Soldier without his Detective

Chapter 4

A small package had arrived at base. Just a plain cardboard box. It was only about two kilograms. Nothing much could be said about it. Just a boring box that happened to make John's heart clench. The unassuming parcel had been placed in his barracks. John's roommate was Bill as well as another soldier, Sami. They had all returned from their day and were preparing for bed. John sits on his bed and picks up the parcel. His thumb rubbing against the return address.

Sami pipes up, "Oi, what's that? Got any scran in there?" John looks up to see both Bill and Sami looking at him with curiosity. Sami moves to dress, they had become decent friends, but John still wasn't sure on how he would react to Sherlock. "Din't know you had Civi that cared about you, cap." He began to chuckle at this. Bill made eye contact with John before he gave a stiff nod and moved on. John watched on as Bill moved away, then turned to the eagerly awaiting Sami.

"Yeah, yeah, I... uh... met someone," He clears his throat and swallows around the lump that had formed. "Only known them a week, practically moved in after the first day." John was nervous. Sami was pretty religious. John's parents were also religious. He knew how it could influence people's opinions. When his father had walked in on him with another boy, it hadn't gone well. He had no idea how Sami would react. Does he share his father's views?

John sits back on his bed, parcel in hand. He slowly begins to unwrap the brown paper. Both the men watched him as he lifted the lid. A tear rolled down John's cheek and a laugh pushed through his chest. Taped carefully to the lid was a picture. A selfie John had taken of them. While on a walk through the park, John decided to take pictures of the two of them. In the picture, John had one hand extended to hold the phone and another hand on Sherlock's lapel. Their lips crashed together. Sherlock's hands holding John, one behind his neck and the other out of frame, on his hip. The picture was askew, not even all of Sherlock's hair was in the picture. But it was perfect.

He takes the picture off the lid. His gaze was unwavering. He didn't realise just how much he missed the mad man. "I saved them. They were being beaten up in an alley." He looks up to each of the men individually, gives a short nod and carries on, "I was just walking by. I heard something and looked down. It was dark, but... I knew they needed help and I didn't think," He handed the picture over to Sami before continuing. "His name is Sherlock. Insane. I'll tell ya. It was a killer. The other guy in the alley, he was tormenting him. Sherlock, that is. Making fun of a killer. I had to save him then he had the gall to pull out handcuffs," John is becoming more enthusiastic as he speaks, Sami and Bill becoming engrossed in his story. "Wait, no, not like that. I mean yeah he did pull out handcuffs -- but he arrested the killer. Not even a copper. Just some guy that was bored. He is --" His words die off. He looks towards the men.

Sami has a smile across his face. "You two look great together. Now, about the scran?" John laughs, a deep rumble coming from his stomach. Why was he worried? They hand him the picture back. John places it on a small bedside table and lifts the parcel back up. Everything is wrapped in some sort of fabric. He pulls at it so that only the fabric comes out. It unfolds as he lifts it. A thin pair of pajama bottoms. John recognises them, Sherlock had worn them when John claimed his joggers. He balled them up and could smell Sherlock on them. If he didn't have an audience he probably would have pressed them against his face. He placed them to the side and pulled out a small travel kettle. That man! He pulls out a small box of Tetley that was next to the kettle. At the bottom of the box was a packet of biscuits, pot noodle, and some small snacks and chocolates. As he pulled them out to show the other men, he saw that they were hiding more things underneath. Some loose photographs, laying at the bottom.

He began to pull them out one at a time. He remembers taking most of these. There was an image of Greg and Mycroft. Must have been taken by Sherlock. He passes it over to the awaiting men. The next one, Sherlock stood making tea, bare arsed, facing away from the camera. John had taken this - Sherlock wanted to surprise him with tea in bed, thinking John was asleep. Bill reached forward for it as John went to place it away. He took it and him and Sami began giggling like school boys. The next one had John in the centre frame. A lapful of Sherlock as he sat in the red armchair. Greg took this - they fell asleep and he woke them. Didn't even know he took a picture. There were three more images, each of them were selfies John had taken of the two of them.

He passes them all over and moves to make a decent cuppa. Finding the scattered cups to make the others a drink each. He changes into his tattered top, and the bottoms Sherlock had sent.