From V Tsuion: A sleepless night during a case


After Holmes's three year absence, I noticed an increased tendency of his to bow to my so-called 'mother-henning'. He had broken his addictions, ate more, and kept a semi-regular sleep schedule. Occasionally, however, there were certain cases that kept us both awake - thus was the situation now.

"Did I wake you?"

"Couldn't sleep," I grunted. The fire was not yet lit, and so Holmes tossed a spare blanket from the back of the sofa where he was sprawled. I took it gratefully and went to my armchair with a barely-suppressed shudder. "This case is..."

Holmes straightened, so as to see me better. His gaze echoed the terrible things we had both seen that day. "Consuming."

"You will solve it Holmes."

He sighed and lay back down, shifting onto his side so his back was turned to me. "I hope so."

"We will solve it," I amended myself with a small smile - it was the first I had smiled since this wretched case had been brought to us. "You are not alone, remember?"

He barked his brief laugh and, although I might not be able to see his expression, I imagined it looked a little lighter for what I had said. "How can I forget?"

Neither of us slept that night, but when Mrs Hudson entered a few hours later to light the fire, I felt strangely refreshed.