Watch my life,
Pass me by,
In the rear view mirror
Pictures frozen in time
Are becoming clearer
I don't wanna waste another day
Stuck in the shadow of my mistakes
Holmes left the scene without another word, angrily tearing down the hallway and out of the building. His steps were quick and hard, and he marched towards his home with anger running through every fiber of his being. He had been bested. He was so angry he didn't know what to do about it anymore.
He could not believe he had been bested. All this time he thought himself the best. He didn't just solve cases for a hobby or job. They were his life! They meant more to him than any other being on the planet and to have victory snatched from him while he worked feverishly was enraging.
He continued to storm home.
Now I'm broken,
And I'm faded,
I'm half the man I thought I would be:
But you can have what's left of me
When he got to the flat an hour later he found Watson sitting by the fire with some tea. A glass of brandy was on the small stand beside Holmes' chair and he took it, but didn't sit down. Instead he paced restlessly.
"Enjoy your walk?" Watson asked from behind his newspaper.
"Humph." Holmes growled, taking a swig of his drink.
"Don't start." Watson chided, setting down his paper for a moment to give his friend a warning look.
"That was my case!" Holmes exploded.
I've been dying inside,
Little by little,
No where to go,
But going out of my mind
In endless circles,
Running from my self until,
You gave me a reason for standing still
"Sit down!" Watson bellowed, rising.
Holmes could read the anger on his friend's face and he snarled. "Why, so you can tell me I'm such a good detective and to not let this little failure stop me and – "
"Sit down!" Watson's military voice came back. And Holmes was silenced and in his seat in a second.
Watson gave him a look. "Five minutes, and then you can do as you please." He said, giving his fellow-lodger a warning look.
"Now I know you like to think you're the most brilliant mind in the world, but tonight you finally saw three of us get to the solution faster than you. Now you sit here wallowing in self-pity and condemnation about it! How dare you!"
It's falling faster,
Barely breathing,
Give me something,
To believe in
Tell me: It's not all in my head
"Your point is made, I'm conceited then." Holmes hissed, his own ire rising.
"Why would you have trained us if you didn't want us to learn?! Why would you waste your time and effort in publishing papers and telling me about your deductions if you didn't intend for me to learn and try to copy you? For years I've been an idiot – "
"Watson – " Holmes tried to cut him off.
"No, you'll listen to me Holmes! I've heard it from your own mouth that I'm by no means impressive when it comes to my mental capabilities and tonight for just a few moments the three of us actually felt like we'd accomplished something. For once I felt like I had honored your time and teaching by using my head to solve something and all you can do is sit there feeling sorry for yourself!"
Take what's left
Of this man
Make me whole
Once again
Holmes gaped at him with an open mouth, taking in what he was saying. He was speechless though, so Watson went on. "Finally the three of us are one step ahead of you and we feel like you've helped us and you sit here and act like that was never your intention. Well if you have no hope for us why did you try? Because I have learned you do everything for a reason. You're so cold and calculating that I know you to work with a motive. If you don't intend to pass on your skills then what will happen to the world when you really die? We just lose your brilliant skills and that's it? The crimes won't go away so why should your knowledge of how to stop them?"
Holmes realized his friend was right. He sighed. "I am sorry, my dear fellow." He said sincerely.
I've been dying inside you see
I'm going out of my mind
Out of my mind
I'm just running in circles all the time
Will you take what's left
Will you take what's left
Will you take what's left of me?
Nick Lachey "What's Left Of Me"
Watson sighed. "It's alright Holmes I forgive you. I do have one small bit of expertise that you don't and that is social graces. So tomorrow you get your lesson in how to properly congratulate two successful Scotland Yarders." He announced with a smirk.
"No! I will not!" Holmes said, stomping his foot like an angry child.
"You will, or I will publish this case." Watson said with a gleam in his eye.
Holmes pouted and folded his arms. "Very well then."
Watson smiled once again. "Goodnight old fellow, sleep well." He said, turning to leave the sitting room. He shook his head as he closed the door behind him, wondering just how astonished Gregson and Lestrade would be.
Okay, I know the song and story don't seem to fit the greatest, but that is seriously what I imagined when I listened to this song. Holmes has always seemed like he only cares about his own work and without that he's nothing and well, Watson gives him a greater goal to think about too :)