The devil inside (chapter 1)

Holmes was interrupted in his early morning smoking habits by a familiar knock at the door. For a moment, he thought about his Boswell and the way he had disappeared from his life. He knew he himself was to blame for it, because he had left the poor man to grief for him and when the doctor was finally recovering from the illness he had experienced for many months, he dared to come to his house to visit him. Watson almost fainted. Holmes understood his first reaction, but he had always thought that after he had become accustomed to his rebirth, he would had joined him like before. That never happened. Watson had been polite with Holmes but there was something strange in his behaviour: the affection, on Watson's side, that had bound them was gone; there was no life in his beautiful blue eyes, that had stared icily the detective and his body had remained tense, as if Holmes' sudden appearance had disturbed the doctor. After the usual pleasantries, the conversation had died and the room was filled with an ashamed, cold silence. When Mary entered the room, as soon as she spotted Holmes sitting in a chair in front of her husband, her face lost all color and she had to hold on to the doorframe in order not to fall. Watson was at her side immediately and suggested Holmes it was time for him to leave their house. Holmes, too shocked by the harsh tone of his friend's voice, did as he was told. That was the last time he saw his doctor. He had hoped for some times to receive a visit from Watson but he never came to Baker Street.

The man that entered the sitting room that morning was only a distant shadow of his friend. Too thin, his coat was completely soaked from the hard London's rain sticking to his frame, making him appear even smaller; unshaven and pale, Holmes barely recognized him. The doctor managed a sad smile to him before collapsing in the armchair near the fireplace. Holmes quickly recovered from the sudden pain he felt in his chest at the miserable sight of his friend and hurried at his side, noticing with some relief that he was still conscious but extremely weak. After helping him out of his coat, he wrapped him in a comforter and poured him a generous glass of brandy. Watson did not speak a word. He stared at the fire with a confused look and thanked him. It seemed the liquor gave the poor doctor some color and some strength, but he was completely lost in his own thoughts. The detective had never seen him in such a state and he was wondering what could had possibly happened. He tried his best to detect something from his dress but he was himself too shaken up to think rationally. He ordered Mrs. Hudson to make some tea but went personally in the landlady's room to retrieve the tray, he did not want her to see Watson, not now at least. The miserable man had not moved from his position in front of the fire and Holmes' anxiety was growing. He had so many questions to ask him but he wasn't sure he was in any condition to answer him. Considering he had lost weight, he coaxed him to have some tea but he did not succeed in making him eat something the lady had prepared: that was really strange, Watson's appetite was legendary.

"Watson, can you look at me, please?" he finally asked him, noticing his voice was unsteady.

When the doctor moved his gaze from the fire to him, he considered it a small victory. Watson was feeling confused, guilty, relieved and happy at the same time. He had dreamed to be back in his old apartment more than once and now that was real he was feeling just overwhelmed. Holmes' concern was too much to handle and he was on the verge of tears. But he was determined not to cry and he did not. When he spoke, his voice was soft.

"I made a mistake, Holmes!" he paused and closed his eyes. "I have made the worst mistake in my life! I don't want to put you in danger, she will find me and she is going to take revenge on you too. I have to leave, find a safe house, but thank you for the brandy, I really needed it." Stop me, Holmes, please say you won't let me go, help me, I can't do this alone!

As if the detective had read his mind, he gently but firmly put his hands on Watson's shoulders, forcing him to sit again, not wanting him to leave. He was glad the doctor had finally talked to him – for the first time since he came back – but his instinct was screaming inside him that something was very wrong with his friend and this time he wouldn't had left him alone.

"Who is she, Watson?" he asked gently.

Watson gave him an anguished look and sighed before murmuring the name: "Mary!"

Holmes could not believe his ears. What could had possibly Mary done to his friend? Despite he did not like her, he had never considered her more than a innocent woman whose only purpose in life was to get married and to have children from her husband. So conventional, so boring. But Watson loved her. And now they were at a point that he had to consider the facts from another perspective. He had evidently misjudged her. Maybe his friend was just confused, maybe he was ill and he was simply delirious. But a voice in the back of his head told him they were going to face a terrible enemy.

"Watson, are you sure? Is Mary responsible for..." he extended his arms and looked at him in the eyes, pausing in his speech, before finishing his sentence "this?"

"She is dangerous, Holmes! I have been a fool! You had tried to warn me but I didn't listen to you. I understand if you will not help me, after what I did! When you came to us, in our home, I was so angry with you… and then when you leave, Mary told me I should not forgive you and I let her taking you away from me. I am so sorry!" he would had told many other things but he felt he could not continue, his whole body trembling from the cold.

Holmes understood his friend was going into shock. He helped him to stand up and guided him to his room, where he slept the entire morning in his bed. Before succumbing to sleep, the detective could hear his friend murmuring words that made him shiver.

"She tried to kill me!"

Holmes never left his side, determined to keep him safe and making plans for the future: they had encountered a dangerous enemy on their road, he could sense it and they were going to fight together. He still needed many information from the doctor, and when he would had a clear picture of the situation, they were going to decide the best way to move. For now, he simply watched his friend finally sleeping peacefully.

I hope you enjoyed this first chapter, all I'm asking is to review... that makes me really happy!

I hope to update very soon with a second chapter...