His Last Vow (Johnlock)

Chapter 11: At Long Last

AN: Here is the four-year overdue chapter. Another one will be posted soon.

Molly

John

Beep... Beep... Beep...

That sound is the first thing I hear. It's faint; breaking into my sleeping mind. I can't discern what it is; I feel so groggy.

A mechanical suction and release sound accompanies the beeps shortly after.

I count the beeps as I listen to the constant, rhythmic sound of the suctioning. I try to wade through my hazy mind to figure out where I am.

I hear the click of the door being opened, the hydraulic whoosh as it closes, and then another final click followed by the tap tap tap of heels on tile. This definitely crosses out that I'm not in Baker St.

"Hello, Sherlock. How are you this morning?" Says a soft, vaguely familiar feminine voice. My heart jumps as I hear Sherlock's name, I faintly hear an accelerated beepbeepbeep, but I could hardly care what that is from at the moment.

There is a pause in his response as the tap tap tap of heels hurriedly makes its way closer to me. I feel soft, cold hands on my face. Suddenly my eyes are opened, and a bright light is shined into them. I internally cringe at the brightness, but then it's gone as quickly as it came. A low panic sets in with the realisation that I couldn't physically move away from the light itself, but that is quickly pushed aside when I hear that deep, baritone voice speak.

"Is he okay?" Sherlock asks, his voice much closer and tinged with worry. I can't help but wonder why. Sherlock never worries. The ability to remember where I am and what's going on being extremely difficult and increasingly frustrating.

"Yes, perhaps something excited him."

I feel the dip in the bed as large, gentle hands grasp mine. I know in a second that those hands belong to Sherlock. I try to squeeze back, but nothing happens. I frustratedly scream, but nothing comes out. I suppress the boiling frustration and tune into Sherlock as he and the woman begin to speak again.

"Any change?" Sherlock asks.

"No." The female responds sounding tired.

"Well... I suppose that's a good thing." He says, sounding tired as well.

"It is a good thing. It means it's not growing."

Growing? What's not growing? Why is that a good thing?

"Will he ever wake up?" Sherlock asks quietly.

"He can wake up at any time. Don't lose hope. Keep talking to him like you do. It helps, I promise."

"Thank you, Dr Kahn." Sherlock says quietly.

Doctor? Am I in a hospital? Why am I in a hospital??

"It's my pleasure." And with that, I hear the tap tap tap of the heels that I assume to be Dr Kahn's leave the room.

My mind reels at all I've heard, and I desperately try to put the pieces together.

As I struggle to figure out what is going on, I feel my body lighten. It feels like a physical weight has been removed.

For a panicked moment, I fear Sherlock has left my side, but that thought is quickly dashed aside as his strong hands take mine in his once again as he begins making small strokes with his thumb against my hand.