so. twice in a blue moon did happen. thank you for your wonderful reviews :D
Josette, if not your encouragement, I would not have tried to write this part, even though I thought about whilst writing John. if not for you, I would not have let the idea form into a story. you gave me an idea and a reason to do this. so thank you for that.
discountdiamond, if not for your kind words, I wouldn't have dared to post this. you gave me faith and courage. thank you for that.

for everyone else, I tried my best. naturally, Sherlock is a bit quicker on things than John. and he thinks a lot more.

I hope they are not too OOC. because I really like them the way they are. writing was fun. I miss it.

without more wasted time, here it is, hope you have good times whilst reading.

Sherlock had been playing the violin and staring out of the window into the street below. So he saw John coming home.

He listened the front door click open and then shut again. When John walked up the steps he was frowning to himself and refused to turn around and greet him.
Absentmindedly he listened John puzzing around before settling in his chair. Without a moment's pause he kept playing. It didn't matter that he had chanced the song as soon as John had stepped into the building, it had not make him loose a tune. But it was a bit annoying. Just because John had once mentioned liking Bach didn't mean he had to always play it when John was around.

Still looking out he slowly ceased playing and lowered the hand with the bow. He was grateful of John, of his impact in his life. It really wasn't that big deal that he would play something for John when the doctor so willingly always strutted with him around London.

And he wasn't exactly bothered by this act of kindness that he was displaying. And that was what made him frown.

He had chanced. Somehow John had replaced drugs in his life. Nowadays the craving that had once made him do his best to loose Mycroft's spies on his tail was a distant throb. Like a mosquito bite. It would occasionally itch if he thought about it but generally it didn't affect him at all.
And John was a bridge between him and other people. It was clear that he was more welcomed to the Yard than he had been without John. What he couldn't deduce was the reason. Was it because Lestrade had noticed that the risk of him showing up high was gone or because John had made people see him as something more than just a freak and a brain with legs.
Because John had unmistakably done that. John thought he was oblivious to the efforts the doctor had, always trying to show people the good sides of him, calling him brilliant and extraordinary. He had gained more respect with John at his heel and less awed fear.

He waved the bow a bit in the air. It wasn't so much that he had chanced after John, it was more about people seeing him differently.
He smirked a bit. No, he didn't mind it. People were less alert now when he was around and that made it so much easier to deduce all useful stuff.

So. Yes, playing something for John wasn't that big sacrifice at all. Especially since it was thanks to John that he didn't need to bother to take more boring cases just so he could afford the rent. And John had also brought a gun with him, allowing him to relieve tension and boredom by shooting the walls.

Of course he was yelled at it, as well as nagged at leaving body parts all over the kitchen but he didn't mind some nagging. Honestly he enjoyed a bit of bickering with John. Why else would he read the doctor's hideous blog unless it was to get him react.
Because John wasn't stupid. He wasn't good at deductions but otherwise he was good. There was certain unique aspect with John, one that would occasionally surprise him and one that he didn't care to pick apart and study. Since it didn't take a mind like his to realize that to probe it would most likely end up with John leaving. And that was the last thing he wanted.

Suddenly John cleared his throat and asked

"You want some tea?"
Having been deep in thought he couldn't quite stop the startled jump at the sudden noise. He had to swallow hard and blink to come to the present moment.

"Yes please" he finally drawled out. He heard John sigh and move onto the kitchen. He didn't turn around.
He liked John's company. He wasn't like the others, trying to change him and make him act more "normal", like it would be a good thing. He liked John. He was someone who gave him a heads up when he was too lost in his head to notice what was going on. As in crime scenes when John told him not to smile so widely. Or at all.

But he was not going to tell John that. There was no need to say it out loud. Just like he didn't need John to tell how much more relax the doctor was when they were alone. It was clear, there was no need to say it.

There were many things that he didn't need to say aloud. He didn't need to apologize to John for always pulling him out of dates or needing him for something trivial like fetching a pen. Since he wasn't really dependent on John help, he had managed just fine alone so far. But he could see when John was getting uncomfortable and when John would welcome an intervention. Besides, fetching a pen was dull.

"Here" John said and held out a steaming mug for him. He balanced the violin on his shoulder and switched the bow onto another hand and took the mug with thanks. But John huffed exasperatedly and told him to give him the violin. He obliged because it did make enjoying the tea a much more easier. And why would he not let John indulge in doing things for him. There was no harm in it.

When John snorted he turned away from the window and set his eyes on the doctor

"What is funny?" he asked. John smiled happily

"You"

Now he snorted and rolled his eyes. There were moments when John was making no sense

"Not many would agree with that" he commented and tasted his tea. There was a hint of honey in it, just the way he liked it. John just smiled smugly back

"Not many people know you"

he didn't bother to redeem that with an answer so he just ignored it, and went to put the bow away after loosening it. Then he moved the violin into it's case before managing to sit down onto his chair and take a good look at the doctor. That trustworthy figure. He knew from experience that he could trust John with his life. Not something he usually did. But he also knew that it went both ways. Whatever he would need to do, he would do it to keep John alive. Not safe, because that would not be satisfactory to neither of them. But alive.
Because John protected him. Not just against criminals who threatened to shoot him. But against the ordinary people. Against loathing and prosecution.

Because John was his shelter, and John was also his heart, because it was only John that let him think it was okay for him to feel something, and that he could feel something. John had never doubted his ability to feel. So for John, he did feel. He could crack up his armor a bit and not be on guard all the time. Much like John was with him.

Because he was John's sanctuary. And he was also John's sanity, because if the soldier would loose the thrill and the danger, being left alone among the more ordinary people he knew John would not survive it for long. He could see it when John let down his guard and relaxed when it was just the two of them.

He looked into the blue eyes of his roommate, seeing in his stance and expression a shadow of what he himself was thinking.

"So. You are contemplating life again" he said and leaned back in his chair. It was usual for John to recall his past and compare it to the present. And be delighted at the way things had turned out. And seeing it always made himself feel a bit better. John was someone who told him he was amazing when others cursed him, and John was the one whose mood changed his mood.

Apart from Mycroft. If his brother was annoyed he himself felt greatly satisfied.

John didn't reply to his comment but asked

"What were you thinking?" the doctor asked curiously, tilting his head a side a bit. He huffed. He had had so much time to think secondary matters that there was only one answer to that question

"How boring this day is"

John giggled at that and he hid his answering smirk with a sip of tea. John shook his head in amusement

"You seemed pretty occupied to me"

he lifted an eyebrow at that. It was surprise that he had not noticed being watched. And equally surprising that John tried to read him. And succeeding at some level. He was clearly rubbing off on the doctor. Maybe he would learn to deduce with time. He grinned inwardly at the prospect. Life wasn't nearly as boring as it used to be. Now he had John to experiment all kind of things.

"I thought you were reading a book" he commented nonchalantly. John shrugged, not looking at him

"I was"

He kept staring at John who was stubbornly not looking at him. A smirk started tugging at his lips and he let it. Then he decided to have mercy on John for now and asked

"So what conclusion did you reach?"

John looked at him blinking confused a moment before understanding what he was referring to. Then John took his time thinking about the answer, finishing of his tea leisurely. There was clearly some thinking going on but he decided to let John tell him what it was instead of sprouting out his deductions.

John grinned widely at him

"That it's not bad at all"

He smiled back. They had reached the same conclusion. He was glad that John was John, because it allowed him to be okay with thinking along the same lines.

"No" he drawled out "No it isn't"

It was they against the rest. The normal, ordinary, boring people. And the crazy, homicidal, intriguing individuals. Wherever he would go he could trust John to have his back. And wherever he would go he would make sure John could get out.

Eyes sparkling John suggested

"Telly" after gazing each others for a long time. Enough long that he could read the trust, faith and fondness from John's face. So open when he let it be.

His phone beeped at the same time and he fished it out of his pocket to see. The blood started immediately bumping faster through his face, preparing him for the brainwork, the legwork and the case. He knew his expression was predatory

"Murder" he answered and dashed up from his chair. He stepped to John's chair and held out a hand. He enjoyed the shocked surprise in John and warm at the hand that automatically grasped his. With a tug he pulled John up and they stood with only inches apart. He could smell the doctor, see even the smallest lines on his face, analyze all there was to see. If he wanted to look that hard. But some things he allowed the good doctor to keep to himself whenever he could stop himself from seeing it all.

Because just as much as John needed him, he needed John. Both when he was bored out of his mind and needed a distraction and when there was so much to take in that he was loosing ground. John was always there for him.
And he was not going to let down the only person who had such faith in him.
The only person he wanted at his side in all situations.

As one man they headed to the door, grabbing their jackets and rushing out.

The game was on.

I do hope I portrayed Sherlock adequately. he notices more than John I think. so I think there were more details because of that.

Kudos for reading.

reviews would be much appreciated. they indeed make me, and keep me going.

thank you for your candor. I mean time...