Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize. I think it will remain T all the way through.

Characters: Detective Sherlock Holmes (Jonny L. Miller's depiction from "Elementary") and my OC Antoinette "Toni" Bell (If I ever expand these characters to a fic she, will be Detective Marcus Bell's cousin).

Warning: None

Chapter 12: The Sleeping Genius

Summary: The detective takes more than a much needed nap.

I can't imagine getting a tattoo much less tattooing myself. How does he do it? Toni asked herself. Doesn't it hurt? It's gotta hurt.

The brilliant Detective Sherlock Holmes had been having an irritating, disturbing, depressing week solving a few cases. He thought going to a few meetings and talking with Alfredo (his sponsor) would help. Sometimes going through cold cases would bring him out of his funk. Not this week. He showed up on his girlfriend Toni's doorstep late Saturday morning, needed something to do or somewhere to go to keep his mind from tanking his sobriety. Turns out, her house was exactly where he needed to be.

He was finally getting over the drug induced tailspin that Moriarty sent him into. Sherlock was healing his heart. He was learning to be vulnerable with it again, developing trust, learning to let people in. Certain people. Toni was willing to be patient with him which is something he didn't expect. He was grateful for it but didn't totally understand it.

He started with a conversation about his week. He continued to ramble and the best way Toni found to end a rambling conversation with Sherlock Holmes was to kiss him. This led him to speak his heart, which was a conversation she had been wanting to have. And he confessed how much he felt about her and their relationship. Which led to an afternoon of lovemaking.

Hours after dinner and round three, found the couple in bed. Toni received a text.

JoanW: Have you seen Sherlock? I've been trying to contact him all day with no answer.

Joan then received a picture of the shirtless detective, on his stomach, sleeping soundly with the message:

ToniB: We've talked. He's been fed and loved on. I'll send him home in the morning.