Author: Lucinda

Sixth in Bohemian Scandals

Main characters: Irene Adler-Norton, William (Spike), and Drusilla

Disclaimer: William & Dru belong to Joss Whedon as do the Watcher's Council; Irene Adler and Sherlock Holmes are the creation of Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle. Some original characters, based on the worlds of these authors will be present.

Distribution: Twisting the Hellmouth, Paula, Cat anyone else please ask.

Note: This is set in the 1910s, with Irene Adler-Norton (of Sherlock Holmes) as a relative of the Vampire then known as William the Bloody (although not to his niece) and eventually as Spike.

Note 2: For the curious, Laudanum is an opium derivative that was frequently used as a painkiller. It was also addictive, and frequently prescribed for ladies to take during/around their monthlies, as a treatment for cramps and/or hysterics. Yes, it was addictive. Morphine was a later medicine that was also an opium derivative, and is/was a more potent painkiller and also addictive.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Dru had just poured a cup of tea for Irene when the detective regained consciousness. He groaned, and one hand twitched before pulling upwards to touch his head. Irene glanced over, and sighed, gathering her skirts in order to rise and pick back up the tray of medicinals.

William moved closer, smirking at the man. "So, what sort of trouble did you get yourself into this time?"

"Oh... Not you again." The words were a hoarse whisper, filled with dismay. "Although I suppose this is an improvement from their hospitality."

"Don't look so dismayed, Detective." William grinned. "You decided to drop in on us, not the other way around."

"You're... not invited anyhow." Holmes muttered.

"What can you tell us about what happened to you, Mister Holmes?" Irene decided that she'd best prevent this from getting too personal between them, if possible. She also decided that she'd have to ask uncle William just how he did know the detective, it would probably be a fascinating story.

"Miss Adler...?" He blinked, trying to raise himself to a seated position before wincing and abandoning the effort. "No, it's Mrs. Norton now, isn't it? The topic is hardly suited for someone of a delicate constitution."

"I suppose either one will do. My husband has..." Irene paused, trying to sort out the appropriate explanation. "I'm a widow now. As for delicate sensibilities, I'm the one who has given you the bandages that currently adorn your person. I fail to see how learning the cause of your injuries will be worse than attending to them."

For a moment, he looked thoughtful, and then he nodded slightly. "I suppose you have the right of it. I was being held by certain persons who felt that I could inform them about the location of... well, I suppose it doesn't quite matter what. Their methods of attempted persuasion leave something to be desired, and then they left me alone for a while. I believe they felt the time alone would weaken my resolve, and instead I used the opportunity to leave."

"Were they human?" William asked, a hint of growl creeping into his voice.

"The one in charge appeared to be." He paused, looking as if he was either contemplating his memories or fighting back the pain. "I can't be as certain about his subordinates. He was however, most eager to acquire the article in question before someone named Travers could do so."

"Travers?" Irene murmured, wondering if this was the same person who had retained the legal firm that her husband had worked at. "Would that be James Travers, perhaps?"

"Reenie, what's going on in that pretty little head of yours?" William asked, a faint smile gentling his expression.

"I can't be certain, as they didn't use his full name." The detective apologized.

"If he's after it, do we actually want to hope he gets it, whatever it happens to be, or do we want…" Irene paused, and glanced at the multitude of bandages on the detective. "No, we don't want them to get it either."

"How long do you think it will take them to scramble for it and find each other?" Dru asked, a sly smile on her face. "Drink your tea before it gets cold."

"What plans do you have for the future, Miss… Mrs… Irene?" The detective's question faltered a bit, and he couldn't quite look at her.

"The house in Bath is now legally the property of Godfrey's brother, so I won't be returning there." Irene offered, not certain if she wanted the detective to know where she would be. She didn't think he would mean her or her baby any harm, but could she afford the chance of even accidental endangerment? "I suppose for a while I shall stay with William, until I can figure out something more definite. The tragedy is still rather recent. Most likely, I shall want to go somewhere new, that will not have memories of what is now forever out of reach."

"Quite understandable, fair lady." Holmes murmured. "I will pry no further into your life."

"I suppose you shall have to stay here for a while, in order to recover." Irene mused, almost thinking out loud. "That will also ensure that any persons who are still searching for you will move away from here, and look elsewhere. You can regain your strength and think of a suitable explanation for those who might need some sort of answer, and… I suppose I need time to make some plans myself."

"Are we keeping him then?" Dru asked, standing beside Irene and holding out the teacup. "Your tea, pretty."

"Thank you, Drusilla." Irene murmured, sipping at the tea. "Mister Holmes will be staying here for a while, but we are not keeping him. He is a man, not a stray kitten."

"Maybe he'd like to be your kitten?" Dru whispered. "You could pet him, and rub his… tummy."

Irene blushed, the words raising a host of inappropriate images into her mind. She wasn't entirely certain that she didn't like them, which made it more embarrassing. "It isn't for me to decide what the detective would like or not."

"Irene, you need to relax a bit more." Drusilla pouted, and scowled at the injured man. "Don't make her cry."

"I wouldn't dream of such a thing!" Holmes protested.

"Good." With a small sniff, Drusilla left the room, her skirts swirling around her ankles.

"She is a bit eccentric." Irene offered.

"Eccentric?" He repeated with a lifted eyebrow. "You certainly seem to be… that is, it appears that your… that William and Drusilla are trying their best to help you through this difficult time."

Irene nodded, noting that it seemed hard for him to offer a compliment to her uncle. At the same time, he was clearly trying to be polite. It was rather amusing, actually. "Yes they are. Would you care for some laudanum now, to blunt the pain a bit?"

For a moment, it looked as if he would refuse, but then, almost seeming to deflate a bit, he nodded. "I suppose a little wouldn't make things any worse than they are now."

Irene returned to the tea set, and poured a measure of laudanum into the bottom of a cup, adding the tea slowly so that it would encourage the mingling of the two liquids. "Uncle William, can you lift him up a bit, so that he can drink this?"

"You do know that tea isn't the answer to everything?" William muttered, carefully lifting the detective to a sitting position.

"But it does work nicely to mix liquid medicines into." Irene said firmly.

"I suppose it does." William conceded.

The detective offered her a small salute, and drank the tea. "Fair lady, I thank you for all that you have done for me."

Irene nodded, and returned her attention to the tray. William could help her put him into the spare room after the laudanum had taken effect. Keeping him… Shaking her head, she resolved to try not to let those images influence her actions. He wouldn't' be staying. It was too risky to let him.

But wouldn't it be nice if he could? If she could keep him with her, to have someone to comfort her and support her when things remained complicated and demanding? Someone to stay with her and help raise her child? Perhaps she could even have more children later, if she could find the right sot of person to have them with.

Shaking her head, she decided that she was being silly, and such thoughts should at the least wait until she knew where she was going. Besides, most men didn't want to help raise someone else's child, they wanted their own children. Still, a small corner of her continued to dream.

End Scandal 6: Scandalous Suggestions