December 18

From ThatSassyCaptain: While reluctant to absorb anything unnecessary to his detection skills, Holmes has deemed your favourite obscure trivia relevant! How and why does this come about?

"It's a murder…" Watson said.

The constable nodded his head as they entered 221B.

Both men looked tired.

Doctor Watson trailed up the 17 steps of their flat and sunk heavily into his chair. "It was a long night, Holmes."

Holmes glanced up at the two men. "I believe I heard you two say murder. I sincerely hope it was not in relation to that minor problem you were working on last night. It was a simple case not worth my time. Please, have a seat. Fill me in on the details." He held up a slender hand. "Only the pertinent details. None of the flowery elaborations that Watson has a weakness for."

The constable sank down gratefully in the seat provided. "Watson's correct, Mr Holmes, definitely a murder…"

Before the young man could continue, Holmes rose sharply from his chair. His grey eyes flashed."I cannot conceive how such could have happened. I gave The Yard the exact location of Moriarty's men. The place should have been empty. Did the Inspector miss someone in his sweep of the building? I explicitly warned him that this could be a dangerous operation and to keep civilians away? In spite of my misgivings with the constabulary, I thought for sure they'd be equipped to deal with this simple gang of thieves."

Watson interjected Holmes' rant. "Hold up, Holmes, on the murder. Inspector Lestrade and his men did manage to capture the criminal gang. Because of the valuable information you provided, the police caught the gang right in the act of forcing the vault. The official papers were saved."

"But murder… if I hadn't been busy on this other case…" Holmes frowned. "I should have supervised the operation at the government office myself…"

"But, Holmes," Watson attempted to interrupt again. A sudden realisation dawned. "Holmes, there wasn't that kind of murder. No one was hurt. The criminals didn't even have a chance to draw their pistols."

"What?" Holmes' looked momentary confused. "I clearly heard you and the constable discussing a murder."

Well, yes, but not the kind of murder you imagined."

"What other kind of murder is there?"

The constable and I were talking about the flock of crows that descended upon the crime scene earlier this morning. We were discussing the correct term for such a flock. I was explaining a group of crows is called a murder."

The constable nodded. "He's right. I looked it up."

"Oh." Holmes flopped back into his settee.

Watson smiled. "A fact for your brain attic?"

"Perhaps," the detective gave a wan smile.

A silence descended on the group. The constable and Watson appeared to rest their eyes. Neither had slept the previous night. However, Holmes remained awake, deep in thought.

Suddenly, he jumped up and ran to the window. The morning sunlight streamed through. Two crows perched on a branch opposite.

"Look, an attempted murder!"

A/N: I know... a silly piece. It wasn't too much of a obscure fact. And the pun at the end is a bit groan-worthy. Pardon my tired brain.