Funny how stories jump ahead on you like that :) John has such a physical reaction to to everything connected with Sherlock, it seems difficult for him to continually conrtol those reactions!

I'm going to be interested in seeing the replies on past perfect--I think it's fine in this scene. I use it a lot in the type of flashbacks I do, though when the scene gets long it seems awkward and I tend to drift into past tense. I have been called on that at times, and am now constantly conflicted because as a reader, it seems to me if the switch is done the right way, it's not noticeable and gives the scene a better flow.