Skinny Love: A Johnlock Fanfiction

Chapter Fourteen

"You're the reason that I feel so strong, the reason that I'm hanging on. You know you gave me all the time, or did I give you all of mine?" ~'Mess Is Mine' by Vance Joy

John

"Why?" John mumbled into her shoulder, "How could this happen? What did I do wrong?"

"It's not your fault, dear," Katherine whispered, tightening their embrace.

"Sherlock said he didn't need me. How could he say something like that? I'm the one working my arse off."

"Sherlock might just need a little alone time, that's all."

John sighed, trying to focus on his girlfriend's advice. He tried to appreciate this intimate moment between them, how her hair smelled like lemons and vanilla candles. He knew he should be in the present.

But every time he closed his eyes, all he saw was Sherlock. Screaming, laughing, crying, glaring, smiling, sleeping. Sherlock.

Sherlock

He was going to tell him.

"This is the opportune time for action," Sherlock mumbled to himself as he strode down the London street. "This is the only way to stop the pain. I just have to say three words. Three childish words. Simple."

The crisp London air rustled his hair, and he suddenly became hyper aware of how unclean it was. He could have at least taken a shower before taking such drastic actions. He could always turn around and-

"No!" He loudly exclaimed, startling a few passersby. "The plan is final! If he does not reciprocate the feelings, then I go to the hospital for treatment. If he does, then..."

He trailed off. Then what? They continue to play patient and doctor, haplessly attempting to save one another from inevitable failure? What would a declaration of love do to change their current situation?

Just as he was about to turn around and rethink this disastrous plan, his mobile buzzed. A blinking dot flashing on the screen alerted him that John's phone was close.

Sherlock gripped his mobile tightly and looked up at the unspectacular London house sitting before him. How far had he walked? This was a somewhat shabby neighborhood.

More than anything, he was caught off guard by the quiet. If John was at a party, then why was there no sign of numerous people milling about? Even someone lacking in his fantastic deduction skills could see that.

But Sherlock looked down at his phone, with the small blinking circle, and took a deep breath. This was it.

Katherine

She prided herself in being a good girlfriend. As annoying as it was, she continued dating John Watson. No, annoying was the wrong word. Frustrating was more like it. She had to act like she didn't know this man who was everything to John. All he did was take care of his flatmate, and even when he had managed to slip away for a quick date, the conversation always became "Sherlock did this" and "Sherlock ate that". It was torture.

Honestly, Katherine was beginning to run out of ideas. She just wanted to get closer to William, and it seemed like getting close to his dearest companion was the best idea. Now it seemed like there was no way to get between John Watson and William Sherlock Scott Holmes.

Sherlock

Nobody was answering the door. Had the app completely mislead him? Or was John's phone stolen by some shady man on the street? Was John lying in a dark alley right now, bleeding and dying? Or had he been abducted again?

Sherlock's mind went into overdrive, seeming to completely abandon the logical thinking it prized itself on. Now he felt like he was going to pass out.

"Hello?" He called out, hoping somebody could hear him. He rapped on the door, and was surprised to see it slowly swing open into a dark foyer. Sherlock could not tell if he was more disgusted with the homeowner for failing to lock the door or with himself for failing to notice this obvious mistake.

"Hello?" He called out again. "I'm coming in. Don't shoot or sue."

John

"He's getting better, I think," John mumbled.

"Oh?" Katherine asked, her voice unusually high.

"Ya, like with his weight and all," John pulled away and let out a small laugh. "I should apologize. That's the only way we can fix this. He's been working so hard, and I've just been too harsh with him. I suppose..." He trailed off.

"Hmm?" Katherine smiled lightly, searching his eyes.

"Oh, nothing," John shook his head and forced a smile. "Thanks for bearing with my little outburst. I'm going to go back and patch things up."

"Aw, really?" Katherine pouted. "Stay a little longer, please? We can relax and watch the Telly!"

"I'd love to," John gave her shoulders a squeeze. "But I really have to go. Duty calls."

"Oh, alright. One little kiss for the road?"

"Of course."

Sherlock

This was ridiculous. Nobody had been in this house for 5 hours. An old woman resided here, according to Sherlock's deductions. John could not possibly be here.

But the app claimed he was close. Sherlock stifled a groan and made for the second floor.

On the way up the rickety stairs, he looked out the window.

John

He couldn't believe it. He was kissing his girlfriend, and he still saw Sherlock. This time his image was in his peripheral vision, staring at him from the neighboring house's window.

"I think I'm going insane," John whispered against Katherine's lips.

"What?" She pulled away, grinning. "Feeling kinky, are we?"

"No," John said distantly, his eyes still locked on the crazy Sherlock hallucination.

"What is it?" She asked, following his gaze out the window.

"Nothing, it must be my imag-" The words caught in his throat, replaced by a strangled yell.

The illusion of Sherlock Holmes had collapsed to the ground.

Sherlock

When he saw John, he smiled in relief. But then Sherlock saw him kissing a woman with long brown hair.

Was he surprised? Yes. Hurt? Absolutely. But it was nothing compared to the pain when he saw her face.

When he recognized her, everything seemed to spin. Nothing made sense.

Then his heart raced.

And his heart seized.

And his heart hurt. It hurt so, so much.

He was going to tell him.