A/N: (Warning? Perhaps a promise?) for boy kisses. Thanks for reading! Please review!

The rest of the afternoon goes by quickly. 3:40 arrives in no time, and the boys are walking hand-in-hand to the library.

"You ok?" John asks when he feels Sherlock's fingers flutter in his.

"Of course."

"We don't have to do this."

"I want to."

John nods.

They pause in front of the library entrance. They look at each other and take a deep breath.

"Ready?"

Sherlock nods, so John opens the door for him.

Perry is in a table located deep into the library, where most students don't even know exists. Sherlock had sent him an email to say to meet there, and they're glad Perry complied.

"Thanks, uh…" Perry fumbles over his words. "Thanks for coming."

Sherlock just nods and sits across from Perry. John hovers right next to him.

"Why don't you tell us again what's happening?" John decides to start, knowing Sherlock isn't going to talk.

"Well, just what I said," Perry tells them. "Yesterday afternoon, I was sent to the office and told I was in trouble. I didn't know why, I knew I didn't do anything wrong. Then I was kicked off the team, just like that." Perry sighs and leans forward on his arms. "I know I didn't cheat."

"Was there any way anyone could have gotten that essay?"

Perry shakes his head. "I wrote it and sent it from my personal email to my school email. When I got here to school yesterday, I printed it and turned it in."

"Does anyone have the passwords to either of those email accounts?"

Perry shakes his head. "Just me."

John looks down at Sherlock.

"What time did you turn it in?" Sherlock asks.

Perry nearly jumps at the deepness of his voice. "Uhm…at eight o'clock, actually. As soon as I got to school. I was supposed to have a match yesterday, we were supposed to leave from school before class, but I was kicked off the team before I could leave."

Sherlock suddenly stands. "We'll be in touch," he says, then turns to leave.

John quickly follows, grabbing his hand as soon as they're out in the hallway. "You ok?"

Sherlock nods and takes a deep breath.

"What are you thinking?"

"Someone physically stole the paper. They probably made a copy of it and turned on in as their own. I made a list of everyone in that class, but now it's up in the air."

"Wait," John says, "Students have to sign in to use the copy machine. We can check the log. Absolutely nobody can sign in with a fake name, and you can't not sign in."

Sherlock nods. "I'll check tomorrow."

John smiles up at him. "Well done, love. Come on, I'll walk you home. We can take the long way."

"You don't need to, John. You'll already be half an hour later getting home."

"My mum won't be home until five, she said. That leaves me an hour more with you."

Sherlock nods, knowing he wants that hour as much as John does. "Mycroft isn't picking me up until five anyway."

"Oh, yeah. Where are your parents going?"

Sherlock shrugs. "Out to dinner, I guess. And they want their privacy. They wouldn't need it so much if my mother would just be home every once in a while."

"They'd probably still want it then, too. You're always with your dad."

"I guess," Sherlock says. "And Mycroft's always with my mum."

"That is true," John tells him. His voice drops to a more sad, disappointed tone, and he adds, "But it's nice, you know? At least your parents get an anniversary. I can't even remember the last time my dad was even-"

Sherlock places a hand on his shoulder. "Don't do that, John. I know that tone. It wasn't your fault."

John looks at his shoes. "I know."

Sherlock leans over and kisses his head. "Speaking of things that weren't your fault," he adds, "Have you talked to Harry?"

John shakes his head. "She hasn't been back."

"She's just running away from her problems."

"I know."

"What she did was her doing."

"I know."

"She can't be upset with you if Clara doesn't like her—"

"Sherlock, I know!"

Sherlock frowns and tries to sink into the pavement.

By then, John stops right in front of Sherlock's house and turns to him. "I'm sorry, ok? I just…I know, alright?"

Sherlock nods.

John leans up to kiss him lightly. "I'm sorry."

Sherlock nods again.

John wraps his arms around Sherlock's waist and hugs him tight. Sherlock hugs back, his arms around John's neck.

"I won't talk to you tonight," John says.

Sherlock holds back from saying something sarcastic like, "Oh, really, John? You don't say?"

"I'll miss you," John says.

"I'll miss you too."

"Please don't be upset that I shouted, Sherlock. I'm sorry."

"I'm not."

John nods and presses a kiss into Sherlock's coat, right over his heart. "Have a good night at your brother's. Don't kill him. He's just as annoyed by you as you are by him."

Sherlock chuckles. "Ok, John."

"I love you."

Sherlock doesn't say anything, he just takes hold of John's face and kisses him deeply.

Events from the morning reoccur; both boys get carried away and try to be one on the sidewalk.

"Come on," Sherlock whispers, trying to tug John towards the front door. "My brother won't be here for another fifty minutes."

John chuckles and holds his ground. "I'd want longer than that with you, love."

Sherlock groans and dives in for another kiss.

John breaks away this time. "The cases? What about—"

"You're dealing with one, I've already solved Harvey's, and I don't want to think about Perry while I'm kissing you."

Sherlock leans in to kiss John again, but John pulls way away. "What do you mean you already solved Harvey's?"

"Easy, wasn't it?" Sherlock asks, trying to pull John in.

John steps fully away. "What do you mean?"

Sherlock sighs, blushes, and pulls his coat tight around him. "His shoes were a mess so he left them out of his bag. He had the late practice at six, and the janitors clean at six every evening. So…" he pauses to let John connect the dots.

"So…the janitor…stole them?"

Sherlock rolls his eyes. "The janitor threw them away. I even asked to make sure. He thought they were just a gross, old pair. Which, by Harvey's description, they were."

"Did you tell him that?"

Sherlock shakes his head. "I figured it out during last period and I didn't see him again."

"That's where you disappeared to?" John asks. He begins to laugh. "You're so bloody brilliant, you know that?"

Sherlock cracks a smile. "Really?"

"Yeah, of course! God, I love you!" John says, then grabs Sherlock again and begins to kiss him.

A minute later, a car is heard coming up next to them. The car honks and the boys pull apart.

The back window rolls down and Mycroft looks up at them. "You're not being decent," he tells the boys.

Sherlock checks John's watch. "You're early."

"I missed you."

Sherlock rolls his eyes. "Let me go get my laptop," he tells Mycroft.

John walks him to the door, but says he can't go in.

"You didn't even need to walk me home, John," Sherlock tells him.

"Well, for one thing I wanted to be with you this extra time before I'm disconnected from the rest of the world. And two, I wanted to make sure you're safe."

"Of course I'm safe, why wouldn't I be safe?"

"Because we know a lot of dickheads, love, and I don't—" John suddenly pauses. "Fuck."

"What?"

"I gave Lily my mobile number in case she needs help, and I just remembered I don't have a mobile right now."

"So? I'm sure she's fine."

"You didn't read the emails, Sherlock. I'm really worried about her."

"Well, ask your mum if you can turn it on but not use it. I'm sure she'd understand."

"You're probably right," John says. "Speaking of my mum, I've got to beat her home."

Sherlock nods, disappointed. "Ok, I'll see you tomorrow then."

John hugs him again and discreetly kisses his neck. "I love you."

"I love you, too."

John smiles at him once, then turns down the driveway to leave. He pauses by Mycroft's window.

"Bye, Mycroft. Remember that Sherlock doesn't mean the things he says."

Mycroft smiles. "Thank you, John. Good evening."

John waves once, then goes down the street.

Sherlock stares out the window as the car takes them through the city. He doesn't really mind being stuck with Mycroft for the evening; though the reasoning escapes him, he understands that his parents want to be alone. But he already misses John, which is a problem.

"Dad told me what you're doing at school," Mycroft says, breaking the silence.

Sherlock slightly turns his head to him, enough that Mycroft can see his profile. "What am I doing at school?"

"Your little…detective game."

Sherlock turns away again. "It's not a game."

"You're playing detective. It's charming, Sherlock, really. Just remember to leave the real detective work to real detectives."

"Because they can solve everything," Sherlock sarcastically retorts. "Even a man freezing to death by accident."

"Obviously," Mycroft says, a grin behind his voice. "I mean that I don't want you to get caught up in real crimes, Sherlock."

"I know."

"Dad also told me about your bullying problem."

Sherlock doesn't look away from the window. "Did he?"

"Sherlock," Mycroft seriously says, "You know I can help."

"I don't want you to."

"What's so wrong about me trying to offer a solution?"

"What would your solution be?" Sherlock half-curiously asks.

"Starting over."

Sherlock harshly shakes his head. "Out of the question."

"You live so close to John that you could see him often enough—"

Sherlock shakes his head again. "I've changed my mind, I don't want to leave."

Mycroft sighs. "Well, I'll just stay out of it, then."

"No you won't."

Mycroft doesn't say anything more, and a second later he begins speaking French into his phone. Sherlock pretends he's not eavesdropping while staring out the window and thinking about Perry's case.

"Mum! I'm home!" John shouts, entering the house. Dawn's car is in the driveway, so he knows she's home early. He tosses his backpack and coat on the sofa and goes through the house.

He finds her in the kitchen, talking and laughing on the phone.

"Hey," she says to the phone, "My son's home…talk later…bye."

He looks confused. "Who was that?"

"A friend," she says, setting the phone down. "How was your lab thing?"

"Fine," he says, not giving any more information about the lie. "But Mum, I have a question."

He explains the whole Lily situation to Dawn, all the while she looks in horror.

"It's really awful, Mum, so I was wondering if I could at least turn my phone on so I can hear it if she calls."

"Sure," she says. "Just for that, ok?"

He nods, "Of course."

She gets his phone from her bedroom and he turns it on. He discreetly checks the messages he'd received from everyone who doesn't know he's grounded, then puts it on the table and washes up for dinner.

He takes his phone to bed hours later, telling his mother that Lily actually has a social life and she may be walking home alone late, and that if John leaves that's where he's going, not to Sherlock. Dawn believes him, of course, for he's never snuck out to see Sherlock before.

And he's glad, because Lily calls just after ten o'clock.

He's barely asleep, so when he wakes he's more alert than he would have been at any later hour. "Hello? Lily? Are you ok?"

"John, I've just received another email."

He sits up in bed. It's ten at night, of course nobody can be sending it from the school network. "Tell me about it," he says.

"Well," she says, "This one wasn't exactly an email. It was an anonymous message on Tumblr."

"Oh?"

"And I've never given anyone my Tumblr URL. Not even my close friends."

"Oh…" he says. "Tell me what it says."

"It says, 'Don't ask Sherlock Holmes for help. If I want you I'm going to get you.' John," she says, her voice cracking with tears. "I'm scared."

John breaths deeply and wonders what he should do. "Where are you? Are you at home?"

"No, actually," she says, "I'm about to leave Jenna's house because we had to work on a project."

"Do you have a car?"

"No," she says, "I was planning to get some exercise by walking."

"Don't leave," he tells her. "I remember where Jenna lives. I'll be there really soon."

"John, you don't—"

"I do, Lily. I'll be there soon."

"Thanks, John," she says.

John doesn't say anything before he hangs up and gets jeans on. He rushes downstairs, and Dawn is still up watching television.

"Mum, I'm going to walk Lily home, alright? She's at Jenna's, a little ways past Sherlock's."

She eyes him. "John…"

"Mum, Sherlock's not even home and this is important. Lily received another email on a personal address that nobody has."

Dawn bites her lip, then nods. "Alright, John. Take the car, ok? Don't walk her home."

John doesn't have a driver's license, but he has driven before. "You sure, Mum?"

"Yes," she says. "Be careful."

"I will," he replies, kissing her cheek. "I'll be right back."

John arrives at Jenna's house in minutes, and Lily climbs into the car while glancing in every direction.

"You're ok," John tells her. He pats her shoulder as she gets her seatbelt on.

"Thank you, John."

John smiles at her, then begins down the street.

"Harvey should be finished decoding the emails," John tells her as they drive. "He was looking into both yours and Sherlock's. This message was anonymous?"

"Yeah," she says, biting her lip. "Harvey's looking into this? Harvey Lucas?"

"Yeah. Turns out he's pretty good with computers. Who knew, right?"

She pushes out a chuckle. "Yeah…"

He looks at her. "What, are you suspecting Harvey?"

"No, no, no!" she tries. "It's just…uhm…"

He eyes her. "Tell me, what is it? I'm sorry, I should have asked. He just started and I really needed him to look into Sherlock's, so-"

"It's ok, John. It's just…he and I…we're…"

"Are you two…dating?"

"Not officially," she says. "But now I…" she buries her face in her hands, "…what if he thinks I'm a freak now, because of this?"

"Lily," John pats her knee, "You're being assaulted, Lily. It's so not your fault. Once we find who's doing this, we're going to get the police involved, ok? Sherlock's brother is good friends with a police officer; he owes Sherlock and I more than one favor. And Harvey will understand that it's not you, ok? You've done absolutely nothing wrong."

"What if this is happening because I—"

"It's not your fault."

"But what if—"

"It's not your fault!"

"But—"

"Lily!" John cries. "It's. Not. You. Ok? It's never, ever the victim's fault."

Lily sighs and her body sags with relaxation. "Alright."

"And if Harvey thinks it's your fault, then he's got a problem. But I highly doubt it, ok? He's a pretty good guy."

Lily nods. "He is, isn't he?"

John nods. "But…I mean, Harvey's a good looking guy and all, but isn't he a bit…"

Lily looks at him. "What? Not good enough for me?"

John looks at her. "Kind of."

Lily laughs. "John, do you know that I've been hearing that about every boy I've even looked at since I was in primary school! If I actually believed it, I'd be alone forever and think I was better than everyone else. But I'm not, I'm a normal person. And Harvey is really funny and sweet. I like him a lot."

"That's good," John says.

"Do you know…" she starts, then stops. She chuckles into her hand.

"What?" he asks, laughing at her.

"No, no, it's embarrassing. And you might get upset!"

"I won't!" he cries. "What is it?"

She continues laughing and looks at him. "I used to…" she shakes her head. "I used to like Sherlock!"

He laughs loudly. "What?! When?!"

"Oh…about three years ago! Right after summer break. When we returned to school, he was taller and his voice was deeper and, well you probably know."

"Yeah, he got bloody gorgeous."

"Right!" she shouts. "And…I don't know. Of course I knew he must've been gay, even back then, so I never gained the courage to talk to him. But yeah, I had a crush on your boyfriend."

"That's funny," John says. "So did I, of course."

She laughs.

Right then, they pull up in front of her house.

"Thank you, John. Really, thank you so much."

"It's not a problem," he tells her. "Tomorrow morning I'll ask Harvey if he's gotten anything."

"Ok," she agrees, leaning over and hugging John. "See you tomorrow."

"See you," he says as she climbs out of the car.

He waits for her to get inside, then begins his way home. He looks around the street to make sure nobody is following or watching. He feels awful for Lily, but he's glad she took his offer and called him when she needed help. Plus, he got to hear her secret about liking Sherlock, and that makes him laugh the whole way home.

He sneaks a text before bed, sending Sherlock a quick message.

To Sherlock Holmes My mum gave me my phone for emergencies, and I'm glad because I had to pick Lily up from Jenna's. I just got home and I'm going to sleep, but I love you. Goodnight, babe.

He gets a reply immediately, and right after he shuts his phone off.

From Sherlock Holmes You're a good man, John Watson. I love you. SH