Chapter Five. Hot Tears
Holmes POV
"You really think they are close?" Mina's voice was worried, her eyes strained.
"I am certain of it." I did not want to worry her unduly but I knew Mina well and I knew that she had to know, required to know.
"What about him?" She nodded in the direction of the room in which Watson was sleeping and I suppressed a shudder.
"Watson has to be kept safe."
"I take it he does not know it is him they are after?"
"Of course not. How can I tell him that? When this morning I had to convince him of their existence."
Mina shrugged casually then passed a hand over her eyes.
"No word from your husband?" I broached the subject carefully, but she shook her head, "I'm sorry."
"I know. I'm sorry about Dr. Watson."
"They haven't got him yet."
"No and with you around I am sure they will have the devil of a job trying."
I smiled, doubtful of that.
"Thank you Mina, for allowing us here."
"How could I refuse you after all you have done for me?"
She moved around the bench toward me and clasped my hands. I smiled as best I could.
"Do you think he will write this one up?" She asked, her eyes twinkling in spite of her tiredness. I cannot suppress a smile as I write this, especially as it is I who am writing this case up, hopefully with less sentiment than Watson's account will almost certainly contain.
"If he survives it then I will not deny him the write up, although I fear I must deny him the publication."
Mina laughed noiselessly.
"I think its time we should sleep, well you anyway, I have my work to complete."
"You don't require my help?"
She smiled.
"No, I know you feel you own the world of science my dear Holmes but I assure you I am quite capable."
"You are more than capable. Jonathan is a remarkably lucky man."
She flushed prettily at my words and ran to me, flinging her arms around my neck and began to weep on my chest. I held her and let her cry, fearing it was the only thing I could do. My heart, long thought dead to a woman's hot tears, cried to out to her to be comforted but I knew I was not enough, I was not her husband and I could not help her. She pulled away and smiled up at me.
"I apologise."
"Don't."
"Take my room, I will stay here, I cannot sleep."
I nodded not wanting to cause her any further pain by arguing. As I slipped into Mina's cool bed I allowed myself a tear, a tear for the world I knew fading from my grasp and the only friend I have ever had slipping further into darkness with no knowledge of it, and no way to stop it…
A brief little chapter because I thought I desperately needed to update!! So I'm sooooo sorry for my manic life coming between me and my updates, please forgive me and review and I promise I'll update more regularly from now on! xxx