A/N: Responses to Hades Lord of the Dead's SH December Calendar Challenge. I am delighted to be taking part this year and hope my absence hasn't corrupted the poor writing muse.
Prompt 01: From BookRookie12 – Greetings.
Greetings
It is growing dark when the doctor walks home, the sky a harsh black smudge over its earlier colour, the moonlight pushing its way through. The city jostles for space, people bumping into him with muttered apologies, clutching parcels tight to their chests. Children run past with shining faces and he thinks he spots Wiggins amongst them; tattered scarf ends flying and a muffled shout of Watson's name.
Watson is tired; more tired than he's felt in a long time. Seven deaths in the space of a month and he feels like he's seen enough, has had his share to last a lifetime. His leg is aching its way into a familiar feeling, not quite a limp, but close. The cold pierces his skin deep, making him feel curiously vulnerable.
This recent one knew where to hit him. If he closes his eyes he can still see it; blue eyes looking deep into his own, so very near the same colour as hers. Her husband had gripped Watson's hand too tight at the end, thanking him, even though there was nothing he could have done.
He shakes off the memory. He's home now, pushes open the door to 221B and climbs the steps, feeling weary.
Holmes is sat within, gaze on the fire and drink in hand. He looks up as the doctor enters, his eyes scanning Watson swiftly.
Watson doesn't need to tell him anything. He knows Holmes can see it on his face. He crosses the room without removing his coat and sinks into his armchair, a sigh escaping him. Holmes watches him a moment longer before speaking.
"Greetings, doctor," he says, leaning forward and pressing his brandy glass into Watson's hand. He offers a brief smile and Watson feels the tension rolling out of his shoulders, his toleration to violence and disease and blood settling back in his bones; familiar ground.
Watson cannot summon a responding smile, but he raises the glass.
"Merry Christmas, Holmes."
End
A/N II: This is closer to my 'modern' writing style than the one I would usually use for the canon (that being from Watson's first-person point of view), but I've been writing a lot of Sherlock drabbles to get back into the swing of things and find it hard to switch myself back to Victorian London, lol.