A/N: sorry for the delay, I nearly had to go to the hospital but I am A-OK now I promise

Holdmycoat: AU where Sherlock Holmes lives in ancient Rome

Hadrian's Wall was where careers were sent to die. It did not matter if one was a Centurion or simply one of the innumerable legion. Many of the men in the frontier were not the best-liked, and more on the Vallum Hadriani were auxiliaries rather than citizens. It seemed they cared little for those stationed all the way in the northwest, and more for the territory. But that was to be expected. Pax Romana was not maintained by walls and roads alone.

And with a careless observation, I was to become crushed underneath such a paving stone. When a Centurion would not be disgraced, he may find a different way to remove obstacles. It did not matter what in the Senate one's brother did if enough secrecy was involved. Secrecy and threats. Fustuarium was taken perhaps more seriously out here than anywhere other than Rome.

By threat of death was I out beyond the wall. Perhaps for the only time in this misadventure, my keen eye was serving to my benefit. I was sent out alone in search of medicinal herbs known to the Selgovae. I had the fortune to be able to spend hours out in the woods looking for yellow four-notched petals, broad-tipped leaves with catkins, and shrubs with little purple flowers. The stalks of the latter would likely go into the century's bedding, but my job at this juncture was not to ask questions. Too many questions had landed me in these circumstances. Were things any different, I should say I would spend my time asking more.

My brother said this would be a waste of my talents, and I fear he was right. Yet, scouring Britannia's far north for medicinal plants was my lot in life. For the time being I was little more than an errand boy.

I heard movement in the brush to my left and turned. One hand was on the hilt of my sword, but I relaxed as I saw some sort of furry creature dart off into the shadows. However, in its escape it had drawn my attention to a shrub of delicate leaves and purple blooms. I let my sword hang at my side and instead took up my bag. Much of the plant would be needed, and I had yet to locate the great quantities other scouts had spoken of.

No sooner had I grasped the first fistful of blossoms when something much heavier than my woodland guide moved behind me. I turned, but didn't have time to fully draw my sword before a man sprang from the foliage and tackled me to the ground. I swung at him, flowers still clasped tightly in my hand. The blow stunned him, but not enough to dislodge his weight nor to distract him long enough to get at my weapon. One additional advantage he had was an iron knife now raised over my head.

And even as all of this was happening, I saw something else. It was not my life flashing before my eyes, nor the realization of all my disappointments.

"You are a healer!"

A look of surprise and anger flashed across his face. He turned nearly the red-copper color of his hair. I would not call myself a coward, but at that moment I had no desire to watch the grisly death about to befall me. I could spend my last moments categorizing the damage to my person before succumbing. Despite knowing my capabilities that was hardly a comforting thought. I squeezed my eyes shut.

"How… came you to know this?"

I opened one eye. The barbarian- by the manner of his speech and the sound of his words I knew him to be local- had his knife poised as before, though he had stayed his hand. It would do no harm to perform my observations one last time.

"Your fingernails." I pointed with the most visible hand to his holding the knife. "You have crushed vegetation recently. While one can imagine it arrived there under ordinary circumstances, there is still a crushed petal on the blade." I gave him a grim smile and opened my hand to reveal my own flowering plant. "We are hunting the same prey."

Other things stood out to me that I dared not mention at this juncture. The tilt of his shoulders, the way his clothing hung so loosely on his frame… Even the resignation in his eyes spoke volumes of the miseries he had no doubt endured. Zealous patriot I was not. Likely as not we both had our own sins. I could not begrudge him his hatred of Rome.

After my words, I watched another burst of emotion flood his features. This time, the progression went from suspicion, to anger, before finally settling somewhere in the area of irritation. It was if he had questioned my honesty, become furious at being so easy to read, and then decided I was harmless enough. Enough for a Roman soldier, his enemy.

"You-" he began, "I desire not to kill you now. Another time we will meet to kill, but not today."

He began sheathing his knife. I was grateful not to have been killed, but there would be no discussion. Not least of all from him, who had suffered so much from the hands of my countrymen. But it seemed I was destined to inconvenience him further. I spotted a familiar movement in the grass. Quicker than he could react, I shoved the barbarian up and off to the side. He tumbled to the ground, already drawing his knife but by then it was too late.

His jaw fell open as he saw the serpent hanging from my arm. I could do nothing but stare intently at it as it repeated its attack once more before dropping back to the earth. The fire in my arm was quickly spreading. I knew that would not last, however, as one of the Gaius' in our century had lost all feeling in his leg after he was bitten. The most I had been able to do was draw my sword in case the viper decided to stick around before the numbing began.

At the rustling in the grass I prepared for another snake, but it was merely the tribesman. I gave him a wan smile before sinking back to one knee. My sword fell to the dirt and I would have gone with it, had it not been for his sudden intervention. He eased me back to the forest floor with a truly bewildering look on his face. I do not know which of us was more shocked by this turn of events. By the time I was fully reclined the trees above me were beginning to spin. I felt hands upon either side of my helmet before I fear I lost consciousness.

It was sometime later when I awoke. Night had settled over Britannia, but a small fire flickered next to me. I shook my head foggily, feeling decidedly sicker than I last remembered being. But with the dull throbbing in my arm it did not take long to deduce the cause.

And there on the other side of the fire was my barbarian friend. He was watching me like a hawk through the smoke of his cooking. I shivered and felt as if I may be sick after all.

"I thought you may die." Said he, "But it seems you are strong, for a Roman."

I merely blinked at him. I was not yet well enough to converse, though I could deduce several things by our location, the fire, and the absence of my helmet and sword.

My unlikely rescuer gave me a wry grin. "It looked as if you were to kill me. Had the snake not stayed, I would have killed you."

I did have a comment for that. "So… you have abducted me instead."

What little humor he had disappeared. "I left your helmet and sword. No deserter leaves without his weapon. I owed that to you for the snake, but no more."

I had correctly guessed his plan, and it was a clever one. My reputation was hardly in any condition to thrive out here, so it did not matter much to me if he had killed it. I dare say they wouldn't even report me missing.

"Perhaps not, but I owe you my life. I have no love for Rome, and I take it you have even less considering what you-... what your people have been through."

His eyes darkened but he didn't deny it. I tried to sit up and that got a different reaction out of him. He hurried around the fire and pushed me- gently- back down. I was still weak from fighting off the venom, but I could tell by the look on his face that I was no longer in danger.

"They plan to built another wall, someday." I said. "I, for one, see it as no improvement to the landscape."

It seemed I had surprised him again. "I know of some men who would be… interested in speaking with you."

Perhaps Mycroft was right. Perhaps I was squandering my potential in the army.

A/N: things I know nothing about irl: 1) Rome 2) Ancient Scotland

things the fic never diverts from: 1) Rome 2) Ancient Scotland