Ch. 10

3rd person P.O.V.

Morganna stood outside the doors to the examination building. Rain poured over everyone's umbrellas. People huddled in large groups, sharing their shelter and warmth. She stood alone, savoring the coolness of the water. All the students had either family or friends surrounding them, and those that didn't, due to distance, clutched and reread luck-wishing letters from loved ones. She stood alone, with her face turned up to the sky, proud and joyous. She did not begrudge the others their company. She could feel her mother and father's spirits pouring around her.

A pair of gentlemen, both with umbrellas approached the court yard. They did not walk in the direction of the group, but, rather the solitary woman standing in the rain. When they reached her, Holmes covered her with his umbrella. "You wouldn't want to be sick in your examination…" He fingered the lump in his pocket. A velvet jewelry box, containing a silver ring with a sapphire.

Morganna whirled around. She had not heard them approach, but they're presence was wonderful to her.

"Or wet." Dr. Watson added.

Morganna smiled and let all the loneliness she had ignored so far that day slip away. Her eyes met Holmes's and both looked away quickly and smiled to themselves. Watson saw the whole thing and quickly deduced their emotions: Nervousness, awkwardness at his presence, shyness and more than a little affection. He could tell that Morganna would have embraced Holmes, had he not been there, had she not been dressed as a man and with them in public.

"Thank you both…"

"Well… we knew you had no parents or other family to see you off…"

Morganna's smile grew… "You're wrong." She waved and both men looked over and saw a tall thin man with blond hair walking, quickly, to Morganna. He was followed by a beautiful woman in a gray cloak, struggling with her umbrella.

"Morganna you idiot, where the hell is your umbrella?"

"I missed you too…" She murmured.

"Now, hold on a second. Don't vex her, she's going into a very stressful examination soon."

"Well… she knows everything she'll need to pass. After all, I taught it to her, she ought to know everything."

"You never change… Mr. Holmes, Dr. Watson, allow me to introduce you to Dr. Faustus, my mentor and adopted elder brother, and his charming wife Elizabeth."

"Faustus the FIFTH!" He hissed.

"Whatever."

"So… you two…" Holmes started, but his words were cut off by Watson.

"A pleasure to meet you! I have read every article of yours with fascination!" He exclaimed while shaking his hand with a zeal that matched a hound after a scent.

"Charmed… Now, Morganna, if you disgrace me, I'll have you washing out bedpans as soon as you're widowed!"

"Widowed!" The other two men gasped.

"Well… its basic logic. The dean's an old man, the chances of him out living her are slim to none."

"Well still, to say something of such a cruel nature-" Dr. Watson said with a glair.

"I'd expect no less…"

"Indeed… death is as natural as birth and just as much of a mystery… oh, yes, we can describe the process and symptoms, but we still don't really know what they are… or, like how a bunch of atoms grouped together could have a consciousness… the truly scientific see death as finding the solution to one of life's greatest mysteries. The unfortunate, or possible fortunate part is that our discoveries can never be revealed to the living…" His eyes took on a dreamy tone as he spoke. Then h suddenly looked aware again. "So, Morg, what are your plans after getting your degree?"

"No idea… possibly treating people who can't afford… well… no idea really…"

He laughed. "Just like your father… he didn't know whether to establish a practice or to ask your mother to marry him."

"But he eventually chose love over his profession… how sweet!" Watson, who had always had a weakness for romance novels gushed.

"No… she grew sick of waiting and asked him!" Faust smirked. "That woman was completely harebrained and border lined insane… one couldn't help but to like her…"

"Oh?" Holmes and Watson said in unison.

"Well… she made life for those around her interesting…"

'"But insane?" Holmes asked in a concerned way as he gazed at Morganna, who was being fussed over by Elizabeth.

"Oh, not the drooling and strapped to the bed insane, but… well… hyper and… she came up with these theories… madness all of them, but I don't think even she really believed them…"

"Life for her was a daily psychological experiment." Morganna cut in. "She delighted in pushing people to their limits in as many ways as possible. Another favorite thing of hers was to saw the strangest things and study people's reactions… She said that she only wished she could take pictures…"

"Sounds like something Holmes here would do…" Watson muttered.

"You would have liked her…" Morganna smiled. She was long over her grief at the loss of her parents. Suddenly she froze. She stayed a state of deep thought for several minutes. After thinking for a while, she burst out laughing. Her friends crowed around her. Watson offered he a shot of brandy, which she refused.

"Stress…" He whispered to Holmes.

"Don't bet on it…" Faustus glared at Watson. "I tell you that never before has she fallen into hysterics and never will she."

"Sorry… just a memory…" Morganna gasped.

"Do share…" Holmes raised his eyebrow at her glance.

"Not until I can be sure my theory is correct…"

The bell rang across the courtyard, summoning all taking the test to enter the building and take their seats.

"Good luck!" All four called after her.

"Thank you!!!" Morganna called back. She turned and ran into the crowd.