John Watson was lucky. He had nine lives. So to speak.
The first time he fell in love it was when he was fifteen. The year was 1773. He loved a girl by the name of Janine. She was the prettiest girl in the village. He courted her like any other, but he was just a farm boy. Nothing impressive.
Finally, the war against America broke out. It would, he recalled, be named the American Revolutionary War. He asked Janine for her hand. She said "yes", but only if he returned. That drove the spirit in John. He fought like any "red coat". The war was long and hard but he fought his way through.
John noticed something was wrong the first time a bullet sliced into his chest. It fell out and there was no wound. He didn't say a word to anyone.
He was eventually taken by the Americans. The general was kind and sent him home after the war ended with a souvenir. He was proud to note that the general eventually became president.
John returned, but found Janine hadn't waited. She was married to a Mr. Reginald Downey. John was irate but nothing could heal his heart. The scar from the battle faded.
The second time he died, he died drowning his sorrows in ale.
Finally, his heart healed. There was not a mark on his face and he looked just as young as ever.
War had no honor, he thought. But he fought on. It was a battle against the rebels in Ireland. A bullet tore through his leg and he bled out every drop onto the battle field as canons boomed overhead. To tell the truth, John didn't think he go on.
He didn't have to. The war ended when the rebels were defeated. Going home to his cottage, he wondered if he should have joined the rebels. He wasn't Irish. He wasn't even Scottish. But it would give him a cause.
Something to fight for.
The next time he was in war. He was a doctor. It was the year 1812. He fought against the Americans yet again. It was disappointing to say he drowned after falling off a boat. He knew he was dead.
Then, he wasn't. The soldiers hauled him back aboard and John noticed that this was the fourth time he died in the 32 years since his first death.
He resolved to be more careful.
The next death was an accident during the Opium wars. He was caught in friendly fire.
It wasn't the bullets that got him though. It was the wall they had so kindly forgotten to mention it was crumbling.
After he dug himself out, he managed to rejoin his regiment. The commanding officer intercepted a letter from the Oriental officials.
Years later, John found the letters as he was working as a cart driver. He asked the boy for it.
In the end, he bought it for a penny. He kept it in a small wooden box.
The next time he died, he was rescued. He was lucky to have fought alongside a Major Jamie Stewart.
Stewart pushed him off his horse.
John realized that, when the man did that little prance of circles on his horse, it was to save him.
Nonetheless, John died of respiratory failure when his lungs filled with blood.
When he awoke, John tried to return the favor, but it was too late.
Jamie was dead.
Sometimes, in the firelight, Sherlock looked just like the brave friend that saved him. John only brushed aside the idea.
There was only one Sherlock.
Months later, he heard of the Miracle Horse. He recognized it. The markings were of the horse Nicholls rode into battle.
He cut out the section of the post and kept it along with the letter to Queen Victoria and the first star of the American flag.
The sixth death was in World War II. John was accidentally killed in a bombing.
It was the most surprising of his deaths.
The next death was a funny one. It was after he married for the fourth time. But, like the others, they had no children.
He wife grew old. She grew tired. She grew angry. She left. Her words to him were that she hoped a piano would fall on him.
It did.
That was actually one of the more original death threats he had heard.
He met a girl by the name of Harriet. She was French actually. Her first death was by the hands of the feudal manor's lady. She was beaten to death for not starching the sheets properly. Since then, Harriet had changed. Like John, she used many names. One that she liked most was Amelia Earhart.
After her lifelong partner in time left for Afghanistan with John, she took to drinking. Her current wife, a woman named Clara, was taxed to no end.
John felt horrid.
The next death wasn't his. It was the death of Harriet's friend. The man survived the Vietnam War before immigrating to the UK. He didn't age a day since the first death. That was to the bubonic plague in 1465. John promised to bring him back.
He learned there was only one thing that could really kill people like them.
It was a single shot to the head.
The next time he died. He felt it. A bullet tore into his shoulder and he was very near death. Blood poured from the wound, obscuring the flag on his chest. Soldiers hovered over him and he wondered if he could tell the difference between them and angels.
He wondered if his eighth life was really his last.
At least his heart stopped. John saw all the medics rushing to help him as a soldier hauled in his body. For a second, they all shook their heads. The soldier, a Bill Murray, looked distraught. John saved his life only days before.
But, the monitor beeped. He was alive. John felt his life surging back into his limbs.
He had another chance.
John watched the news on the telly. Three years had passed since Sherlock jumped. He heart hadn't beaten since. It felt as if he had died that day. A fitting end to his ninth life; to leave a shell of a man who survived across four centuries behind.
The box with the Medals of Honor and the other little souvenirs of his many years were still locked away safely. But recently, another one joined them. It was a ripped sheet of music. One that Sherlock started to compose. For him. And him alone.
John was ready to pull the gun on himself. All the promises from Molly and Mycroft had yielded nothing. Things wouldn't get better.
But, the door bell rang and he opened it. It was Sherlock. In all his glory.
John's heart finally picked up a beat.
It was his tenth life. It would be his last.
It would be enough.
I finally got around to watching War Horse and I adored it. The movie was dynamic and heartwarming. I almost shrieked when I saw Benedict as Maj. Jamie Stewart. So, he makes a cameo in this fiction.
Why he rescued John, I may never know. But, we can all guess.
I will be working on Script Frenzy. Please join us and write a great 100 page script in 30 days.
Per usual the wall is up and I thank all the people who read my works. I am so happy to have had over 2,000 total story views this past month. You all spoil me.
Thank you.