Due to popular demand, here's a second chapter!

For the Alternate Universes Challenge and the OTP Bootcamp (14. Pretend) on the BBC Sherlock Fanfiction Challenges forum

"Would you repeat that please?" John asked with forced calm. His plan for the night had been very simple: enjoy his birthday cum going away to Afghanistan party, and find a hot man to spend one of his last nights in England with.

He had thought he'd accomplished that. He really had. Sherlock Holmes was the very picture of perfection, and completely out of his league. Usually, he wouldn't even have attempted to bother coming on to him, but tonight he'd decided to throw caution to the wind. After all, there was no telling if and when he'd be returning to England, so if he was rejected, he wouldn't have to hide in shame for the next few months.

To his utter astonishment, after a bit of coaxing, Sherlock had accepted his offer to dance, and within moments of getting on the dance floor, Sherlock's lips had been on his neck, sucking at his pulse and transporting John to a world of pure pleasure.

He could only faintly remember the events that had followed. Only one moment was crystal clear in his mind – the feel of Sherlock's lips on his own. He remembered that they had been dancing, and Sherlock had gently cupped John's face with his hands and looked deep into his eyes. The everchanging colour of Sherlock's gorgeous eyes had drawn John into their spell, and he remembered his own eyes becoming heavy…and then Sherlock had bent down and kissed him oh so gently. His lips were so soft; his hands wrapped in John's blond mess of hair…John could clearly remember Sherlock's hands lazily stroking his face and jaw…

It had been the most pleasurable and erotic experience John had ever had in his life.

After that, the rest of the night was something of a blur of colours, excitement and happiness. He had never wanted to wake up from the world of two he and Sherlock had created.

But, of course, all good things came to end, which was how he found himself here, wherever here was, listening to a slightly overweight man talk about vampires and mates and other unbelievable things. He had been just about ready to chalk it up to a delusion caused by too much loud music when Sherlock had appeared out of nowhere.

At that moment, he had become convinced he had been kidnapped by a bunch of crazy men and was just about getting ready to scream when the unknown man had snarled at him. The utter and complete transformation he had undergone, from the fangs to the fierce expression on his face, would give John nightmares for months.

Of course, the fact that the man had snarled at him had launched an argument between him and Sherlock, who was apparently mystery man's little brother. Sherlock had said, "He's mine, Mycroft! You had no right to attack him like that!"

Before mystery man – Mycroft, his mind amended – could reply, John had decided that it was time for him to get involved in the conversation. After all, they were talking about him.

"What exactly are you two talking about? What do you mean by I'm yours, Sherlock?" he had asked, genuinely curious to see what was going on between the two apparently vampire brothers.

That was when Mycroft had explained everything to him calmly.

Which was what had led to where they were currently.

"So you're saying that I'm expected to just give up my job, my life, just because I'm supposedly Sherlock's mate?" John asked furiously.

"You have to understand how valuable mates are to us, John," Mycroft replied calmly. It made John want to drive a stake through his heart. "There is no possible way that you can be allowed to walk into a war zone willingly."

"Allowed? Allowed?" John exclaimed, now incredulous. "I'm an adult! You don't have to allow me to do anything, it's my decision whether I want to do it or not!"

"You will find that your name has been removed from all military records, Doctor Watson. You do not have an option – there is no way for you to return to the military." The complete calm in Mycroft Holmes' voice made John wish that he had his gun with him. He would have liked to shoot a few walls to get rid of his aggression at the very least.

"I did not sign up for this, Mr Holmes," he said, forcing himself to remain polite. "The last thing I wish to do with my life is be nothing but the 'mate' of a vampire."

"Doctor Watson-"

"I am not particularly thrilled with this turn of events either, John," Sherlock said, cutting into the conversation between his brother and mate.

"Brilliant!" John exclaimed, seizing onto Sherlock's proclamation like a lifeline. "Can't you tell your brother to stop poking his abnormally large nose into my business and let me go then?"

"I'm afraid I cannot do that no matter how much I would love to," Sherlock replied, sounding truly regretful. "Vampires are genetically hardwired to protect their mates at any cost. There is no possibility of my biology allowing me to let you walk into a war zone."

"Brilliant! What am I supposed to do now?"

"I would advise you to take the "life extending potion," as you insist on calling you, before you decide to do anything else, Doctor," Mycroft said, interrupting the conversation.

John glared at him. "Are you insane? I'm not about to make myself immortal and tie myself to some random man-vampire-whatever I met at a club a couple of hours ago! How do I even know what kind of a person he is? For all I know, taking that potion could mean tying my life to an insane psychopath!"

Before Mycroft could say anything, Sherlock spoke. "I have a suggestion," he said with a mischievous glint in his eye. "Now that I have found my mate – that is to say, found you – I will be able to work as a consulting detective, like I have always hoped to. Mycroft's mate is a DI at New Scotland Yard, and he's agreed to let me work with them. I will need an assistant, however, and you fit the profile of one perfectly."

"What exacting is a consulting detective?" John asked, eyeing Sherlock suspiciously.

"It's who the police approach for help when they're out of their depth – that is to say, always. I will be the only one in the world. I've invented the job myself," Sherlock replied. He could see John was staring to waver, so he decided to up the ante. "It will be rather dangerous," he continued.

The mention of danger was what convinced John. "Very well," he said, "I'll work with you. But I reserve the right to leave if I ever feel that things won't work out."

"Of course, John. But I must add one condition of my own. If, after a year, you feel you can spend eternity by my side, you will agree to become immortal," Sherlock said slyly.

"Done. Can we get out of here now?" John asked eagerly.

"I don't have a better idea. Oh, and I've got myself a flatshare for the…"

Mycroft watched his brother and his mate walk out of the room with something akin to astonishment. The two of them together were going to make for some moments, he could already tell.

He flipped open his phone and spoke imperiously into it. "I think it's time we upgraded my brother's surveillance level," he said, "and while you're at it, add John Watson to the list of people to be monitored. Level three for both of them, I think."

Yes, life was going to get very interesting now that John Watson was among them.

As of now, there will not be a full length multi-chapter for this - I just don't think I'm skilled enough to write Sherlock multi-chaps yet. But it is quite likely that I will be writing more in this universe. I don't know when, but it will happen.

The only thing is I'll probably be putting them as completely separate fics instead of adding them to this fic. So if you're interested in reading them, you can just put me on author alert. :)

Don't forget to drop a review on your way out :)