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!

Comments

[captainwatson]

John nods; "Yeah, I'm the same...It's why I didn't try to wake you."

Rosie knows as well. Don't disturb Daddy, just wait for him to wake up.

"Uhm...how about physically? If he hurt you, do you...D'you want me to treat anything?"

[desecrated]

"I suppose you can't find me any more disgusting," Sherlock turns around, mumbling taking his t-shirt off.
There's a wince he's hiding where John can't see. His shoulder will always hurt. "I'm not... I'm not taking off my trousers, you... you can just leave the cream or whatever you're going to use and I'll do it."

If he doesn't show John now, he never will.
Besides, best if John leaves now.

[captainwatson]

He exhales; "Sherlock, I never..."

John stops when he sees all the scars. Not just scars. Bruises. Brands. Scratches.

"Jesus..."

And there's more, apparently. Of course Sherlock won't show him.

He slowly steps forward, reaching out a hand to check; "May I?"

[desecrated]

"Never knew. Course, cause I didn't want you to know. I thought I should be ashamed and hide it. And I still think you should run and be disgusted..."

He doesn't quite register John's question. He might flinch but he moves to try and allow John to touch.

"I suppose I should be tested as well, all things considered." That's if you even want something discarded...

[captainwatson]

"No...I was going to say I never thought you were disgusting." He says, firmly.

He moves his fingertips gently over the scars, clinically trying to assess the damage as best he can. He hates having to imagine what tools, if any, were used to cause each individual mark. How each one would have made Sherlock wince or scream or...

"This was all Alli?!"

[desecrated]

Sherlock shakes his head. "No, Alli's hardly that imaginative. He just ... added to what was already in existence."
He hunches a little, letting someone touch.
Alli had been gentle... once.

[captainwatson]

"I mean...these recent ones...I know these older ones have to be from years ago." John can tell that; "Did he have anyone else hurt you? Those...friends you mentioned?"

[desecrated]

Sherlock hesitates. "Yes. After, after you arrived, he ... he got jealous and possessive, and... more inclined to like to see me hurt and then ... soothe it after."

Shivering. He wants to hide it again.

[captainwatson]

"Shit. Oh, Sherlock, I...I'm so sorry." He knows he's not to blame for Alli becoming worse, but he feels guilty.

And it's his fault Sherlock ran away in the first place.

"I can rub some cream on these...if you want."

[desecrated]

Sherlock nods. "Alright. My shoulder is ... sore, just - be careful of that."
It's always sore.

[captainwatson]

John gets the salve and gestures for Sherlock to sit and lean forward.

He is tender and careful, much more so than Alli. Genuinely cautious as he smooths the cream over.

"...You want to do your bottom half yourself?"

[desecrated]

"I would prefer that," he says, hating that he feels embarrassed.
I don't want ... I don't want ...

[captainwatson]

"Okay." he has no objections to that, though of course he would if asked. He's a doctor after all.

And. A friend. He wants to be.

He smooths some bio-oil over the heavy bruises on Sherlock's arm, kneeling down and gently stroking down to his hands until he's basically holding one. He's always loved Sherlock's hands.

[desecrated]

The fact John doesn't object shouldn't surprise him, but it does...
He watches John touch his hands. "When we first ... when we first met he'd..." He's not pulling his hand away, but admitting... things to John a little bit.

"He was nice, I - I thought if ... if he hurt me I deserved it and couldn't do better anyway..."
He won't cry in front of John...

[captainwatson]

John is silent, still staring at Sherlock's hand, just cradling it tenderly with his own. A tear falls from his eye and he leans down to kiss Sherlock's knuckles, gently.

"I'm so sorry..." he whispers, his eyes closed.

Like a humble servant begging his master's forgiveness.

[desecrated]

Sherlock frowns. He made John... cry...
"It's not..." the words stick in his throat, he can't... he can't get past a lump..."It's not your fault... I thought Victor had feelings for me. I thought... he was capable of loving me... obviously I thought the same of Alli, and I'm horrible at reading people after all." He's trying to make a dark joke, but it's not working well...

[captainwatson]

A rattled breath escapes him and he still can't meet Sherlock's eyes.

"If I hadn't been such an arse then you wouldn't have ran away and then you never would have met that bastard." he says, "But you were already putting up with another bastard. Me. And I'm wondering if some of the ways I hurt you were just as bad as him."

All the times he beat Sherlock up in anger. All the times he used his words to cut him down to size. All the times he let Mary get away with...

[desecrated]

Sherlock hates that... it is probably true. There's no way around justifying it. "Mrs. Hudson said though... you did something ... that they never did. You admitted you were wrong and ... then went out to prove that you'd... change."

You wouldn't do that for me, would you? "At least I'd like to think so."
His other hand traces over John's, touching his palm.
"I... I am irrevocably in love with you, John."

[captainwatson]

He gives an ironic smile; "I dunno if that makes me better but...I would do anything to be the man you and Rosie deserve. You are my whole world."

That's why he was so angry after Mary died. She had said those words...and he couldn't come close to returning them.

"I've loved you since the moment you invited me to live with you."

[desecrated]

Sherlock looks down, touching John's hand that is touching his palm.
He looks like he's going to cry.

He doesn't want to. He shivers at the chill.
"If I could be anything what you deserve, John..."

[captainwatson]

He kisses Sherlock's hand again and finally looks up at him, his eyes shining.

"You always have been."

[desecrated]

He winces a little. Part of it hurts, part of it feels soothing like ... the salve on his back.

[captainwatson]

The moment hangs for a few seconds before John falters, unsure.

"I...I don't know if we lost the chance to be...I mean. After everything that's happened, I understand if you can't forget what I've done. And with Rosie too, it's complicated. Single widowed dad of a toddler, not exactly that attractive, hmm."

[desecrated]

"Lovely doctor," Sherlock says, softly. "The... the piece I - I played for Rosie last night, it's ... it's not fi-finished, it's... it's a symphony. For you, mostly you, her as well, if ... you... allowed it."

It's his way of saying of course not.
"Scarred back, broken in ... certain ways. Can hardly say I'm that attractive even before all of this..."

[captainwatson]

He blushes; "Of course I do. She is smitten with you....just like her father is."

It must run in the family.

John strokes his hand up Sherlock's arm, to caress his cheek; "No amount of scars could ever ruin how beautiful you've always been."