Back in the main lab, everyone but John had gathered around Sherlock in concern. The drug should have worn off by now and he should have been waking up. Doctor Blankenship was more than concerned that he hadn't regained consciousness yet. He and the others were working on him whilst Mycroft stood nearby and watched. They were desperate to find an explanation for his continued non-responsiveness.
For his part John sat off to the side, basking in the strange euphoric feeling that had overtaken him. He couldn't find it in himself to be worried. The constant bombardment of his heightened senses seemed to have been dulled and he didn't feel so overwhelmed by everthing anymore. He felt almost normal again.
The doctor closed his eyes and let himself slip into Sherlock's Mind Palace, wondering if it had changed as well. It had. It felt warmer somehow, more cozy, and standing there beside the fireplace was Sherlock. He looked as if he'd been waiting on John rather impatiently. "Have I made you up or is that really you?" the doctor asked. The detective had to be a figment of his imagination, didn't he? But he knew he wasn't.
"Don't be an idiot, John. Of course it's me." Sherlock moved towards him and grasped him by the elbow. "You've suspected on a subconscious level that I was here for quite some time. I don't know how or why I came to be here, I can only speculate. Perhaps it was the drugs severing an already tenuous connection to your body, perhaps there's a built in time limit and you'll find yourself pulled back to your own body soon. For now, it means we're both here. I need you to stay in here, in my Mind Palace. Perhaps I can leave it and resume control of my body. I'll be able to assist in getting you back home." He could explain his theory to Mycroft and set things in motion.
The doctor blinked, trying to process the rapid fire flow of words. Oh yes, this was definitely Sherlock. Finally, he nodded. "Alright." He shook off Sherlock's hand and grabbed the detective by the arms. "But not until you explain that room." He had to know if it meant what he hoped it did.
"There's no time!" Sherlock complained, trying to pull away. He didn't want to talk about the room and what it meant. He didn't want to drive a wedge between him and John. He had to have time to think of an excuse, to come up with plausible deniability. If he admitted that he loved John...
"We have time," the doctor insisted. "And I think I know, anyway. I just need to hear it from your, erm, lips." Yeah, be that in words or another form of communication.
The detective shook his head. "I don't know what you're talking about. Yes, I know the room, but it's just a repository for memories, nothing more. It doesn't mean... Umph."
John had closed the short distance between them and pressed their lips together in a kiss. In that moment, Sherlock was lost and he kissed back. When they broke apart, the doctor asked, "Is that what it means?"
"I... Yes, John, yes." Sherlock stood there in his Mind Palace with John, completely dazed.
The doctor smiled. "Good. Now go do what you need to do. I'll be waiting here. When I'm me again, we're going to talk and more than talk, if you're amenable."
Sherlock nodded again, coming back to himself. Grinning broadly, he kissed John. "I'll see you soon." With that, he emerged into the real world.
Sherlock stood and walked over to stand by Mycroft. He cleared his throat. "Brother mine, hello."
The government official's head jerked around. "Sherlock?" he asked incredulously.
"Yes, Mycroft. It's me." Sherlock gave a start when Mycroft sprang forward and hugged him. "Myc?"
The government official pulled away, looking embarrassed. He straightened his jacket and tried to regain his normal, cool composure. Looking back over at John's body, he frowned. "If you're back in your body, what has happened to John?"
The detective tapped his temple. "He's still in here. With me." He needed him back in his own body so they could have that talk.
Mycroft's eyebrow rose in surprise. "Interesting. Is he aware?"
"He is. John is currently in my Mind Palace so that I can maintain control of my body." Sherlock tone grew urgent. "Mycroft, I have a couple of theories as to how I got back. The most likely is that the act of drugging John's body severed my attachment to it. I suggest that the doctor use the same drug on this body. It should release its hold on John's awareness and let it return to his own body."
"I don't know..." The government official hesitated. "What if you return to his body instead or worse, what if we lose you." He was loathe to risk it.
"You won't. Besides, things can't continue as they are." Sherlock grasped his brother by the arm. "I know it will work. You have to trust me, Mycroft." He willed Mycroft to agree.
"Alright, baby brother. I'll make it happen." He waded into the group of people surrounding John's body and got their attention. In a manner far calmer than he felt, Mycroft explained what had happened and what was about to happen next. Complete silence filled the room as everyone turned to look at Sherlock.