Work Text:
Tuesday 2:18pm
"Where are you guys?" Lestrade urgently asked John Watson.
"In the alley by the shop," John replied.
Lestrade made his way to the main door of NSY when Donovan interrupts him, "Sir, where are you going? We have 3 cases that need to done. You can't just be leaving—"
"I'm busy. — Sorry John. Is he okay? Did he just shut down or what?"
"Oh my God. Of course it's the freak again." Sally complained, "Sir! We have work to do! "
Lestrade walked out of the building and to his car as John relayed the incident to him over the phone, "I don't understand what happened. I mean he seemed fine when we were in there. Although he was quiet. I just figured that it would be nice for him to get out since he didn't have many cases coming in this week."
"What it noisy in there? Or bright? Or crowded even?"
"It was pretty loud and crowded. There was a lot going on and it was busy."
Greg started the car, "Okay," he sighed, now speaking with a calmer tone. "Just keep an eye on him. Make sure he doesn't run off or get hurt doing anything."
"Got it," John hung up the phone and made his way back towards Sherlock, who was on the ground curled up in his coat.
20 minutes ago
John had wanted me to come with him to look at some clothes because I "am sulking" and "need to get out of the flat and get some fresh air" because "it's healthy and good for you". I am quite annoyed by this. I resisted as much as I could but here I am anyway. At the shop. Looking at shirts. It's quite busy for a Tuesday. Loud too. I don't like it. People keep bumping into me and touching me. The fluorescent lights and colourful shirts are hurting my eyes. And there's so many people. It's too small to have this many people in here.
"Sherlock? Hey. Sherlock?" John tried to get his attention.
"Hmhmm"
"I asked whether you liked this one or this one better," John held up a light blue Hawaiian style shirt and a bright red Nike shirt.
"…"
"It was a joke by the way. You know I would never actually wear any of that."
"…"
They stared at each other awkwardly.
"Sherlock? You okay?"
"Mmhm"
John turned around to put the shirts back.
Why would I say I'm fine. I don't want to make a scene. It's so loud in here. And bright.
Someone turns the radio up because they couldn't here it over the people talking.
Why do you even need the radio on right now?
A toddler starts screaming crying over a toy. Sherlock flinches at the sound and closes his eyes.
"So I was thinking we could go to the shop next to this one and walk around there when we're done looking at stuff here. What do you think about pasta for dinner?"
Sherlock was frozen. Thousand yard stare. Then he darted out of the shop and around the corner.
"Sherlock!" John dropped what he had and chased after Sherlock, but the crowd was crowding the way out.
Sherlock ran into the alley and collapsed onto the ground crying. He was sprawled all over the ground. John finally made out of his way of the shop. "Sherlock," he said softly. "You good?" He reached down and touched Sherlock's back, causing Sherlock to finch and curl up into a ball with his coat over his head.
John walked around Sherlock, observing him. Confusing. He's never seen him like this before and wasn't sure what to do. Maybe it's something medical? Or is he using again. Seems more like a panic attack of some sort so most likey not drugs. Well, I don't know how to get him up and home. Should I call Mycroft? No. Mycroft will only make us both upset. Lestrade probably. He's known him longer than I have.
John pulled his phone out of his jacket pocket and searched for Greg Lestrade's number. Maybe he's busy. Maybe I shouldn't call. John put his phone back in his pocket and went back over to where Sherlock was. "Sherlock, I don't understand what's happening right now but I need you to get up. If you're not okay you need to say something. Is there something happening?"
"ahmmm," Sherlock vocalized.
John waited a couple of seconds, "Words would be helpful."
"MMmmm…" Sherlock groaned louder and moved his head a little bit.
"I don't know what to do right now."
Sherlock moved a little more and lightly started to hit his head on the pavement.
"No ,hey. Come on. Look at me." John frantically attempted to get Sherlock to stop. "Don't do that please. I'm trying to help. Please." Sherlock stopped and was silent. He put his head back in his coat.
I'm definitely calling Greg now.
Tuesday 2:28pm
Lestrade parked his greyish, silver, car around the corner of the alley way. John saw him pull up and walked in his direction. "Greg, sorry to call you over like this."
"It's fine, don't worry about it. If I'm being honest, I needed to get out of there for a bit."
"Well, like I said on the phone, I don't understand what happened exactly. He just ran off," John gestured towards Sherlock.
"I think I have a pretty good idea what happened. I'll just check up on him first," Greg calmly walked over to where Sherlock was.
Sherlock was now sitting up against the wall of the building with his legs up to his chest, and still with his legs and head covered with his coat, now rocking back and forth. Lestrade slowed his pace as he aproached Sherlock and knealed down about a foot away from him.
"Hey, Sherl." A car drove by. Sherlock suddenly covered his ears and hit his head against the wall a couple of times. "wait, wait, wait. It's okay. Are you overstimulated right now?"
"…"
"I'm going to go grab you some headphones from the car," Greg got up and walked back over to where John was standing.
"Is he okay?" John asked.
"He'll be okay. He's overstimulated right now. I have some stuff in my car that will help."
"Oh. Do you know if he is on the spectrum or something? I know we always sort of beat around the bush when talking about that with him, but he's never said."
"He is autistic but he's scared to talk about it with people. You should ask him about this when this is over. I'm going to get to my car now. I can drive you guys home if you need."
"That's sounds good. Thanks."
Lestrade made his way over to the car and opened the boot. He rustled around in there looking for the bag that he always keeps in there in case something like this came up. He found the green drawstring bag. In the bag there was a pair of noisecancelling headphones, earplugs, sunglasses, instant ice pack, instant heat packs, a few different snacks, chewlery, fidgets, and some water. He also had a weighted vest in the boot because it didn't fit in the bag very well. He grabbed the bag and vest then closed the boot.
Greg made his way back over to Sherlock who was still rocking back and forth. He sat next to Sherlock and set the items down. Sherlock stopped and glanced over to Lestrade. Greg stopped what he was doing and looked back at him. Sherlock looked away and continued stimming. Greg took take the noise cancelling headphones out of the bag and set them in front of Sherlock.
Sherlock took them a couple seconded later.
"Does that seem better?" Lestrade asked softly.
Sherlock took the coat off his head and looked at Lestrade's legs.
"You want the sunglasses? Here." Greg handed him the sunglasses and Sherlock put them on.
"I also have some fidgets and a weighted vest right here."
"no" Greg heard a small voice.
"That's okay. I'll take the rest of the stuff back to the car. You can come back with me. I was going to give you can John a ride home."
Sherlock stood up slowly.
"Okay, take it slowly now," Greg made sure he didn't run off.
John made his way to the car first and got into the passenger seat. Then Greg opened the car door for Sherlock, and Sherlock got in the back seat. Then Greg got in the drivers seat and started the car.
"By the way Sherls, I've got some fruit punch juice boxes back there. Don't ask why."
"I wasn't going to," said the monotone voice. Sherlock grabbed a juice box.
Tuesday 2:45
The three boys arrived at 221 Baker Street. They got out of the car and went upstairs to 221b. Sherlock went up to his room and closed the door. John and Lestrade stopped in the living room.
"Thanks Greg. I don't know how I'm going to approach Sherlock about this."
"It's no problem really. Sherlock really doesn't like talking about his neurodiversity. He thinks it makes him sound pathetic and weak. It's not true but it's what he thinks."
"Well, I want to help him the best I can. I remember quite a bit about these things and working with them for some time, but I didn't want to just assume that about Sherlock and he always avoided the topic."
"No worries. Tell me how it goes later."
"Right then," Lestrade walked out of the flat and down the stairs.
John grabbed his laptop. He opened google and looked up how to help autistic friend.
Wednesday 10:12am
So how am I going to bring this up? John thought. Let's go with, "Morning Sherlock!" No. He'll notice that something's off if I say it like that. How about… Wow I really can't think of anything else to start off with. He's going to notice everything I do anyway. I'll just wing it. Probably a bad idea.
Sherlock walked out of his room. "Morning Sherlock! How ya doing today?"
"I am doing fine," Sherlock said plainly as he poured the water from the kettle to his mug.
"That's good. Uhhhmm," John looked at the tall man.
"I assume you want to talk about my reaction yesterday."
"Well, uh, yes. Before you say anything, I want to say that I am perfectly fine with whoever you are. It's all okay. There's nothing to be ashamed of."
"I know. I know that Lestrade has said something to you about me being autistic. He is correct. I do not speak about it because people will think that I am stupid and less than everyone else. The only problems I have is when people don't know and then don't understand why I act the way I do. I do not wish to continue this conversation."
"I understand. I do need you to tell me things like this before hand because that could've been really bad. You got hurt. Speaking of which, I do want to have a look at your head. I know that had to do some damage."
Sherlock sighs, "I don't know what I need. I really don't."
"It's ok I don't mean to stress you out. We can work it out overtime. I just wanna take a look at your head."
Sherlock and John sat on the couch as John took a look at Sherlock's head.
Overtime, as was said, John did his best to be understanding of his best friend, and Sherlock did his best to communicate what he was feeling when he was feeling it. Lestrade was still there whenever the two of them needed help.