A/N: Hello! Uploaded earlier than I wanted because I'll be busy all day.

So this chapter will have a warning for violence and language. I don't usually warn for language, I just forget to, but this one has a few offensive words and terms. And a bit of violence. Aaaand...I think that's it. Thanks for reading, please review!

This school day goes by quickly, since the boys don't have anything to be excited about. John's got to go back to his own home for the evening, but both of their parents have agreed to let them walk home alone for the first time in many weeks.

John's uneasiness about the day doesn't fade. It makes his stomach hurt so much that he doesn't eat lunch. Sherlock just watches him all day, concerned for John. But John insists he's alright, that he doesn't need to go home, so he lasts until the end of school.

After school, Sherlock and John are standing at Sherlock's locker with Declan and Ellery.

"Did you guys want me to walk home with you?" Declan asks, closing his locker.

John shakes his head. "No, no, you go ahead. You guys have plans, don't you?"

Declan nods and takes Ellery's hand. "Yeah, since Sherlock and I are leaving for the weekend, I'm taking Ellery for an early dinner tonight."

John nods. "Well, have fun. Sherlock and I will be at your house doing a ton of homework."

"Great," Declan says. "See you guys later. Sherlock, my dad's coming in tonight and we're leaving for the airport at seven in the morning."

Sherlock gives Declan a thumbs-up, then stares at his hand as if confused as to why his hand did that.

John laughs and grabs Sherlock's hand. "See you later."

Declan and Ellery laugh at Sherlock, then leave the school.

As they're about to leave too, Olive arrives with a boy.

Sherlock stares at him.

"Guys," Olive smiles widely, linking her arm in the boy's next to her. "This is Lane, my…boyfriend."

John cracks a smile, immediately reaching to shake Lane's hand. "Lane, right, from class. How's it going, mate?"

Sherlock glares at him now. Lane looks at Sherlock and smiles.

"Sherlock Holmes," Sherlock mutters as an introduction.

"Lane. Yeah, we have a few classes together."

"Hmm," Sherlock sounds. "Lane what?"

"Just Lane."

"Mmm," Sherlock mutters again, then turns to leave without warning.

Sherlock takes off down the hall and John trots after him.

"Hey, what the heck?" John asks, catching up to Sherlock.

"I don't like him," Sherlock says.

John laughs. "What?! Why?!"

"He's hiding something," Sherlock says.

"Hiding what?"

"If he's hiding it, I obviously don't know."

John rolls his eyes and pushes the door open for Sherlock.

"I'm going to find out," Sherlock says, stopping before he exits the school. "Wait here."

John laughs. "Alright."

Sherlock quickly kisses John, then marches back down the hall.

Sherlock decides to start in the student files. It's not the first time he's ever broken in to the office filing cabinets, so he waits until the secretary is distracted, and then gets into the cabinets.

Obviously, Lane's first name isn't Lane. Sherlock figured that out easily, since Lane introduced himself as 'Just Lane'. So he shuffles through and finds Lane in the L last names.

There are two Lanes at the school. One is Jaime Lane, but Sherlock looks through the file and finds that she's a female, and the second is a male named Everett Lane.

"Everett," Sherlock whispers to himself. He flips through the pages of Lane's file and memorizes everything he finds.

Which is nothing.

He finds nothing wrong with Lane. Lane's a perfect student, above average in every subject. He's never been in trouble. Until last term he had perfect attendance the entire time he's been at this school. Sherlock grunts in frustration and slaps the file shut, then shoves it back into the cabinet and sneaks out of the office.

He rushes out of the office, turning the first corner on his way to the front doors and jumping when he sees Olive there.

"Christ!"

Olive laughs. "Jumpy."

Sherlock catches his breath and keeps walking down the hall. Olive follows.

"Why are you following me?" Sherlock asks over his shoulder. "Aren't you going to find Everett?"

Olive laughs. "He has a football meeting. And so what if he doesn't go by his first name? Neither do you."

Sherlock stops in the hall. "How do you know that?"

"From the photo album of your birth in the sitting room at your house. Your brother's say 'M.C.H.', I can only assume his middle name is Clement after your dad. Yours says 'W.S.S.H.' William, is it?"

He scowls. "So?"

"So, Billy," she taunts.

He grows red.

"You don't like Lane because…"

"Don't call me that."

"Don't be a dick to my boyfriend."

"I greeted him!"

"You deduced him!"

"Oh, like it was hard to notice half of his lunch crumbled down the front of his shirt, his sore ankle, and the indent where he sits his glasses on top of his head. Near sighted, obviously."

"Hardly difficult, but I still don't appreciate it."

"You really like him?"

Olive nods. "Yes."

"How long have you been seeing him?"

"We both know you know the answer to that question."

Sherlock realized after their conversation a few days ago that she's been secretive about this for weeks, much longer than when he first noticed it at his house over the weekend. "Mmm, thought so."

"Just be nice to him."

"I told you I wasn't going to like him."

"Just. Be. Nice."

Sherlock sighs. "Fine."

"Watson's asked me to be nice to his boyfriend."

Sherlock glares at her.

She laughs. "Where is Watson, anyway?"

"He's waiting at the front door. I had to—" He stops, not wanting to tell Olive that he was spying on her boyfriend.

"To?"

"To…check something."

"Check…" she pauses, then sighs. "You checked his file, didn't you?"

"I can't help it!"

"You can help it! He's fine!"

"Well, now I know that!"

Olive chuckles. "Gosh, you're ridiculous."

"I'm still getting a background check."

"He's seventeen, he doesn't have a criminal record."

"Some seventeen-year-olds do."

"Well, this one doesn't."

Sherlock sighs. "Alright. Whatever."

"Can you be supportive?"

Sherlock shrugs.

"That's good enough."

"Why did you decide to tell me now?"

"I'm tired of eating lunch in the hall."

Sherlock nods in understanding.

There's a lull in conversation, but Sherlock talks first.

"So, uhm, do you want to go with me to walk Mystery? John has too much homework. But after we're hanging out, so you can hang out with us."

"Oh, actually, I'm waiting for Lane. We're going to have coffee after he meets with the coach for a few more minutes."

"Oh," Sherlock says, disappointed. "Okay."

Olive pokes his side. "I'll hang out with you tomorrow."

"I'm going to New York tomorrow."

"What?! Why?"

"To see my brother."

"Well, when are you returning?"

"Sunday night."

"Well, then…Monday. Okay?"

Sherlock nods.

Olive pokes his side again. "Have fun in New York."

"Have fun with…Everett."

"I will, Billy."

Sherlock groans. "Stop!"

Olive laughs. "Stop calling him Everett!"

"Fine!" Sherlock turns towards the front doors and stomps away.

"Bye, Billy!"

Sherlock quickly flips her off, then gets to the next turn in the hall and walks out of her sight.

John's still waiting at the front door when Sherlock arrives.

John grins at him as he approaches. "What was that all about?"

"I had to check something."

"Did you find anything?"

Sherlock pushes the front door open for John. "Lane's not his first name."

"Yeah, and 'Sherlock' isn't yours."

Sherlock groans in frustration. "Why does that keep coming up?!"

John laughs and grabs his hand. "I know you don't want her hurt, but she's fine."

Sherlock nods. "I know."

John kisses his hand as they get to the school's gate entrance.

They turn towards home and are immediately met with barking.

"Mystery!" Sherlock cries. He kneels and pets the dog. "What are you doing here, boy?"

"He missed you," John says with a smile, bending to pet Mystery, too.

"You're a bloody genius, pup," Sherlock says.

Sherlock finally stands a few minutes later and they begin down the street. There are a lot of kids walking by, a few on bikes, but Mystery stays right next to Sherlock.

They walk down the street talking about nothing, and without noticing they pass a man leaning against the fence around the school. Neither boy pays any attention to him, not even when he starts to follow them.

Finally, at the edge of the school fence, the man speaks.

"John."

John instantly pauses. His body overcomes with nerves and he can't even move due to shock.

Of course, Sherlock knows exactly who it is. "No, come on," he says, grabbing John's hand and pulling him. However, John doesn't budge.

The man steps around John. "Hello, son."

John scowls and doesn't let go of Sherlock's hand. "You're not supposed to see me."

"I do see you," John's dad, James, says. "All the time, everywhere."

John squeezes Sherlock's hand.

"And you, Holmes," James turns to Sherlock. "You were just a little boy last I saw you."

"Shut up," Sherlock warns.

Mystery growls at James.

"You can't talk to me like that, boy."

"You can't talk to John at all," Sherlock argues. "Leave or I'll call the police." Sherlock pulls on John's hand again. "Come on, babe."

John finally moves, pushing past his dad.

"Babe?!" his dad cries. "No fucking way did you just called my son babe. My son ain't a queer."

Sherlock pays him no attention; he just protectively wraps his arm around John's shoulders and keeps walking.

"Hey!" James yells, suddenly lunging at the boys and grabbing Sherlock's arm. He yanks and Sherlock falls back, the force turning him back to face James.

"Dad!" John cries.

"Don't touch my son!" he yells in Sherlock's face as Sherlock gets his bearings and stands up straight.

Sherlock steps up to him. "He's not your son anymore!"

"Sherlock, stop!" John tries, but Sherlock ignores him.

James turns to him. "You aren't any poof, son."

"Dad..."

"No!" he yells, and suddenly slaps John in the face.

John grabs his cheek.

"Son..." James tries, reaching for John.

Mystery barks and bites at James's leg, and he kicks Mystery out of the way.

Everything happens so fast, and Sherlock doesn't stop to think before he yells wildly and pushes John's dad away before he can touch John again. He starts by shoving the man into the fence, then Sherlock attacks and punches him right in the face.

"Sherlock!"

Mystery barks randomly, but John holds him back.

Sherlock punches again, and John yells to a bystander to call the police before he tries to pull Sherlock away.

James shoves John away, so hard that John falls to the ground. He blinks his gaze to the fight in progress on time to see his dad pull his hand back as far as he can, then punch Sherlock square in the jaw. Sherlock's body slumps and he falls back against the ground, and right then a cop runs up and grabs John's dad.

John jumps up and over to Sherlock while his dad is being handcuffed. It seems like only seconds before he hears sirens, and before he knows it he's being pulled away and Sherlock's being carried onto a stretcher.

Once they've got Sherlock in the ambulance, John tries to climb in.

"Family only, kid," a medic stops him.

John begins to cry, climbing off the vehicle and immediately taking his phone out. He calls Clement and tells him as much as he can while he hears Clement get in the car.

"I'll pick you up in a second," Clement says. "Stay there."

John hangs up and calls his mother next, letting her know everything that's happened. She says she'll meet them at the hospital.

Clement arrives in minutes. He and John rush to drop Mystery at home, and then speed off to the hospital.

Fortunately, Sherlock's awake by the time they arrive. All the doctors say is that he's very sore and can't move his jaw every easily, and thankfully nothing is broken.

Clement and John enter the room and Sherlock sits up eagerly.

"Easy, easy," Clement rushes to him. He kisses Sherlock's head.

John slowly makes his way to the bed, clearly nervous.

Sherlock holds his arms up for John and takes the flat lollipop out of his mouth. "John, come here!" he demands through as much as his jaw will move.

John attacks him then, wrapping his arms around Sherlock tight without hurting him.

"Are you ok?" Sherlock mumbles.

"Me?!" John cries, pulling back to stroke Sherlock's swollen cheek. "I'm not in a hospital bed!"

Sherlock smiles as much as he can. "I'm fine."

John kisses Sherlock's cheek, and Sherlock places a hand on the back of John's head.

He makes a face, pulling his hand away. "Uh..." he mutters, revealing blood on his hand.

"Oh," John sighs, reaching for the back of his own head.

"Oh dear," Clement says, rushing to get a doctor.

John gets put on the bed next to Sherlock's so a nurse can apply stitches to the back of his head.

"I didn't even notice this," John says, "I didn't notice that I hit my head when I fell."

"You were probably in shock," Clement says.

Dawn rushes into the room right before the doctor finishes with John.

"Oh my god!" she cries, rushing to John and taking his hands. "John! What happened?!"

"Dad showed up. We tried to walk away, and he just..."

"I punched him!" Sherlock announces with as wide a grin he can manage.

"Oh, Sherlock!" Dawn cries, going to him and kissing his head.

Lestrade arrives soon, along with another cop to take statements. He informs them that James probably won't be out of jail for a long time. Clement advises Sherlock to press charges, and of course Sherlock doesn't disagree.

"I don't think your trip this weekend will be a very good idea," Clement says. "But you'll still be staying home from school tomorrow."

Sherlock frowns.

"That's too bad," Lestrade says. "Mycroft was looking forward to taking you to the symphony."

Sherlock looks at Clement with big, pleading eyes.

Clement sighs. "Thanks, Greg."

"Oh, sorry."

Clement ruffles Sherlock's hair. "I'll send you in a few weeks, alright?"

Sherlock just nods in acceptance.

The boys get out of the hospital a few hours later. Clement and Dawn take them to dinner, which means John eats a huge meal because he'd skipped breakfast and lunch, and Sherlock drinks a milkshake because the doctor said that's all he can eat until he can move his jaw. This makes Sherlock incredibly happy, of course.

Once they get home, Olive texts Sherlock to ask if he still wants to hang out, and Sherlock tells her everything. She practically rushes over, and she and John have to comfort Sherlock because he suddenly grows attention needy. They all sit on the sofa to watch a movie while John strokes Sherlock's hair and holds an ice pack to his jaw.

Declan and Ellery get to the house by six, and about half an hour later, Sherlock's uncle Asher arrives. He meets and instantly falls in love with Ellery, which pleases Declan to no end.

"My dear boy, what happened?" Asher asks upon seeing Sherlock with an ice pack on his jaw.

"I got in a fight!" Sherlock happily announces through clenched teeth. "I can only eat milkshakes!"

Clement pats Sherlock's shoulder. "Perhaps just half a pain pill next time, ok John?"

John laughs, pulling his loopy love to lie back on his lap. Sherlock gladly goes, then throws his legs over Olive's.

"I can't believe you did that, Sherlock," Ellery says. "That was so courageous."

Sherlock shrugs, playing with the Rubik's Cube Dane and Duke gave him. "He kicked my dog."

Olive reaches over and pets Mystery where he's sleeping next to Ellery.

John leans over and kisses Sherlock's head. Sherlock tilts his head up to look at John, and Olive grabs the Rubik's Cube from his hand.

"Hey!" Sherlock cries.

Olive fiddles with it for three minutes before it's solved.

Sherlock scowls at her. "You're a bully."

Olive laughs and drops it on his chest. "You big baby."

"And where is Lane tonight?" Sherlock asks.

"Oh, yeah, Olive!" Ellery says. "I saw you and Lane together this afternoon. I was wondering if you two are dating."

"Well, we are," Olive says with a smile. "It was kind of a secret, but now we're going public."

"And where is he?" Sherlock repeats.

"I…I left him to come here."

"Because you like me more," Sherlock states.

Everyone looks around at each other as if nobody wants to address that first.

"He's high," John says. "Don't pay any attention to him."

"I feel good, John."

John kisses his forehead again. "I know you do, love."

"You like me more, don't you?"

"Of course I do."

"John?"

"Yes, my love?"

"My teeth hurt."

"They will, babe."

"Why did your dad punch me?"

John clears his throat. "Uhm, because—"

"I couldn't let him punch you anymore. You've got enough scars."

John glances at his other friends and they pretend to not be listening.

"Let's not talk about it now, ok?"

"Whatever you want, John. Anything for you."

John kisses his forehead.

The kids watch movies until a few minutes after eight, when Sherlock begins to snore on the sofa. Olive carefully slides out from under his feet and gets up to retrieve her coat.

"Thanks for coming," John says, walking her to the door. "You didn't have to."

"I wanted to," she says. "And listen, uhm, everything I heard is safe with me. Ok?"

John nods. "Thanks, Olive."

Olive wraps her arms around his neck and hugs him tight. "Glad you two are alright."

He hugs her back, and then she leaves.

Declan and Ellery leave a few minutes later, after Asher extends to Ellery how wonderful she is.

"I'm glad you're helping straighten my son out," Asher tells her.

"It's my pleasure, sir," she says.

Asher hugs her, which clearly makes her a little bit uncomfortable, then they leave.

Since Sherlock is passed out from his pain killer, Asher carries him upstairs. He's substantially larger than Clement and John, so he carries him with no problem. He gently lays Sherlock on his bed, then Clement kisses his head and they leave the room.

Sherlock put pajamas on as soon as he got home, so John doesn't have to change him. He just takes off his own clothes and climbs into bed, then pats the bed until Mystery hops up with them to sleep.

Sherlock's awake when John opens his eyes the next morning. He's staring at the ceiling, looking angelic and glowing in the morning light.

"Hey," John sighs.

Sherlock looks at him. "Hello."

John places a hand on his stomach and rubs. "How are you?"

"Fine. Thirsty."

"Pain pills dry you out," John explains.

Sherlock nods and his eyes drift closed again.

Silent minutes pass, and Sherlock doesn't move to touch John at all. No kiss, no hug, and John can't help but think Sherlock's upset.

"Are you mad at me, Sherlock?"

Sherlock's eyes fly open. "No, of course not. Why do you ask that?"

John shrugs. "I just don't feel a very good vibe between us."

"It's not you I'm upset with," Sherlock explains. "I'm mad at your dad."

"Me too."

"That shouldn't have happened."

"I know."

After another minute of silence, John asks, "Do you remember when all of this first happened?"

"All of this being? The first time I noticed a bruise on you or when your dad was arrested the last time?"

John frowns. "The second."

"Mmm," Sherlock says, then winces because his jaw stings. He continues talking anyway. "It was the last time we slept in the same bed before becoming a couple. That's what I remember."

"We were thirteen," John says, chuckling. "Thinking about it, that was kind of weird."

Sherlock shrugs, reaching over and running the back of his hand down John's arm.

"What do you remember?" he asks.

John clears his throat, feeling himself getting choked up. "Well…I remember getting the scar on my stomach. And running to the kitchen for the phone to call the police before he could reach me. I should've helped Harry. I should've—"

"You did what you should have, John," Sherlock whispers. His words are barely audible. "You did what your mum and sister didn't have the courage to do."

John wipes his eyes. "Yeah, that's what the officer said. Then, I remember…uhm, my parents were taken away. And Harry and I came here."

"I was already in bed," Sherlock says. "My dad woke me up to tell me you were spending the night. I was so excited, we never had sleepovers during the week, remember?"

John nods. "We hadn't had one in years at that point."

"Yeah," Sherlock continues. "But my dad told me something bad happened. So I patiently waited for you and tried not to be too excited."

"The last thing I remember is falling asleep next to you."

"I watched you," Sherlock says. "I watched you sleep before I fell back to sleep. You cried, and I know you were having a nightmare, but I didn't want to wake you."

"Why not?"

Sherlock lifts his arm so John shifts to lay on his chest, mindful of his jaw. "Because reality wasn't any better," Sherlock says.

John frowns. "It was better with you. Even as just my best friend, it was better."

"You too, John." Sherlock reaches up and kisses the top of John's head. "I love you."

"I love you too," John says. "My hero."

Sherlock smiles. "Come on, let's ask my dad to make us fruit smoothies."

John smiles, too, and wipes his eyes. He sits up and they share a kiss before getting out of bed and going downstairs.

They spend the entire day watching movies and not leaving the sofa. Clement gets them everything they want, like a never ending supply of milkshakes. The boys are so happy with their day that they don't even think about what happened the day before.