December 22: "Invert" (from Hades Lord of the Dead)
Mrs. Hudson's strength was great in many areas of her life, and her health was no different. She often went months or years without even the common cold to trouble her (an impressive feat, when one is landlady to a doctor). But this year, bad luck had gotten the better of her, and she was bedridden with a fever for two days, during which she slept fitfully.
During this time, she awoke in the middle of one afternoon with a shout. Watson, who had accidentally fallen asleep in the chair he had dragged into her bedroom, sprang to attention.
"Heavens above!" she exclaimed. "Oh, Doctor, I'm so sorry for waking you. I had a dreadful nightmare."
"I'm sorry to hear it," said he, rubbing his aching neck.
She shook her head. "I can hardly begin to describe it! Mr. Holmes was…different. He worked at predictable hours for a respectable bank, and he only played the violin during the day, and there were no papers or criminal relics scattered about…"
Watson fought to keep the smile from his face, and Mrs. Hudson noticed.
"Oh, yes," she said, waving a hand, "it sounds very amusing now, but I was horrified! Who was this gentleman, I wanted to know, and what he done with my Mr. Holmes?"
"In your shoes, I'm sure I would have been just as alarmed," Watson assured her.