Prompt from Book girl fan: A friend is left behind.
Left Behind
The rain came down in torrents;
Splashed the cobbled streets of London;
Holmes reached the warmth and safety
Of his Baker Street front door.
Lestrade was close behind him,
Shook the water from his greatcoat,
Which formed rivulets and puddles
On the freshly polished floor.
~0~
Stanley Hopkins joined the party,
Somewhat bruised and somewhat battered;
A far too close encounter
With a vicious king of crime.
Confrontation at the dockside,
As they rounded up their quarry.
A fire ripped through the warehouse;
They departed just in time...
~0~
Mrs Hudson watched them gather,
From the entrance to the kitchen;
Holmes could see her frowning
With a vaguely puzzled air.
He turned to speak to Watson,
Then he froze, in dread and horror;
He could see bedraggled Yarders,
But John Watson wasn't there!
~0~
Holmes recalled the recent battle
At the old abandoned warehouse;
He was sure he saw the doctor
Leave the building, with the rest.
Had he lost his close companion
In the flames and smoke and chaos?
He could feel a rapid heart beat,
As it hammered in his chest.
~0~
Rapid movements as the Yarders
Looked at Holmes in consternation,
And replaced their sodden clothing;
Heading out to brave the storm.
They would scour the streets of London;
They would find the missing doctor,
And would only cease their efforts
When their friend was safe and warm.
~0~
But...
The rescuers had barely
Left the shelter of the hallway,
When a damp and dripping figure
Bustled past them, head down low;
Holding tight to battered Gladstone ,
And a slightly charred umbrella;
A disgruntled, glum expression
Unmistakably on show.
~0~
Holmes schooled delighted features
To a more restrained demeanour;
As he helped his soggy Boswell
From his heavy, sodden coat.
Then chastised him for his lateness;
While pretending that he hadn't
Felt relief beyond all measure
And a lump constrict his throat.
~0~
With the parlour fire now blazing,
Tea and toast from Mrs Hudson;
And a pile of thick wool blankets;
All were snug, and all was well.
Warmth and food and conversation
Drove away those fears, unfounded,
As they listened to the doctor,
And the tale he had to tell...
~0~