A/N: I had always been puzzled by Watson's remark in SIGN, "I felt sure that my position was an embarrassing one", considering that by now, he had been most likely sitting in on Holmes' consultations for at least four years by now. Some of that material must have been sensitive, so why would be be feel that with just another female client? Miss Morstan had barely spoken yet.

As always, Watson, Mary Morstan, and Holmes are not mine.

An Embarrassing Position

At first glance, Miss Mary Morstan could have been any one of Holmes' female clients, sure that only Holmes' unique powers could avail them. When Mrs. Hudson had announced her, I had been sure that this client would be as easily aided as any other, and as easily forgotten by Holmes, and after a little longer, by myself.

However, she caught my attention. Her shaken demeanor seemed to stir something within me. I felt sudden concern and a sense of protectiveness. To her, as she glanced around our sitting room, we must have seemed like a safe harbor in a storm, or knights in armor, ready to help a damsel in distress.

I glanced over at Holmes, startled, my eyes widening slightly. Is this how he felt, when a client came to him for help? No, most likely not. To Holmes, the client was merely a unit, a starting point to a puzzle that he could unravel, thus keeping his great mind sharp and occupied. It was I that was teased by for having a romantic nature and a chivalrous disposition towards women.

I felt slightly troubled at the wave of indignation that arose within me. Somehow within the few seconds that it had taken her to walk through the door and sit in the chair opposite Holmes, she had ceased to be another story. Instead, I felt a genuine worry over the solution of her yet-untold problem. Would we be able to help her? The 'we' suddenly struck me as odd. Over the years, I had come to think the two of us as a partnership as well as a friendship. When a client came to Holmes for help, they generally were aided by the two of us. What would happen if he refused the case? I could certainly not help her myself, as Holmes has often teased; I had not his powers of deduction.

I looked again at Holmes and noted his intense gaze at our potential client. Most likely, his mind was busy deducing information about her while my thoughts had been preoccupied. He seemed to be entirely focused on Miss Morstan, but having lived with Holmes for several years now, I was acquainted with his ability to read my thoughts from my face. Had he noticed my trail of thought? Feeling some discomfort and awkwardness, I hoped that he had not.

He leaned forward, about to speak.

I felt sure that my position was an embarrassing one.

"You will, I am sure, excuse me", I said, rising from my chair.

Then she raised her hand to stop my retreat.

A/N: Please read and review! You were all so kind the last time. Any constructive criticism would also be lovely.