You See But Do Not Observe

STORY

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE : STORY

(Serena's POV)

Serena woke up the next morning with a massive headache. She tried to sit up, and her stomach immediately revolted. She ran to the bathroom down the hall.

"Serena, is that you?" John asked loudly. Too loudly. Serena wiped her mouth and walked unsteadily to the kitchen.

"Please be quiet." She whispered.

"Why were you in Sherlock's room? How much did you drink last night?" John asked, helping her to a chair gently. Serena got into it with a sigh.

"A lot. Enough to get me drunk enough to..." She trailed off at the memory and half-smiled.

"To what? Serena, to do what?" John asked insistently, and Serena met John's eyes.

"I may have kissed Sherlock."

John's reaction was instant. His eyes widened and his hand shot to run through his hair.

"You did what exactly?" He asked.

"I kissed him."

"Serena, I'm not sure that was the wisest thing."

"I had to know!" Serena said. "I had to know if he felt the same."

"And?"

Serena smiled again. "Well, he kissed me back, so..."

"Sherlock kissed you? We're talking about the same person, aren't we? Now what?"

Serena shrugged. "I don't know."

John sat down across from her and picked up a newspaper. "Welcome to the family, Serena."

Serena looked at him. "You know how much that means to me."

"Yeah, well, if you hurt Sherlock, I will shoot you." John said matter-of-factly, and Serena considered it.

"Fair enough." She said.

"And if he hurts you, I'll shoot him as well." John added nonchalantly.

Serena had an overwhelming urge to hug John just then.

"And are you doing alright?" John asked, and she remembered.

She shook her head as her throat closed off.

"What do you need me to do?" He was truly one of the kindest people she had ever met.

"Just be there, please? I have to, um, tell his sister. She won't be able to take care of things. I'll have to do that."

"I can arrange the funeral service. One step at a time." John said comfortingly, and Serena nodded.

"Where is Sherlock? I got the impression he was sleeping out here." Serena asked.

"I thought he was in there with you." John said, and Serena stood up.

"Sherlock?" She called out, moving to the bedroom. He wasn't there.

"Sherlock?" John said. "What are you doing?"

Serena rushed to the kitchen and saw Sherlock, half-asleep, stretched out on the table.

He sat up and looked around. "What am I doing?" He asked.

"Why are you on the table?" Serena asked, and Sherlock met her eyes. His flashed, and he looked away. Serena felt her chest tighten as she struggled to take in breath.

"I'm not entirely sure." Sherlock groaned and pressed a hand to his forehead.

"Tea." John said.