New Beginnings
By: Raven612
Chapter 7: Keeping Up
A/N: Ah, it has been far too long since I have updated this little guy! So I am doing so now, been so unbelievably busy between school and work now that I started yet another night class so that makes three in a row now, damn College, lol, ah well, it will be worth it when I graduate next year! Anyways, I shall not whine and I shall get on with the story! Review once you finish, please!!!
The next morning Holmes had woken before the doctor. He turned so that his gaze strayed to the doctor and noticed that he was a bit paler than usual. Remaining calm Holmes pulled the blanket back and noticed that the doctor had bled through his bandages and a small amount even managed to stain the sheet beneath his body. Cursing under his breath Holmes hastily crawled out of bed, not even noticing that Midge and Colonel Wordsworth were gone.
"Watson," Holmes hissed shaking the doctor's shoulders.
Watson didn't move.
Holmes slit his eyes, "John," he said a bit louder and shook a bit harder.
Watson mumbled weakly and turned his head away from the detective.
"Bloody hell man, wake up damnit," Holmes insisted more forcefully and whipped all the blankets off of Watson, who barely moved.
Holmes grumbled low in his throat as he gingerly began to peel away the bandage binding gauze to Watson's wound. After all the bloody bandages and gauze were removed Holmes saw that his stitching had failed and opened sometime in the night allowing the wound to bleed profusely and the skin around the hole started to redden in anger and there was more bruising present. Holmes remained calm, though he was barely keeping his sanity inside, and quickly kissed Watson's temple before leaving him to rummage around the vials scattered around his room and then finally rummaging around in Watson's bag looking for antiseptic. Finding a bottle of alcohol Holmes then rushed from the room and downstairs to the kitchen where Mrs. Hudson was serving Midge breakfast and giving the basket on the counter near the window a wide birth.
"Nanny, I need clean rags, Watson has started to bleed," Holmes pleaded in a strained tone.
Mrs. Hudson's eyes widened and she rummaged in a drawer before handing Holmes a stack of clean rags, "He'll be fine, right?" she questioned.
"Of course," Holmes snapped and hurried back upstairs.
Midge looked between the two adults and then to Mrs. Hudson who slumped against the counter when Holmes left. She removed the spoon from her mouth and went to Mrs. Hudson and hugged her, "Don't worry Mrs. Hudson, he's just worried about Watson," Midge tried to comfort the older woman.
Mrs. Hudson smiled and patted Midge on her head, "I know deary, I know, finish your breakfast then we'll work on feeding…your pet." Mrs. Hudson refused to call the animal by its 'name' and she turned back to preparing breakfast for the doctor and the detective.
"This might wake you Watson, but it must be done," Holmes said as he poured a generous amount of alcohol on a clean rag and placed it over the doctor's wound.
Watson gave a start and jerked awake and barely managed to bite back a scream. His body suddenly twinkled under s sheen of sweat and his fists balled in the sheets, nearly ripping them. He shut his eyes tight in pain and tears leaked out from the corners. "Good God Holmes, I was asleep!" Watson snapped as the burning began to subside little by little.
Holmes smirked, "Good morning beautiful, but it had to be done, it seems I'm not the seamstress I thought I was," Holmes pulled back a portion of the alcohol soaked rag to look at the wound.
Watson groaned, "That's why I should have done it myself, you'll have to remove the old stitching."
Holmes nodded, "I figured, let me get the tools I need, do stay awake Watson," as Holmes rose he quickly kissed Watson's temple before moving to search through Watson's things to find what he would need.
"Do you have any idea what you are doing?" Watson shot as he struggled to sit up so that he could take a look at his own wound and see how bad off he was.
"Of course old chap, I've witnessed you removing stitches many times," Holmes quipped as he returned bearing a handful of gleaming metal.
"I've heard something like that before, and look where it got me."
Holmes shot him a look.
Watson eyed the tools with malice, usually they were what he relied on to help him, but today they seemed to be mocking him, "Well, get on with it," he urged Holmes as he lay back with a sigh.
"Need a pain reducer?" Holmes asked with a smirk.
Watson glared at him.
"Right, getting right to it, I promise to do a much better job of sewing you up this time," Holmes promised as he began to remove his stitching from the night before. He also watched Watson to see how he was doing, his eyes were shut tight, but he managed to remain still, though his face would contort at some points when the pain was worse. Holmes removed all the stitching and grabbed a dry clean rag and poured some alcohol on it and dabbed at Watson's wound.
"Maybe Midge or Mrs. Hudson would do a much better job," Watson suggested in a strained voice.
"Pish posh, I'll sew you up nice and tight this time, no need to worry Watson," Holmes encouraged with a smile as he began to re-stitch the wound in Watson's side.
Watson hissed and pulled on the sheets his fists were balled in, "Holmes," Watson hissed and tried not to pull away from the detective.
"Hush Watson, I'm almost finished," Holmes said while intently concentrating on stitching Watson.
Watson nodded his head stiffly and opened unseeing eyes to stare at the ceiling, which he now noticed was quite dirty. After only a few minutes Holmes announced he was finished and snipped his stitching line. He then gathered his things to go downstairs and have them soak in some hot water before being sterilized once more. He barely glanced in Midge and Mrs. Hudson's direction as he filled a large pot with water to warm on the stove. He dumped the bloodied rags into a large bowl so they could be washed later and then dumped the tools he used into the warming water. Mrs. Hudson turned away from Midge and her monkey to attend to Holmes.
"Mr. Holmes, I've prepared your breakfast and the morning paper is on the table," Mrs. Hudson informed him and placed a lid on the pot with the bloodied tools.
"I'll take it upstairs, nanny," Holmes replied and turned to back to attend to Watson.
Midge, once again watched the adults while absently stroking Colonel Wordsworth, "The doctor will be alright, right?"
Mrs. Hudson turned back to the little girl, a light smile on her face, "Of course love, Sherlock is capable of making sure that he is, but I think it best if you left them alone for today. Maybe we can go out for a walk later," Mrs. Hudson suggested and was happy to see a large smile light Midge's face.
"I would like that very much," Midge nodded, and then turned back to Colonel Wordsworth, "do you think the Colonel will be okay?"
Mrs. Hudson frowned, she did not want to admit her true thoughts, but forced a smile nonetheless, "I think as long as you tend to him and make sure he stays watered and fed he should be okay."
Midge smiled softly and nodded, "I hope so, he is my best friend and I wouldn't know what to do without him," she sighed.
Mrs. Hudson smiled fondly at the little girl, "Come now Midge, it's time you got dressed," she said and began shooing Midge from the kitchen.
Midge smiled and rushed from the room and up the stairs to her room. She stopped just outside Holmes and Watson's room. The door was ajar and she heard their speech mumbled through the crack. She knocked softly.
"Nanny," Holmes snapped and rose from his kneeling position to open the door for who he presumed to be Mrs. Hudson.
"May I see Watson?" Midge asked sheepishly.
"Come on in darling," Watson called in a rather cheery tone.
Holmes let the air out through his nose and stepped aside so that Midge could come in.
"Good morning Watson," she smiled and slowly approached the doctor.
"Good morning love, how are you?" he asked and bit back a groan when he pushed himself to a slumped sitting position.
Midge rocked on her heels with her hands clasped behind her back; "Just fine, how are you?" she blinked rapidly trying to get rid of her tears.
Watson smiled and reached out to move the hair from her face, "I'll be ship shape in just a few days, you'll have to look after Sherlock for me," as Watson said this Holmes let out a grunt from his post by the door
Watson shot him a look around Midge, but Holmes was staring out the window with his arms crossed, Watson turned back to Midge, "You know no one will come for you anymore, no one will hurt you," Watson soothed her.
Midge fidgeted under his gaze, "I know, I'm just sorry you were hurt," she whispered and a tear fell from her eye.
Watson smiled and held his arm out to welcome here into a half hug, "Come now Midge, there's nothing to worry about," he gingerly put his arm around her and squeezed lightly.
Midge smiled and kissed his temple when she was against him, then stepped out of his arms and with a giggle ran over to Holmes and threw her arms around his legs too, "Thank you for helping and saving Watson, you are a good man, Mr. Holmes."
Holmes was taken aback by the action and the words she said, he patted her awkwardly, "And you dear talk like someone well into her years, wherever did you learn to be so proper?"
Midge stepped back with a smile, "Mama and aunty taught me, and they said there's nothing worse than an uncultured woman."
Watson chuckled and Holmes fought a grin, "Ah, of course Irene would have a hand in it, well run along now, the doctor must rest," Holmes shooed Midge out of the room just as Mrs. Hudson arrived with a breakfast tray.
"Are you feeling well doctor?" Mrs. Hudson asked as she set the tray on the only clean spot in the room, which happened to be the floor next to Watson.
"Well, it will be a while until I'm in top shape again, but I'm doing better now that Holmes fixed his horrid stitching from last night," Watson chuckled.
Mrs. Hudson smiled softly, "Good to hear doctor, I'm taking Midge out for the afternoon, the poor lass could use something fun to do and something to occupy her mind."
Watson nodded, "Good, good," he agreed.
"Nanny," Holmes said as he moved towards the doctor and Mrs. Hudson, "have you come to gab all morning, or will you let the doctor rest?"
"Holmes," Watson warned and shut his eyes in annoyance.
Mrs. Hudson shook her head, "Enjoy your breakfast," she called over her shoulder as she exited the room and closed the door behind her.
Holmes poured he and Watson tea, he handed Watson one of the teacups, "Build your strength up old boy," Holmes goaded and handed Watson some toast.
Later that night Midge sat at the kitchen table chatting excitedly with Mrs. Hudson about their day together. They walked to the park down the street and Midge persuaded Mrs. Hudson into taking a cab into the shopping district where Midge got some ice cream and a few toffees. Midge had a lot of fun, even though they had to stop often so that Mrs. Hudson could rest her feet, Watson and Colonel Wordsworth weren't far from her mind while they were out, but she was learning that worrying about things didn't make things all better. Midge was also surprised to see that Holmes had brought Colonel Wordsworth up to the bedroom so he could keep an eye on the weak animal.
"Midge, darling, once you finish dinner I'll heat a bath for you before bed, go get yourself ready," Mrs. Hudson smiled as she collected the empty dished before Midge.
Midge nodded and hummed while she ate the last few bites of her stew before Mrs. Hudson took her bowl away from the table. Mrs. Hudson too hummed while she worked, it seemed to be a catchy thing, but soon both Midge and Mrs. Hudson were quiet when voices boomed from the stairs.
"Holmes, honestly, it's a few stairs, I can manage on my own," Watson snapped.
"Watson, you're injured, you shouldn't even be out of bed, but if you want to tumble arse over tea kettle down the stairs be my guest," Holmes snapped back.
Watson mumbled incoherently under his breath as he eased himself down the stairs, "I am not an invalid, I can manage."
Holmes raised a brow, "I am not arguing, Watson, you've proven it would be futile."
Watson grunted and eased down one more step, "Good," he retorted feeling the need to get the last word in.
"You could move faster than Lestrade though," Holmes chipped in.
Watson shot him a look over his shoulder and eased down the last step and shuffled a few steps forward to let Holmes down behind him, "I told you I could make it."
"And so you have," Holmes grinned and placed a tentative hand around the doctor's waist and Watson put his arm around the detective's shoulder and allowed him to help him shuffle slowly to the kitchen, but their journey was cut short when a sudden pounding sounded on the door. Holmes sighed and maneuvered Watson so that he was leaning on the banister facing the door. Mrs. Hudson came from the kitchen wiping her hands on her apron as she pulled the door open.
"Evening sir, how can I help you?" she asked and stepped aside so the man could come in.
"Evening mum, I'm looking for a Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson," the man was of average height and looked to be nearing middle age. He wore a black hat and black over coat, but Holmes could see he was sharply dressed beneath and his light brown hair was neatly cut.
"I'm Sherlock Holmes and this is my associate Dr. John Watson, what can we do for you?" Holmes asked, but he knew the answer before the man could voice it.
"My name is Henry Clark and I've been informed that you've got my daughter."
A/N: Uh oh, it seems Midge does have a father after all! I hope you all liked this and that it made up for killing Watson in my latest oneshot! Please review and let me know how you liked this chapter!