Disclaimer: Nope, not mine, I am not benefiting from this in any way. Though if somebody were to offer me RDJ on a silver platter, I would certainly not refuse. On second thought, don't even bother with the silver, any platter will do just fine! :)

First Impressions, Second Round

Breakfast at 221B Baker Street was a quiet affair.

Watson was reading the newspaper, while Holmes was absent-mindedly playing with his food, chin in hand, staring vacantly at his plate.

The doctor glanced over the edge of the newspaper, noting that Holmes had been slipping into one of his depressions again.
He had not shaven or bathed in several days, his hair was a mess, and beneath his old dressing gown his clothes were rumpled and stained.
Miraculously, the morocco case with the seven-per-cent solution had stayed in its regular place so far.

It was by pure determination, and the promise of French toast, that he had managed to drag Holmes out of his room to take breakfast with him that morning.
Watson studied the paper, trying to think of a way to get Holmes' mind distracted before the downfall, when a certain article caught his attention:

"Mysterious disappearance of priceless chalice"

He started reading the article, which detailed the circumstances of a theft that had happened in Paris the day before. As he read, he made various noises, until the desired result was procured.

"I say Watson, what on earth could possibly have you so interested, as to interrupt a man while he is pondering the meaning of life?"

Watson looked up to see Holmes squinting in annoyance. "Well you had better look for yourself, old chap. I do believe the matter may be of some interest to you."

He handed the relevant page to Holmes, who quickly scanned the article in question.

Holmes mumbled as he read "Huh. No traces? Pft. Parisian twits. Imbeciles! Air vent too small for any man to pass… no other entry point into the room, door securely locked. No trace of sabotage on the safe. Humph."

As Holmes put the article down, Watson queried: "Remarkable, is it not? Perhaps you should offer your services?"

Holmes scoffed. "Hah! By now, what is the point? No doubt those idiots have obliterated any traces there could possibly have been! Besides, my clients come to me, not the other way around."

Watson rolled his eyes at the detective's vanity, and remarked: "In any case, it seems to me that they have quite the problem in the Continent for the moment."

Holmes, who had been staring pensively out the window, raised his eyes to Watson. "Whatever do you mean Watson?"

"Why it seems that over the past few weeks there have been several remarkable thefts; I distinctly remember reading about one in Spain in the newspaper just last week."

Holmes lit his pipe, and sat in contemplative silence for a few moments.
"Watson! Do you still keep all the newspapers in the storage cabinet behind the kitchen?"

As he gave an affirmative grunt, he watched Holmes disappear to the kitchen with an amused glint in his eyes.

The sound of breaking crockery, and an enraged shout from Mrs. Hudson announced his return to the living room.
"Well should the plates not have been stacked quite so high, they wouldn't have fallen down now would they? Only yourself to blame, Nanny!"

Watson chuckled as Holmes came in with an annoyed look on his face, his arms full of newspapers.

As Holmes made his way to the hallway, he shouted over his shoulder, "And bring up some more tea! Nanny." The last part came out as a growl.
He snatched the page with the article from the table, and the newspaper Watson was reading out of his hands, before disappearing upstairs.

Watson smiled. He didn't mind; he had an appointment with a client in ten minutes in any case.

Anything to keep Holmes' mind busy for a while.

A/N: This is not only my first Sherlock Holmes fanfic, it is officially my first fanfiction ever! I felt inspired by HolmesWoman's publication of Three, and figured what the heck! Please keep in mind that English is not my first language when reviewing! All ideas, suggestions are welcome!
This story is finished, I just have some formatting to do. New chapters will be uploaded very soon!
Thank you for reading!