HOLMES
I had imagined Watson's reactions to my homecoming time and time again. I thought he would present himself as angry, but his eyes would reveal all of his secrets. However, he looked relieved, as if he had been anticipating this moment for...forever. It was one of the first times he took me by surprise. "Holmes!" he cried into my shoulder.
"Careful Watson, this is a nice overcoat. Let's not ruin it," I muttered as his arms made an almost uncomfortable grip around my body. I looked around the room, a rather disgusted look on my face, as if I had smelt a rotten fruit. Mary glared at me, her eyebrows furrowing. I wondered if she was still mad at me about the whole, "I threw you off a moving train," incident.
"How are you even alive? I thought the fall killed you!"
"Didn't think you could get rid of me that easily, did you Watson? It appears you were simply looking for an easy way out of being my friend." He laughed, and sighed, his face still buried in my shoulder. I felt this oddly comforting, and I was reminded of why I came back to London.
"I've missed you, Holmes."
"I could say the same to you." It was silent for a moment, as Watson backed off a little, staring at me with a queer look on his face. I felt an uncomfortable stinging in my cheek suddenly, and looked back to find Watson with anger glistening in his eyes. My hand met my cheek, and I winced. What a nice homecoming gift.
"Why didn't you call? You could've told me! We had a funeral, we mourned you, I thought you were dead, Holmes!" There was the Watson I was expecting.
"It would be rather inconvenient for anyone to know I was breathing. I even had to wear a disguise every time I left the house." At this I laughed, and found Mary chuckling behind Watson. But Watson could be less interested in her at the moment.
"Oh, I'm sure you absolutely loved that."
"I did," I retorted almost instantly. How easy it was to be with Watson and know his every word before he uttered it even after three months, didn't surprise me-I was starting to believe the element of surprise was invented by some lunatic, not in their right mind-and I was happy to fall back into the familiar pattern.
"Where did you stay then, if you weren't sleeping in my spare bedroom?" I hardly slept in Watson's spare bedroom. I brushed that comment off, something I stored away in my brain to be discussed later.
"With my brother, Mycroft."
"Of course it was your brother. The only people who can stand you are me and your family-and they only put up with you because they have to!"
"Well that was rude." I turned to Mary to see her reaction, hoping she'd distract him from this God awful rant. Unfortunately, Mary appeared to be absent. Excellent. Perhaps if I apologized for the whole train situation she'd return? "Mary?" I called, strolling away from Watson.
"Don't walk away, Holmes!"
"Oh Mary?"
"Mr. Holmes!" the Nanny greeted me. It had been awhile since I'd seen her wrinkled face.
"Hello, Nanny," distaste laced my tone. She laughed, and my eyes narrowed. Apparently, these people were going to be too happy to have me back unless I got them so furious they
wanted me to be dead-except for Watson of course.
WATSON
The utter shock of seeing Holmes face once more had left me speechless. I found myself more cheerful than ever, yet speechless all the same. I couldn't believe he was back, I mean, it was impossible! "Don't think my cheerfulness is a free ticket out of hell, Holmes," I warned him.
"Oh, well by all means, fire away whenever you like." I smiled, a little dumbfounded, but tried to keep that smile on my face.
Holmes went back to residing at 221b Baker Street. Anonymous buyers had been interested, and were in possession immediately. "Yes, Mycroft helped me buy it, since of course, I had nothing."
"Of course." Holmes worked on minor cases for months, dilly dallying with the silly ones that Inspector Stroud should've been able to figure out himself, but he was happy to help. What else was he to do? After Moriarty's case, everybody was surely scared to do anything that would leave Holmes looking for clues.
"It's ridiculous the cases Stroud has me working. My senses need to be sharpened, not dulled. These cases are not for a mind as sharp as my own," Holmes complained one afternoon while I visited.
"Well you're lucky you're not lounging 'round the apartment again, smoking that damn pipe of yours all day."
"I suppose."
HOLMES
I strolled down the street, a rather uncomfortable wig on my head, and a false nose planted atop my real one. Why one would invent such items was beyond me. I hurried to the hospital, practically running through the door. "Sir, can you come over here for a moment please?" a young fellow asked. He was up to something, I could smell it.
"Sorry, I'm a bit busy." I continued on, looking for Irene.
"Sir, I'm going to need you to step over here, please." A flick of my wrist would send him writhing in pain on the floor. It was so simple. I punched him square in the jaw, a punch that was sure to leave a mark. He stumbled back to his feet, to face me.
A punch to the stomach, leaves him falling to his knees in pain, holding his middle, while his knees are available, kick them from underneath him. Face plant. Victim rolls over, breathing ragged, kick side, breaking rib, making it nearly impossible to retaliate.
I did as I planned, leaving him rolling around like a trained dog on the hospital floor. I was lucky no one was round to see such a thing. I hurried on to Irene's room, anxious to see the woman I had once loved, and possibly still did.
a/u: anybody want a continuation! I was really happy with the reviews I got on the last one, and I actually wrote this chapter after the first one, so it's a bit short, but it's just cause they're really fun! LOL! So should I continue with Irene and Holmes and what would happen there? I don't want to believe she's dead, so I wrote her back in! Please let me know your thoughts! REVIEW!
