Work Text:
4th March 9:02pm
“Dinner?”
“Starving!”
5th March 4:36AM
Creeping back into the bedroom Sherlock shut the door as quietly as he could, for the first time in quite a while he was not alone in his bed. Turning around Sherlock allowed himself to look at his sleeping bedfellow, it was almost too intimate to bear, Sherlock knew he shouldn't really be staring at the sleeping form but he couldn't help it. The faintest glimmer of sparkling moonlight was shining through the gap in the curtains catching that stunning face, seemingly illuminating the tanned skin. Sherlock released the breath he didn't even realise he was holding. John Watson is the most stunningly beautiful man he'd ever laid eyes on and now he was in Sherlock Holmes’ bed after a glorious night of laughter and friendship unexpectedly ended in a far more intimate way. Allowing himself another moment to drink John in, Sherlock marvelled at the beautiful doctor, how could he not? It was no surprise John was an army man, his body was firm, gently toned under that hideously endearing wooly jumper. During their wonderfully endless conversations Sherlock had got lost in John's eyes on more than one occasion, there was pain behind them, a deep rooted anguish the soldier probably wasn't even aware he carried around but they were also so beautiful. Honesty and kindness shone through the hazel orbs and there was an infectious glint in them when he laughed, a sound that Sherlock was sure not many people were lucky enough to hear.
The sheets mostly covered John's naked form but a strong arm was flung out, turned in such a way the vicious scar that ended his army career was on show, the white lines seemed to glisten in the midnight light. Knots, thick scar tissue and gradually healing lines were twisted together to create the starburst of mangled flesh on John's shoulder. Clearly it caused John pain, Sherlock already new there was an element of psychosomatics with the injury but physical pain could not be denied with a scar of this magnitude. Throughout their dinner Sherlock quietly deduced it was his left shoulder, a through and through that got infected, leaving nerve damage and irreparable muscles. Occasionally John flinched when reaching for something or gesticulating a tad too grandly. When they became intimate Sherlock noticed John struggled a little pulling the jumper over his injured shoulder and Sherlock wondered if the doctor was comfortable revealing his wound, the sleuth was fairly confident this was the first sexual encounter since the ill-fated discharge even before John had confirmed as such. Instinctively Sherlock wanted to touch the mark, learn about each line and deduce every detail of the garish ordeal… yet something stopped him. This stern little army doctor who he'd only known a week with a heart of gold and nerves of steel had changed him, so Sherlock had simply left it alone. John didn't seem shy about revealing the wound but Sherlock still didn't touch it, didn't look too hard, he couldn't hurt John. A smile crept across the pale face, still not quite believing that this person had come into his life, someone who genuinely seemed to like him, wanted to hear about his life, didn't think his quirks were weird, or that he was a freak, John was kind, funny, generous not to mention incredibly beautiful and Sherlock could only hope John wouldn't regret what happened between them.
“Are you staring at me,” a sleep muffled voice murmured bringing Sherlock out of his thoughts.
Sherlock flushed, “yes I was.”
“Can't imagine it's the prettiest sight at this time of night.”
“You're stunning.”
“Says the supermodel.”
“Don't be ridiculous, you're so far out of my league.”
Sherlock caught himself as he said the cringe worthy comment and felt his cheeks grow hot, what an embarrassing thing to say, he sounded like a bloody lovesick school girl!
“Shut up,” John's voice was playful, “you're the most gorgeous thing I've ever seen, you're smart and interesting, you're sexy too which is a bonus!”
Sherlock laughed but he could feel the blush creeping down his chest, he'd never been called sexy in his life!
“Are you coming back to bed or are you going to stare at me some more?”
“I was enjoying the view but ok!”
John chuckled as Sherlock flopped back into bed, smiling as John's arm flung across his chest and a soft kiss was planted on his cheek before the stunning army doctor fell back to sleep.
5th March 9:05 AM
“For Christ sakes!” Sherlock fumed, stomping dramatically across the lounge with as much distain as one could manage after being pounded into blissful oblivion by a sexy army captain a few hours before. He turned to the DI and snarled, “Lestrade, you can't just barge into my flat unannounced.”
“This isn't unannounced, I've text you, left you a voicemail and also told you last night I'd be round. We need your statement as soon as possible, you've been doing this long enough to know that so don't act so affronted,” Lestrade rolled his eyes and sat on the sofa uninvited, his voice weary but his tone calm.
Just as Sherlock opened his mouth to protest, his post-orgasm brain taking a tad longer than usual to craft a soul destroying verbal assault, Sally Donovan in all her smug glory strutted in. With all the subtlety of a sledge hammer she looked the detective up and down and said with pure relish, “busy night then, freak?”
Helpfully, Lestrade turned around, looked Sherlock up and down and proceeded to let out an undignified snort before giving Sherlock a thumbs up, if a gun was in reach Sherlock swore he would have aimed it at the DI there and then. Self-consciously Sherlock pulled his dressing gown tighter around his frame, feeling his face flush, he'd temporarily forgotten his unusually dishevelled, yet un-showered state. Although his hair was wild at the best of time, today his curls were sticking out like he'd been electrocuted, he could also feel the back was a little matted thanks to the glorious time he'd had flat on his back! Expensive cotton of the best dressing gown hid his body but the peek of leg and chest revealed his lack of clothes, a state he would never be in front of the yarders. There was also a good chance the glorious love bites Dr Watson had kindly littered across his clavicle were making an appearance from under the collar of his robe. Feeling the flush creep across his chest, Sherlock’s brain went into overdrive desperately trying to salvage the situation, the only thought he could muster was to pray to whatever was up there that John Watson wouldn't walk out of his bedroom at this moment or if he did at least let him look presentable.
“Morning,” as if on cue John Watson sauntered out, he wore Sherlock’s second best dressing gown loosely tied so a large portion of his gorgeous chest was bared, at least he had pants on, although that was the only saving grace. The doctor passed the crowd, calmly strutting to the kitchen, giving Sherlock the filthiest wink he could muster before idly putting the kettle on, leaving Donovan and Lestrade gaping and Sherlock hoping the ground would swallow him… or that the gun was in reaching distance.
4th March 10:37pm
“This week has been amazing!” John enthused, pouring a generous measure of wine in both their glasses, “you're amazing!”
Sherlock felt his face redden and quickly threw another log into the crackling fire so he could turn his rosy face away.
“You're the one who shot him, you saved me John and I sincerely thank you for that.”
“You're not the only one who was saved this week.” Their eyes met, a stare so intense everything else it the room evaporated, the only sounds were soft breathing and a crackling fire.
Sherlock cleared his throat and topped up the wine again, fumbling a little with the lid.
“This wine is great,” John enthused quickly, breaking the silence and taking a large sip.
Sherlock chuckled, “it is, I’ve always been a fan of Merlot.”
With a smile John examined the bottle and emptied the rest between their two glasses.
“Are you trying to get me drunk, Dr. Watson?”
“Can you not hold your liquor, Mr Holmes?”
“I'm not the soldier in the room, I wouldn't stand a chance against an army man! I'm sure it's because of your military charm the waitress gave us the bottle to take back.”
“You're kidding, she didn't take her eyes off you the whole time we were there!”
Sherlock chuckled and took a swig of wine, he licked a stray drop and John felt a twang of something deep in his gut as Sherlock’s tongue flickered over his plump lips and John quickly took a huge gulp himself to mask his gaping mouth.
“Like I said, women aren't my area.”
“So you don't do all that then?”
“All of what?”
John flushed a little, “Romance, dating, sex?”
“I didn't say that, I said women aren't my area,” Sherlock brought the glass to his lips, looking over it with a gaze that suddenly smouldered, his pupils blown wide, almost covering the hypnotic blue irises, a seductive smile playing at his lips.
“So you like boys?” John’s frankness surprised even himself but he couldn't help himself as this beautiful, strange creature was clearly unashamedly flirting with him.
“I like men,” Sherlock purred, looked the doctor up and down and licked his lips, “men who know what they want, men who have seen the world, men who are brave, noble and will stare down the barrel of a gun and look danger right in the face.”
Taking a gulp of wine for dutch courage John practically flung himself into the space on the settee next to Sherlock, “I thought you were married to your work.”
“It's an open relationship.”
“Well that's good to hear,” John murmured, delighted that a blush had crept into Sherlock’s pale cheeks, a curl falling perfectly across those icy orbs which John was starting to drown in.
“Why is that,” the tall man closed the space between them, pressing his thighs against the muscular ones next to him.
With a smirk John pushed that tantalising curl off Sherlock’s face and whispered, “can't you deduce it?” Sherlock could only smile as he closed the little distance that was left between them.
5th March 9:11AM
“Lestrade I will come to the station and give a statement this afternoon, “Sherlock muttered, breaking the tension in the room that clung to its occupants as he shuffled awkwardly, practically ripping his dressing gown in half attempting to cover the slither of skin it revealed.
“Sherlock I really need it now!”
“A few hours won't make much of a difference,” half naked, sex rumpled, John had reappeared and calmly plonked himself down next to Lestrade, sipping a coffee like he'd lived there forever.
“All right,” Lestrade said with a weary sigh, “get dressed and get to the station, seriously I need it by lunch time.”
“No problem mate,” John said mildly, smiling amicably at the DI as if it was a totally normal occurrence that they walked in on Sherlock the morning after shagging the life out of an army doctor who killed a murderer 12 hours earlier and was now sat pleasantly in the kitchen drinking coffee in his pants. Sherlock let out a breath he didn't know he was holding as Lestrade stood with a dramatic sigh and walked to the door, politely John followed them and opened the door with a friendly smile. However the newfound serenity was quickly shattered when Sally Donovan strode straight up to John and snarled viciously in his face, “You didn't take my advice about staying away from the freak then.”
John smirked a nasty, intimidating smirk and puffed out his chest, “I’ve just returned from Captaining my 4th tour in Afghanistan, I have seen things your tiny, ignorant mind can only imagine. I’ve shot people, I’ve put people back together in the middle of a desert with nothing but gauze and Jesus as bullets have flown past my eyes. I’ve been to war, I don’t need to take advice from you, thanks.”
“Pleasure as always Sergeant Donovan,” Sherlock snarled, unable to resist, “send my love to Anderson or have you finally realised he’s screwing the postman as well as you and his wife?”
Donovan bristled and turned away, but as she walked away, turned back to John, squaring back up to him and with dripping relish spat out the words, “Did he suck you off for a hit then, Doctor?”
“Donovan!” Lestrade barked furiously at her but the nasty smile on her face lingered.
“You going to let her talk to him like that?” John snapped at Lestrade gesturing crudely at Donovan.
“That's enough Donovan, we’re leaving,” Lestrade muttered, he shot an apologetic glance to Sherlock which the detective did not return, his slender form was hunched over, arms wrapped tightly around his torso. A flush had spread across his cheeks and neck but there was a look of anguished mortification on his handsome face that John wanted to kiss right off.
4th March 11:20pm
“Dear God you are beautiful,” John purred into Sherlock’s ear in between nipping the sensitive skin of his neck and kissing every inch of the milky skin he could reach.
“Oh John, don't stop, please don't stop!” The detective moaned, a glorious husk from deep in his throat, he threw his head back dramatically, allowing himself to enjoy the doctor’s glorious teasing. Gently, a strong hand roamed across Sherlock’s chest, the closed buttons on the purple shirt decreasing by the second, John pinched a rosy nipple, swirling his tongue around the pert bud as Sherlock squeaked in bliss. Desperate for more contact with the sexy doctor who was bringing him closer to orgasm by the second, Sherlock pulled John into him, running his hands through the soft blonde hair non too gently. On a passion-fuelled deduction Sherlock thrust his tongue in John’s ear between kissing his neck and uncoordinatedly pulling at whatever piece of clothing he cold get his hands on.
“Fuck yes!” John moaned, although Sherlock was feeling a little smug he was soon overwhelmed with arousal once more when John’s hands firmly landed on his arse.
“Can I undress you?” Sherlock half panted half gasped, placing a trembling hand on John’s belt buckle, a nod followed by a breathy moan was all the encouragement Sherlock needed as he pulled his companions trousers and shorts down in one, allowing the bobbing erection to spring free. Before John could even get his breath, the madman had his cock halfway down his throat, tantalisingly sucking, licking and dear god, kissing him in all the right places.
“Jesus Sherlock, I’m not going to last,” John panted, “I want to touch you, come up here!” Eagerly obliging, Sherlock released John’s throbbing member and shimmied up so their bodies were aligned. None to gently, the tall man thrust his hardness against his bedfellows, the friction was utterly delicious, rutting like horny teenagers might not have been the most sophisticated way to get off but dear god it was effective!
“Can you come like this?” Sherlock breathed.
“Probably, this feels amazing, why, did you have something else in mind?”
Sherlock flushed, his sweat induced rosy glow deepened and he made a non-committal noise,
“Tell me what you want love,” John whispered, bringing his lips into Sherlock’s ear, who gasped as the hot breath met his skin and sent chills much further south. John’s tone had suddenly darkened, deliciously his tone dropping half an octave, a lustful power in his bright eyes, Captain Watson was making an appearance! “Do you want me to suck you, do you want to fuck me… oh you want me to fuck you?”
“I, yes,” Sherlock squeaked, catching himself, “but we don't have to, we can do whatever you want, I just want to be with you.”
“That’s very chivalrous but I would very much like to fuck you and correct me if I’m wrong but you’re lusting for my cock inside you aren’t you!”
“Dear god yes!” Sherlock chuckled but as he pushed the shirt off John’s back he sobered for a second, voice a little nervous, “You're sure though, you’re ok with… this sort of thing?”
“Having sex with a gorgeous man who is the most exquisite thing I’ve ever laid eyes on, yeah I think I can mange that.”
Sherlock sort of smiled but his eyes were becoming unfocused, flitting widely around and his hardness flagged a little.
“Back in the room, love,” John said gently stroking Sherlock’s cheek, gently manoeuvring the detective to face him, “its ok, I can see that amazing brain of yours is going into overdrive! Let me save you some time, I like it both ways, top or bottom, or neither, sex certainly isn’t just penetration. I’m bisexual, I’ve had boyfriends and girlfriends and no I haven’t been with anyone since I was discharged. Think that covers everything?”
“Erm, yes.”
“Great, do you have lube?”
“Bedside drawer, sorry I do that sometimes, get into my head, sorry.” Sherlock was blushing furiously as he mumbled an apology in embarrassment.
“Don’t apologise, it’s sexy, knowing little old me is occupying your thoughts,” John planted a tender, reassuring kiss on Sherlock’s lips before he nipped at the pale earlobe, earning a gasp from the tall man.
“Does this feel good?”
“It feels amazing, you’re amazing!” Sherlock babbled, coming further undone in the doctor’s arms.
“God, you’re gorgeous, will you spread your legs for me, darling?”
“Yes, god yes!” Sherlock was practically panting in arousal, sweat was dripping down his back but nerves suddenly overcame him.
“John, it’s been a while since I’ve been intimate with someone,” Sherlock squeaked the words, tensing a little as he spoke.
“We don’t have to do this, we can carry on fooling around, it’s all good I just want to be with you. Sherlock look at what you do to me, whatever you want is fine my darling, I promise.”
“I want to, please…” he trailed off, gasping as John nipped his ear, kissing his face softly.
“I know, it’s all fine,” John kissed his lips softly, “I’ll be gentle my darling and we can stop any time.”
“Yes, I want this, I want you but I need to see you.” Sherlock’s voice was a whisper, his eyes shining as he pulled their faces close.
“Perfect, spread your legs you gorgeous creature!”
Anxiousness forgotten, Sherlock threw his head back and opened his legs, he couldn't remember the last time he was this excited, this unashamedly turned on! John smiled and pushed a sweat damp curl from his bedfellows face, “you ready, gorgeous?”
“Yes John, I’m ready, make love to me!”
“I thought you’d never ask,” lips met in a passionate kiss, hands explored eager flesh as the lovers became one.
5th March 9:22 AM
Donovan relished each word, the cruel smirk still tugging at her lips, “yes sir, I just thought the good doctor might want to know that we once found his new friend on his knees in a drug den.”
“Donovan enough!” Lestrade shouted his own face flashing at the blatant disregard his subordinate had for his instructions, “leave right now or I will write you up on gross insubordination!”
Donovan only smirked, “just trying to look out for our new friend, pleasure to meet you Dr Watson, see you round, freak.”
“Out!” Lestrade hissed, anger bubbling but a clear flush in his face. Feeling rage overtake him, John balled his fists, shooting a rather terrifying snarl at Donovan before directing an unpleasant glare to the DI who looked somewhere between throwing up and wanting the ground to swallow him while. John sucked in a breath ready for an argument, ready to fight as team Sherlock but to his surprise, the tall man remained silent, unmoving from the spot in the corner. Sherlock’s face was white, a tremble in his hands, he wasn’t saying anything, he wasn’t denying anything, he couldn't look at John, the silence was deafening.
5th March 9:01AM
“Good morning, Doctor Watson,” Sherlock murmured, planting a gentle kiss on his companion’s cheek
“Morning,” John practically grunted his voice thick and ruff, his face morphing into a scowl as he adjusted to the light
“Sleep well” Sherlock’s kiss pecked the corner of John’s mouth who groaned and batted him away playfully
“Don’t, I haven’t brushed my teeth!”
“I don’t think I can wait that long to kiss you!”
John chuckled, “well you’ll have to. Now I don’t have to deal with the early wakeup calls I’ve come to realise I’m not a morning person! Also morning sex is far more enjoyable when a I don’t taste like a rubbish bin and I’ve had a cup of coffee.”
“Such a diva Dr Watson, but I will be the gracious host and make you a coffee but don’t come back out here with clothes on because I’m not done staring at the sexy naked man in my bed!”
“Oh shush,” John swatted his hand with fake annoyance but his ears went crimson and Sherlock could tell he enjoyed the compliment.
Returning a little while later with two steaming mugs Sherlock handed one to John said playfully, “Took your time, I’m getting cold here!”
“Sorry, Mrs Hudson came up, she made these actually so I guarantee its better than mine, but I did carry it to you so I still get the chivalrous points.”
“Yes of course you do, how can I ever repay you?” John half drawled half laughed.
“I can think of something.” John put the coffee down and gently pulled Sherlock on top of him who threw a leg over his waist and purred in the good doctor’s ear,
“Well, you’ve brushed your teeth and had some coffee so I seem to remember the next part was far more exciting,” Sherlocks breath was hot, spearmint and coffee drifting past his face as long fingers started to run through his sex rumpled hair.
“Far more exciting indeed, god this feels good,” Just as John let out a breathy moan a shrill shriek cut through the air interrupting them stopping the pair in their horny tracks.
“Sherlock! We agreed not to leave body parts in the microwave!” Mrs Hudson’s voice rang through and John collapsed into laughter, as Sherlock crawled off him, moving quickly like a naughty school boy who’d been caught with his trousers down!
“Well thats ruined the mood, I cant do this whilst I know she’s outside the door!”
“Good job we have some coffee!”
“Sorry,” Sherlock murmured
“Don’t be, it's sweet, you’re lucky to have Mrs Hudson.”
“Yes,” Sherlock smiled softly, “yes I am. She’s one of a kind.”
“She dotes on you, I could tell the second I met her. Oh god, she’s not waiting to give me the break his heart I break your legs lecture is she?”
“No, she’ll love you John. And if not she’d just poison you, nothing messy don’t worry!”
“Something tells me you're not joking!” The room was quiet again and John took Sherlock’s hand and said softly, “can I kiss you again?”
“Yes I think she’s gone and I’m so looking forward to how you will repay me for being such the perfect gentleman.”
“Those body parts better be gone when I’m back from Mrs Turner’s!!”
“Maybe we should just get up!” John muttered with a snort.
“Yes but I’ll continue to be a gentleman and have the first shower so you can enjoy your coffee in peace!”
“Ooh I’ll have to think of an even better way to repay you tonight, if you’ll have me of course.”
Sherlock reached over and planted a passionate snog on his lips, “it would be my pleasure Doctor Watson!”
5th March 9:23 AM
The mortified inspector and his gleeful lapdog turned to leave but a tanned arm suddenly pushed the door closed and before Donavan could blink, she had 5 foot 8 of enraged army doctor blocking her path. Teeth bared, face curled into a menacing snarl and stance intimidating, Captain Watson squared up to her, getting a mere inch from her face, despite her slight height advantage she physically recoiled, startling at the predator that had clearly been unleashed in this unsuspecting man in a too long dressing gown and morning after hair.
“Who the fuck do you think you are?” John snarled, “how dare you barge into this flat unannounced, speak so disgustingly disrespectfully to its occupants then ridicule the man who just solved your case. Perhaps if you got your head out of your own arse and actually did the job my tax money pays you to do, you wouldn't need to come dancing in here forcing Sherlock to do it for you. Sherlock solved this case in 3 days, he figured it out before you even knew which way was up so how dare you come here with your filthy fucking mouth and say such things to him,” Narrowing his eyes and broadening his shoulders, John hissed with pure venom, “now get the fuck out of my flat.”
Wisely, without another word Donovan practically ran out of the room,
“I’m sorry about that, I’ll be having words with her.” Lestrade stammered, the blood having drained from his face at John’s outburst.
“I should fucking hope so, if you want his help again you keep her on a bloody leash!”
“I’m sorry boys, really I am. Take it easy, pint on me yeah.”
Lestrade was clearly mortified but the absolute death glare John was shooting sent him on his way pretty quickly, needless to say he didn't remind Sherlock about his statement before leaving.
“Wow she's a complete bitch,” John said, a venomous bite in his words.
“Yes, she is.” Sherlock agreed, he wandered over to the window pulling his dressing gown even tighter around his slim frame, “You haven't signed anything, you don't have to stay,” Sherlock’s voice was soft and laced with a tremble.
“What do you mean?”
“The room, you haven't signed a contract, you're free to leave,” Sherlock’s tone was quiet, not looking at the doctor as he spoke.
“Do you want me to leave?”
“What?” Sherlock sounded genuinely surprised and spun around quickly, “no of course not, quite the opposite I would very much like you to stay but after what you've just heard…” he trailed off, looking away, his face crumpled and shoulders sagged in defeat, “and hearing it from that awful woman. I should have told you, I would have told you… It just didn't seem like the time, we were having such a truly wonderful time together and I just,” he sighed dejectedly, “it doesn't matter, these are just excuses, I’m sorry John.”
“Hey it's ok,” John said gently, “you're right we were having a wonderful time and you don't exactly share that type of thing with someone you’ve just met, it's ok.”
“It's not ok it’s shameful,” his voice was a spat whisper, as though he was loathe to speak the words, “I can't deny it John, I wish I could.”
“So it’s true, what she said?”
“Yes, you don't have to stay,” Sherlock slumped into the chair, utterly defeated.
“Sherlock, unless you want me to I'm not going anywhere.”
“You should be running a mile after what you’ve just heard about me,” Sherlock said with a bitter laugh.
“Why, because you're a man with a past?”
“Thats one way of putting it.”
“A past you can share with me?”
“I think Donovan has covered it,” Sherlock’s words were hissed, he slumped further into the chair, playing with the collar of his robe nervously.
“I don't want to hear it from her, I want to hear it from you,” John’ said gently.
Sherlock sighed, John would be out the door tomorrow anyway, there was no way to tell his shameful story that would put him in a good light and thanks to Donovan's gleeful reveal of Sherlock’s sordid past the good doctor would never want to be near him again anyway. Deducing the worst possible outcome had already been sealed Sherlock decided he may as well reveal the ugly truth, it was likely the last conversation they’d ever have, might as well be the truth.
“Years a go I had a drug problem, the whys aren't really important, you haven't known me long but I dare say you know me well enough to know my mind does not function like the average person. Back then my life was meaningless and mundane, my mind was rotting. I was young and stupid and didn't know what to do about it, I didn't know how to feel, how to not blow my brains out through the unbearable tedium. At university I'd experimented with drugs, nothing particularly serious and it was easy enough to go back to smoking weed when I graduated, but as you know Doctor Watson soon weed doesn't do the job and I needed something stronger to get me through the day.”
“Cocaine?”
“Mostly, sometimes meth. Naturally I lost my job, I hated it anyway partly the reason I was so restless. Money ran out, I didn't tell my family, Mycroft, my brother, has never really forgiven himself, or me for not realising what a mess I was. He wasn't to blame of course, I am a master of disguise after all. Anyway I knew who sold the good stuff, but I couldn't pay. I was desperate and it was well known the dealer would take other forms of payment,” Sherlock trailed off but quickly cleared his throat and continued, “one night there was a police sting, if I hadn't have been so high, so pathetically desperate I could have spotted it a mile off! Lestrade and his infamous sidekick found me. Thankfully there were no drugs on me, nothing to charge me with but it was clear why I was there.”
Sherlock was greying by the second as he spoke, his hands shaking, John ever the doctor thrust a nearby glass of water at him and rubbed his shoulder comfortingly as Sherlock shakily continued, “Mycroft bailed me out, another shameful detail, technically I hadn't committed a crime but it was a fairly unfavourable position to be found in. I got clean, went to rehab did all the things you’re supposed to do and set up my consulting firm. Sometime later I worked with the yard, Sally never liked me, I couldn't resist showing her up, once she endangered a life through her own carelessness, I won't have that. She lost a promotion because I called her out, her own stupid fault,” he spat the last words but continued, “so she did a little digging put two and two together and now any opportunity brings it up. So there you have it John, I had a serious drug problem and sold myself to pay for it, shameful. For what it's worth John please know that I'm clean now, I haven't touched it since then, please believe me.”
“I do believe you,” John said gently, his tone was genuine, “getting clean is something you should be proud of.”
“Perhaps, but I understand that you wouldn't want to live here with a man like me.”
“Why are you talking like I'm running out the door?”
“Because you should be! I'd think you were mad to stay now you know who I really am!”
“Who you really are? You're a man with a past, with ghosts with struggles like anyone else, like me, why would I leave because of that?”
“I don't understand.. .”
“I'm a man with a past too. I have demons, I’ve done things I'm not proud of. When you met me I was a traumatised army captain with a psychosomatic limp on the brink of suicide. But I’m not defined by my past and neither are you. Sherlock in just a week you've changed my life, given me hope again, make me laugh, made me feel alive, been a friend to me. You're a good man, you have a past, that doesn't change how I feel.”
“How do you feel?” Sherlock’s tone was shy but there was a glimmer of hope behind his piecing eyes.
“That I would very much like to get to know you better and if that room is going I would like to rent it, though hopefully I can spend more time in your room?”
“Are you sure, after what you've just heard about me?”
“Yes, so you have a past, you did some bad things, made some poor decisions maybe you had moments of being a bad person. But I have a past too, are you going to run a mile? I’ve gone to war, I've killed people, some of the things I've seen, some of the things I've had to do…” he trailed off, his haunted eyes compelling Sherlock to take his hand softly.
“It's ok,” Sherlock said gently, needing to offer some reassurance even if it was hollow.
“You're a good man Sherlock, I’ve only known you a short while but you've changed my life for the better. You're a man with a past, there's a lot I don't know about you, there's a lot about me you don't know, but over time, I hope we can change that.”
“I'd like to change that too, John. You are kind and noble not to mention the most beautiful man I’ve ever laid eyes on. For the record I’m not going to run a mile, you have a past too and I hope you will one day feel able to share that with me. You are special John Watson, nothing could say would change that.”
“Sherlock,” John murmured breathlessly, “so we're both a little broken but we’re also insanely good together. But I do have to tell you one thing that might change everything… I split coffee on your dressing gown!” John chuckled a little as he wrapped his arms around Sherlock’s neck.
“I’ll let you off as long as you kiss me,” Sherlock drawled playfully pulling the doctor into his embrace
“I can manage that, I think I’m going to like it here. 221b, Holmes and Watson, has a nice ring to it doesn't it.”
“Indeed it does, John, indeed it does,” no more words were spoken as John wrapped his arms tightly around the detective and kissed him like his life depended on it.
The End