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Don Davids

Um, WHY YOUR BUTT NOT O...

Molly Hooper

Midnight did is again. The pic...

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To: [email protected]

Subject: Mother! Prepare the spare room!

I know it's been a lot longer than I promised, but I'm coming down to visit this weekend! I'll be there around lunch time on Saturday.

Bit sudden, I know. Sorry.

See you on Saturday.

Love you xxx

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Logging off...

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Shutting Down...

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Closing the laptop, Jim picks it up and carefully slides it into it's case. After zipping the case up and adjusting the strap, Jim places it by his bedroom door - not that he's likely to forget it, but still.

Then, he turned back to his suitcase and double checks everything he might need is there. Tops, jeans, underwear, beanies, a suit, contact lenses (and glasses just in case), phone charger and toiletries that he was able to pack now.

Happy that he wouldn't arrive and have forgotten anything major, Jim closes the top of the suitcase before laying it flat beside his laptop case.

Smiling to himself - he can't help it, he's a mummy's boy - Jim practically skips back into the living room, plopping down beside Sherlock who was just sat on the sofa reading some book that Jim didn't recognise as his own but knew Sherlock didn't arrive with.

"Hey," Jim grins at his kinda-sorta-boyfriend.

Sherlock returns the smile and puts the book down, pulling Jim into a tight hug as he buries his face in Jim's neck. While taken aback by the hug, Jim wraps his arms around the skinny detective and squeezes him.

He was only going for the weekend but they'd been spending so much time together lately that a few days apart seemed like a ridiculously long time.

When Sherlock pulls back, Jim raises an eyebrow.

"What was that for?" He asks, hand running down Sherlock's arm and squeezing.

"Well, you're going away for the weekend and..." Sherlock glances at the clock "You normally kick me out around now."

Jim pauses. They hadn't talked about this before.

Which was exactly Jim's issue - they didn't talk.

Swallowing, Jim tries to think of a response that wouldn't trigger another one of their stupid arguments. It was far too easy for them to get annoyed at each other, even if it never was serious and they made up quickly enough. Still, Jim would like to discuss this without wanting to slap Sherlock.

"You can stay if you like.." Jim trails off, speaking softly. Almost too softly, like you would an upset child. Oh God, he sounded like he was babying Sherlock...

The way Sherlock moves away from Jim is automatic. He looks down at the floor with a painful looking smile. "As much as I like being here with you, I don't think my back would enjoy another night on your sofa."

Sherlock sounded like he was trying to joke, but failing as the pain flickered through his voice and sent the pitch off here and there.

Jim wasn't sure whether he was furious or guilty.

Guilty because he didn't want Sherlock in any kind of pain - since clearly more than his back was being hurt by the set up.

But Jim was also angry. So angry because it wasn't, in any fucking universe, for Sherlock to decide when Jim was ready to let Sherlock sleep beside him in his bed.

And so fucking what if Jim let his best friend sleep in the same bed as him? That's what friends do!

So Sherlock has no bloody reason or right to be angry about this or jealous of Sebastian (which it was clear that he was, ever since that comment the first time).

"Sherlock," Jim starts but then stops and reminds himself; he doesn't want to argue. "I.. Is it that big a deal? I mean, you're obviously pissed about this..."

Sherlock stares.

Jim waits.

Nothing.

"What?" He can't help snapping the word, already getting annoyed with Sherlock's staring and unresponsiveness.

Sherlock finally looks away, murmuring the words "I don't want to argue about this."

"Neither do I," Jim says, voice soft again. "But I do want to talk." About so many fucking things...

"Fine," Sherlock huffs the word.

Jim waits, again.

Again, nothing.

Gritting his teeth and taking a short breath, Jim reminds himself for the millionth time that month that Sherlock doesn't mean to be so annoying, it's just the way he is.

"Tell me what's up, Sherlock," Jim says it with an odd tone, like a weird mix between patient and fed up.

Sherlock raises his eyes to Jim's again, looking nervous.. or maybe scared. Jim doesn't know. To be encouraging, Jim gives small smile. That seems to convince Sherlock because he nods and sucks in a breath.

"It's not the fact you won't let me sleep in your bed, I don't mind if it takes you months to be ready to sleep beside me. That's fine. It's just... every time you put me on the sofa, I can't help but remember the way you and Sebastian were so damn comfortable with being in the same bed. I hate you've slept beside him but not me. So yes, as you already know, I'm jealous and angry and very damn jealous."

Jim almost laughs at the pout on Sherlock's face - but the guilt and the pain of having hurt Sherlock squishes that amusement in seconds.

Nodding slowly, Jim takes a moment to just consider his response.

He'd expected Sherlock to say something like that, about how it wasn't the fact he wasn't allowed to sleep with Jim but it was the fact that Sebastian was allowed.

It's different, though. Sherlock and Sebastian are completely different people to Jim. Sebastian is his best friend. Sherlock is his... kinda-sorta-boyfriend.

He doesn't know what to say.

Turns out, he doesn't need to because Sherlock reaches out, takes hold of Jim's left hand and squeezes.

"W.. What's bothering you then?"

Jim shakes his head, swallows, shrugs. "Nothing. I'm just... not ready for that yet"

IDIOT! Jim's inner voice screams at him, knowing that had been the perfect t start that conversation about what they are that Jim seemed to want so damn much. Perfect chance to sort out any issues he has with their relationship and he.. he shrugs.

Idiot. Just.. You fucking idiot.

Jim couldn't agree with his inner voice more.

Standing, Sherlock smiles at Jim and leans down to press a brief kiss to Jim's unresponsive lips. Sherlock's lips were so soft, Jim had teased him once saying that he must use some girly lip balm. By even if he did, Jim would want him to keep using it because God, those lips...

"I'll see you Monday" Sherlock whispers the words into his ear and sort of nuzzles against him before breaking away and heading over to the coat rank.

Jim nods to the words, despite Sherlock having his back turned, and watches as the detective gracefully dons his coat and shoes before leaving with one last smile sent Jim's way.

"Idiot," Jim whispers the word to himself, shaking his head and slouching.