will things get awkward between them because he asked John out?

Absently, he worries his lower lip as he thinks about the points made. He's known others who have gone through rehab and therapy, they've all been told no new major relationships too. So he's not sure why he's in shock. He shouldn't be in shock. John's a good doctor, a good doctor would do the healthy and safe thing, and that means no dating.

Nodding, he blinks a few times and looks around when he doesn't immediately see John.

—I made you fresh tea since the other one got cold,— the blonde tells him after setting the mugs down.

—Thank you,— he replies. —I was thinking about what you said. I don't like it, but you're right.—

John smiles at him warmly, —Thank you.—

—Thank you?— he repeats, confused because that definitely wasn't the reaction he was expecting.

—Yes, thank you.— His friend repeats, then explains —You could have pitched a fit, you could have decided you didn't want to be friends any more, you could have gotten sad about this, you could have refused to think about it from any perspective besides your own. Instead you took the time to think it through and decided to accept my answer.—

"Oh," he mutters, he hadn't thought of it quite like that. —You're welcome.— Almost hesitantly he asks, —You're not mad at me are you?—

—Of course not,— John answers, —You asked politely, you thought about the answer I gave you, you stopped yourself from throwing a bit of a strop.—

—I'm not stroppy.— he retorts, he would have grumbled it if they weren't using sign language.

Grinning, John just shakes his head. —Why don't you tell me about your time in Florida? What all you did and the people you met and the things you observed.—

He nods, launching into describing everything starting with the first day they were there. He has close to four months worth of information to share. He hadn't wanted to talk about it too much last night because there was too many people, but maybe John will appreciate hearing all about it. Has John been to Florida? He'll have to ask, later, not right now, right now he's busy going on about the minor cases he solved. He'll get to the big one, the Hudson case, here in a bit.

If nothing else, he's still got his friend, besides, it's only seven months until his birthday, he can wait that long easily. Gotta have patients sometimes for an experiment to work, this is no different.

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This is the second to last chapter