A/N: Back from a spectacular vacaaaaaaationnnnnnn (skips around room showing off tan)! The beach was fabulous, exactly the break I desperately needed! It's good to be back home, though. Thank you for the nice reviews and messages (OhMyMishaCollins! I still can't believe people are actually reading it -gasps-). Anywhooo enjoy the next chapter, read, and review! ((There might be some mistakes in it, but go easy on me. I'm not some accomplished writer, just a young high school fangirl who wants to write a cracky fic. Please no more hate comments!))

Chapter 4.

"Captain! Captain!" The ship rocked beneath John's feet. A storm raged overhead and rain drenched the wooden decks and the world around him was a blur as passengers and the crew ran past him, knocking him off his feet, his head hitting against the decks.

A streak of lightning flared up across the sky and John was in the ocean, bones aching and legs paralyzed by the freezing temperatures. He felt himself sinking, black ocean waters surging around him. He thrashed violently, trying to swim up to his ship, but hands were dragging him downward, down to unfathomable depths.

John bolted up straight into a sitting position, head and heart pounding. His eyes focused on the now dark sky; the sun had just set. His head fell back onto the sand and he groaned, rolling onto his side.

"Moving will make it hurt worse," came a voice hardheadedly. John jerked around quickly, laying eyes on the speaker. Throbs of agony coursed through him again. The stranger let out a condescending groan. Something cool was placed on his head, with a gel-like texture, instantly soothing his wound. John looked up at the new stranger.

Definitely not Molly, he chuckled to himself, staring up at a pale white face surrounded by dark, full curls. Green-blue eyes were coldly set on John, and there seemed to be no traces of friendliness and innocence in his features, as there had been with Molly. They were opposites really, his near black hair contrasting her red hair, his pale, angular face contrasting her soft, cheery one. John got the notion that maybe this wasn't the 'medic' the strange young girl had referred to.

"Who sent you?"

No answer.

"What are you doing?" John tried again.

No answer. He listened to the squelches of the cool substance as the man applied it on the gash in his head. Surprisingly it didn't hurt, but in fact it felt as if it was closing the wound.

"Fine, just don't talk. Whatever makes you happy." John muttered scornfully and shut his eyes.

"I would prefer it if you kept quiet." The man sneered, pressing the substance a bit harder onto his healing injury. John mumbled imprecations but kept quiet nonetheless, ears now filled with the sound of the gentle crashing waves. The night time was quiet, peaceful. Curious, he took a longer look at the man. His inky hair was all but dry accept for few strands clinging to his face, damp with water. His eyes pierced John like a dagger had gone through him, but he ignored the man's gaze and let his eyes trail down. The man had a lean shape, pale skin stretched almost tightly over bones. John excitedly expected a long, merman's tail to be connected to his abdomen, but was met with disappointment when he saw two long, alabaster legs. A dusting of light pink fell over John's cheeks as he noticed the man was lacking clothing. He quickly averted his eyes, uncomfortably staring off into the scenery behind the male. The signs of dismay must have been clearly evident on John's face, for the stranger spoke up.

"What do you think I am?" he questioned emotionlessly. Not sure how to answer the question (had it been a question? Or just a meaningless complaint?), John paused before speaking.

"Well, I would say the obvious. You are a human, no?" Instantly, his reply was retorted with a vexed eye-roll as the stranger sat up straighter.

"So predictable, humans like you." John took it as in insult. In fact, every action and word that came from the man had been insulting and belittling. "Look again."

John peered again at the lanky legs, scanning them over carefully, but noted to avoid his... uncovered places. The more he looked, the more something seemed.. off about the man's legs. As if they were weak, muscleless, not often used. They lay together, unmoving, in the corse sand. The stranger practically sensed John's observations and spoke again.

"Have a good grasp of the obvious now?"

John grunted, using all of his strength not to lash back at the haughty stranger. He knew the man was different, but he couldn't put a finger on what he might actually be. He racked his brain for any possible answer, one that would make his smug new 'friend' rethink his snide comments. Defeat settling into him, John's eyes met the curly-headed man's again, a silent call of surrender filling them. He wasn't met by an eye roll are sharp laugh from his new caretaker, but it wasn't a look of friendliness on his face either. Just a plain, blank stare with a hint of a weak smirk.

"Look again," he mumbled quietly, barely detectable over the crashing of the waves against the stony shore. Night had fallen upon them, the dark-haired man's skin had an almost luminous appearance in the dim moonlight. His eyes had the same aspect, the green flecks in them radiant, even shining, as if they were stars in the dark night sky. John became conscious of his gaze and he moved his eyes reluctantly, wanting badly to savor the sight of this almost unearthly stranger. He strained to see in the growing blackness but his eyes caught on the glint of something shining, brighter than the man's eyes. Eyes wide and unbelieving, John found himself staring at a brilliantly colored, long tail; a merman's tail.

"Holy..." he trailed off, hands fidgeting toward the scales of the tail, the need to lay a finger on them almost overpowering. He couldn't help but smile. In his presence, caring for him, staring at him, was a creature he had searched for all of his life, and he hadn't even noticed until the facts stared him straight in the eye. He should have recognized the alien-like structure to his face, the other-worldly manner in which he moved and acted. He was in the presence of a merman, no matter how rude and condescending he may have been.

Pain forgotten, John moved closer, drawing himself onto his knees and leaned over the man's tail (the very thought of a tail still sounded bizarre in his mind.) Scales of a countless number of colors were present, all giving a haunting glow in the moonlight. The dominant hue seemed to be a rich, purple-black, deep and inky, like his winding locks. When they moved they shone other pigments. The light revealed a plethora of colors, shimmering emeralds and deep reds; all of them gorgeous and individual. His tail tapered off and a long, thin, intricate fin was connected. It looked too delicate and vulnerable, like it could be torn by the slightest snag on rocks or rubble. The tail's length dwarfed John.

Thinking back, John recalled the other mermaid's, Molly's, tail. They contrasted greatly, the man's tail being long, delicate, rich in colors, while Molly's had been a bit thicker and stronger built, but beautiful and long nonetheless.

He was abruptly brought back to reality by a slight cough, eyes snapping back up to meet the other man's. John was speechless, head spinning in a mix of wonder, confusion, disbelief, and a faint amount of nausea. Sure, he had seen Molly, but this was up close. This was in his face, right in front of him. This was real. The man's arms had undergone a transformation of their own as well. The faintest signs of long fins were showing, attached to the backs of his lanky arms. His chest revealed small slits along the sides against his very visible ribs. Gills, John suspected, still feeling the need to pinch himself.

"What.. What..." John stuttered and stared, forgetting the merman's arrogant attitude until he was bitterly reminded.

"Isn't it obvious." He retorted sharply, but appeared to rethink his tone of voice and let out a muted sigh. He looked John in the eye, eyes luminous as ever. "My name is Sherlock. Sherlock Holmes."

"Watson." John stuttered. "John Watson."

A/N: Squeeeeee! The boys have met! John has discovered another mermaid (well, technically merman)! But is Sherlock truly the medic Molly went to get? Are there even more merfolk in the ocean? WHERE THE HELL IS JOHN ANYWAY? AND WHY WAS HE PULLED FROM HIS SHIP? Hehehe, sorry to put these dramatic and confusing questions at the end of all my chapters. It's just too much fun. New chapters are in the process of being written, with answers to many of these strange events, have no fear.