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John was trying very hard to manage two overloaded shopping bags in both his hands. The thought of getting his keys to open the door when he reached made him mentally groan. On such occasions John regretted his choice of living alone. He could easily move in with Mary. They have been together for a year now, more than enough time spend together to start to live in. Mary had insisted him on it on several occasions also. He just couldn't bring himself to do it. For apparently no reason. John was not a commitment phobic, he rather liked being committed rather than dating around. Mary was the perfect girl for him, loving, caring, understanding, nurturing and very beautiful. John's tiredness evaporated by merely talking to her, her presence gave him a warm homely feeling. Sometimes he did feel that it would be lovely to come home to such reassurance and happiness every day. And sometimes… well there were issues within himself which neither he could identify fully nor solve.

Should have taken a cab. He thought and huffed in exasperation. A week's supply was much baggage, keeping in mind that he was a doctor, a food lover and a good cook. There were always different types of sauces, crème, jams, spices in his kitchen and he made it a point to never run out of them. He knew it would be heavy, yet he felt like walking. He was regretting his decision now. It was a damn cold night. It was dark and wasn't helping his condition. He wanted to turn up his coat collar against the cold but couldn't, his hands were aching more in the cold air with the weight of the bags. He was almost wishing for a saviour and hoped Mrs Hudson would be home and he could just shout or knock and she would be good enough to open the door for him.

He stopped in his tracks to adjust the weight in his hands, he was just a few buildings away from his flat. As he started walking he saw an alley to his right, it was dark and heavily misty. But that was not what caught his eyes.

There were two long legs stretched out from the darkness, it seemed like the owner was lying with his feet out on the pavement and the body lying in the misty darkness of the alley. John's eyes widened in surprise and he ran with urgency towards the body.

The man didn't stir hearing his footsteps. It worried the doctor more. He left the bags outside the alley and went to the man swiftly. He couldn't see his face in the darkness. He could only make out that he was a very tall and lean figure. John knelt beside him and before touching him he spoke,

"Hello? Can you hear me? are you all right?"

There was no response. He took out his phonee from his pocket and pushed a button to put the light on screen, he then turned it towards the man.

He was a young man, in his thirties. Dark curly unkempt hair, extremely pale, haggard and with sharp features. He was breathing slowly. John took his pulse, it was slow. The man had passed out somehow. John debated for a moment about the next course of action. This was an unknown man. The logical course of action would be to take him to the hospital. But he was a doctor himself and his house was nearer. He wanted to help, he couldn't fathom the damage right here right now and didn't know if this man would survive the journey to hospital. After a few more minutes he made up his mind.

"Sod this! Taxi!" he ran out of the alley to hail a passing taxi. He pulled the man in it with the help of the driver along with his things.

As the Taxi stopped before 221B Baker Street he got out hurriedly and called Mrs Hudson to open the door.

"Oh dear! Who is he?" She said as John pulled him out and with some help put him on Mrs Hudson's living room sofa.

"I don't know."

"Oh!"

He paid off the cabbie thanking him. The man lay on the couch motionless he's feet dangled out from Mrs Hudson's dainty little sofa. In the light of the room John fully saw the man for the first time.

He wore a well-worn long coat with a dirty scarf, his face was unwashed and unshaven, his cheeks were hollow which only highlighted his magnificent cheek bones, his shoes were torn, he had a look of overall distress. Yet there was something about him that said he was not a man from the streets, maybe it was his height that made him look so majestic.

Mrs Hudson bought water and a soaked towel on John's request. John pressed the towel gently on the man's forehead and slowly started to rub his face with it, kneeling beside him.

"You shouldn't have bought him in you know." said Mrs Hudson, concern in her voice.

"He could be dangerous."

John sighed, she was just voicing the doubts he had already gone through. But it was done now. Something about this man was very intriguing, John couldn't pin down exactly what, he found himself getting gradually interested in this unknown man.

Who is he? Why was he in that alley? His appearance betrays him, why is he in distress? I hope he's not some antisocial whom I have just helped and bought doom onto myself and poor Mrs Hudson.

The man stirred and moaned slowly interrupting John's thoughts and startling him. John took away the towel and spoke softly.

"Are you okay?"

The man didn't seem to hear him. He put a hand on the man's shoulder and shook him gently.

"Sir, are you okay?"

The man gave a start at John's touch and put his hands over his face as if someone was going to hurt him. John took away his hand instantly. The man was in shock.

"It's okay, I'm a doctor, look at me please."

The man was panting, he heard John and slowly removed his hands to look at him. His eyes gave John a jolt. He sat up straighter, deep, piercing, grey-blue eyes, asking thousands of questions at a time. Slowly his breathing became normal and he started to look around. His eyes wandered around the room, Mrs Hudson and then came to rest on John again. He looked less agitated, his eyes not so inquiring seemed he had gotten an idea as to where he was and more importantly that he was safe.

John cleared his throat and bought himself back to business.

"What happened? Were you attacked?" John asked the man softly.

The man contemplated before answering, he looked at the glass of water on the table next to him. He attempted to get up but by the immense effort he was making John could tell that he was extremely weak. He put his hand on the man's shoulder again and gestured him to lie down. He then took the glass in his hand and raising the other man's head with another he helped him to sip. The man kept looking deeply into John's eyes while he drank. John felt uneasy for some reason. As he laid the man again he gave out a contended sigh. After a moment he spoke.

"I passed out."

As if his eyes weren't enchanting enough, his voice was a rich baritone and he sounded sophisticated, no cockney accent, his voice thundered into John's blood stream. He involuntarily swallowed.

Why is this man on the road?

As if the man read his mind and said

"I am homeless."

This cannot be. This cannot be true at all.

John looked at him in utter disbelief, though his clothes and overall appearance made it impossible to deny it yet John just couldn't come to terms with it.

"You're what?" John asked incredulously.

"Oh poor lad, let me get you something to eat." Mrs Hudson intervened. She went inside to get some food for this surprise guest.

John was still looking at the man who watched Mrs Hudson vanish into the other room and turned his gaze back to John's.

"You seem surprised." He said and John sensed a bit amusement in his voice though his face was stoic.

"Yes, yes I am surprised" John said.

"Why?" the man asked. Though his eyes said he already knew.

"You don't seem to fit in."

"There are a lot of educated and qualified people on the streets doctor, the number may actually astonish you."

It was not just that. John thought looking at the man. Something was very regal about him. It felt like he was some kind of a prince disguised as a beggar. John just couldn't picture this man sitting, living, eating on the streets. Something was very very very wrong about the scenario.

But before he could open his mouth to enquire further Mrs Hudson came and placed a tray of food before him.

"Eat dear, you'll feel better." She said kindly.

The man smiled gratefully at her and with some effort sat up. John could tell that he felt a mild vertigo as he sat up, he took the bowl of soup in his hands and ate hungrily. John got up from his leaning position and walked to stand by Mrs Hudson who was looking at the man with compassion and affection.

"Poor lad, god knows what may have led to his condition. Life is so unfair sometimes." She sighed sadly.

Yes, life is unfair. A man like this on the streets? Unbelievable. if he walked out of a corporate office in a suit nobody would feel any difference.

The man had some toasts and drank some more water. After that he looked visibly better. Now John was in dilemma again. What to do with him? Ask him to leave now that he's okay in the cold night to sleep on the pavement or wherever he dwelt? Or ask him to stay with some risk attached to it? John felt he couldn't bring himself to do the first one. He wasn't sure though that his landlady would allow the second one. The man looked at him again and stood up a bit unsteadily.

"I should take my leave now." He said standing up.

"I will always remember your kind gesture towards an unknown man like myself, thank you Madam, thank you doctor." He said with a polite nod, with that he walked towards the door.

Mrs Hudson looked at John questioningly as if asking him to take a decision, surely this man had an effect on her too.

"Wait." John said hurriedly going towards the man who had just turned the doorknob of the flat. He turned and looked around, confused.

"You are still weak and as a doctor I deem it unfit for you stay outside on such a cold night." John said authoritatively.

"I live upstairs, you could spend the night there."

The man looked stunned. He hadn't expected this. This much generosity towards an unknown man who claimed to be homeless.

"I …I really shouldn't. It's really more than I deserve. "he said with downcast eyes. Something inside John constricted. He didn't know why.

"It's for your own good." He said in a husky voice.

The man looked at him intensely for a moment and then left the door knob.