Possession

A BBC Sherlock Extreme AU Story

By

Nana

Part I

First Impressions

Chapter 1

Pos·ses·sion [puh-zesh-uhn] noun. 1. Ownership; the act or fact of possessing. 2. Control over oneself, one's mind, etc. 3. Domination, actuation, or obsession by a feeling, idea, etc.

Origin:

1300–50; Middle English -Latin possessiōn- (stem of possessiō) occupancy, act of occupying. Past participle of possidēre, to have in one's control, occupy (and, in active sense, past participle of posīdere, to seize upon)

(Definition from www. dictionary . com)

Please see Author's Notes at the end.

"Why, John Watson! Is that a smile I see on your face?" Dr. Sarah Sawyer sounded disbelieving as she surveyed her friend and colleague from across the sofa in the doctors' lounge. "It's a smallish smile, but a smile nevertheless."

John cleared his throat, lowered the cup that he had been raising to his lips. He tilted his head, apparently considering the matter seriously. "I suppose it is, yes," he said after a moment.

Sarah smiled, relief clearly written on her face. "About time, too," she said. "What's brought it on? Someone new I haven't heard about?"

"Come on. Do you really think you would not have heard of anything before now if it were someone new?"

Sarah threw up her hands, laughing. "All right, all right. New case then?"

John sighed, his smile widening just a little bit more. "I know I said I wasn't going to take in new patients for a while, but remember that phone call I got from my old mate, Mike Stamford?"

"Yes. He's the dean of that college in Manchester?"

"Yes, the very same one. Well, we got to lunching a few days back, and he wanted me to take on a colleague of his as a personal favor," said John. "Well, I got a phone call this morning from said colleague to set a possible date for our first consultation, and guess how he phrased his dilemma."

"I'm all ears."

"He said, 'I seem to be suffering from delusions of being a vampire'."

"Oh, my God. He did not!"

"His exact words, I swear."

"I can see why you're keen to take the case. Thank goodness for that." Sarah paused, then in a more subdued tone: "I'm glad to see you smiling again."

John looked down at his cup, his smile thinning out. "Yes, well. There's really nowhere else to go but up, I suppose."

"John…"

"I know. I know. It's been more than nine months now, and I am finally coming around. I've stopped the medications more than a month ago. They really weren't helping."

He looked up, mouth set into a determined smile this time. "Work ought to be a better alternative," he said bracingly.

Beats of silence, then: "Sherlock."

"I'm sorry?"

"His name is Sherlock Holmes. The patient, I mean," said John. He looked at Sarah, a slight frown creasing his forehead. "Is that even a name?"

Sarah laughed. "Strange name for a strange case," she said. "Sounds like it can lead to something. An interesting diversion, at least."

John looked away. "Nothing happens to me. At least, nothing interesting. You know that."

"I don't know that, and neither do you."

"Well, we will find out soon enough," said John as he made to stand up. "He's set an appointment for one o'clock tomorrow afternoon."

Author's Notes: Hello. I am new to the BBC Sherlock fandom, and this is my first fic of Sherlock and John. When I began watching the series, I thought the setting of the Unicorn Tapestry (part of The Vampire Tapestry by Suzy McKee Charnas—a classic; definitely one of the best vampire books ever published, and which will inspire the events in this story) very aptly reflected the dynamics and chemistry between Sherlock and John. I do hope you will enjoy reading this story.

I realize that there are a lot of Sherlock fanfics out there, and some would probably deal with vampirisim as their theme. I just hope this story does not resemble any of the fics too closely. Please do send me a heads-up if it does.