The next day Holmes was just locking his bill fold in the safe as Watson entered the room.

"Holmes, what are you doing?"

Holmes looked up, "Do not ask questions to which you already know the answer, Watson, it is not dignified. What does it look like I am doing?"

Watson grinned "It looks like you are cheating! Besides, you know very well that she can crack that safe."

Holmes glared at him "Cheating? How dare you accuse of me cheating? I am merely taking every precaution to make sure that she can not get her hands on it! Between you and her, it will be a miracle if we make the rent this month!"

Watson laughed "You know very well I have tripled my income this month. Of course, I can understand if you are afraid to just carry your bill fold as usual. After all, she is quite the artist, as you yourself have put it in the past! Braver men than you would be worried." He pretended to be studying the engravings on his cane.

Holmes grumbled under his breath, muttering obscenities.

Watson sat back with a smug smile. "What was that old boy?"

Holmes glared at him, snatched the bill fold back from out of the safe, and put it in its usual pocket.

He slammed the safe door shut, poured himself a hefty glass of whisky, downed it and poured another. As he raised it to his lips, Watson remarked offhandedly, "Should you be drinking this much? I do believe you may need your wits about you in the week to come!"

Holmes slammed the glass down on the table and stormed to the door.

Watson innocently questioned, "Was it something I said?"

Holmes abruptly turned around, grabbed his violin, emptied the glass of whisky in one gulp, slammed the empty glass on the table and slammed the door on his way out, so hard that the windows were clattering in the frames.

He could hear Watson chuckling as he stormed up the stairs to his bedroom. It only served to further darken his mood.

He cursed the day that meddlesome doctors were born.


Holmes informed the hysterical woman, "I am sorry, but I am not able to take your case."

Watson shot him an incredulous glare. Holmes ignored it, and studied the ceiling as he smoked his pipe.

The woman burst into heart-wrenching sobs once more, clutching desperately at Watson's waistcoat.

"I am simply too busy!" Holmes argued, as Watson glared insistently at him.

The doctor gently disengaged the woman's hands, and murmured "Please excuse us, my dear lady, I need to have a word with Mr Holmes."

Holmes was just about to protest as he was violently yanked out of his chair, and unceremoniously shoved outside.

Watson closed the door behind them, and shoved a finger in Holmes' chest

"Holmes! You need to help that woman!"

Holmes swatted at Watson's hand. "That's the advantage of being a consulting detective. I do not need to do anything! I do not find the case interesting, therefore I will not accept it!"

Watson glared at him. "Holmes! You will help that woman!"

"I will not!"

"Yes, you will"

"Will not!"

"I know what this is about!" Watson smirked triumphantly.

Holmes incredulously raised his eyebrows."I don't think that you do."

"Yes, I do. This is about Adler."

Holmes sneered, "Powell, nowadays, Watson, Mrs Powell. And no, it most certainly is not!"

"Yes, it most certainly is! You have not set foot outside for five days now! You will not take any reason to go outside, so you can lock yourself in your room for the rest of the week! It is pathetic!"

Holmes glared at him. "You are not making any sense at all, Watson! This has nothing to do with..."

"Coward."

"WATSON! Don't you dare!"

"Look at this: the great detective, a prisoner in his own house because of a woman!"

"SHE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS!" Holmes roared.

"She has everything to do with this! Admit it!"

"I will do no such thing!"

"ADMIT IT!" Watson shouted, grabbing Holmes by the shirt and shaking him violently.

Holmes grabbed Watsons hands, and yanked them loose.

"She has nothing to do with this!" he hissed.

They glared at each other. Watson challenged, "Then prove it!"

Holmes growled "Fine!", opened the door and stepped back inside the room he had just vacated.

The woman looked up at him as he came in, eyes red and swollen from her tears. Holmes glared over his shoulder at Watson, straightened out his shirt where Watson had grabbed him and stiffly said, "Very well, Mrs Godfrey, I will take the case." As she threw her arms around his neck, sobbing in relief, Holmes groaned resignedly.

How did he manage to get talked into this?