Drowning [Johnlock]

Chapter Two

It had been almost a month since John had been aboard Redbeard, as he quickly found out was the name Sherlock had given to the ship. Although the Captain always seemed to avoid saying Redbeard, always opting for 'the ship' or 'my ship' instead.

John wasn't sure why that was but he found a lot of the Captain's behaviour to be odd, and not because he was a pirate. He seemed odd even compared to the other pirates aboard.

It was quickly becoming habit for John to overanalyze Sherlock's behaviour or words. It was rare he actually saw or heard the Captain, so he had little material to go on. He'd even tired to ask Molly about him from time to time when they lay awake at night, staring up and imagining the stars.

She never told him much. Just that the Captain was not someone to mess with as he had a short temper and was rarely kind to anyone.

John had heard stories from the crew about Sherlock's 'temper tantrums' as Jim had put it. Shooting crew members, beating people, poison, deception and generally just messing with people's mind for the hell of it. He'd even supposedly got a woman to fall in love with him just so he could see her heart break when he told her how he truly despised her.

The doctor was sure that most of it was just said to scare him.

"John!" Molly's voice snapped him out of his daydreams

John hums and looks over at the woman standing at the foot of the stairs leading to the deck. Over the past few nights, John hadn't seen Molly once. She'd been constantly with the Captain and frankly John didn't want to think about what he had been doing to his friend.

"Yes, Molly?"

"I told you that the Captain wants to see you, now get your arse up and follow me" She snaps, obviously annoyed by his lack of concentration.

John is quick to stand, a nervous flutter running through him. The Captain never called for anyone, expect Molly, his first mate, Jim, and sometimes a pirate who goes by Lestrade, who John had actually formed a decent bond with over the past month.

The doctor follows Molly up on deck and crosses to the Captain's cabin, trailing behind her like a puppy. John couldn't help notice how Lestrade sent him a pitiful glance and Jim grinned like a madman.

That really didn't help his nerves. Suddenly a story from one of the crew comes to mind. They'd said that last time Sherlock called someone into the office who wasn't Jim, Molly or Lestrade had been thrown over board.

Apparently he'd deal with matters on deck often, mainly just to embarrass the crew or point out everyone's flaws.

John's stomach twists nervously as Molly pulls open the craved wooden door and gestures for him to enter first.

John does as he's told, quickly having learnt that while Molly was technically on his side it was a smart idea to do as she asks. Life abroad this ship had certainly toughened her up and the Captain's rules hadn't stopped her from slapping John around the head. (The first time she'd done it, John had nearly fainted, thinking that he was going to be brutally murdered by Sherlock)

Stepping into the room, John immediately sees Sherlock sat in his chair, only his top half visible as he's tucked right up to the desk. His posture is perfect, back straight, as he watches John enter, placing his fingers under his chin as he does.

Molly closes the door behind him before she moves to stand on Sherlock's right, her hand placed lightly on his shoulder. Sherlock doesn't even acknowledge her as his eyes are still fixed on John.

The icy blue John had seen before looked almost green now and John wanted to get a closer look at the other man's eyes but he stays put, standing straight but his posture no where near as flawless as the Captain's.