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Sherlock is definitely not a man known for good sleeping habits. John is aware of this, and was especially aware of it when he said ‘I do’ and agreed to sharing a bed with him.
It always worried John whenever he woke up to the bed empty, especially when he was having nightmares, but he refrained from sharing his anxiety from Sherlock because, well, why talk about your problems when you could just hope they get the subtle hints? Every morning was a game of trying to tell if Sherlock had even had a wink of sleep.
The last thing he expected, though, was for the famous detective to actually recognize John’s hints (as if he wasn’t a master of deduction but hey- sometimes things slip by) and do something about it.
“Sherlock! Can you-“
“Shhhh!! Quiet!” Mrs. Hudson interrupted. John spun his head to her, surprised.
“What?” He asked, confused by her hushed outburst.
“He’s asleep!” She replied in an excited whisper.
“He’s.. asleep..?”
“Yes!”
John turned and looked up the stairs again, then turned back to Mrs. Hudson.
“Are we talking about THE Sherlock holmes? Like the man I married Sherlock Holmes? Famous detective? Professional arsehole? Him? You mean he’s up stairs this very second taking a nap?”
“Yes! Your husband, Sherlock Holmes, is taking a nap!”
John stared bewildered. Something had to be up, maybe this was a prank, because he’s pretty sure Sherlock has never in his life chosen to take a nap. Sometimes John forces him to lay down and relax a second, but it never ends with him actually asleep. Now that he thinks about it, it really is like trying to get a toddler to sleep.
“Is this some sort of joke?” He said, unamused.
“No! I went upstairs to offer him tea and biscuits and I found him asleep in your bed. I’ve barely made a noise since!”
“Right.. surely he isn’t actually asleep..” John said, shaking his head.
“I don’t know, dear. He looked pretty knocked out to me.” Mrs. Hudson said with a small shake of her head before returning back into her room.
John stood there in shock for a few more moments, before doing his signature John Lick Lip™ and beginning up the stairs. When he came into the apartment, he silently dropped the groceries and tip toed to the door of their bedroom.
Opening the door, he stared in quietly. Sherlock was laying in bed with the lamp on in his pajama pants and grey t-shirt. The blankets were ruffled and messed up, and he had his eyes shut. John couldn’t believe it. Sherlock was genuinely asleep. And John didn’t even have to argue with him to do
it.
Trying not to disturb him, John snuck in and turned off the bedside lamp before rushing out of the room. He went back to the kitchen and unloaded the groceries with a soft smile, not even caring that Sherlock wasn’t awake to do it (not that he would’ve anyway).
Once he was done, he genuinely didn’t know what to do. They were still doing research for their current case and it left him with nothing to blog about. Normally he’d find some way to help (annoy) Sherlock, but with him asleep for once he was honestly.. bored? Relaxed? It’s been a few years since he had really nothing at all to do. With a sigh, he sat down in his chair and grabbed the book beside him to try and relax and get some ‘me time’ in.
Of course, when has John ever had a moment to relax?
Before he could even get through a few chapters, arms draped around his shoulders from behind and a head dropped into his shoulder with a sigh.
“Looks like someones up.” John noted, before putting his book down in his lap and reaching up to rub through Sherlock’s hair.
“You’re back.” Sherlock stated into John’s shoulder.
“I am back. You were asleep.”
“Barely.” Sherlock sighed before sliding away from John, only to walk around the chair and casually climb into his lap to lay across him and stare at the ceiling.
John rolled his eyes and went back to petting his hair again. It was honestly like having a cat.
“But you were though, right? Even just for a moment?” John tried. Sherlock slowly nodded. “Well that’s good. God knows you hardly get any sleep at all.”
“I don’t need it.”
“Yes you do.” John shot back.
“It’s a waste of time.”
“It keeps you energized.”
“It’s pointless when you aren’t there.”
John went silent, hands stopping in his hair. He watched Sherlock for a little longer.
“What do you mean?” He finally said.
“Sleeping is only good when you’re there,” Sherlock complained. “Otherwise it’s no use. I know you worry about me and my habits. I’m trying to fix it for you, I failed to see how hard it would be without your help.”
John went silent again. It hurt knowing Sherlock was struggling alone, but he felt so loved knowing it was all for him.
“Love, you do know you can ask for help, right?” John said, speaking a little quieter than before. Sherlock finally looked to him.
“It was meant to be some sort of surprise for you.”
“You could just get me flowers.” John teased lightheartedly.
“Whatever for?” Sherlock replied. John smacked his head lightly.
“Why don’t we take a nap together then?”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“You know I struggle to sleep without you too, right?” John admitted. Sherlock furrowed his eyebrows.
“You do?”
John laughed again. He loves Sherlock to death, but sometimes his denseness is just too much.
“I wonder if you remember we’re married sometimes.” He smiled. “Of course I can’t sleep without you, I love you. I’m not really one for sleeping, but when you’re next to me it’s a lot easier.”
Sherlock shifted in and sat up in John’s lap in silence, staring at him still. John pressed a half-hearted kiss to his cheek before patting his back gently.
“Come on, love. Lets go to bed.”
“Did you put away the groceries?” Sherlock said, failing to hide his smirk.
“You are the most insufferable man.” John groaned before shoving him off his lap and making his way to the bedroom.
“I love you too.”