Author's Note:

I hate being sick, I hate being sick, I HATE BEING SICK! …Sorry, but it's about to drive me nuts!

In other news, I've started on the official book file that will be eventually converted into the proper format for Kindle… Don't get excited—I still have a long way to go. Anyway, I'm doing a foreword right now…

To my reviewers:

Moonspun Dragon: Thanks, hon—me, too. Weeell, you'll have to wait for the book for the drawings, but I really can't wait for you to see them, either! (*rubs aching head and sighs* Remind me to PM you, 'kay?) Thank you!

nomdeplume30: Thank you!

SabrinaPhynn: (About Mary and Holmes) Egg-zactly! …Awww, poor Jenn, having to rush home like that… *pats back*

Spockologist: Thank you!

Joan Jett The Runaway: Aw, thank you very much!

LeDragonQuiMangeDuPoisson: You're welcome. =)

fayfayzee: Thank you very much!

© 2011 by Aleine Skyfire.

All rights reserved.

==38. Honour==

Rating: G
Summary: "Cheer up, old boy. I know you obligated to defend my honour, but trust me when I say that I can do it well enough on my own."
Warnings: Holmes!irritation
Word Count: 273

"Well, Lestrade, another feather in your cap," Sherlock Holmes declared in a singsong manner. He nodded once to the inspector, and once to the arrested criminal. "As to you, my dear Farnsworth, I congratulate you on the ingenuity with which you have conducted your forgery—it was marvellously handled."

The arrested forger was furious. "You insufferable amateur!" Farnsworth raged. "You're no more than an amateur with a devilish amount of luck!"

Holmes smirked slightly. "Yes, I suppose it is less injurious to one's ego to believe that he has been bested by luck rather than by skill."

"You're one to speak of ego! Any sane person would reject you for the vain peacock you are, you and that grovelling little quack of a doctor!"

Watson's eyes widened, though not in irritation. Lestrade's eyes darted apprehensively toward the private consulting detective. Holmes's eyes narrowed as his face darkened.

"You are fortunate, sir," he ground out, all traces of levity gone, "that you are under official detention, and therefore untouchable. Had you spoken those words before your arrest, they would not have been beneficial to your health."

As detective and doctor returned home in a cab, Watson patted Holmes's arm. "Cheer up, old boy. I know you obligated to defend my honour, but trust me when I say that I can do it well enough on my own."

Holmes flashed his friend a brief smile. "And well I know it, my dear fellow. But I suffer no slight upon your honour gladly."

"And well I know it," Watson said with the air of a tried saint, eliciting a brief laugh from a no-longer brooding detective.

Author's Note:

…And if you've seen Granada, you definitely know what I mean by "singsong." ^_^

And we all know that anybody who insults Doctor Dearest is dead meat. xDDD

Next Wednesday… ah, yes, "Love." *whistles innocently* …Nah, it's Canon-compatible, really—in an artistic-license sort of way. ;D Okay, okay, it's not blatantly AU, we'll put it that way. …Just come back next time and find out!

Please review!