Without any ado - here's the next chapter. All recognisable content belongs to its respective owners. Surprise surprise. Warning for non-explicite mentions of torture.

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The first time John Watson tried to give Sherlock Holmes a massage, he had gone rigid and excused himself, just as he did the second time, and John had given up the effort. The third time he had tried it in bed, his only result a wastly uncomfortable detective who had not slept during all night because of it.

The fourth time was during their first Christmas morning cuddle, when the doctor finally got an opportunity to truly get to know the body of his fiance, though the detective was yet to propose at that time. The fifth attempt the former soldier made was just over a year later, when the genius had started to get more comfortable with having his back rubbed, and merely gave the doctor a slightly apprehensive look and then seemed to rather enjoy the experience.

Now, six months, and quite a few occasions later, John spread out thick down comforters onto the carpet before the fire, hoping to make some new progress in the area, and gently ease Sherlock into being more and more comfortable with being touched at the same time.

John willingly admitted to himself that he enjoyed both the caring aspects of giving a massage, as well as the chance for contact with Sherlock. The detective never reciprocated in form, but that was so typical for them - John did things in a traditional way, and Sherlock did them in his very own way instead. And Sherlock may never sit down before the fire to massage John, but he always took care to rub his back and to massage his hands if John got cramps in them after long surgeries. In the end, they were both equally happy with each other's different ways of doing things. They cared for each other, took care of each other, and they both treasured that equally.

John looked up from his preparations as Sherlock entered, removing his coat. Being familiar with this rutine now, and noticing what was going on immediately, Sherlock automatically started to take his shirt and jacket off along with the coat and scarf. It was an immediate responce, as he moved into the room, but he stopped dead in his tracks upon seeing the massage oil standing next to the comforters.

Following his eyes, John gestured for him to lie down, smiling a little. "I thought we would try that today" he addressed the presence of the oils. "Don't worry - I won't be mad if you don't like it, I promise. I just ask that you try, as ever". Still looking rather doubtful, but not about to argue about it (somewhat unusually) the consulting genius sat down, before laying out onto his stomach in the prepared space, knowing by now what was expected of him in regards to pose, turning his head away. John kissed the back of his neck and took some oil in his hands.

John studied Sherlock's body language very closely as he placed his hands on his shoulders, cupping them lightly around the muscles. He had taken classes on massage, arome therapy and other alternative versions of medicine at a slow semester long ago during medical school, but nothing was as straightforward as you might think it to be when a Holmes was involved.

Sherlock tensed at the unfamiliar feeling of the oil, even though John had heated it on his hands and it ought not feel cold on his skin, but he made no move to try and stop him. "Sherlock? Does it feel alright?" "Strange" was the half-sulky mutter from the detective still tilting his head away from the doctor, but said doctor knew said detective far too well to take that as the obvious bad sign it might be with someone else.

It was common practise for Sherlock to turn his head away for two entirely different reasons, and neither was automatically displeasure; either he felt emotion of some kind and was not quite ready to admit to it - John was far too aquainted with this behaviour to push him, Sherlock would admit to whatever it was he felt when he deemed himself ready - and the second was simply the wish to have his neck rubbed. Which really wasn't bad at all, especially when it came to the context of a massage. And this time it could really be either one. John could almost bet that it was some kind of combination of both, actually.

John drew his hands down, looking for hidden knots and feeling through the muscles looking for anything he ought to treat, whether it was by massage or some entirely different kind of medicine. Their usual understanding about medical things withstanding, he always made a point to keep an eye on Sherlock, as he still could be a bit reckless with his own health from time to time.

"Sherlock?" he questioned as he felt with his hands down the detectives sides, having followed beside the spine all the way down to the small of his back. "I do not want you to go into your mind-palace now, you know". "It feels like the stage during torture where you are wet with your own sweat" Sherlock noted emotionlessly, almost casually, in response to that statement, making John freeze in the middle of the motion. "Yet the physical sensation is very pleasant, John" he sounded like he did not approve of this in the least, or maybe it was his own indecision which annoyed Sherlock.

"Different from torture then" John tried to ease the sudden tension in the air a little bit. "The only pleasant sensation of torture is when they stop" Sherlock noted, seemingly agreeing, still emotionless, turning his head to look at him now. "It can be nice when you stop too... it is difficult to... sometimes". John gently ran his hands down Sherlock's back, sighing "I know. You're doing really well. Do you like it at all?"

"I prefer dry hands" was the almost sulky reply as the genius turned his head away again. "But it isn't so bad. You may continue". But John knew him just well enough, that the words made him smirk.