A. N. Prompt from Spockologist: Reality sinks in. Sorry about the date! ^^' Also, AU (AT?) where Holmes retires after Garribeds because I can. Forgive me.
After the Garribeds' case, they joke about it. The awful aim of the younger generation. How criminals are becoming less and less clever, or perhaps people more gullible. Moriarty would have never concocted a plan like that – it's a surprise that their client took the bait at all.
But jokes aside, there's something that remains heavy and bitter inside the detective's soul. Watson could have died. Hell, he should have, if Evans' nickname wasn't clearly empty boasting. Seriously, in such close quarters, and in an enclosed space, and hence with no wind to take into account, managing to just graze your opponent is ridiculous.
They've affectionately called each other old boy since the start. But the beginning of their friendship was decades ago, and now their hair has gone grey and – however fit – they're obviously much less sprightly. Twenty years ago, they would have been on the man and subdued him before Evans had a chance to shoot.
The consulting detective's brain is as sharp as ever – of course it is, honestly it is rare to find s challenging puzzle nowadays – but his transport is more easily overcome. It feels unfair, but aging seems to be the only available way to live a long life, as Auber would say, with all its inconveniences. They still have decades to enjoy – that is, unless a younger, remorseless criminal with a better aim does them in.
There had been a time when Holmes hadn't minded dying for (on) a case. But now... well, he wouldn't be dying alone, that's the crux of the matter. The good doctor – despite being a handful of years his senior – is way too stubborn to let him chase criminals on his own. Watson would be outraged if he suggested such a solution, and with good reason.
That left only one avenue open, didn't it? He'd retire. Without being involved in criminal cases anymore, the both of them could look forward to the happy decades they deserve (his friend especially). He was – they were – too old for criminal investigations, however much he didn't like to admit it. The soon to be former sleuth would certainly find some branch of science to apply his mind to, in the future.
Besides, Hopkins had learned his methods (well, most of them at least). The police force does not strictly need his services anymore, now that they had one of their own properly trained. That would make for a proper justification of his decision. He'd inform Watson in the morning.