The Adventure of the Red Dress (part four.)

Once I hit the water I remained motionless, I had assumed that most objects which enclosed air floated and I would promptly pop right back up to the surface as Holmes had done. Indeed, as I slowly descended into the dark coldness, I eagerly awaited that turn of events. However I was to be gravely mistaken, for it soon became apparent that my body was being sucked downwards into the blackness below and there was to be no upwards motion at all. It was then that my common sense sadly deserted me and I was consumed with fear. My body began to impulsively thrash at the water in a vain attempt to bring myself aloft, but unfortunately not knowing which way was up, it became a mere futile effort. The current kept mischievously flipping and turning me, allowing only a glimpse at the sky, but that clear light came in flashes and only confused me more. I could feel my head pound and my ears burn as my body protested against the trapped air and my lungs were squeezed smaller by the pressure of release. I tried to scream, but only bubbles left my mouth, making room for the river to enter and ferociously gag at my throat.

Something was pulling violently at my hair and as I reached out to free myself, my arm was suddenly snatched and twisted forward. Then, mercifully I broke onto the surface.

I was absolutely terrified; the cold air hit me heavily and my lungs and body where now deadly tried. Still, I managed to lash out frantically in the vain hope of keeping myself buoyant. It all ended when I was hit quite hard across the face. Momentary stunned, I froze and allowed my body to sink back down. Then I was pulled sharply sideways.

"For christ-sake Watson keep still! Do you hear me, still, don't move."

"Holmes…"

"Keep still!"

"Can't swim…"

"I know. I have you."

Moments seemed like hours as he dragged me across the surface of the water, barely keeping us from the river. Occasionally he stopped as the current proved to strong to fight against and then we just followed the river's direction. Eventually he gave a last spurt of energy, clawing at the water and all the time holding my chin above it. We hit the mud bank with a thud and Holmes immediately began pulling me out and across it. Just when I felt the slight joy of land, I realised we were sinking into it.

"Move quickly Watson."

"But…"

"Quiet, we have to get out now. Here take my hand."

"I… I'm not able."

"Just crawl and keep your mouth shut, this mud is partly sewage."

We managed a slow but steady assent of the riverbank, I was lagging behind but he kept pulling at my arm and then carried me the last few meters until we reached a damp grass verge. We both lay for a moment gasping heavily and then he pulled himself up from the dirt and turned on me.

"Sod-it Watson, don't you ever do that to me again. Never!"

I couldn't answer, still couldn't find a rhythm in my breath.

"You stupid fool! What the devil were you doing down there? You could have killed yourself." He was now crawling over the mud and hitting at its surface with his fist. "I should never have taken you anywhere after all that wine; you are always the same after alcohol." He had the decency to pause his ranting until I'd finished coughing out mud and water. "You didn't tell me. Didn't bother to mention that crucial bit of information did you? Did it just slip from your empty head?" He threw his hands into the air, "oh and then it's 'I don't swim', just like that! What a damadable time to tell me. You're a sodding idiot Watson, I sodding bloody idiot and no mistake!"

"Sorry, I did try," I gasped.

He was now looking at me in horror, "it was supposed to be a quick swim along the shore, a few strokes at least. What the devil where you doing down there?"

"Trying to swim."

"You are supposed to do it on the surface, not sodding six feet below, I almost lost you… completely lost you." He grabbed hold of my shoulders tightly in an effort to stop us both from shaking violently, "don't ever do that again."

"You hit me."

"I know and I'm not entirely proud of myself, but you were thrashing about like an eel. I had no choice."

I felt the side of my cheek, "still hurts."

His grip loosened, "Christ, I'm sorry. Don't look at me like that, you scared the hell out of me Watson and I don't like it." He turned away from me and I waited a moment until my breath steadily returned.

"It's alright Holmes."

"No, it's certainly not alright; we'll talk about this later. I need to get you out of here or the cold will kill you. Can you see the pier?"

I tried so hard to find my voice again, "no."

"Then just follow and don't disappear this time, we can walk along the bank. Come now, I've no more strength to carry you."

"Of course, just give me a moment." I looked down at myself to assess the damage and realised that my French white cotton and lace drawers were now almost transparent, it was such a shocking display of flesh that I dared not look at my chemise. My leg seemed stable enough, however both wounds were now throbbing, especially the shoulder and as I pulled myself into a standing position, I lifted my chin and braced for the pain. "Which way?"

He dragged himself up after me, reaching for my arm and then my hand. I felt a moment of complete warmth as I looked at our laced fingers and then I fell forward and remembered nothing more…

…...

I'd like to make an acknowledgement to PermanentNerd and state that this chapter is clearly a tribute to her wonderful work, (Ignorance/ Chapter Seven.) I took the liberty of playing about some more with Watson and water.

I hope one day to see that work finished.

I'd also like to have the usual moan about this probably being full of typos, please feel free to spot them and let me know. I'm trying to post once a week while I'm on holiday... so far so good :)