Prompt: Watson learns why Holmes doesn't like to share conclusions until he is ready.
From: PowerofPens
A/N: I felt bad I never got to use all the lovely prompts I was provided in previous years, as college and work were a priority before, but I've decided to try triple the anticipation by finishing my 2018/19 challenges alongside my 2021 responses! Hope you enjoy!
….
"HOLMES!" I bellowed, rain dripping down my face, soaking my clothes… cold seeped into my shoulder, making it ache.
I heard my friend emit a terrified squeak in his throat, otherwise, his face remained as impassive and stony as ever.
"Why… just why… did you have to leave me in the dark again!?" I snapped, rubbing my shoulder furiously. I was angry with Holmes for not sharing important information with me… or for not sharing his conclusions… his data…
Holmes put a hand on my sore shoulder, and before I could indeed protest, he began to rub it, ever so gently and tenderly, that I was temporarily taken aback, and could not find it in myself to utter another word.
"I am very sorry indeed, Watson," He said sincerely, "for leaving you in the dark again. It pains me greatly to do so, when I trust you with my life, but I have made a personal oath to myself that I will not share conclusions prematurely, for sometimes, they can come at a great cost."
He sighed, and tendrils of smoke wafted from his pipe. "You see, my dear boy, when I last shared my conclusions prematurely, it was when I first began helping Scotland Yard on cases. Lestrade and I were working together for the first time, and it went disastrously.
"It was a murder we were solving," he said, "and it had been so cleverly and uniquely plotted in order to throw me off, that it worked- I gathered inaccurate data and formed an erroneous conclusion to the murderer's identity. As a result, Lestrade arrested the wrong man. An innocent soul was condemned and hung; Scotland Yard was left humiliated at not only such a tragic error, but also at the fact the murderer remained at large; Lestrade was almost dismissed from the police force, and I… well, my budding career was nearly frozen to death by such humiliation and grief from my rashness. Many a time did I wish I could've refrained from telling Lestrade my initial conclusions until I knew for certain.
"Now, I rarely ever disclose the conclusion before I deem it safe to do so," he said. "The only exception I will make, however, is if your life, or the life any other man, woman or child in my care, may be in danger."
I was most moved, for whilst mistakes such as this were common with our justice system and the law, it was very rare indeed for my dearest friend to draw inaccurate conclusions, and to hear this tale from his own lips… indeed, I saw a flicker of sadness in his steely-grey eyes, but it was gone just as quickly as it had appeared.
"I am most sorry to hear, my dear Holmes." I said, sympathetically.
"Thank you, Watson," Said he. "But work is the best antidote to sorrow, so I try not to dwell on what has passed."
I could understand why Holmes did not sharing his concluiosn so prematurely, even if I disagreed with it, to a degree.
But, instead of arguing, I offered him comfort, by seeking his free hand and allowing my fingers to curl around his own… and then, I gave his hand a protective, affectionate squeeze.
He smiled warmly at me, before I felt my hand squeeze being reciprocated.