"I'm glad to hear it." Watson let his fingers find their way to the back of Holmes's neck, and he stroked the skin there very gently. "Were it in my power to do so, I would spare you of it entirely." How to possibly put into words how much this frightened him sometimes, how utterly powerless he felt.

He concentrated on his breathing, inhaling Holmes's scent and breathing back warmth into him. "I love you. I would protect you from everything, if I could. I cannot, I'm sorry, but I love you."