Chapter 10

Hound let out a heavy sigh as he let Watson drive the car back to his home after they had returned from their two day trip on that rainy night. However, while on this trip the detective had somehow caught a cold while he was chasing down the culprit who Inspector Lestrade then arrested right after the anthro fox had pinned the thief down on the ground. Although he most likely wouldn't have gotten the cold if he had been wearing his overcoat in the rain during the chase that occurred late at night. And most likely staying up all hours of the night didn't help matters either. But while he was thinking back on what he could have done differently he found himself letting out a sneeze.

And not to his surprise this did not go unnoticed by the good doctor as he commented, "You know Hound you really should have been more careful. Why what will Cinderella and Mrs. Hudson think when they see you in this condition?"

Sherlock turned to face his friend with heavy eyes as he replied, "Oh I'm sure they'll be surprised. Although I'm certain Cinderella will be a tad upset with me for getting ill."

"Well of course she would, Hound. I mean now yes she may be polite about it. But she obviously cares about you." Watson pointed out which caught the detective's attention. But when he saw the anthro Scottish Terrier look at him from the corner of his eye he added, "And if I didn't know better I'd say you care about her too. Of course it wouldn't hurt you to show that ever once and awhile."

Hearing this caused the detective to stare at the doctor with wide eyes fro a few seconds before he looked away and replied, "I certainly hope your referring to her caring about me in a friendly manner. Because if you remember right she technically should still be married to that Prince Charming fellow. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if she still loved him."

"Oh, yes that's right. I forgot about that." Watson quietly admitted as they turned a corner. Once they had though Hound saw him look at him again as he kept on going, "But you know if she can't go back to her kingdom don't you think it'd be for the best to try and convince her to stay with us?"

"Watson, I could never ask Cinderella to stay here in London. Besides I don't think it would be wise to get emotional involved with her anyway." Hound countered while Watson came to stop and then proceeded to back up the car before putting it in park and then turning it off.

"Alright, alright I'll drop the topic for now. But you should think about it. Besides for all we know she might want to stay here instead of going back home." The teal furred anthro dog stated before he got his suitcase out of the back of the car.

Hound stayed silent as he also got out of the car and grabbed his suitcase as well. But when both he and Watson came up to the front door the anthro fox found himself sporting a surprised look on his face upon opening the door and seeing Cinderella dusting off a nearby picture while wearing a dark pink colored dress. And even though he didn't want to admit it seeing the human woman with such a warm smile on her face caused him to smile as well. This is up until he sneezed yet again which caught the young woman's attention. But when she turned to face them though the detective still saw that same expression on her face as she greeted them with, "Welcome home Sherlock, Doctor Watson. I would assume your case went well?" He then saw her point to a nearby standing coat rack and added, "Now please take off your hats and coats since they look completely soaked along with your shoes. Don't worry though since your slippers on right in front of the coat rack since I wouldn't want either of you to catch a cold."

""I'm afraid it's a little late for that, my dear." Watson remarked once the two had done what was asked of them.

Hearing this though prompted Hound to slightly step on the anthro dog's left foot. This caused him to yell out in pain while the anthro fox told him, "Oh dear, best be careful around that coat rack, old boy."

This however did not go unnoticed by the strawberry blonde haired woman as she walked up them and said, "Now there's no need to do that Sherlock." And once she was standing in front of him she added, "So why don't you just tell me what happened?"

Hound was about to tell her the story, but before he could the orange and white furred fox covered his face with his arm when he let out a loud sneeze to which Watson explained, "Well you see my dear, Hound caught a cold while he was chasing down the culprit who was stealing money from our client."

For a moment Hound saw Cinderella show a look of sadness before it was replaced by a look of relief as she said, "Well, at least you both came home safely. Now you best get yourselves cleaned up since Marie was just finishing up with getting dinner ready."

"Of course." Sherlock let out before he and Watson went upstairs and did just that.

ooooooo

After dinner had concluded Cinderella walked into Hound's main room with a small tray in one hand until she reached the door that led to the anthro fox's bedroom. She took in a breathe of air before she released it and then knocked on the wooden door. While she did this she told him, "Sherlock, are you still awake? I brought you some medicine that Watson wanted you to take along with a glass of water."

There was nothing but silence from the other side of the door before the young woman saw the door open up to reveal a very exhausted looking anthro fox standing in front of her. However, she saw him give her a soft smile as he replied, "Yes, I'm still awake. Although that was certainly kind of Watson to give me something to get rid of this cold. I'll have to be sure to thank him tomorrow."

Upon saying this the detective took the medicine and swallowed it once he had drank the small glass of water. But after doing this Cinderella saw him cover his mouth with his arm once more when he let out another cough. A frown formed on her face as she told him, "Alright now that you've taken the medicine you'd best get in bed and rest."

"Naturally." Sherlock let out to which he unbuttoned and then removed his red and black vest.

But while he did this the young woman decided to help as she reached up and undid his bow tie when she softly replied, "Here, let me help."

Once she had gotten the piece of clothing untied she removed the it from around his neck and then handed it the anthro fox who had a slightly surprised look on his face while he replied, "Thank you." He then took the removed clothes and placed them onto a nearby end table in his room. But upon doing this she saw him look over at her as he added, "By the way I noticed that you must have cleaned my room while we away."

"Yes, both Marie and I decided that this was the best chance to do it since you were both away." Cinderella explained as she pushed some of her hair behind her right ear. She then put a confident smile when she continued, "And I was even able to get rid of the taboo smell that was on your bed sheets and pillow cases. Although I must be honest, it wasn't easy."

"I can imagine not." Sherlock remarked with an impressed look on his face. The young woman then saw him give her a warm smile and then went on with, "But thank you for doing that." However, that smile quickly faded away and was replaced with a frown once he had continued, "Did the smell bother you? If so then I apologize for smoking my pipe in bed every now and again."

Hearing this though only caused the blue eyed human woman to shake her head from side to side while she reassured him, "No, the smell didn't bother me."

"Oh, I'm glad then." Hound replied, before she saw him start to close his bedroom door. But before it was closed completely she saw him continue to look at her while he added, "Goodnight."

"Goodnight." Cinderella warmly replied to which the door was then closed completely.

Cinderella stood in front of the door for a few seconds before she decided to walk away from it. But as she did this she saw Doctor Watson quietly walk into the room while he asked, "So did Hound take that medicine?"

"Yes he did. Although he looked exhausted." The young woman pointed out while the two sat down on the nearby sofa.

"Well I'd imagine him to be since he did stay up the entire night yesterday." Watson remarked before he realized what he had just said. The young woman then saw him cover his mouth with both of his hands while he added, "Oh um please don't tell Hound that I told you that. "

"Don't worry I won't say a word." Cinderella reassured the real furred anthro dog along with giving him a warm smile. However, there was something that she wanted to bring up as she added in the from of a question, "By the way Doctor, do you have feelings for Mrs. Hudson?"

The young woman wasn't that all surprised when she saw teal furred doctor's eyes widen while a deep blush form on his face. He then slowly moved his gaze away from her when he replied, "Um well I might have feelings for Mrs. Hudson..."

"Well if you do then why don't you tell her. Or at the very least ask to her out with you." The blue eyed former princess suggested which caught the doctor's attention.

However, it wasn't exactly the reaction she was hoping for as he countered, "As lovely of an idea as that is my dear. I can't see Mrs. Hudson being interested in spending her evening with an older gentleman like myself."

Hearing this prompted Cinderella to take a hold of one of Watson's hands as she encouraged him with, "Now don't say something like that. Besides you'll never know if you don't ask her."

After saying this Cinderella saw the anthro dog's expression become bright when he said, "You know what you're absolutely right. Alright then I'll ask her about it tomorrow."

"I'm glad to hear it." The young woman told the doctor still with a smile on her face.