A/N: Itty bitty chapter here for you guys...Sorry for the delay, I was watching Iron Man last night. And reeeeally enjoying the view. :D
Disclaimer: I don't own Sherlock Holmes.
Rating: K+ for implied/referenced stuff
Summary: Holmes and Watson sleep a little later than they intended to. Movieverse.
Sunlight shifted over the two men in bed, filtering through the cracks in the curtains so that it angled into their eyes. Holmes, the inside of whose eyelids started burning orange, instantly woke and sat up, blocking the light from his eyes. After checking that nothing was amiss except for the open curtains, he went back to horizontal.
Apparently he'd shifted the bed too much, because Watson began to stir not long after. Even with his sleep-muddled thoughts he remembered that Watson had been tired for weeks, that he needed sleep, so he pulled Watson to his chest until he settled back into sleep again.
Holmes squinted over Watson's head at the sunlight, thinking that it seemed brighter than it usually was in the morning. Perhaps less smog today? he wondered idly, rubbing one hand steadily across Watson's back. Watson muttered something unintelligible in his sleep and huffed lightly, his breath tickling Holmes' bare chest, then fell into a deeper sleep than before.
After about fifteen minutes Holmes sighed and gave Watson a gentle shake. "We have to meet a client at ten, you know," he murmured in Watson's ear as he gradually became aware of his surroundings.
"Do we?" Watson asked groggily.
"Mr. Timothy Barnes, a banker from Birmingham, who was robbed while visiting relatives in town. That's about all his letter said, apart from his seeing us here at ten if convenient—which it is. I'll need you there for specifics, if you don't mind."
Watson passed a hand over his ruffled hair to flatten it. "Not at all," he said through a yawn. "You said he's meeting us here?"
"Correct."
"Hmm, that's good. So that means we have some time before we have to meet him, doesn't it?" Watson reasoned, pulling Holmes down for a kiss.
"Cor—technically, we're supposed to meet him at ten, so we have to get dressed at least—"
Outside, all the churches in the vicinity began ringing their bells, and Holmes paused in horror, expecting to hear ten peals. He sat upright and stared at Watson with frantic eyes, expecting some sort of solution.
"Best get dressed now, I suppose," he managed.
"Holmes, relax, it can't be later than nine," Watson reassured him.
The bells stopped after ringing four times.
Both of them paused that time, looking at each other in confusion. "We didn't get in that late last night, did we?" Watson asked, trying to remember.
Holmes shook his head. "We got in around midnight, and we stayed awake for another few hours with—well. I suppose it does make sense that we slept so late."
After a long pause, Holmes finally added, "There doesn't seem to be much benefit to getting up and about now."
"No, you'll have to reschedule with Mr. Barnes anyway," Watson agreed blandly.
"That can be done at any time today."
"At your convenience, really."
Holmes grinned. "Do you have any suggestions for occupying the time until I reschedule?"
"Many," Watson offered, twirling a lock of Holmes' black hair thoughtfully.
Holmes decided there were definitely benefits to having a lie-in. Timothy Barnes could wait.
Poor Timothy Barnes. Holmes passed him over for Watson.
...Well, wouldn't anyone? ;)
Leave a review if you liked! Thanks to all who reviewed the last (two) chapters.