Phew, that's a lot of chapters in one day...I think I'll give it a rest for now! It's been a slow day at work...Thanks to KCS whose faithful reviews of my work keep me going! Please read and enjoy...

Chapter Fourteen. Time to Heal.

Those few days following the shooting I unfortunately have very little recollection of. I drifted in and out of consciousness and was only vaguely aware of my surroundings. I was aware of how close I had come to death and thanked God daily for sparing me my life. I do not know the ins and outs of how close I actually came and for my peace of mind I think it better that I do not know. I do not remember seeing Holmes but just assumed he was busy with Rebecca and William. The only company I really had was with the lovely young nurse who saw to my wound on a daily basis. Her name was Gwen and she was the loveliest thing I had ever seen – next to my late Mary of course. I looked forward immensely to her visits, this was selfish of me I suppose considering the danger Holmes and the children were in, but I allowed myself a few moments of weakness. She was far too young for me of course but it was a pleasant feeling, at my age, to look into the eyes of a beautiful young woman. It was so this morning as Gwen appeared to dress my wound. She always asked how I was feeling but this morning I could tell she had other things than simply amusing me on her mind.

"Is something wrong?" I asked, trying not to wince as she fastened the bandage with a little less care than usual.

"I don't mean to be a bother Doctor but I confess I am a little worried."

"Worried? About what?"

"There's a man Doctor."

She bit her lip and looked towards the door of the ward with some apprehension.

"A man?" I persisted following her eyes, half expecting to see the said man loitering outside. There was no-one however.

"Yes, he follows me sometimes, home. He's not sinister or anything he always looks like he's about to say something but then disappears before he actually does."

I closed my eyes in annoyance and sighed as realisation hit me.

"What does this man look like?" I asked.

"Well, he's very tall, and thin. Almost too thin if you ask me, erm…dark hair, always sort of swept back and fashionable, well-dressed, certainly a gentleman but nervous like and sort of…jittery."

I smiled, as accurate a description of my friend as I had ever heard.

"I know him. He is a little…nervous around beautiful women. Do not worry; he's harmless – to most. Could I ask you to do a favour for me?"

"Certainly." Gwen said with a smile that made my old heart flutter.

"Could you send him a message for me?"

"Of course, provided that he doesn't run away before I get the chance."

She smiled and I returned it, wishing I did not feel so old.

The next day Gwen came to see me and told me she had delivered my message. She said Holmes had been very kind to her and had taken her back to Baker Street to meet Rebecca and William, who was now recovering from his ordeal. She said Holmes was extremely charming and it was in the midst of this glowing description of my friend that the man himself appeared at the door. Much to Gwen's embarrassment and Holmes' amusement. I motioned him to come in which he did, bowing to Gwen as he did so. She blushed prettily before making an excuse to depart. Holmes smiled after her and then turned to me, his usual nonchalant self.

"Taken to seducing nurses nearly half your age Watson?" he asked with a smile. I did not smile back. After nearly fifteen years with Holmes I was well used to his ways and usually his displays of coldness did not concern me, they were part of him and should be accepted as one accepts the flaws of others whom one cares about. But I had nearly lost my life, and he had not been to see me once.

"Where have you been?" I asked as he sat at the edge of my bed. He shifted uncomfortably and cleared his throat.

"I am sorry Watson but there were things to be taken care of, responsibilities and there were the children."

"They are hardly children," I replied, cutting him off, aware but not concerned that I had called them such in the past, "I nearly died Holmes."

"Do you think I do not know that?" he said quietly, playing with the corner of the blanket, "I could not bear it Watson. I cannot bear to be useless and I could not help you. I could not sit by your side and watch as you faded away before me, knowing there was nothing I could do. I am not as brave as you like to think."

I could feel my eyes begin to sting with tears but I blinked them back.

"So you followed my nurse instead?" I smiled, amused by the thought of Holmes being wary of speaking to someone as harmless as Gwen. If I did not know him better I would have sworn Holmes blushed.

"Yes I admit it was foolish but after having neglected you for so long I felt I could not merely waltz in and demand to see you. But that does not mean I was not concerned for you."

I smiled and nodded.

"Incidentally, thank you for the message; it saved me from a rather awkward conversation."

I laughed gently.

"Holmes she is only a little older than Rebecca, yet you can't talk to Gwen the way you do Rebecca."

"I thought I was very charming to Miss. Perry. She said as much herself." Holmes smiled mischievously at me.

"Miss. Perry? Holmes your chivalry will be the death of you."

"Most likely, it was very nearly the death of you." The smile had disappeared.

"It was both our fault. We underestimated the man."

"Yes," Holmes drew out the word in a hiss, "There is however one good thing that has come out of this."

"Oh?"

"Yes, Lestrade has admitted that he can no longer ignore McMallen's activities and has persuaded Rebecca and William to testify against their father."

"Won't that be incredibly dangerous for them?"

"I also will testify and I will do everything in my power to protect them."

"Of course but to what will you testify?"

"To the attempted murder of my very great friend naturally – and of course as a witness to the abuse of McMallen's position as a parent."

I nodded, Holmes had still not divulged what exactly had gone on when he and Rebecca were held by McMallen and I knew better than to persist with my curiosity.

"And how are they? Rebecca and William?"

"Better. William is angry and eager to move on, Rebecca is scared and confused. She, I fear, will take longer to heal."

"They will."

Holmes nodded but there was no smile. He was far away, lost to those recesses of his mind where I could not follow.

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