Best Man Bender is now complete with
Ch. 21: Coming Home
Summary: John comes out of the dark. Sherlock's been waiting.
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John had spent a grim couple of weeks, battered by opposing winds: belief and certainty, incredulity and grief, paralysis and guilt. Mary had been his loving wife; then she wasn’t anyone he knew; then she wasn’t anyone at all, she was dead. Take all that in at once, process it, file it away and move on? Impossible.
The last time he’d been blindsided that way had been Sherlock’s death, and his later resurrection. But now, Sherlock had surpassed himself in solicitude, making a tactful buffer zone between them made of tea, and meals, and quiet, thoughtful gestures. He didn’t seem to be trying to recreate the 221B of long ago, just a calm and hopeful space for John to re-orientate himself in.
But that welcome care had opened the door to an unwelcome apprehension. Mary had fooled him, and so easily; Sherlock had always been able to do the same. If John stayed, would he be exchanging one master manipulator for another? He loved Sherlock, but then again he’d loved Mary. They could both play him.
So he hovered, and doubted, and pondered what it would take to be able to trust Sherlock. He made a list of non-negotiable conditions, then pared it back to three; and still he hesitated.
Then, without warning, the doubt and paralysis just … ended. It was time to take a chance. One moment he’d been face down on his bed, the next he’d been texting Sherlock to come home.
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Ch. 21 on AO3 (Ch 20 on AO3) (Ch. 19 on AO3) (Ch 18 on AO3)
Thank you @anyawen, readers, and FTH! (Sorry I'm late replying to last chapter's comments 😖)
Tagging past readers here and in the comments; let me know to add or remove you.
Thanks as always for reblogging! 🤍
