The Never-Ending Road.

A/N: A little AU story I've been thinking about. It kind of bounces off of my story Haven't Met You Yet, at least it refers to it. You don't have to read the other one, but you can if you want some emotional background. I will continue this if there's any interest. Let me know. You can review or PM me. Will be slash if I continue.

Do with me what thou will: my will is thy will: I appeal not against thy judgements

Prayer of Æpictitas

John moved out of Sarah's. They'd moved in together a couple of months ago, but it just wasn't working. He tried to make her happy and she tried to make him happy, but they just couldn't get it together. He moved in with an old friend from his Bart's days. Mike Stamford. Moved into the spare room. Here he was back from Afghanistan six months, 36 years old and he was living with a friend. Might as well be at uni or living with his parents. If they were still alive that is.

He really wanted to move out on his own, but he wasn't getting enough hours and he didn't know, now that he and Sarah had broken up, if she was still going to give him the extra shifts at the surgery.

Then one day Mike came home from Bart's with some news.

"Would you be interested in moving in with this bloke I know from Bart's? He's looking for someone to share a flat, but doesn't think anyone would move in with him."

"What's wrong with him?" asked John.

'Well he's…er, well. I think you're going to have to see for yourself. He's different. Might drive you mad. Bit more than mad himself."

Faint alarm bells were ringing at the back of John's head and his stomach clenched, but he didn't say or show anything to Mike.

But John knew Mike was just trying to help and probably wanted him out of his house. They were expecting another kid in a few months. So he agreed to come to Bart's tomorrow and Mike would introduce him to Sherlock.

"Strange name," mused John.

"You don't know the half of it," he grinned.

So the next day, Mike brought John to the lab. John took one look and recognized Sherlock immediately.

From a few months ago when John had been held hostage by a serial killer outside a restaurant.

From Dieppe. 1942

From Vimy Ridge. 1917

From Gettysburg. 1863

From Cape Trafalgar 1805

From a meeting on the street, in a park, on the road in Vienna, Marseille, Florence, Constantinople, Rome, Athens.

From time after time after time.

It was inevitable and it was here and there was no turning back.

John Watson and Sherlock Holmes had met once again.

John knew he was screwed.