the richenbach hero // johnlock

Chapter Eleven

Sherlock glanced at John, both stricken with heavy fear. Shaky hands gripped Sherlock's. No one should know he was here. He phoned Mary earlier telling her he was at Harry's place, and told Harry that he was leaving town for a couple weeks, and if Mary asked, he wasn't to be bothered. Sherlock brushed John's cheek lightly as he stood from his lover. His stride grew stuff as he approached the door, and his face became a stiff mask, covering emotion. His hands stilled and so did his heart. Ice became his feelings. Barricades began to come back up, forming an unbreakable wall around him. His hand gently reached out and gripped the bronze nob. Sherlock turned his head, to check that John had gone out of sight. Turning back to face the wood, he turned, and pulled open the creaking wood.

"Well sure did take you long enough"
The grey haired man smiled. Arms flew around Sherlock's neck and he pulled Sherlock in close. Sherlock grinned and hugged the man back.

"Been quite some time, Gregory"

"I missed you, mate"
He pulled away and rested his hand on Sherlock's shoulder, like Greg still couldn't believe he was actually seeing his old friend again. Sherlock smiled and let his walls break down. John came silently from the kitchen and smiled at Greg.
"He's here too? Well, quite a happy reunion then!"

"I'll put on a kettle"
John shuffled over to the oven and pulled tea down from the shelves. Greg sat down heavily on the couch while Sherlock slid into his chair. The smell of chamomile tea began to fill the room and Sherlock smiled. Domestic life suited him nicely so far, especially with John. Greg looked at Sherlock, eye's riddled with confusion
"Yes, Inspector? You have questions, I presume?"

"Well, yeah"

"Ask away"
Sherlock sank back into his chair, closed his eyes, and folded his hands under his chin, signature steeple style.

"Okay well, for one; why?"

Sherlock had been expecting a how question.
"To protect my friends"

"What?"

"Moriarty had snipers. Three, to be specific. One on you, one on John, and one on Mrs. Hudson. I simply did all of this, to protect my only three friends in the world"

The room fell silent. Both pairs of eyes were on Sherlock. John had already herd this, but Sherlock was still shaken. John smiled at the man fondly before turning back ti his tea

"You did it, to protect us?"

"Contrary to popular belief, I actually happen to value your lives"
Sherlock said, smirking.
"Moriarty needed me dead, I needed you all safe. Easiest way to make it happen was suicide of a fake genius"
Sherlock quoted the new headlines. Greg smiled softly at the detective.

"Well thank you, Sherlock"

"Of course Gregory. I would be insanely bored without you to keep me supplied with cases"

"Oh and here I thought you'd actually miss me"

John chimed in
"Don't worry, we all made that mistake once"

Sherlock turned and glared at the blogger, who was smiling triumphantly. Greg chuckled.
"Nothing's changed then. Good"
Conversation slowly turned from Sherlock to Gregory and his budding romance with someone he refused to speak about

"Come on Lestrade, you must share"

"Oh listen to yourself, John" Greg criticized "you sound like your wife"

John's mouth fell shut, and a stiff air filled the room.
"Uhm, Mary and I are...no longer seeing each other"

Greg's smile faded slowly
"What...?"

"Mary..she..she was cheating...the whole time..."

"Oh, John"
He stood and came to console his friend
"She was no good for you anyway mate"

"Ah, don't worry none, I have someone much better"

"Already? Who?"

"Don't worry about that, who's your mystery girl"
John said, trying to weasel the information out of the inspector again. Sherlock suddenly turned his attention to the mindless gossip.

"Mystery man, John"

"What?"

Sherlock rolled his eyes, much to John's irritation
"It's not a woman, John"

"Oh. Ok, who's the lucky man then?"

"It-it's not a man, Sherlock"
Greg seemed uncomfortable speaking on the matter any further, so John dropped it. Sherlock, surprisingly, and much to poor Gregory's relief, did as well. Greg's watch beeped suddenly, making the small company jump.
"Oh god, 12 already. Jesus I've got to be going home, work in the morning"
He stood and stretched. John and Sherlock both walked him to the door, where both received long hugs, both for different reasons

"Oh, um, Gregory?"

"Yes, Sherlock?"

"Could you, not tell anyone I'm alive? Not quite ready to come back. I think, domestic life might be good for a while. Call me if anything big or strange comes into the office"

"Yes yes, of course. Goodnight!"

"One more thing"
Sherlock leaned into the detectives ear
"Take good care of brother dearest, he needs it.."
He drew back from the man, searching his face for conformation

Gregory nodded lightly and cleared his throat
"Night"

The door closed and the warmth of company dissipated. The fire crackled quietly. Light poured from it. John settled in front of it, his mug in hand. Sherlock came behind him, kissing him softly on the top of his head. Sherlock nestled down into his chair, pulling a blanket over himself.
'First day back. Not bad. Domestic life...oh boy. There's something I never thought I would have, a domestic existence'
Sherlock used to shudder at the mere thought of settling down. But looking at John, looking at just today, that was the kind of life he wanted with John. He wanted long nights and crap telly and gossip and long walks and holding hands and night drives and waking up next to him and falling asleep with John in his arms. He wanted the perfect life with him. He moved to the floor and wrapped his arms around John, placing a kiss behind his ear. John nestled low down into Sherlock's arms and smiled. John's eyes grew heavy and so did Sherlock's. Light grew dark, and the two fell asleep, curled up in front of the fire, like something out of a storybook. And in that one small moment, like a blip in time, everything was perfect. But just for that one moment.