Into the Night - AU - Locked to seaweed_writes

[ihadabadday]

Sex sold. It could be seen in marketing for businesses across all sorts of industries.

And for John Watson, his business was booming.

He worked out of a club in London that catered to certain... Tastes. Men and women who looked to dominate someone sexually. Some would look down on a man having that job, scoffing. Sex work was legal though. But those who were interested in BDSM, found sex workers to be lacking.

John was sitting at a bar at the club he usually worked out of, nursing a soda. He rarely drank when he was working, preferring to stay sober.

He looked around the room, seeing if there was anyone who caught his interest tonight.

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[ihadabadday]

John shifted a bit in the bed. "Sherlock..." He muttered through his dream.

There was a stack of letters sitting on the nightstand. All of them were addressed to Sherlock. All of them expressed his apologies, his regret and his desire to be with the man once more.

[seaweed_writes]

Sherlock took the letter and quietly opened them, reading them one by one.

By the time he got through the last one, sunlight was starting to creep through the curtains. He put the letters back where they had been, and went into the kitchen to make a couple of cups of tea.

[ihadabadday]

John woke in the morning and stretched. He lay in the bed for a moment, listening. He sat up and took the cane. Using it, he started for the kitchen. He paused and stared. His heart in his throat. His hand clutched the top of the cane tightly, knuckles turning white.

"Sherlock..."

[seaweed_writes]

Sherlock had a cup of tea in his hand. The moment that he heard his name, he whirled around and saw John. The mug fell from his hand crashing and splintering all over the floor.

"John...." Unfortunately, he was barefoot, so he had to stay still, but he wasn't sure that he even could move if he wanted to.

John.

[ihadabadday]

John crossed over, taking care to step over the ceramic shards. He put his free hand on Sherlock's face, tracing and memorizing his face again.

"I'm sorry. Please forgive me." He whispered, "I was an idiot..." John slipped to his knees in front of the other and took his hand, pressing a kiss to it.

[seaweed_writes]

Gently, Sherlock pulled John back up off his knees and back up on his feet.

"John...." He leaned down and kissed the man, deep and long, until he had to come up for air, and he reluctantly pulled away.

"You are alive. John. You are alive." Sherlock's hands went to his cheeks, and through his hair, like he was trying to re-memorize every single part of him.

[ihadabadday]

He hugged Sherlock tight, not noticing how his eyes were damp and the wetness spreading to his cheeks. John didn't want to let go. He... He couldn't let go.

"I love you." he whispered.

[seaweed_writes]

"John... John. Please don't leave me again." His voice grew softer and softer. Sherlock slumped against John, finally giving into his withdrawal and exhaustion.

"I....lo..." he tried to speak, but it was just too much. He collapsed down onto the kitchen floor.

[ihadabadday]

"No. Never. I will never leave you again. I swear." John promised him. He kept his arms around the other man, closing his eyes, savoring the touch. But then Sherlock went limp in his arms.

"Sherlock!" He held tight to him and lowered them both to the kitchen floor. Withdrawal probably... John stroked his hair, and just held him.

[seaweed_writes]

Sherlock groaned. He was shaking and sweating. His heart was racing and his breath was quick and shallow.

"J-j-john....." He moaned, rocking his head back and forth. "P-p-lease.... stay.." He fell unconscious again.

[ihadabadday]

"I'll stay." He promised the man with a kiss to his forehead.

John was not going anywhere. He would help Sherlock through this.

[seaweed_writes]

"B-b-b-ed...." Sherlock whispered. "P-p-please.." His whole body felt like it was on fire, and it felt like his heart was going to explode out of his chest.

He had had bad withdrawals before, but this felt worse- most likely because he had been hitting the drugs much harder than he had in the past. He didn't think he had anything to live for any more, his John was dead.

But he wasn't dead, even if Sherlock felt like he wanted to die right about now.

"Need.... s-s-leep.."

[ihadabadday]

John got him to their bed and pulled a chair over. He would stay through this. The withdrawal, the anger and the frustration. He wasn't going anywhere.

He was going to help his partner, his love, his dom. His stomach clenched. He could remember the last time they had sex. How vividly Sherlock controlled the scene and how he had begged for more of that punishing crop against his backside.

[seaweed_writes]

The next hours were a living hell for Sherlock. He went through the worst of the withdrawal, thrashing around in bed. He had to get John to help him to the loo, both to relieve himself, and a few times to throw up.

He didn't start to feel better until almost 36 hours later. He felt like he could sit up without feeling nauseous, and he could stay awake for more than just a few minutes at a time.

[ihadabadday]

John was patient through all of it. He never said anything about it to Sherlock. He couldn't.

He was dozing lightly in the chair next to the bed, looking exhausted. But no doubt he would snap awake.

[seaweed_writes]

The morning sun was sneaking through the curtains when he came to.

Sherlock looked over, seeing John napping in a chair next to him.

He wasn't feeling great, but he was starting to feel a little better. He quietly got out of bed. He was a bit dizzy, but he managed to get himself to the loo and take care of his needs. When he came back, he gently put a hand on John's shoulder, so he wouldn't surprise him.

"John. Go to bed. You look exhausted."

[ihadabadday]

John blinked awake and looked at Sherlock. Like the man was a dream. He shook his head, waking himself up just a bit. "No. I want to spend it with you."

[seaweed_writes]

"John.. please. You can hardly keep your eyes open while looking at me." He didn't actually use his dom voice, but he was giving him a serious tone.

He helped John from the chair to the bed. "I'll sleep with you."

Gently, Sherlock undressed John down to his vest and pants and helped him under the covers, then slipped in under the covers with him.

"Sleep, John. I'll be here when you wake."

[ihadabadday]

He made a noise but nodded. John let himself he undressed before being maneuvered into the bed.

John latched onto Sherlock, nuzzling against the man's neck.

[seaweed_writes]

Sherlock smiled, and snuggled up against John, since John was the 'big spoon', he pressed up against John, leaning his head forward to give his lover access to his neck.

"We will have time for that later." He smiled at John. "Sleep."

[ihadabadday]

John just drifted off to sleep. It was the first good sleep he had gotten since before he left for Afghanistan. A year now.

He knew it would be a while before the drugs completely cleared Sherlock's system. But it would be okay.

His mind was supplying some lovely dreams though.

[seaweed_writes]

Sherlock was tired of sleeping. He had been doing pretty much nothing but that for the last couple of days.

So he lay there, swathed in John's arms, feeling his warm breath on his neck and his arms around his waist.

he hadn't intended to, but after a while, he found his eyes drooping, and he too fell into a an easy, deep sleep.

[ihadabadday]

John woke for good close to seven the next morning. He had slept on and off since Sherlock woke. Getting up when he needed.

He found himself with side effect of his gorgeous lover being back. Morning wood. He sighed and heaved himself out of bed to take care of it. He was slow, not wanting to strain his leg too much.

[seaweed_writes]

When John moved, Sherlock groaned and scoot back against John, making a little noise when John got out of bed. When John got up, Sherlock- his eyes still closed, rolled over onto John's side, snuggling into to the warmth, and taking a little sniff of the pillow. It smelled like John, and Sherlock, still asleep, smiled.

[ihadabadday]

John took care of himself and returned to bed. He climbed in, this time being the little spoon.

He drifted off back to sleep, enjoying being wrapped up in his lover.