Both were a bit miffed.

- "Do you think they're really crazy about him?" whispered the first one, leaning in his chair.

- "He could at least share the fun with others! We're almost the same age", whispered the second one, hiding behind a file.

The medical examiner who was responsible for their training gave him a slap on the nape of the neck as he passed behind.

- "Don't you brats have anything else to do? These young people, really ! They have no idea what working means!"

- "Mercy, you're always bullying us!" they yelped. "Why aren't you never taking it out on Dr Watson?"

The man pulled a face. He rolled his shoulders in his white coat, then crouched down between both chairs.

- "Dr. Watson is your problem, eh… Am I right?"

Both interns shook their head very seriously.

- "He's hardly older than us, and still you treat him with the same respect you pay to a veteran", complained the first one, chewing on his pen.

- "He's clumsy and out of fashion" pouted the second one. "And have you seen his ring? It's - shameless!"

- "And not hygienic! We're fiddling with dead bodies, for Heaven's sake!"

The coroner glanced upwards.

- "You guys are so far from being there yet… John Watson might not be a genius with new technologies, but on the ground, he's an ace. He worked three years with Sherlock Holmes. When you will have accumulated that much time with a legend, you'll get more respect."

There was a moment of offended thinking.

Both interns had no idea what or who the doctor spoke of, actually.

- "But his naive face and this ring, you have to reckon this is not what an effective doctor should look like! He's all look at me, I'm a mysterious fellow", belched the first one.

The professor slapped him again.

- "If you intend of working in this field, learn the names of famous investigators before anything!"

The other intern risked an eye beyond the wall of the cubicle and stirred restlessly.

- Shshshsh!

- Excuse me, professor, Do you have two minutes to speak about the woman with red heels?

John Watson was coming, smiling.

Oh yes, you had all the reasons of the world to hate him when you were only a intern freshly bumped out of school.

The doctor wore his white coat like a scarecrow, his haircut was far from the lastest fashion and his gentle smile was just too - infuriating.

The coroner stood up, dusting his knees.

- "Intuition?"

- "Proof when you look at it from another angle", the young man agreed. He gave a scrap of paper to his senior. "I think it's worth giving it a look."

The man nodded.

- "Well done."

He gave a friendly pat onto John's shoulder, passing next to him, then decided otherwise and turned around.

- "While I give my phone call, can you explain to these guys why you're wearing jewelry ?"

John Watson stiffened, his cheeks reddening.

- "Professor!"

The doctor turned on his heels with a chuckle.

- "Yeah, tell us, doctor."

Both interns looked half cocky – half curious. The young man let out a sigh, putting on one of the cute pouts that made the women of the forensic department weak in the knees. He played with the big silver ring on his forefinger, looking undecided.

- "Sorry, guys !" he suddenly said, before escaping with long strides.

- "Heeeeeeyyyy!"

The two sat back, grumbling. They jumped when a sneer broke behind them.

The old lab who was picking at his nails, his feet on his desk, gave them a wink.

- "John Watson is far from being a swank like you think", he mocked, playing with the accessories of his pocketknife. "He didn't gain the respect of his seniors gossiping like you two."

A sarcastic chuckle swished under his mustache.

- "A beautiful ring, right? I don't wish you one of the same! Speaking of a ring, yekyekyek. Cut. The finger of the littl' doc. Snap! Kidnapped during his last case with Sherlock Holmes."

Another snigger that made their hair stand on their neck, and the creepy rattling of the mini-scissors.

- "Nine Fingers Watson, who nailed down the investigation while he was bleeding like a sheep on a hook. You should read a bit, kids."

Both interns shivered.

- "See you later!" trumpeted with his usual good mood Dr. Watson, sticking his head a second in the door frame of the office.

The secretary replied with a smile and the lab gave him a military salvation .

The interns exchanged a look after his departure, then, in a common movement, dived back with renewed energy in the folders they were given to study.

Working with the shy doctor suddenly looked very attractive.