Promises Series

Promise of Love - Normal Person

A/N: Sorry I'm late! I was just super busy yesterday.

The title of this chapter is "Normal Person" by Arcade Fire.

Sherlock was awakened when the bed dipped. He cracked his eye open in time to see John buttoning up his shirt. He smiled to himself and stretched, cracking his back in the process.

"Good morning," Sherlock drawled sleepily, turning to lie on his back.

"Morning, love," replied John, grinning. He leaned over the bed and dropped a soft kiss onto the tip of Sherlock's nose. "I've got to get to the clinic. I'll stop by after my shift ends, yeah?"

Sherlock hummed in agreement. He sat up and watched John leave, sighing. Deciding that he should probably get out of bed, Sherlock ran his hands through his hair. He got up, threw on his dressing gown, and padded into the kitchen. He made himself tea, but made sure there was enough water left in the kettle for Julia to make herself a cup when she made her appearance.

Sherlock settled in his chair and drank his tea while going through the comments on John's latest entry. He checked his emails, frowning the whole time. The woman who suspected her husband was cheating was actually in a love affair of her own. The money wasn't stolen; an estranged daughter transferred it from her parents account to hers. Boring. Boring. Boring

Julia trudged into the sitting room, fidgeting with her sleeves. The girl disappeared into the kitchen and returned a few minutes later with a cup of tea in her hands. She sat on the couch and sipped absently, something else obviously on her mind.

"You had a nightmare," Sherlock deduced bluntly.

"Yeah."

"You're... all right?"

There was a pause this time. "Yeah."

She raised her hand to pick at her lips. Sherlock frowned at the action, knowing now that it had been more difficult for Julia than she wanted to let on. The detective caught sight of red marks on Julia's palm and wondered what was hidden there.

"May I see your hands?"

Julia clamped her fingers around her forearms. "What for?"

"No, not your arms, your hands. Come over here."

The girl walked over to him cautiously. He gently took her hands and unfurled her fists. He closed his eyes, shame flooding through him. He had failed her.

"It was bad," Julia whispered. "I couldn't. I'm sorry."

"You could have come to me."

Julia stood still, her eyes not moving from the small red marks on her skin.

"Julia. Why didn't you come to me?"

"I didn't want to bother you and John."

"You need to always come to me. Whenever you feel like this, no matter where I am or what I am doing, you come to me."

"But you and John-"

"-were sleeping, yes. Humans do tend to need that. But you know I don't need much sleep to begin with. The next time you feel this way, come to me."

"I'm sorry. I just- It was too much."

"Don't be sorry. I apologize for letting you think you couldn't come to me."

"You don't like talking about feelings."

"No, but the wretched things must be dealt with, mustn't they?"

Julia nodded.

"What do you want for breakfast?" asked Sherlock.

"I'll just make some toast."