AN: Sorry for the long silence. I only write when something hits me or I get upset over something...This time it was the latter. I kind of took the idea for a phone conversation from KCS (if you'd like me to take it down I will ) so credit to her for that. When I write something because of being upset most of the time I just take the situation I was in and tweak it to fit whatever comes out...so yeah..that's what happened this time. ...On with the ficlet.
I could hear the shrill ringing of the phone from out on the door step. I hadn't been home since the evening before and I was not in the mood to talk to anyone. But...It was the office line calling out for my attentions. It would be in bad taste for a doctor not to answer his phone.
"Hello?"
"Watson! You're suppose to be on the train...It left a half hour ago."
I fell, rather than sat, heavily in the chair behind my desk. I had completely forgotten! Holmes had been looking forward to having an old friend visit for the entire weekend. I sighed. Pinching the bridge of my nose, I started thinking of ways I could make it up to him.
"I'm sorry, Holmes. I was out on a call all night. I haven't been home since yesterday evening. This..."
"I understand..." He was more disappointed than he'd let on. "Perhaps another time then."
"But I was planning on catching a train to-morrow. We..." I was cut off by the yawn I had been trying to hold back since I picked up the receiver.
"When was the last time you got some sleep, my dear fellow?"
"I....I don't know," came my sleepy reply. Now that he had asked I couldn't remember. A night or two ago?
"Don't worry about the train. Stay home and rest. You're falling asleep and you don't sound yourself. We'll have another weekend when you're feeling better," Holmes said. His voice was soft and it held on edge of worry.
"Now...I suggest you pull yourself up to bed and get a decent night's sleep. Resting your head on the desk will not count, Watson."
His acute hearing must have picked up on the sound of the chair springs creaking as I leaned forward. For, indeed, the moment before I had laid my head on the desk with my free arm curled underneath it.
"I'm going," said I. Several stiff joints audibly popped as I stood. "I shall see you another time. I promise.
"Good. Go get some rest. And if you show you on my door step to-morrow I will stick you back on a train home then proceed to alert any official I can in all the stops between here and London to make sure you get home."
I smiled and opened my mouth to say good night to my friend but the phone clicked and died before I could. The receiver was placed back in it's cradle and I was on my way to bed when a young man burst through my door telling me of an accident involving two hansom cabs. Apparently the world would not allow me to sleep just yet.
What Dr. John H. Watson didn't know was that the impossible was happening at the other end of the line.
Sitting alone by the phone, Holmes was wrapped in a blanket watching the fire dance and crackle. He sighed dejectedly and a single silvery tear slid down the detective's pale cheek.