Chapter Text
"John..." Harry was looking at her brother, frowning. "you must do something." Even with the blurriness of the webcam, he looked awful. "Have you been sleeping? You need to take care of yourself!"
"Oh... look who's talking! As if --" John regrets the words the moment they leave his mouth. "Harry... sorry!"
"No it's okay, I understand." It was uncalled for, but he's so stressed out at the moment so Harry lets it slide. "You got to go out there!"
Clara suddenly takes over from her wife. "I know that nature is gorgeous on the Isle of Wight, but it must have few good pubs or clubs somewhere? And don't talk like that to Harry, she's doing really well!"
"Oh, darling... It's because of you." John rolls his eyes at the cooing sounds before his sister gets back to the matter in hand. "Yes, where do the people go to meet someone? There must be at least one decent pub?"
"In the middle of winter, most of those places are closed," John reminds his sister to get her off his back.
"John," Clara argues quietly at his image on the screen, "you won't get better if you don't give yourself a chance..."
"Yeah," he mumbles, "and one day I'm going to wake up with new memories. As if the war just never happened." Looking into his sister-in-law's eyes with a sad smile. "Anyway... I don't think I am in the right mindset to find the love of my life right now."
Rolling her eyes, Harry corrects him. "Who said anything about love, you just need a good fuck!"
Both Clara and John snap at the same time. "HARRY!" Clara being close enough to tap her lightly as she gets up to freshen her tea.
"Aie! What? I'm right! You know I'm right! Since you've been back, have you even looked at anyone? Be honest!"
John, picking up his walking stick, rises silently and moves out of the view of the camera without a word. As if someone would want someone like me...
"Darling, don't push him." Clara murmurs, "he'll know when he's ready."
I should have closed the communication... John, silent, remains standing at his living room window, looking at the peaceful landscape.
"I know love, but I only want him to be as happy as we are." She looks at Clara with fondness as she murmurs, "and being stuck there doesn't help! Half of the population, especially this time of year, is over sixty! It's why he was able to find a job so easily. He craves action, which is why he went in the army!" I must do something! A little spark appears in her eyes and she smiles. Yes, I think I'm going to help him even if he doesn't want to! Talking louder, she continues "John, we are going to leave you alone now, as it's what you think you want. Talk to you next Saturday. Love you, little brother, take care."
The Skype window turns black as the Londoners quit the conversation. John, lost in his thoughts, steps outside his little house and walks slowly in direction of the sea.
The next day, John was still thinking about what his sister had said to him. Yes, maybe I should do something. Sara is nice, maybe I can invite her for a drink or something? His mind was slowly drifting away when his therapist, Ella, softly calls him back to the room.
"John... are you still with me?" Her chiding tone was sympathetic.
"Oh sorry, it's just that... I was thinking of maybe asking someone from work out."
"For a nice dinner?" She was written notes on her little book at John's annoyance.
What did I say that merited a note? "Oh... no... not a dinner. A drink maybe? Yes, a drink isn't so formal, and...
"And?"
"'it's less... awkward."
"Awkward?"
Stop repeating everything I said! "Yeah, you know... If it's going really terribly, it's just a drink so it's not too long and we'll be able to laugh about it the day after in the break room."
"But?"
"If it's dinner... and it's not going well it can be much longer, and then it will be more awkward at work..."
"There is the possibility that you are going to have a wonderful time, did you ever think about that?"
"Maybe..."
"Let me know how it goes." Looking at her notes, she asks, "have you ever considered writing a blog?
"What do you want me to write about? My uneventful life?" John laughs.
"About you, John. Simply about you."
"I can try... but it's certainly won't win any prizes," the doctor jokes. And I can't see how it's going to help me.
A week later, after his morning walk, John was sitting at his desk, sipping his tea. Okay... Let's do this. Opening his computer, he waits for the internet to kick in - the bandwidth was abysmal in this part of the island - pondering about what the heck he was going to write about. I am really trying to write every day as Ella suggested but... man this is hard! Opening the offline version of his blog, he reread the last entries, shaking his head at how pathetic he sounded
December 10: Happy? / Look Ella. I'm writing my blog.
He smirks at his sister's reply asking if Ella was a good prospect as a girlfriend and asking for a picture. Could you imagine, dating a therapist... Someone who's able to read everything that you don't want to say out loud! Horrible!
December 11st: Nothing. / Really nothing to say.
December 12th: Pointless. / Nothing ever happens to me.
December 13rd: Drinks / Went out for a pint with some people from work. It was nice to be surrounded by people until it wasn't. Nobody talked about my leg.
December 14th: How? / How do I delete this?
Scoffing at Ella's comment (You don't! You are going good John, just keep on doing this and it's going to be easier. Ah! As if!), John starts thinking about what he could write for today's entry. In fact, something happened yesterday. Can I talk about my date with Sara... hmm not really. It was kind of nice, but not that nice. And it's kind of personal... But isn't that the point, that the blog is supposed to be personal?
He was still considering the question when his email account went crazy! What the hell! His computer nearly freezes as the emails keep going in. What's going on, have I been spammed by someone? A virus or something? Bing, bing, bing, bing... 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 emails! They finally stop after he receives a staggering 137 new emails. What is this! The sender was a server called ExclusiveLove. As his anti-virus didn't detect something weird, he clicks on the first one.
Dear Sleepless@Yaverland,
I would love to take care of your poor destroyed soul, I am a really caring woman and --
Not reading the whole letter or courageous enough to click on the picture, he skips to the next email.
Hey Sleepless,
Send me a nude-pic, if you're hot enough maybe we can put your sleepless night to good use --
The message was deleted in less than one second!
Sleepless@Yaverland,
Don't want to be blunt, but if you want this to go further I need to ask. How much does a doctor make a year in the Isle of Wight? Do you get a bonus because you're so far away? I don't want to work, so I --
That's crazy! What is all this... I never, ever, put my information on any website!
Dear Sleepless@Yaverland,
I think it is so cute for your sister to --
Bloody fucking mingling little bastard! Rushing to his phone - while urging himself not to jump in the first boat to scream at his sister in person - John taps Harry's number quickly! As soon as his unusually demure sister replies, he shouts, "HARRY WATSON! WHAT THE HELL HAVE YOU DONE!!"
"Oh my God!" Molly was holding her phone, trying to stop herself from screaming of joy! I am an adult with a serious job after all. "Greeeeeeeeeeeeeg!"
The DI, who was reading a really boring autopsy report, smiles at his friend. "What is it, Molly? That band that you like is going to play in London?"
"No, and it's not a 'band', it's a musical." She struts near Greg with a satisfied smile and shows him her phone. "Read!"
Knowing that he had no choice, not when she was in that kind of mood, Lestrade took the phone and starts reading aloud. "Sleepless at Yaverland. What am I reading? It's a lonely heart ad'?"
"Nobody calls them that, it's like Tinder but for a meaningful relationship, and pretty exclusive also. For professionals and all." She motions Greg to start again.
"Okay... But I don't understand what wrong to let chance do its thing." Clearing his voice, he starts over again "Sleepless at Yaverland. Man, in his late thirties, looking for a man or woman. Single for too many years, mainly because of time abroad for work, I am now ready to open my heart and soul to someone. I used to live in London, and I am dying of boredom in the middle of nowhere. Will you be the one to give me a reason to get up in the morning? To move on? I love good simple food, walking and observing nature, my work is important for me. But above all, my mind is looking for peace. So, what do you think? Do you want to be my safe harbour?" Unable to restrain himself, Greg starts laughing. " Poor man, this is dry as --"
"Read the post-scriptum!"
"Who wrote a P.S. in a dating profile... P.S. I'm going to be honest, I am not the one who's looking. I'm writing this for my brother who is an obstinate ex-soldier who won't admit that he needs someone in his life, if you are up to the task! Also, here is a link to his blog just for you to see that he's really desperate, the poor soul! http://www.johnwatsonblog.co.uk/ AH!" Greg exclaims victoriously "This is why he's alone! Meddling sister included in the package!"
"Don't you see it!"
"What? I'm a little bit confused..." Looking at the statistics at the bottom of the page, he read that Sleepless@Yaverland as been already contacted by more than 100 interested persons. Greg was looking at Molly, nonplussed."Are people so desperate? And I seriously don't think that kind of man is right for you --"
"No, idiot, for Sherlock!"
"Sherlock?" He laughs merrily at the idea. "I don't think - it's not really his thing to be interested in that kind of --!"
"No, not him, you are really not that quick for a DI, Greg." She smirks, with a glint in her eye. "WE are going to reply for him!"
"But, the man is on the Isle of Wight! It's hours away..."
"Yes, so a bit more time before they meet which is, in Sherlock's case, can only be a good thing!"
"Oh... devious little minx!"