So, here's a little bridge between 'The Dying Detective' and 'The Golden Pince-nez'.
I'd love to dedicate this chapter to Lulu-fifi (Honey, I hope you enjoy this chapter, if you're seeking shock and John feeling a little bit protective though it was supposed to stand on it's own but luckily, I could easily change it to fit this story.) Guest (I'm updating as fast as I possibly can but 1 chapter per day will have to do… I have a novel in the works as well. )Jessieanne412 (Thank you darling! I'm glad that someone is enjoying this.)
I had noticed that after the case, where my best friend had had us all convinced that he was to be at death's door, he kept an almost constant eye on my little sister. No matter what he was in the middle of doing, his eyes would momentarily flash from the task at hand to her who would not be that far away from where he sat. At meal times, when I was extended the offer to attend, he would sit between the pair of us, making sure that she ate everything he had piled onto her plate at the start, despite the fact that the portions were almost triple the size of what anyone could eat in a single sitting.
What shocked me, however, was how I didn't notice the comfortable intimacy they had with each other.
You see, I had visited 221b on a dismal Friday evening, deciding that it would be best to visit Sherlock and my sister on my way home from my practise, as well as the next morning. Since the case, I had made it my unpaid duty to check up on them at least once every two days, whether it be for five minutes or five hours. Of course, after explaining everything to Mary, she had agreed as not to allow Sherlock to 'infect' my sister.
Nothing had really struck me as unusual however. When I arrived there, Mrs Hudson greeted me then sent me up with a small word of warning, informing me that they had worked for two days without rest on a particularly difficult cold case so it was possible that their tempers were rather… explosive or they would be resting. As a doctor, I knew that I shouldn't really wake them so as I climbed the stairs, I intended on staying for a few minutes to observe each of them in turn then I would leave a note on the desk or on the mantle beneath one of the detective's pipes so he would see it almost instantly when he went for a smoke. When I finally got to the room, I carefully pushed the door open as not to make a noise, only to stop in my tracks.
Resting, right beside the roaring fireplace, was my sister and friend.
Sherlock was laid back in his chair, his chin resting on one hand while the other held open a tattered old book that I couldn't recognise. On the floor sat my sister, her head resting on his knee with one arm wrapped tightly around his leg, as though he might disappear. Clutched to her frame, she held one of his long dressing gowns which seemed to bury her. Despite my original shock, I found it rather endearing. No doubt, they had tried to fight fatigue off until exhaustion became too much to bare. If anything, the position screamed that was the case as, if one of them was in any sort of state to move, they would have both been tucked up in their beds instead of sleeping in the sitting room.
Just as I was about to enter, Holmes woke with a small jolt, his eyes darting around for a moment of panic until they rested on my sister. A small smile tugged as his lips as he placed the book down, his hand moving to comb gently through her hair. The action alone caused my sister to stir, her eyes fluttering open and looking at him. Their state of mind was obvious as usually, they would have spotted me through the small crack in the door but they simply carried on, oblivious. One part of my mind told me to leave them be and return the next morning but the other part told me that I would never get an opportunity like that again.
"Come on pet, I think it's time for us to retire for the night." He murmured softly but she just looked up at him, her eyes half closed.
"B-But we haven't s-solved it." She slurred, stumbling over her words in a similar way to that of a drunk as she slowly rose to her feet. A moment later, Sherlock was also standing.
"It will be there tomorrow darling, I can assure you. Besides, you are of no use to me when you can't concentrate on the matter at hand because you're falling asleep."
"But I'm not tired." She whined.
"Of course you are. Now come along or I will be forced to make you go to bed."
"I'm sorry to say that you can do a lot of things Sherlock but making me do something I don't want to do isn't one of them." Now, if I could hear the slight tone of challenge in her voice from where I stood, I was almost certain that Holmes had as he moved closer to her, his hand resting heavily on her shoulder.
"Come along dear." Unlike before, his voice held a stronger tone, offering her no room to debate but I had a feeling that exhaustion had altered their temperaments as Luna glared at him.
"I refuse to retire until this case is solved sir. You know how to feels to have a brain rot in stagnation so allow me a problem to solve and I shall rest a happy woman but until that moment, I will exercise my mind as you usually encourage." She snapped. At her tone alone, I winced but the detective only stared at her with a calculating gaze.
"I understand darling but you will only drive yourself to further distress without sleep when you can't solve it. Give your mind an evening off and the answer will come flooding." He explained calmly though even I could see that he was trying to mind his temper with her. The only thing with the pair of them is that neither would back down from the other, despite how angry they got.
"Sherlock, stop treating me like a child! I know what's best for me!"
"I'll stop treating you like one when you begin acting like an adult. Until that happens, I will have to act like the adult."
"You are not my father! You are not my brother! And you are not my husband which means that you have no control over me!" she cried, her glare intensifying. I could tell that the mention of my father got her worked up but only because of the shaking hands by her side. Factoring those out, she seemed perfectly angry. However, Holmes remained calm in the face of her anger.
"I may not be your father and I am definitely not your brother but as I c-care deeply for you a-and your w-wellbeing and provide for y-you… I practically fulfil the role as husband. Now, come to bed sweetheart." With a sigh, she nodded and slowly walked towards her bedroom door but before she entered, she turned and pressed a kiss to his cheek then hugged him tightly.
"Goodnight Sherlock."
"Goodnight darling."
"Sweet dreams."
"Let's hope not pet, they're extraordinarily dull but sweet dreams to you." Smiling, she moved away and was about to turn into the room but he grabbed her arm, turning her then pressed their mouths together. Though I felt like I was intruding, I couldn't help the shock that rose in me when they didn't pull away for what felt like minutes. While seconds ticked by, my hands clenched into tight fists by my side while I glared at Sherlock's head. I was so close to rushing in there and then throttling him around the head for daring to be so bold with my younger sister.
"Goodnight my dear." He whispered, their lips brushing against each other from the closeness between them. I could see her shiver slightly, her arms moving to hold the thick black dressing gown tighter to her body as she leaned back against the door.
"If we keep doing this Sherlock, we will never get to bed." Luna murmured softly, her teeth beginning to chatter lightly as the fire dwindled down, taking its warmth with it.
"Then maybe you should stay in my room."
"Sherlock! What would my brother say?" Yes, what would I say? Well, NO would be in the top 10 words, with me cursing him for even thinking about inviting my sister to his bed when they weren't even married!
"It's a logical decision as my body heat will warm you up and keep you warm. Also, if you look at the facts, you slept more soundly and deeply when sharing a bed with me. With all of this evidence, how could he possible deny that you're better off with me?" he asked, his hands reaching for hers then leading her towards his door. With a smile, she followed him into the bedroom.
All I did was stare through the small crack.
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