The next time Sherlock noticed that something is not quite alright with his flatmate they are running at full speed through Soho. John never normally has any problem keeping up with Sherlock but this time he is lagging behind and when Sherlock, forced to give up the chase as he can no longer deduce in which direction the suspect has disappeared, finally stops he notices the strain on John's face.
'You're in pain, what happened?' he asks searching his memory of the past few days trying to find any obvious reason why John is panting and clutching at his side.
'It's nothing, just a stitch.' John straightens up forcing himself not to wince and Sherlock does not believe him for a second.
Half an hour later as they are entering the flat Sherlock made his move. 'You're getting out of shape…' he says and playfully pokes a finger into John's side. 'Ow' John exclaims flinching away from Sherlock. He glowers at Sherlock but knows he has been beaten.
'Show me.' Sherlock states firmly leaving no room for argument and with a sigh John slips his sweater off and starts to unbutton his shirt. 'It looks worse than it is, honestly' John is clearly awkward as he slips out of his shirt to reveal his bruised skin to Sherlock's examining gaze.
Several bruises Sherlock notes, in various stages of healing. The one on John's side being the largest and most recent. But there are others a blue welt just at the side of John's shoulder. Yellow fingers snaking around John's arms, those must be old and there is slight swelling to John's elbow, almost invisible but Sherlock is perceptive. 'Laura.' He states and John's eyebrows go up 'You remembered her name, nice to know that using me as her personal punching bag makes her more memorable than my other girlfriends'
There is irony in John's voice but Sherlock does not laugh.
'Any broken ribs? Did you have them x-rayed?' he asks prodding slightly at John's bruised side.
'No, they're not broken, just bruised. Yes they hurt but provided I avoid sprinting through London, after thugs it will be fine. It was just the excessive movement that got to me and breathing that deeply isn't a great idea.' John actually smiles and tries to step away.
Sherlock doesn't let him, 'Why do you let her do this to you?' he asks instead as he carefully stops John from getting dressed again, his fingers dust gently over John's exposed skin, tracing the outline of each bruise.
'She's funny, and pretty, and when she's not in one of her black moods she really is very kind' John's words are uncharacteristically quiet. 'She has no other coping mechanism. Her dad beat her and her mum to a pulp when she was little. It's all she knows. She's agreed she needs to see someone. I've tried to find her a therapist, but they've all turned out to be too expensive or not to her liking.' John's voice is a little more solid as he outlines his attempts to help Laura, whom Sherlock is swiftly beginning to rename 'the Harpy' in his own head.
'You have to end this John. Get her help if you feel you need to but don't let her do this to you.' Sherlock's words are stern and forceful and he can feel how John pulls back slightly at his remark.
'We've already talked about it' John's words are hesitant and slightly defensive. 'She was so apologetic when I asked her to stop, but I… I am going to end things… it's just not that easy' Sherlock shakes his head. Unable to really understand where John is coming from but pleased to hear that his friend is planning on ending this clearly disastrous relationship.