It Takes Two to Tango- A Sherlock Fanfiction

Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9

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"Martha!" John and Ally cried as the small woman fell to the floor. Sherlock's brain was racing at full speed to form a plan. That woman, whoever she'd been, was too far gone now to catch. Sherlock sighed and decided to focus on Martha. He blocked out John's panicked ramblings and Ally's tearful sobs so he could think. He quickly took off his scarf, coat, and shirt. He handed his shirt to John. "Hold this on the wound. It'll help staunch the flow." Sherlock ordered, "And Allison, call an ambulance." John and Ally nodded in response and did as they were told. As Sherlock put his coat and scarf back on, he felt the freezing air nipping at his pale skin. Ally, on the other hand, was too busy worrying about her cousin and calling an ambulance to notice Sherlock's present shirtlessness. That left John alone with Martha, who was having a hard time breathing at the moment. He'd seen people die like this before. Hell, this was how his own BROTHER had died! The last thing he wanted was a repeat, especially with someone as nice as Martha. "John," she gasped, "John, I need to stay awake. Talk to me. Please. Say anything." John's hands shook as he held Sherlock's now bloodstained shirt to Martha's wound and racked his brain for something to say. "Can I tell you a story?" he asked. Martha nodded weakly in response. "Alright. Once upon a time, there were a brother and sister named Hansel and Gretel," he began. "G-good," Martha stammered, "keep going." John nodded and started to tell her the story of Hansel and Gretel, but a few minutes later she stopped him. "John, my head feels fuzzy, and I think I see a light." John's heart nearly stopped. "Martha, you're going to be just fine. I promise." the small woman nodded and closed her eyes. Then John noticed something: Martha had blood streaming down her cheeks. He let out a surprised yelp, and her eyes opened. "There's blood on your face," Martha sighed. "Yeah, I have haemolacrea. It's when you cry blood. Look it up." and with that, she fainted. John heard the faint noises of an ambulance, and everything was a blur after that. He vaguely remembered riding to the hospital.

***

How?

That was the question that crossed John's mind over and over.

How did he not think of the consequences?

How could he let Martha get hurt like this?

My fault... my fault...

Please don't die.

I'm sorry...

It was all his fault for shooting at that awful woman who'd killed Ally's mum.

The bullet hand ricocheted and hit Martha. Now, he sat next to her hospital bed, holding her hand and wishing for her to wake up. To be ok.

"Keep talking. Don't let me sleep."

Her words bounced around in his mind. Tears streamed down his face. Slowly, he pressed his lips against her hand. "Please wake up." He whispered. "I'm so sorry..." Suddenly, he felt her hand move from his grasp to his shoulder. "You didn't think I'd just DIE, did you? How rude would that be? We just became friends! I wasn't raised in a barn, you know." Came the raspy voice of Martha. John sat up and hugged her gently.

***

Now that they were waiting outside Martha's hospital room, it hit Ally that Sherlock wasn't wearing a shirt. She glanced over at him. He was pale and slightly muscular, but he didn't have a six-pack or anything. Ally thought he was rather attractive. As soon as he spoke, she looked up at him, into his clear, gray eyes. "You know, there's a flat next to ours that's empty. If you two ever need somewhere to live, I'm sure I could put in a good word with Mrs. Hudson and she'd let you stay cheap." He said. Ally blushed and murmured a thank you. An awkward silence followed until John walked out of Martha's hospital room and told them that she was awake.