"A companion loves some agreeable qualities which a man may possess, but a friend loves the man himself."

James Boswell

"A folly! A confounded foundering and a negligence to accompany it!"

"It doesn't matter."

"A failure worthy of a Yarder, really. Watson, how you could pride yourself of the writings of a failure is something which I never could understand. I'm an insane man hardly worthy of the situations I ruin."

"It was an understandable mistake, Holmes, no one could have predicted it."

The distraught detective spun at this futile reassurance. "But I am not anybody, Watson! I should have seen it, the clues were all right there in front of my face!"

The doctor stood from his seat, stepping towards his friend. "There's an entire world in front of your face, how could you hope to see everything at once?"

"Because... because I don't see everything, I see what needs to be seen. This is a reoccurring problem." He slams both hands atop the backrest of the settee, hanging his head upon his chest and kicking the toe of his boot into the carpet. "It's up to me to see what others cannot."

"Holmes, it doesn't matter."

"But it does." He looks back at his friend, defeat evident in his expression. "Watson, people's lives and their honor rest in my hands and if I am unable to deliver, than what use am I to anyone?"

Watson steps up beside him next to the settee, resting his forearms on the backrest and twittering his thumbs. "You're my friend. That counts for something."

Holmes watches the doctor's hands fidget. "I am the other half of your rent, Watson. You may feel an emotional attachment to me, but practically, I am merely a relief for your purse."

"And also my second source of income, but that's not why I'm here." Watson slings an arm around Holmes' back, squeezing his shoulder warmly. "What you fail to understand is that it is possible for someone to love you for more than just your deductions."

"Love is such a foolish thing to invest your time with." He muttered stubbornly.

"Only to those who invest their time unwisely. Holmes, I don't care that you make mistakes; no one does. We'd be hypocrites if we did."

"It doesn't change the fact that--"

"That no one was harmed, something of substantial value stolen from a man who loved the object more than his bride, and the fact that we are both alive to complain about it."

"Watson."

"Holmes, it doesn't matter. It really doesn't."

They stood in silence now, waiting for the other to say something. Finally, the detective smiled and leaned into his friend. "Thank you for overlooking my mettle, Watson. It means much having someone who will continue to remain by the incompetent man's side."

Watson nodded, not knowing what to say.

Tee hee.

I thought Boswell deserved a fic. :)

There was a small passage in my text book written by Boswell about Samuel Johnson, and he seriously did sound like Watson on Holmes. Oh English Lit. book, you are so misunderstood! Though... not completely. I still can't believe Conan Doyle isn't mentioned in it ONCE, nor does "the greatest literary detective" make an appearance. OH WELL, I SUPPOSE.