saki101

Your comment is like cool water in the desert! Thank you so much for saying such lovely things!!

They are both in so much pain during this series, Sherlock's both physical, which he ignores as much as possible in his usual manner, and emotional, which he is having more trouble dismissing, and John's emotional and moral. That compass that Sherlock spoke about in ASiP is whirling around the dial and every quiver of it is troubling John until he learns the truth about Mary, but even then there is the baby to think about.

I felt that when Sherlock showed up at the restaurant, even though it was technically before John had finished offering his hand, he knew Mary understood, just as she had understood even before he started speaking that that was where their relationship was going, his promise already implicit in his actions. This poses a huge problem for him because he doesn't want to break his implied promise, he doesn't want to hurt the person who helped him in his difficult days, he doesn't want to abandon someone as he had been abandoned and yet he thinks he will. There is one look at her that seems almost like pity or perhaps regret because he knows he will hurt her, but then Sherlock cannot express all he feels in words and his awkward humour gives John's frustration at this dilemma an outlet. It is such a painful mess!

Sorry, didn't mean to go rambling off like that. Encouragement can do that!

Thank you again!