05 BBC Sherlock: Working Backwards

by Wynsom

A look backwards: About a year before TRF, Sherlock and John share an adventure to discover the connections between a ghost story and the case of eleven inebriated men. At the same time, the detective and the doctor discover significant connections between their working relationship and meaningful friendship. No fluff nor slash, but insights abound. As usual, all disclaimers apply.

1. Chapter 1

Working Backwards

"In solving a problem of this sort, the grand thing is to be able to reason backwards."

Sherlock Holmes -A Study in Scarlet

oOo

Prologue May 2011*

Pale sunlight through spring leaves in a muted sky was the first thing John noticed. The next was Sherlock, an arm's length away, wrapped in his greatcoat, seated with his back against a large gnarly sycamore trunk, fingers tented under chin, and eyes closed in thought.

"Sherlock?" John snapped alert, keenly aware he was lying on his back under the same tree. The hard earth was cool, lumpy, and uncomfortable through his jacket and trousers, whilst overhead in the treetops, chirping birds were loudly holding parliament and proclaiming daybreak. "Where are we?"

One grey-blue eye opened in his direction, then closed. Although weary, his soft voice was also amused. "Don't you remember?"

John squinted and lifted his head. The sudden onset of dizziness forced him to return it gently where it had been resting on the improvised pillow of Sherlock's scarf. "Russell Square Park!" He had caught a glimpse over his shoe tops of the frothy park fountain and joggers running past; some passers-by strode with purpose on the pavement paying no mind to the two men reclining under the tree. The quick view helped him orient himself. John knew the Duke of Bedford statue was just behind them. "How did we get here?"

"Long story." Eyelids stayed shut as Sherlock grunted and swiveled his head to loosen up kinks in his neck. A grin edged his lips. "Don't want to bore you."

Suppressing a groan, John realized his cloudy recollections were symptomatic of something he couldn't quite grasp. Threats of vertigo diminished as long as he kept his eyes open and didn't move his head too quickly. However, standing was certainly out of the question for the moment.

"Okay gimme," the bleary-eyed man caved to his own curiosity. "There must be some good reason, Sherlock, why the bloody hell we are sleeping rough in the middle of Russell Square Park."

oOo

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*Author's Note: Contradictory information within the BBC series makes establishing a reliable time frame difficult. For the purpose of this story, the events take place in May of 2011—definitely before the events in Reichenbach Falls. My apologies to anyone who disagrees with this story placement, although it is necessary for the plot, as you shall see.

Special thanks to some amazing people I've met in FF, particularly englishtutor and Honourable.