(no subject)

[substituteskull]

Three years since the outbreak and John Watson still doesn't know what to make of it. Like all doctors, he'd heeded the call of city and country as England did what all smart island nations did the moment the moment WHO released a statement that the virus had spread outside of America through international travel. It shut down completely. He'd not paid attention to the politics of it, hadn't bothered so much with the news. John had his work to do, people to treat, safety and quarantine to enforce. His world because St. Barts'.

At first, isolation seemed to work. Patriots were forced to stay outside of the relative safety of Great Britain as the airports and the Eurostar stations shut down. Ferries between the islands were discontinued.

The problem was that no one could isolate whatever it was causing humanity to change. The virus didn't seem to kill the host's brain, just every other part of their systems. A day post infection, the victim would become feverish. Two days later, they'd succumb. And after that...nothing short of dismemberment could stop them. It wasn't airbourne. And not in the blood either. Just the saliva. John had never seen anything like it. The internet called it a zombie plague, but that wasn't quite right either.

It took six months for everyone worldwide to realize that quarantine wouldn't help. Infections sprouted up for no discernible reason. People turned in the Underground, in shopping centres, on the playground. London, and the country, didn't stand a chance. The government fell overnight. Society followed.

And John just stayed on at St Barts'. He stopped trying to do the most good. And just attempted to survive.

It's not easy, even for an ex-soldier. There's no heading down to Tesco's any more. Ammo is impossible to come by. But if John, and the others holed up in St. Barts' still want to eat, someone has to go out. And that someone is almost always John.

Comments

[substituteskull]

He knows that has to hurt and yet, John can't help but smile. Something real, something genuine this time. He grins wide and proud and reaches up to press back on Sherlock's chest before he hurts himself even more. It means... Everything. Maybe he'll just start to sob again because of it and wouldn't that be something to discuss later? Such a child, is he.

Sherlock is delicate right now, but it feels right to do so and therefore, John embraces the taller man somewhat awkwardly as he half lays, half lounges over him.

"You guess," he says, just by Sherlock's ear, meant to be a happy sort of sound. "You never guess. So yes. All right then. I'm part of your work." The world's gone to shit but at least there's this little beacon of hope out there.

John sets his forehead to Sherlock's. Still smiling, still in his happy place. Perhaps his breath isn't all that fresh but does that really matter?

[consulting_freak]

"John," Sherlock says his friend's name. How many times has he said John's name in the last thirty or so seconds? Three. An average of once every ten seconds. He's starting to sound redundant, but that's what happens when great minds get confused. And, the change of expression going over John's face adds to his confusion. He looks happy. Severely happy. But then there's water forming in the corners of his eyes, which is what sparks that questioning.

But, it's good. John's moving closer and it just feels... good.

"I do sometimes," Sherlock admits about the guessing. Much like he'd guessed with the pills, but he's still adamant about 'not guessing' there. His face is starting to feel too hot again. It's not the fever. Fevers don't come and go depending on how close your friend is.

John is all smiles, but Sherlock isn't. He's enjoying this a lot, but he's also testing the waters in an area he's insecure with. He's got no knowledge of things like relationships and it's hard enough managing a friendship. He'll step on John's toes and they'll fight. It'll be worse than when they were just flatmates. And, then there are certain other aspects of relationships that he's very unfamiliar with in any sense other than forensic. Moriarty had been very right when he'd dubbed him 'The Virgin'.

As far as breath freshness goes? It would matter more if his breath weren't equally effected by sleep.

"You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?"

[substituteskull]

John snorts through his nose. "Yeah," he replies softly, pulling his head back. He's not the expert at reading people like Sherlock is, but he's pretty sure he's not reading Sherlock's reactions poorly either. John makes himself comfortable because he knows Sherlock can't and he's nearly sure that he's not going to be pushed away.

Everything ended for him when Sherlock was lost. Everything...including the world. If that hadn't been a sign, no matter how superstitious John Watson simply isn't, he wouldn't know what was. There's nothing left. He'd had no one but Bill and these few people left over that managed to stay smart and stay alive.

And then Sherlock came back. At the low point. All over again.

"I just wanted to be sure that you wouldn't morally object." So yes, he's so very sure now. John's had a great deal of practice with this particular thing and Sherlock will get the benefit of an expert here. A twist of the head to avoid the collision of noses and John presses warm, rough lips from too much tongue wetting against very full, very soft ones.

It sort of makes this whole end of the world scenario worth it.

Your icon....

[consulting_freak]

John is reading him very well. Ever since his friend's face found the place just a breath away from his, there's been one thing on his mind. An odd thing for him, considering kissing in general always seemed like such a waste. A disgusting exchange of bodily fluids that he'd rather just keep to himself. But that's not how he feels currently. He's imagining pressure and John's breath against his upper lip.

There's something else too. The warmth isn't limited to just his cheeks. And after John's admission of 'yeah', Sherlock shifts around under the blanket. Does he want it off? Does he want it on? On seems safer right now, so that's how he'll leave it.

A few times before John finally takes the plunge, Sherlock gives little half attempts to close the distance between their mouths. He second guesses himself, moves back, tries again. It's a pleasant kind of torture he's inflicting on himself. It's more than enough movement and gesturing for John to know exactly what he wants.

"No objections," Sherlock whispers at his friend. He's done enough to work himself up for this over the last couple of minutes to make it better for the wait.

John's lips are slightly rough. A little bit too dry. Sherlock doesn't mind so much, but he instinctively wants to moisten them. Like with any other social protocol, he doesn't take into consideration that the use of a tongue in a kiss means something more than just a dry kiss.

Take this one too!

[substituteskull]

There is nothing more surprising than having Sherlock kiss him back. He's not talking about the moulding of mouth to mouth, the parting of lips, the sharing of breath-- The introduction of tongue and moisture makes the older of the two shiver as if he's back in secondary again and doing this for the first time with an aloof but attractive classmate who is way too smart for him.

If Sherlock is noting heat elsewhere, it's probably not just him. John is almost coming apart at the seams. He gently touching Sherlock's cheek, not quite so gently threads through his hair, and pulls back to follow the path Sherlock's tongue had taken over his own lip.

It just lasts for a second, that blinking wonder.

His own name had been said quite a few times and it's about now that he ought to express his own appreciation of the name his best friend had been given. It suits him so well. "Sherlock..." He just wants to check here before there's another kiss to be had.

This one will be with a great deal more tongue, perhaps some teeth, and the solid muscle of John Watson, soldier and doctor and in fantastic shape for his age, pressed firmly against the leaner, lankier form beneath him.

OMG THAT ONE IS CUTE

[consulting_freak]

Sherlock decides very soon after the kiss begins that kissing is nice. He finds himself leaning in toward John with one arm trapped and useless under the pillows and the weight of his head and the other lying mostly prone at his side except for the little motions he manages to get from his fingers without causing too much of a nerve uproar.

When John starts to pull away, Sherlock follows after him for a second. Don't stop. But he can't keep up when the tension in his right shoulder reminds him that his muscle is still inflamed from his fight.

He chews on his lip for a moment, watching John. His stare is intense, maybe bordering on predatory as he pays too much attention to John's mouth and not enough attention to his eyes.

Give an addict something that feels good. Is that really such a bright idea, John?

During the short break, Sherlock frees his arm from the pillows, tucking it in the space between John's neck and shoulder so he'll be able to hold his friend still if he tries to sneak away from him before Sherlock's had his fill of this kissing business.

He'll welcome the second kiss and with it all of the new things John throws into it. The passion, the heat, and the physical manifestations of them. Sherlock is a fast learner and while he doesn't have much in terms of experience, he takes note of everything that John does that he finds pleasurable in some way, and then he practices those things right back. He really likes John's tongue against his bottom lip and the way John feels when he shifts their bodies together. Which he's more than eager to demonstrate.

[substituteskull]

One doesn't expect to find hope so late in a game like this. John's lost everything from the moment Sherlock stepped from the roof and his sanity, his humanity, and his ability to live have been whittled down to stubs. It seems fitting then that Sherlock's return has ignited everything within him again. Why'd he wait a week for this? Why'd he wait those eighteen months? How could he have denied so much what everyone else had seen?

He supposed, and idly at that, Sherlock's learning curving keeping him busy, that sometimes things might just happen for a reason. A series of chance accidents and wrong turns have led to this moment and, given the heat of it, John is very unsure if he'd change even a single thing in case they never did get here.

John is careful. He is in control. Sherlock might be squirming around like a puppy, but John knows better than to advance forward guard too quickly. Sherlock's interest has been known to fizzle out after an experience. If there's always something more to want, John will always be there to give it.

Yes, the worry is silly at his point but--

Well, it's hard not to just drag his shortened fingernails over Sherlock's ribs. He sticks to his hair and chin and throat for now because, yes Sherlock, kissing your neck is nearly as fantastic as your mouth.

[consulting_freak]

There's a sweet juxtaposition between the aches and pain in Sherlock's limbs and the hum of pleasure in his core. Biochemical pathways are opening up that he's been ignoring his whole adult life. Morphine had given him a euphoria similar to this and the cocaine had been the upper that sent his heart flying right out of his chest. But together? Without the risk of landing himself passed out or hung over?

What's kept him disinterested in sex in general is an unfairly long list of how gross people are mixed with how much time he didn't care to spend on such activities. Sex and romance just aren't as important to someone who finds more pleasure in brain work. But, by God does it feel good.

John might be unhappy in the morning if he asks Sherlock too much about the experience. He cares more about his friend than anything else in the world. More than he ought to, since it's led him to some dangerous decisions. Though he's enjoying this physical outlet for frustrations and the human need for intimacy, he doesn't directly combine it with how he feels toward John. They are separate things, but John's lucky enough to fit in perfectly into each role, since there's no one he trusts more to see him at his most vulnerable than the doctor he's practically writhing against currently.

Who knows. Maybe John will convince him through gentle coaxing (or by throwing him against the wall after any adrenaline fuelled rumble with other survivors or the Infected) that he can link the two.

Sherlock doesn't follow after John when the kiss breaks this time, because his lungs are starving for oxygen. Breathing each other's respired breath is romantic in theory, but difficult to maintain for long periods of time in practice. The way he says John's name when he tilts his head to the side to expose more of that neck for John to work with might sound a bit more like begging than he means for it to. His left foot and knee try to find a way between John's legs.

"God, John. I've never been this aroused in my life," he complains, proving once again that he's a bit different than 'normal'. Although he's a virgin and feels certain apprehension because of lack of experience, he's not shy about it in any way. He's not going to beat around the bush like school girl, because that's now the kind of man he is.

[substituteskull]

John had been doing fine, just fine, until that came out of Sherlock's mouth. The older man shudders with desire, scooting his lower body so that he could see for himself if the former detective is exaggerating. He isn't. There are all sorts of things going through John's mind right now. He'd planned on holding on. On behaving. On bringing Sherlock along, little by little--

But God, he wants to be touched. He wants to touch back. He wants to see just what it is they're working with. He wants to make Sherlock moan his name again. That voice--

He swallows thickly and noses his way to Sherlock's collarbone before lightly nibbling on it. The desire to mar the skin, to place his mark upon it, becomes a deafening groan in his ears.

So why not? He indulges. Sherlock's throat is worried into a bright pink hickey. How very secondary school.

[consulting_freak]

Sherlock welcomes the change in position. The way John's hips push against his to find proof and verify Sherlock's comment about his present state. In the back of his mind, he admires John's objective sense to remain thorough, but there's a different sort of feeling coming through the forefront. Basal human instinct. The humming desire to be touched.

The friction of John's exploratory reaction makes Sherlock shudder. Mildly electric. He really doesn't know what to expect. He's never had a sexual climax before. What does it feel like? Good, obviously, or people wouldn't do it. All of the small things John's been doing makes him desperately curious to find out.

"I can't reach you," Sherlock tells John as he kisses at the side of his friend's head and ear. The sensation on his neck is a good one. It sends a warm kind of throb to his groin. That makes him seek more contact. More of the friction. Sherlock's hips roll toward John's and when he gets another electric taste, John will know it because Sherlock isn't at all quiet when he moans his appreciation. "My arm, John," Sherlock mumbles, his breathing starting to sound noticeably quicker. "I want be able to do more than just lie here."

[substituteskull]

It's generally impossible to think when Sherlock normally puts him on the spot but this is something else entirely. He isn't trying to observe as Sherlock observes or rattle off facts from medical school that may or may not be useful in the current situation in an attempt to get a pat on the head from his friend. John pauses at the dip of neckline and runs his long nose up Sherlock's throat to his cheek. Just one more kiss for now, no less passionate, certainly enough to tide him over.

"Just lay back," he says, wondering if Sherlock, a man of action and of deep thought, can be contented with passivity. "Let me show you something for once."

John's by no means expert on things with men but he knows what he likes and Sherlock isn't his first male bedmate.

Clever fingers, skilled in so many things, pull at the drawstring of Sherlock's sleeping trousers before he slips his hand past the waistband and into the right leg.

He breathes in the gasp before tentatively nibbling on an ear. It might be too many new sensations at once but as long as Sherlock doesn't close down to sensory overload, it should be worthwhile.

He's a little surprised at Sherlock's girth now that he holds him in his hand and, swallowing excess saliva, tugs his hand upward.

[consulting_freak]

It would be easy to get overwhelmed by all of the stimuli John's giving him. His mind desperately tries to keep up by adding actions and reactions to a temporary storage area where he can go through them and analyse them later. Light kisses on his neck do one thing, suction another. The feel of John's tongue sliding against his tendons. Even the sound of his friend's voice seems to be having a positive effect on his journey toward sexual release.

But, John's not being fair. He's getting so much data for how his own body works, but hardly anything from how John's does. A scientific mind likes reproducibility of results. Sherlock wants to give John every touch and sensation he's getting if for nothing else than to observe how similar their physical responses are.

"Laying back is worse than lying back," Sherlock grumbles. "Telling me to lay is telling me to be no more than an immobile object." As Sherlock gives his ill-timed grammar lesson, he has to pause every few syllables. Sometimes with a gasp, but usually just to mentally follow every little movement of John's fingertips over his skin. There's a little spot just over his hip that makes him gasp as John works his hand down into his pyjamas.

Distracted from his complaints, Sherlock curls his good arm around John and tucks his face down against his friend's shoulder. "John," he moans, once again squirming toward him. "You want my attention, too. Why don't you let me give it to you?"

I thought I replied ages ago! Blast!

[substituteskull]

The grammar correction is enough to make John laugh, though it's by no means mean spirited. It's just that he's reminded again of how very Sherlock Sherlock is. And he loves that. He could never completely keep that to himself. He might as well shout it out, but instead, he just kisses the words out of his mouth in an attempt to quiet it.

Alas. That's not going to be possible. And he ought to have known.

Fingers still wrapped around the throbbing member of a man who likely has never even bothered to touch himself this particular way, John props himself up to look down at the poor creature yearning to do more than simply enjoy.

Likely, John realizes, Sherlock can't enjoy anything being passive like this.

"Can you allow me just to touch you? If you want to touch me after, you're more than welcome to. I want to... I just want you to watch me." That small realization, and admittance, makes his stomach burn. But it's true.

To have Sherlock's eyes on him--

"I'm going to take your trousers off...and light a candle so you can see better," he explains. "All right?"

[consulting_freak]

John would be right in his assumption that Sherlock's never bothered to touch himself like this. He'd tried it. Once. But that had been when he was fifteen years old and he became bored with it shortly after beginning and simply viewed erections as a minor irritation after that. Right now, it's much more interesting.

Sherlock lets John slip away from his embrace. His grip loosens, thinking that his friend might be moving like he'd asked him to. Into a position where Sherlock will be able to use his good arm to return some of these touches and find out things no one else knows about John's body.

"But," Sherlock starts as John begins his request. It goes uninterrupted, so he listens to what John has to say. It's difficult to think too much on speaking with John's hand stroking him.

"That's all... just watch?" Sherlock asks him, but he's uncertain. He wants to touch, too. There's so much vulnerability in succumbing to physical pleasure. Whether it's drugs or this, there's a certain amount of himself that he always keeps closed away and boxed deep down inside his Mind Palace in a locked room at the very bottom level. Showing John that makes him feel anxious. Doubly so if the pleasure will be going one way for now.

He trusts John implicitly.

A slow nod. It might be too dark to make it out. "All right. Fine. It's... it's fine," Sherlock tells him, rolling onto his back and kicking himself back so he can prop his neck up against his pillow against the headboard. "We'll do it your way this time."

[substituteskull]

John must admit that he's impressed with himself. There had been half a moment of doubt when he'd assumed Sherlock would simply leave but-- Sex, it seems, even for Sherlock, is a good motivator.

His former flatmate has spent thirty something years of his life without likely knowing what this is like and John is in the mood to treat him-- Not because he wants to necessarily, but because the process is going to be so different from the way he's been with anyone else.

Pantsless is a good look for Sherlock, John decides as he brings fire to the wick of the candle and drops beside his friend to run his fingers over his smooth chest to his navel. His mouth follows as John gets himself back into position on the bed.

A glance up tells him that yes, Sherlock is indeed watching him. Good. He plans on making this slow with his nose in Sherlock's pubic hair before he even brings his mouth into play. He can almost taste the groan when he does, though.

[consulting_freak]

Limping back to his room on a bum ankle with one sore shoulder, the other arm completely broken, and with an erection that would undoubtedly become painful if unattended to doesn't seem like a pleasant alternative to letting John have his way. Even if he's discontent with not being able to have some direct control over his and John's experience.

Sherlock gets to once again prove that he has no body shame as John removes everything below the waist. He lifts his hips when he needs to in order to keep this going at a decent pace, but John seems to be more interested in teasing him than anything else.

"To be honest, John... I don't think I could get much more aroused than this," Sherlock tells his friend, reaching down with his good hand to touch the top of John's head. The hair's a bit shorter and a lot greyer than it had been when they'd lived with each other before. It feels coarse and wiry as all grey hair tends to feel, but he doesn't mind. What he does mind is being teased so much. As pleasant as it is, Sherlock's not known for his patience.

After so much teasing, it takes quite a lot of willpower not to try and impale John's throat as soon as his friend takes a taste of him. Their moans are similar, but Sherlock's is a much lower register that sounds almost like a growl. "More, John."

[substituteskull]

It likely isn't fair to tease but John hadn't meant for it to seem like that. His interest is more selfish than it is selfless, his desire to see Sherlock undone outweighed by his need to savour and study. One never knows when the next day will end up being the last and should either of them fall tomorrow, John wants to know that he's had, and given, his best.

Then again, oral sex on men is not one of better talents. A few times here or there and plenty of fellatio on himself gives him more confidence than he ought to otherwise have. Luckily, Sherlock doesn't thrust upwards. There's no need to be induced to vomit!

John presses a hand to Sherlock's hip and with the other, provides the second half of Sherlock's length with stimulation his mouth will simply be unable to. He is eager at least in this act, though "good" isn't a word anyone knowing any better would use.

John gives in to direction. Sherlock wants more and John isn't going to drag it out any further. This is much faster than he'd assume they would go, but it feels right just the same.

He is trusting that Sherlock will warn him before orgasm, though. Perhaps they should have gone into this with a game plan?

[consulting_freak]

John has the advantage of being with a partner who literally doesn't know any better. John could be the most amazing practitioner of oral sex or he could be a complete dunce and Sherlock wouldn't know the difference. The sensations he's feeling right now are pleasant enough and a very good change from what little sensation he'd been getting from minor friction against his trousers.

"A little... less suction," Sherlock instructs, licking his lips to wet them. He's been doing the majority of his breathing through his mouth so it's only natural the air current would leave his lips and throat feeling dry.

The toes of his left foot dig into the bedclothes next to John's side as he tries very hard not to thrust against his friend's mouth. He's being too careful, so Sherlock assumes John's one of those unlucky people born with a sensitive gag reflex. (Too many overdoses and the forced vomiting those brought have left Sherlock with a rather weak one.)

"Rhythm, John." Sherlock could sit back and enjoy himself without complaint, but if he can't touch John, then he can at least give him verbal pointers. "Move your hand and your mouth at the same tempo and direction."

Sherlock might have already had an accidental release before getting his trousers off if it weren't for the ache in his arm grounding him. And if John follows his advice, it most likely wouldn't be very long before orgasm finds him anyway.

[substituteskull]

Stifling a laugh, John does as he's told. Now this is exactly what he wants. It's not that he enjoys being constantly corrected -- he isn't as masochistic as Mycroft might have once believed and all of his girlfriends at one point or another had wondered -- it's just that Sherlock is-- Sherlock is Sherlock. He is real. This is actually happening. John couldn't be more pleased.

Sherlock doesn't need experience to know what he likes and John is more than happy to oblige. He ignores the salty, bitter flavour beading on his tongue, the small emission can't be helped though it does signal that Sherlock is closing in to completion.

Less suction. More coordination. John's brows furrow as he works up Sherlock's shaft, ignoring the discomfort in his cheek from the skin stretching at his stitches.

[consulting_freak]

Now that John is giving him exactly what he asked for, Sherlock's starting to become a little more noisy. For now, it's mostly appreciative noises. Little things to let John know that what he's doing is feeling very good.

There's a moment just a few minutes into the experience that feels different. A little tug like his body is getting ready for something. All those little nerve impulses start to resonate faster and it leaves Sherlock's head tucked down toward his chest. "Oh God, John," Sherlock moans, moving his hand down to cup at John's cheek because he knows that if he keeps his hand on the top of John's head, he'll just pull the other man's face downward.

He bends both legs up, left leg twisting around John's shoulder and the right thigh rubbing against the back of his knuckles at the side of John's head. Yes, he thinks he's getting pretty close now, but he doesn't tell John in any words.

[substituteskull]

The touch of cool fingers to his burning face is distracting enough that John misses all of the physical cues to Sherlock's first journey over the edge of pleasure. He jerks back his head at the onslaught of thick not-quite liquid hitting the roof of his mouth, catches a jet across his nose and milks the remainder over his knuckles.

John's eyes stay focused on Sherlock's face, regardless of how loud he's certainly being, and stays with him through to the softening of his penis and into his refractory period.

He probably will want water or a breath mint in the near future, but smiles whenever Sherlock finds it in him to look up again.

Not too bad, he figures. He certainly feels proud of himself!

[consulting_freak]

Sherlock is by no means quiet when he reaches that final moment. Too much electricity and muscle contraction. Oxytocin overload and a dopamine chaser. It makes him writhe and press himself into John's mouth. As soon as he does, John's off of him, but the moment's already started and won't stop just because of that.

Eyes half-lidded, Sherlock watches John through the entirety of his orgasm. And for one moment that lasts maybe fifteen or twenty seconds in total, Sherlock's mind is blissfully blank. Nothing but him, John, and an overwhelming physical pleasure.

And when it's all over, he collapses back down into relaxation. It'll take him a moment to catch his breath. When he does, he'll look back down at his friend now lover. "Time for my practical?" Sherlock asks him, smirking a little bit. Maybe John will appreciate how good of a student Sherlock can be. Well, if he can figure out a way to hold himself up with his arms in the state they are.

[substituteskull]

It's much too late for these things, John thinks as he carefully fits himself to Sherlock in regards to that broken arm. It's much too late and now they both need another shower. He doesn't bother going for a breath freshener after all and instead settles a hand over Sherlock's hip and closes his eyes.

He's up first, his body refusing to sleep past sunrise, and groaning, aching, John watches Sherlock in his sleep for several long moments before he brushes back hacked at curls and presses a kiss to his forehead.

Evidently, they'd been loud last night. There's no sound proofing between the old offices and John groans as he hits the locker room. Josie, also there, at least decides to ask after his face instead of last night's entertainment.

"What got you, Doc?"

John touches the plaster over his cheek. "Just a disagreement with a fist," he explains. "It's all right." Josie winks at him and John just turns in a huff and rinses off the mess dried to his skin.

[consulting_freak]

Sherlock's performance hadn't been the most graceful. At one point, he'd lost his balance when his right shoulder gave out, but it had lightened the mood instead of destroying it. And, eventually, Sherlock had been able to gather a fair amount of data about both his and John's likes and dislikes in regards to sexual stimuli.

If they'd been a decade younger and their situation less grim, perhaps they would have stayed up exploring each other for another hour or two. But, they had work to do in the morning and both men settled against each other to enjoy the post-sex biochemical bliss.

John had been able to fall asleep first. Sherlock's orgasm happening sooner in the night meant that his body had a chance to wake up afterwards. So, he lied there on his back with his good arm curled around his friend. Cuddling. It just seemed like the right thing to do after something like that.


Sherlock wakes the next morning to an empty bed and the reluctance to open his eyes. Not enough sleep. It takes him almost ten minutes to drag himself out of bed and into his trousers.

No one asks about Sherlock leaving John's bedroom that morning. He can tell by a few hastily averted glances that they all know what had happened the night before, but he can't seem to find it in him to be embarrassed or really care about that.

A few smiles and good mornings are exchanged (surprisingly not faked, even after their discussion. He's in a good mood) and he brings a change of clothes to the locker room for a morning shower.

Bill, at least for the moment, is nowhere to be seen. He doubts that luck will continue.

[substituteskull]

By that point, John's gone to get breakfast and returned to his room to change the sheets and change his plasters. He's in the middle of that, dabbing cream onto his sutures, when Sherlock returns. John must say he's taking a bit of time to glance a little more invitingly at Sherlock now, or at least, he's realizing it for what it is.

His own mood is much improved, certainly a great deal lighter, and he finishes up his bandaging, door left partially open, before he turns back to Sherlock.

"We should get the unpleasantness done with," he suggests. Right back into the fray with them. And it's so easy. John had forgotten just what it's like for that to happen, for the world to just click, and it makes him a little bit restless. "I brought you something to eat, which I'm relatively sure you'll ignore," he teases.

Sherlock can get dressed on his own, independently, but John is here to help should he require it.

"Unless your leg is still giving you trouble. I can get your samples for you, if need be."