Last updated: 8th April 2012
WWII AU in which John is an army doctor and Sherlock is a cryptographer at Bletchley Park. Instalments are below in reading order.
1937
That Certain Night, R, ~2,380 words
‘Are you in the habit of inviting queer men back to your flat, John?’ he murmured, his eyes half-lidded as he stared at John again.
John huffed a breath through his nose. ‘None quite so peculiar as you,’ he said after a long pause, lifting his eyes to Sherlock’s.
-- October, 1937. A chance encounter late one night leads to Sherlock following John home. I can’t really put it much better than Vera herself: That certain night, the night we met / there was magic abroad in the air.
When You Kissed and Smiled at Me, NC-17, ~2,450 words
‘So that’s what you do, then? All that mad running about and nearly poisoning yourself and serial killers... that’s your life, is it?’
-- October, 1937. Sherlock and John revel in the successful conclusion of their first case together.
You're Getting to Be a Habit with Me, PG-13, ~1,820 words
‘I’m a bare-knuckle boxing champion,’ Sherlock said, attempting to look haughty. His black and blue and bleeding face and sweat-matted hair spoilt the illusion somewhat.
-- November, 1937. Sherlock gets himself in a late-night predicament and John is, of course, entirely willing to help.
1939
September 3, 1939, PG, ~1,900 words
‘I don’t suppose I could trouble you for a glass of water?’ Mycroft asked in his plummy tones, stepping inside the flat. He took his hat off and moved towards the hatstand, wrinkling his nose when he saw that a life-size skeleton model had been wrapped around it as though the two were embracing.
-- September, 1939. Sherlock somehow manages to miss the fact that war has been declared. A couple of weeks later, Mycroft knocks at the door and Sherlock strikes a deal.
Christmas Eve, 1939, NC-17, ~2,150 words
They were in bed together, the Tiffany lamp alight in the corner, casting a gentle light across the room. The multicoloured pieces of glass that formed its shade glowed prettily in the dim and provided a welcome contrast from the pouring rain and darkness outside, concealed though it was by the blackout curtain.
-- December, 1939. Sherlock and John share a lazy Christmas Eve at Baker Street in the midst of the ‘Phoney War’.
1940
All that May Fall from the Skies Above, PG-13, ~900 words
‘I want you in our bed, underneath me. I want my hands on your skin, my lips against yours, I--’ Sherlock broke off and brought the cigarette to his mouth, sucking in a shaking breath.
-- October, 1940. John and Sherlock shelter from the Blitz the night before they’re both posted.
When the Dawn Comes Up, NC-17, ~3,250 words
The light from the window was at their backs, casting shadows across their faces. Sherlock closed his eyes and pressed his forehead to the back of John’s neck, just above his collar.
‘My train’s at eight,’ John said, gazing at their reflection in the mirror.
-- October, 1940. John and Sherlock share a final few hours together before John goes to fight on the continent and Sherlock goes to break codes at Bletchley Park.
1941
That Lovely Weekend, NC-17, ~3,300 words
The train groaned to a stop and those waiting surged forwards as the carriage doors began to snap open. Sherlock’s frown deepened as he scanned the length of the train, as he watched soldier after soldier jump off, waiting for dusty hair and an easy grin and kind, tired eyes.
-- February, 1941. Sherlock and John share a final weekend together before John is posted to North Africa.
Far Distant Shores, PG-13, ~750 words
‘There’s no-one quite like you here.’
-- May, 1941. John, with Mycroft’s help, manages to call Sherlock from North Africa.
1943
As the Shadows Fell, PG-13, ~1,850 words
Sherlock dumped the stack of papers he was carrying onto his mahogany desk and pushed his hair back off his forehead, eyes narrowed at Mycroft. 'Are they quite managing without you in your little war bunker?'
-- April, 1943. John is reported as missing during the final stages of the North African Campaign. From London, with Mycroft, Sherlock does all he can to find him.
Home Again, PG-13/R, ~2,320 words
'I’d still be running around a bloody desert somewhere with a gun and my medical pack if...’ John swallowed. ‘I wouldn’t have come back until... until I was sent back.’
-- September, 1943. John has been discharged from hospital and Sherlock stays with him for the first night back at Baker Street. Fitting back into his old life isn’t as easy as he thought it would be.
On The Days When It Would Rain, PG-13, ~2,350 words
John breathed in the familiar and comforting smell of disinfectant and carbolic. For the first time that week, a smile, faint though it was, pulled at his lips.
-- October, 1943. John visits St. Bart’s to see about doing something useful now he’s back in England.
1944
Together, Somehow, We Will, PG-13, ~2,350 words
‘Bloody hell, can’t you just... can’t you just come back here and solve mysteries and argue with me, for God’s sake?’ John said with a shaky laugh, cradling the back of Sherlock’s head.
-- January, 1944. John has a particularly unsuccessful trip to collect his ration, but a certain someone else has a week’s leave and everything gets that little bit brighter.
When the World is Quiet and Still, NC-17, ~3,200 words
‘Stop dithering with your toothpaste and light this for me,’ Sherlock ordered, pushing his chin out, shoving the matches into John’s hand.
-- January, 1944. Sherlock learns the tale behind John's war wound, which is followed by life and relationship-affirming sex.
January, 1944, PG, ~2,650 words
‘Oh, it is you! You know, it’s been so long since I last heard your voice that I was quite convinced Alice was playing a little trick on me,’ said Mrs Holmes, her voice as prim and clipped as ever. ‘Goodness knows what you’ll actually look like when I see you next. I imagine anyone could saunter in and claim to be you and I wouldn’t be any the wiser. A vagrant, perhaps, or a showgirl...’
-- January, 1944. Sherlock and John spend a day together in the flat. Sherlock finds something out that John would probably rather he didn’t know and telephones Mummy to ask a favour.
Back Where You Started From, R, ~3,100 words
‘There are three cubes of sugar in this one’s left shoe,’ Sherlock said, pointing to a small boy in short grey trousers, with bottle-bottom glasses and skinned knees. ‘This one sneaked a pinch of Cook’s cooking sherry after lunch and I believe Mary knows the location of the missing sweet coupons.’
-- January, 1944. Sherlock and John go to Sussex for the afternoon. Sherlock’s his usual self.
Lovers Lie Abed, R, ~2,200 words
‘When did you know? When did you know you loved me?’
-- January, 1944. Sherlock's leave comes to an end.