YOU JUMP, I'LL CATCH YOU

[dousing]

DARING RESCUE MEME You're in a predicament. That predicament is either: you need to be rescued. Bad. Even if you're technically safe you need to get out of whatever situation you're in. And if you're not safe, well... it's just more important then, isn't it? Your other option of course is that you need to rescue someone. You have to find them, get them out, get them to where they really belong. Or you're like, picking them up from a bad date. WHATEVER. No matter the severity of the situation, be careful how you go about it, huh? We wouldn't want to have any accidents. • Top level your character. Include any details you might think are relevant. Or don't. As always, we're not the cops. • Reply to other people's top levels! • Have fun!

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[desecrated]

He forces a smile, even though he feels like neither of those things. He feels dirty and disgusting and like he shouldn't be ... here. With the two people he cares about...

[captainwatson]

John lets Rosie cling to him and smiles.

"C'mon. They're boarding." he says, gesturing for the three of them to go past the gate.

Rosie asks for the window seat and John lets Sherlock sit next to her so he's between the both of them.

He keeps his hand on Sherlock's, not too tight. Just to say I'm here.

[desecrated]

Sherlock holds John's hand. He really does hate flying.
He still feels alone, though. And he can't shake the feeling at all.

Why does he still feel like Alli is going to come after him and disapprove?

[captainwatson]

"You can hold Hamish if you want." Rosie offers Sherlock her hedgehog, as if sensing his discomfort. She doesn't mind flying, herself. She likes to look at the clouds.

John smiles at his sweet daughter. So compassionate.

[desecrated]

"I'm alright," he says, though he doesn't seem alright at all.
He doesn't want John to know. It wouldn't change anything. It wouldn't matter anyway.

He just wants to shower, to let hot water run over his sore back and ... not think about Alli for a long time.

[captainwatson]

"Look! So beautiful." she tugs at his sleeve and points to the sunset at the window, so high above.

"Yeah. It is." John says, looking at the two of them.

[desecrated]

"There's nothing quite like a London sunrise though," he says, oddly. Mainly because they are rare sometimes.

He does miss it, maybe... a little bit.

[captainwatson]

"We'll see that very soon." John assures, softly.

Rosie dozes off, holding her hedgehog, her head eventually falling to snuggle into Sherlock's arm.

"You really were brave, you know." John whispers at last. "I'm proud of you."

[desecrated]

"I'm running away, yet again John. It's what... I'm good at I suppose."
He looks down, the facade of ... cheerfulness dropping.

[captainwatson]

"You're not running away. You're coming home." John assures; "...You didn't run away the first time...You had to escape from me. You. Did the right thing."

He hates admitting that. But it's true.

"I wish I hadn't pushed you that far. But it made me realise I needed to change."

[desecrated]

So you're different now...?
Either way Alli is the best he'll ever get. And he can't go back to that... so. Where does that put him?

He doesn't understand, really. How to respond to that..

[captainwatson]

"That's...not to say you have to be around me again. I'm a better dad, I think, if nothing else." He shrugs, blushing and looking away; "...I said once that Mary was the one who taught me to be a good man. I was wrong. If anything, she brought out the worst in me...It was you who kept me right."

[desecrated]

Sherlock looks odd. "I doubt I keep anyone right, John, even myself."
He was just tired of the beating. He hates that he still might love Alli... that he still might love John when he shouldn't.

[captainwatson]

"We're all just human." John says, using Sherlock's own words.

He thinks back to one of his sessions with Ella.

"Those things that I wanted to say, before he died, but didn't. Do you remember?"

"Yes."

"...I'd like to say them now. Otherwise I don't think I ever well. He might not want to see me again and I don't blame him."

"That's good...In your own time."

"...I love you. Sherlock Holmes. I'm in love with you..."

He bites his lip and sighs, looking away. The moment is gone before you know it. Before you know it.

[desecrated]

Sherlock barely moves, staying oddly still. He feels uncomfortable now, in his own skin, like he was dreaming - like he is dreaming now.

[captainwatson]

The pilot informs the crew that they're about to encounter some turbulance and to remain seated.

"What's tur-" Rosie goes to ask but she's cut off by a heavy jolt of the plane.

She squeaks and buries her head in Sherlock's chest.

John leans over and strokes her hair; "It's ok, sweetie. It's just us flying over some thick air, like when we drive over bumps on the road."

[desecrated]

Sherlock watches John explain properly, something he would have trouble with... John's patient and kind.

Sherlock is not a child though. He doubts John can be that patient and kind with him. But after several months of little things needing to be justified, his confidence isn't what it it used to be.

[captainwatson]

Rosie doesn't seem that comforted by logic and clings to Sherlock.

"Hey...maybe Sherlock can hum us a tune he's composing lately?" In the absence of a violin; "Would that be ok?"

[desecrated]

Sherlock hums the piece... the symphony he'd composed... for John. Everything for John, clearly. He still loves him, even if he shouldn't. At least John wouldn't... whip him, but he's been wrong before. He didn't think Alli would either.

[captainwatson]

Rosie finally calms and her breathing evens out as she starts to fall asleep on Sherlock's front, just like when she was a baby.

John smiles, almost wanting to lean into Sherlock himself.

"Thank you." He whispers.

[desecrated]

He nods, not sure how to accept the compliment. A bit scared, really. That he'll be held to a standard and expected to do that...

[captainwatson]

John sits back, feeling unsure how to approach this. He still thinks Sherlock is afraid of him, or maybe just afraid of being hurt more so after what Alli did. He doesn't know how to fix this. Maybe the wisest thing to do is step back and let Sherlock feel independent again?

Rosie sleeps through the rest of the flight and might ask to be carried when they finally land and get off, while John carries the luggage. John will gently tell Rosie she needs to walk if he sees that Sherlock is struggling to hold her. She is small and light for her age but John can see he's sore.

Mycroft has a car waiting for them and, surprise, the man himself is inside.

"Hello, little brother. Back from holiday at last?"

John glares at him a little; "Don't, Mycroft. Really. Don't." You weren't there.

[desecrated]

Sherlock just looks away in silence.
Holiday. Suppose it was holiday for everyone else, to be away from him.
Now he's a burden, yet again, because he can't do any better. He doesn't deserve better, obviously. He'd tried with Alli, the only... good encounters he has don't last, and what would be the point of it lasting.

The chip shop owner has a good man now, he doesn't want... something discarded like he is. Sherlock is glad he's happy, he doesn't have to burden him with his troubles... pointless.
His mind is wandering, he's certainly not... present or listening to boring conversation.

[captainwatson]

Mycroft seems to take a more serious approach; "I have arranged a course of abuse recovery therapy for you, brother mine. I would appreciate if you attended."

"I think that might be a good idea." John says, looking at Sherlock; "Just think about it, maybe?"

It's not just Alli's abuse that Sherlock needs to recover from. John knows that.

Rosie still has her magazine and is trying to talk to Sherlock about things to do with the animals or insects inside or finish some of the puzzles. John can see Sherlock isn't paying attention and tries to quiet her down.

"Please, sweetheart, Sherlock needs to think. You're smart, you can do the puzzles yourself."

She pouts and does as she's told; "S'not as fun alone." she mumbles.

[desecrated]

Sherlock half hears that.
Not fun alone.

He continues to stare out the window, measuring his breathing.
He wants to be alone. If he's alone he can cry freely and no one will judge him for being weak.
But she's right. Alone all the time, isn't fun.

He pretends he doesn't hear the bit about therapy.
He doesn't want to talk about it, it's his own fucking fault, anyway.