Callahan's Law
By 2cbetter2
Rating: PG-13 for judicial corporal punishment
Spoilers: Up to and through The Reichenbach Fall
Summary: When Sherlock and John take a case aboard, things quickly go wrong and both of them will return home with more scars than what they left with. Written for Round 3 of the hurt_comfort bingo community using the corporal punishment for the wild card slot.
Disclaimers: I don't own Sherlock or any of its characters as it belongs to the BBC, Steven Moffat. Mark Gatiss, and Arthur Conan Doyle. I've made nothing from this and I expect to not be sued as a result!
Shared pain is lessened; shared joy, increased—thus do we refute entropy.
– Callahan's Law or the Law of Conservation of Pain and Joy –
0o0
The lawyer looked apologetic as he said, "Normally you would be facing several years in prison in addition to being caned for the drugs found on your person."
"And I keep telling you people that the drugs are not his!" John growled
"Just so, Dr Watson, but our courts found Mr Holmes guilty of possession. As I said normally both punishments would be imposed but the other Mr Holmes being who he is... well you are very fortunate your brother was able to negotiate the punishment down to just one of the two I've listed."
"Oh yes, that's very fortunate indeed – to be given a choice between losing years from his life or being beaten on the backside with a cane! Good going there, Mycroft! Well done!"
"John!" Sherlock shot him a look that said the dramatics was not helping the situation any. After his friend fell silent the detective looked back to the lawyer. "If I chose to take the cane as punishment, how many strokes would be administered?"
The lawyer looked grim indeed. "You would receive the maximum allowed under Singapore's law, which is twenty-four."
"How many years if I chose prison instead?"
"Two years at the minimum, Mr Holmes, if you are fortunate. I believe it is likely you would be facing closer to 5 years."
John swore at this, especially when he saw that Sherlock had already made up his mind. "You can't seriously be considering the cane!"
"If I do not wish to spend the next five in prison, tell me what other choice do I have, John?" Sherlock replied. "You may tell the authorities I will take the cane."
The lawyer nodded. "All right, Mr Holmes, I'll tell them of your choice then. You'll likely be caned within the next 24 or 48 hours after the prison's doctor has had the chance to examine you to make sure you can withstand it." He waited a moment, staring at Sherlock as if willing him to change his mind, then knocked twice in the door to be released from the cell.
"I want to be there when they do it," John said.
"No, John!"
John ignored Sherlock's protest, and looked at the lawyer. "Doctors are usually present during a caning, aren't they?"
The lawyer nodded, "Yes, they are to ensure the prisoner is able to receive each stroke without endangering their lives but it's usually only the prison's doctor who is allowed to be present during a caning."
"I am a doctor, and I am his friend. I want to be there during it."
AN: This is very much a work in progress... I am having serious issues with the second half of the story and all I can promise is this story will be finished with it gets finished.