Those Seven Confusing Weeks

Week 3

For a few days things between John and Sherlock remained uncomfortable. John still puzzled about his flat mate's behavior from the previous two weeks and Sherlock mood hadn't improved.

Fortunately they got a new case and Sherlock fell back into his old self. This allowed John to convinced himself that Sherlock's weird behavior had been due to boredom and had probably gotten upset because he didn't understand why John snapped.

It was a little annoying that Sherlock would try to entertain himself at his expense but he had to admit, it was more interesting than listening to Sherlock complain endlessly about being bored. John promised himself to not flip out if it happened again, being the focus of his brilliant flatmate was kind of flattering now that he understood the reason.

So when Sherlock solved the case in two days and the strange behavior returned John didn't make a fuss. First it was the staring and smiling without all the odd remarks, John could handle that. The texting returned but nowhere near the extent as before and John found himself looking forward to them each day. Lunch became routine and John quite enjoyed that. And John really enjoyed watching the telly together at night. But when the casual physical contact started, John wasn't sure about that promise made to himself.

It started out simple….

John was working on his blog, writing up about the new case. Sherlock came over to see what he was typing, placing a hand on his shoulder while he read.

...and each day progressing…

Sherlock would ask John to hand him something and would graze his fingers along John's.

..and getting a little bolder...

Sherlock would lightly touch John's arm or leg when he was pointing something out.

...and became less subtle…

When they watched the telly Sherlock would pull his legs up onto the couch and eventually a foot could come to rest against John's leg. Though the increase in frequency was a little disconcerting, John assumed Sherlock was just observing him to see what he reaction would be. John thought he was doing pretty well at not over thinking it.

...until the incident that sent John into a silent downward spiral of bewilderment and denial.

They had gone out to Angelo's for dinner.

Towards the end of the meal Sherlock said, "John, you have a bit of crumb on your chin."

John picked up his napkin but didn't get a change to wipe his face.

"Here let me." Reaching across the table Sherlock gently ran his thumb across John's chin and lower lip; and then smiled.

Trying not to show any expression John thanked him and finished eating. When they returned to the flat John headed to his room, excusing himself from their nightly ritual. It took him quite a while to fall asleep and was only able to finally rest after he made a decision, based purely on denial. John needed to find a girlfriend because he very much didn't want to keep thinking about how he had gotten incredibly turned on when Sherlock's thumb brushed against his lip.

---

Present

After their afternoon fun with the riding crop they had slept a few hours. Waking up later, John saw that Sherlock was already out of the bed getting dressed.

"Sherlock?"

"Lestrade called. He has a case for us."

"I'm too comfortable." Sensing a look coming he rolled over and bunched up the duvet around himself.

"Up! We need to go."

"No, go without me."

"You know that won't happen."

He heard Sherlock walking around to the other side so he pulled the blanket over his head. He wasn't about to let a pouty lip get him up. "You will have to force me out of this bed."

"You think I won't?" He felt Sherlock sitting down at the end of the bed.

"I'd like to see you try."

There was movement, the duvet was being moved. Next he felt a icy hand run down his leg. It made him shiver, from the cold touch to the wonderful feeling of his lover's caress.

"Mmm...you know that's only going to make me want to stay here."

The hand reached his ankle and latched on with a vice grip. Another hand started tickling the bottom of his foot mercilessly. John thrashed so much trying to release his ankle that he fell out of the bed.

"Bastard!"

Sherlock started laughing. "Now that you're up, get dressed."

---

Week 4

John focused his mind on two denials actually.

One, Sherlock was doing all these things because he was bored. Because the possibility that it was something else was just too much to process. If he thought about it any more than that he would have to reconsider all the things that he assumed either from Sherlock or other people. Asexual, married to his work, and as some people had pointed out, apparently still a virgin. After the last three weeks he was in no way ready to think of any of that.

Two, that he needed to meet a woman because otherwise he started to think about the arousal he felt at Sherlock's touch, and he didn't want to think about that at all.

And as long as he focused on those two things everything was alright, a perfect little walk along the razor's edge. It didn't matter that things were still the same between them, the observing, texting, touches; happy denial.

So in an attempt to work on the second important distraction for his mind, John did change one aspect of their routine. Before coming home from surgery each night he would go to the pub and try to hook up with someone. And after an hour or two of no luck, finding no one worth spending time with or just chatting about Sherlock to anyone he did meet, he would return home. Sliding down into the couch, enjoying the company of his room mate, everything was alright. Happy, happy denial.

After almost a week he found a new way to distract himself, he was now focusing on getting annoyed at his inability to hit it off with anyone. So intent on centering his attention on this he wasn't prepared for the onslaught of information when he learned that point one was not in fact accurate.

On his last failed attempt to meet someone he returned home from the pub noticeably irritated.

"What's wrong John?"

"Nothing."

"Something is obviously wrong."

"Nope...just let it be." John wished he had Sherlock's ability to change to subject.

"Maybe I can help?"

Tired and flustered he said "I pretty sure you can't. I'm just not having any luck lately meeting women."

"Oh, then you're right, I won't be of much help."

"No problem, I know dating isn't your thing."

"No, what I meant was I don't have much experience trying to meet women."

"Oh…what?..you've...dated...?" John turned to look at Sherlock, hoping, praying for that smile because then he could just assume Sherlock was joking. But no, no smile at all.

With all the building blocks at the basis of his first conclusion chipping away he opened his mouth and asked a question that his mind was not ready to hear the answer to.

"So you are..into men?"

"Yes."

And his damn mouth kept on going even though his mind was begging for it to stop. "But you said you weren't into dating, um...you're married to your work."

"I meant it. I haven't for awhile. Most people are...hmm, either too put off by me or not intriguing enough for me."

And just like that, denial one crumbled, which of course led denial two to come screaming to the forefront. His flat mate, friend, roommate, had very possibly been coming on to him in a odd Sherlock type way and John not only had started to enjoy the attention but had become aroused when those delicate fingers had grazed his lips. Closing his eyes, finally letting himself think about it, he sighed. 'God that had felt so good.'

"Right. Okay" Leaving the couch he went to his room and tried everything he could think of not to think.