Falling For You

Awake

Beep.  Beep.  Beep.

Sherlock's eyes fluttered open.  His heart pounded inside his throbbing chest.  Everything was bright. So bright.  He wondered where he was before he saw John, the man he loved, sitting in a chair sleeping.  Sherlock wondered if he should wake him.  Did John want to see him?  Did John want Sherlock to wake him up?  Sherlock deduced that if John had been waiting in the hospital long enough to fall asleep in the chair, he was waiting for Sherlock to wake up.

"John?" Sherlock called.  His voice was scratchy and weak, so he had to cough to clear his throat.  The cough was what woke John Watson up from his dreamless sleep.

"You're up," John acknowledged.

Sherlock tried to nod but he found that he was in too much pain to do anything.  "I thought... I thought I was dead," Sherlock whispered.

John got up from his seat and moved towards Sherlock.  He sat next to him on the small hospital bed and smiled at his love.  John wasn't even sure that Sherlock would ever wake up.  It seemed as though Sherlock would die at the pool, but something managed to start his heart again and he was asleep for two days.  John only left his side to go to the bathroom a few times.  

"I did too," John admitted.  "Doctors said you might not remember much."

"Remember?  Remember what?" Sherlock asked, his eyes darting around the room.  John had been in the hospital, probably mostly in this very room, for two days straight.  He was wearing the same clothing he had worn when Sherlock had basically died.  His clothes were still bloodstained, actually. There was a lot of blood on him and he looked like a hot mess, but Sherlock still loved him.  In fact, he loved him even more than he had before because John hadn't given up on him.

"Anything after you were shot.  They said you were in shock so you might not remember the things you said or what happened after..." his voice trailed off, unable to finish the end of his sentence.  John didn't even want to say the name because that man had practically killed Sherlock.  Of course, John had actually killed him in return, but it was justice.  It didn't count for anything.

"I remember everything," Sherlock countered.

John blushed and looked away.  "So, did you mean what you said?  When you said-"

"I love you?" Sherlock interrupted.

John nodded timidly, his cheeks still painted pink.  "Yeah," he said.  "That."

"Of course," Sherlock said softly.

"Right.  Well, uh, good.  That's very good," John beamed nervously.  

Sherlock raised an eyebrow.  "Oh?"

"Yeah, because I love you too," John said sheepishly.

Sherlock flashed John the biggest smile he had ever smiled. He was overjoyed by the new emotions he had started feeling.  He was happier now because John loved him and he loved him back. And because he wasn't dead.  Being dead would have sucked in this situation.

"Come here," Sherlock grinned.  John moved closer and Sherlock tugged lightly on his jumper, pulling John towards his own lips.  They kissed, the touch soft and tender because Sherlock was still so weak. John ran his fingers cautiously through Sherlock's curls, making sure to be delicate and not to hurt him.  He wasn't used to being the stronger one with Sherlock, so he had to get used to it.  

"I'm so glad you didn't die," John whispered into Sherlock's ear after pulling away from the soft kiss.

Sherlock kissed John's cheek.  "Me too."