Of Valentines and Fist

"Freak," snapped Donovan, slightly nasally from a cold (the vindictive side of John was glad to see her miserable), "Can't you speed this up. Just because you don't have a date it doesn't mean the rest of us don't"

John fought for composure but remained quiet and watched. It annoyed him that the officers threw insults around and at Sherlock like it was nothing. It angered him even more the way that Sherlock answered to 'Freak' as though it was her given name.

It was February fourteenth and he had had a date. But as it stood he didn't even mind having to cancel his date tonight – although cancelling a date on Valentine's day had more than likely just wrecked any chances of future date with Gemma ever again. But still, he couldn't bring himself to care. No woman could ever be as interesting as watching Sherlock work – he had accepted that a long time ago.

So here he stood, transfixed, as his friend worked. Circling the body with that tell-tale frown on her face as he reasoned out the how, the why and more than likely the who. Her long, dark jacket swirling around her, giving her an air of maturity he knew for certain she lacked when they were alone in the flat. John often found himself wondering if the criminals of London realised just what doom they were inviting upon themselves when they chose to do something grand enough to be worth Sherlock's attention.

John knew what look would be on his face as he watched her. He had caught his reflection in a window from the corner of his eye once and he had heard the various policemen who regularly attended scenes with Lestrade joking to each other about Sherlock and her 'fan-boy'. He couldn't help it. Sherlock was fascinating to watch as she caught the simple little things that no one else did, or rather that no one else thought was important, but when put together created a picture that couldn't be questioned.

As far as cases went this had to be one of the smellier ones since John had moved into Baker Street. It was glaringly apparent that the woman lying dead in this stinking alley had been killed – with a whopping big hole in her back it definitely wasn't natural causes – some time ago and it was hard to tell if the small space between the dry-cleaners and the bookies was smelling because of the body or if it had always been this way. Over flowing bins and questionable puddles certainly suggested it wasn't visited by the street sweepers regularly.

When they had arrived there had been the expected comments from Anderson and Donovan as they had left the scene. Sally telling Sherlock not to 'get off too quickly' and Anderson having his habitual whine about contaminating the crime scene. His irritation had begun to smoulder a bit then but he pushed it down. But now. Now his temper was starting to strain.

He had noticed something during his time at crime scenes with Sherlock. Donovan and Anderson were always the first to get a dig in. They always had to shoot off something that they thought was clever and then get in a huff when Sherlock retaliated.

Sally was glaring at her watch and then at the corpse and then at Sherlock. It was as though she was blaming the corpse for being dead and then wishing Sherlock would swap with it. John hated it. They were the ones to contact Sherlock and then thy treated her like dirt when she showed up.

What made it all the more painful for John to watch was Sherlock's reactions. She was always so excited at the prospect of a fresh mystery that more often than not, apart from the face to face barbs, he doubted she took anything else in once she got on the scent.

"I do apologies for interrupting your plans for this evening, Sally," Sherlock told her calmly, not stopping in her study of the body, squinting through her small magnifier at the blood injury, "I am sure your date and this woman's family would appreciate your evening being ranked higher than finding the killer,"

Sally muttered something and left them, striding past Anderson, ducking under the police tape and stepping out onto the pavement.

"So…" muttered one of the younger officers who were standing close enough for if he was needed but far enough away to not get in the way, "No dates this evening?"

There was no answer from Sherlock.

John shook his head and smiled at the officer.

"Yeah, me neither," the officer sounded sympathetic.

There was a snort from Anderson who was scribbling down his own findings.

"A date? Her?" Anderson looked up from his clip-board to point his pencil at Sherlock's bent back, "If anyone was ever found to love her they would have to be just as much of a Freak," he paused for a second, "If not more," he went back to scribbling.

Now, John doubted anyone of the several officers and members of the forensic team would have noticed the slight tensing of Sherlock shoulders, but John did.

Maybe he had been wrong all this time? Maybe she did hear every word.

He almost kicked himself. This was Sherlock he was talking about about! Of course she heard every word. She could probably repeat it verbatim back at the flat if he asked.

"Mind your mouth, Anderson," he snapped at the other man.

"Pardon?"

"You heard me, mind your mouth. Sherlock is here because Lestrade asked her to be,"

"John, leave it," he heard Sherlock say and only then did he realise that he had been stepping towards Anderson and Sherlock was now behind him.

He ignored Sherlock.

"She doesn't have to listen to any of your comments or insults while she is here," his voice was getting higher. Weeks of built up anger from listening to the insults aimed at Sherlock finally coming to the fore.

Anderson gaped like a fish out of water before making the completely wrong decision and deciding to speak.

"The Freak is the most unlikable-" he stammered for a moment, searching for words, "Why – How could anyone love he-"

"John!"

John's fist collided with Anderson's face, bringing the wonderful sound of flesh meeting flesh to the air, and a satisfying ache to John's knuckles.

It was worth it to see Anderson sprawled out on the ground, his fall had even brought down the police tape.

"John," he could feel Sherlock's hand close on his arm and heard the officers further back running over.

"Oye!" that was Lestrade, "What going on?"

"Next time do as I ask," John snapped, "And as for love," he growled, "What do you call love? Screwing a woman who isn't your wife while she is away from home?"

He turned and grabbed Sherlock's arm, dragging her past the sprawled Anderson – now being helped by some officers – and nearly walked into Lestrade.

"Where are you going?" he asked looking from John to Anderson.

"Home! You know where to find me if he," he jerked his head towards Anderson, "wants to press charges. Sherlock will be back when your team learn some respect,"

John continued walking his grip on Sherlock never faltering as his hand found hers.

4 Hours Later

John had been processed.

Hell, they hadn't even made it two-hundred yards away from the crime scene before he had been (very politely) detained by two officers and put into a police car.

He now had the defacing of a listed building and assault on his record.

Could he bring himself to regret hitting Anderson? No.

Did he hope he had broken the arses nose? Absolutely.

There was a click as the panel of his cell door was lifted and he walked toward it.

"You've got a visitor,"

The panel dropped, there was some mumbling from behind the door and then it was lifted again. He could make out Sherlock's features behind the mesh.

"These imbeciles won't allow me in to see you," his friend announced, "They are afraid I will smuggle you in a nail-file or some such rubbish,"

John chuckled at this.

"You didn't have to do what you did-"

"Yes I did Sherlock," John snapped.

"Well couldn't you have waited until there weren't five officers to witness it?" Sherlock huffed.

"I'll keep that in mind the next time I want to punch Anderson,"

Silence.

"John,"

"Yes Sherlock,"

"What you did…that was…"

Silence.

"That was…good,"

Silence.

"You're welcome, Sherlock,"

Long time no see my darlings!

So as you can probably tell from the title this was supposed to be posted in February! I won't tell you of what year because that would be just embarrassing.

I hope you enjoyed it!

:)