Near to the End

This story is slash, but is about love rather than sex, and to avoid confusion doesn't have any. As the title suggests, it runs parallel to Ad Fin, which will eventually have more chapters and a more complete feel about it. Ad Fin is a non-slash story but not even the non-slashers deny that Holmes and Watson do love each other [if Platonically].

It is set the day before Moriarty and Holmes meet and meet their demise. The latter I can see as being rather ad hoc, but the former I personally believe to be planned.

AreYouSittingConfortably

I awoke to the creaking of bedsprings as Holmes lay fully clothed next to me. I was aware that I occasionally had a calming influence on him, that even if I slept and he was alone in his wakefulness, he wouldn't be lonely. Tonight this wasn't true so I stirred.

"Holmes?" He lay quite still and made no answer. Loathe to disturb his reverie when they had been so crucial to us of late, I waited, but he wore such a wretched expression I tried again. "Holmes, are you alright?"

At this, his hand found mine under the covers and brought it out. He squeezed my hand but his countenance was as before. I lay a little closer to still a small shiver at the Swiss cold and rested my head on his arm, raising my chin so I could see his face.

"I think I love you, Holmes," was what I said finally. At this, his mouth twitched into a little smile, but he blinked quite rapidly.

"It is as well." His voice was hoarse. "I love you."

I nodded because though neither had said it before, we both knew already. "Are you frightened?" I asked, having come to about the only conclusion I could come to to explain Holmes' behaviour.

"Oh, my dear Watson…" he cleared his throat and lost his sentence. There was a long pause, then a whisper. "I am very frightened."

And yet, I'd never seen a braver man.