A Study In Solar

Chapter 9

Edited for grammar and content

Because of all the typos in the original I've reposted an edited version without all the typing mistakes. The extra chapter is to break up the story into more manageable bite sized chunks.


It seemed too easy, Holmes reflected as they sat on the sofa. Lestrade had guided him all the way from the medical station, and the bandage around his eyes had to stay there for the next few hours. Even though his sight was gone, Lowell City was safe. "Zed Holmes… the medics said the blindness is temporary."

"But that puts me at a severe disadvantage," Holmes muttered.

"Let me get you some tea," Lestrade said. She got up and went over to the small kitchenette, and started to bustle about getting hot water ready. Tensely he sat, twiddling his thumbs till she returned with a tray and two steaming mugs. Handing one to Sherlock, she said, "There you are."

"Thank you my dear," he said as he clumsily grasped the cup, and she let go of it when he had a good hold. Sipping it gratefully, he sighed with relief.

"Hope its okay,' Lestrade said, unsure of what to do with her hands. She took her cup from the tray, and slowly swirled the tea in the cup.

"Perfect… you fixed it just the way I like it," Holmes said in wonder, facing in the direction of her voice. Their thighs touched and Lestrade reached over to squeeze his hand.

"I'll stay with you… till you're better," she promised.

"One of the members of the gang is still out there," Holmes sighed, taking another sip of tea.

"The Countess?" she asked.

"I think not. Someone who had been near the Wallace, and knew its every move."

"Lernov, right?" she asked.

Having no longer needed their disguises, they both were unmasked. Holmes had removed his outer suit, and now wore shirtsleeves and his customary vest, tie and shoes with spats. For now the bandage wrapped around his eyes, and he seemed to be taking it well. Too well. It hurt her to see the proud detective fumbling in the dark.

"I guess I could take this dress off."

"Keep it," said Holmes. After all I bought it especially for you… and there is no reason to change. It isn't as if I could see you."

"Holmes, when this is over… what happens next?" she asked, swallowing her fear. It was now or never.

"What specifically do you mean?" he asked innocently. Since his eyes were covered she could not see if he was jesting or serious.

"I mean… um if things keep going the way they are… since I am your supervisor… wouldn't that be… against policy?"

"In what manner?" Holmes asked.

"Never mind," Lestrade sighed. "I'm probably imagining things. You were just playing your part."

Holmes reached out to catch her hand before she could get up. She glanced back, as he set the tea down on the table, and pulled her again to his side. A bit of tea splashed up and landed on his lap. Lestrade went to grab a napkin and dab up the moisture, but Holmes stopped her with his hand on hers.

"What about… what happens next… you never specified the subject of your query," Holmes said softly. His nose was only inches from the back of her neck, and she sat upright in shock.

"Well… maybe I'm nuts, but it'd seem like… um… things are different between us, aren't they?" she asked, breath hitting his face.

"Indeed they are," Holmes said with a smirk. "Your question is valid. What next is a subject that may have to wait till the case is solved… but I am growing rather impatient to have it over."

"You… said it bugged you… when I kissed you," she breathed as he slid his arm around her shoulders, and angled his body towards her, face only inches from her. "What did you mean?"

"Before I was interrupted, I was going to explain why," Holmes said irritated. "That the nature of my disturbance was not negative, but rather a most positive one… and it is far more real and far more intriguing of a mystery than any I have tackled till now. In a way that such feelings are evoked… feelings to which I'm unaccustomed."

"Like what for instance?" she breathed, as his hand stroked hers and gave it a squeeze. Her heart pounded in her chest as his breath fluffed up her hair, and her leg was pressed against his a shiver over her entire body.

"It's something difficult to put into words, so a demonstration will suffice," Holmes said with a mischievous smile as he let go of her hand and cupped her cheek with it, while pulling her body close to his with his arm around her shoulders.

Lestrade gasped as she felt the touch of his lips missing hers to land on her nose, then slowly slide down to cover her mouth with their warmth. The incredible sensation of his soft mouth gently caressing hers made her swoon and she thought she would explode with the sudden excitement surging through her body. Caught off guard, she leaned into the kiss after her shock faded, and she moaned softly against his lips as he pulled her closer and tilted her head to the side. It was like that kiss he had stolen in the shuttle only far more deliberate.

Up and down her back he ran his hand, while tunneling his fingers into her hair and rubbing her scalp with soothing touches. She slid her arms around his neck, and fingered his soft sandy blond hair, realizing it was as soft and silky as she had imagined. When they parted after a good few minutes, she could hardly believe this had happened. His fingers caressed her face, held between both hands.

Lestrade kept her arms around his neck, whispering, "Zed… I never thought it could be like this."

"I thought as much," he smiled charmingly. "Which leads me to another topic…the custom of what happens after this point?"

"I don't know what to think," she stammered, leaning toward him as he pulled her close for a second kiss.

No sooner had their lips met than she jolted in his arms. A splintering crash sounded in their ears, and Holmes arms tightened around her protectively.

"There you are!" bellowed Sergey, his face red as he burst through the door, shoulder first. His eyes landed on the two of them and his mouth widened with his eyes.

"Good lord!" Holmes got out. "Don't you ever learn to knock before entering a room? Really!"

"Oh god… not now!" Lestrade cried as Sergey advanced on them.

"Chert vozhmi! You have a lot to answer for…" Sergey growled as Holmes stood up, and thrust Lestrade behind him. Grasping up the cane to his side, he held it before him, waving at the source of the voice.

"And you likewise… to burst in unannounced like a barbarian… what DO you think you're doing?"

"Malishka, I've come to take you away from all this," Sergey said as he rudely swept Holmes aside, and pushed him to the floor.

"Leave us alone!" Lestrade shouted, backhanding him across the face. He looked at her stunned as she held up her ionizer.

"You… strike me... the one who is to rescue you from this? This… relic?" he laughed. "Surely you are mad!"

"You're under arrest," Lestrade said coldly as she covered him with her ionizer, and stood between Holmes who was slowly picking himself up off the floor, and Sergey, who backed away.

"You can still come with me… I will forgive that outburst," Sergey said as he spat blood, his face flaming red where her slap had stung him.

"Get real!" Lestrade snarled, leveling her ionizer. "Put your hands where I can see them…"

"It's over, Sergey… turn yourself in now, or else face the consequences." Holmes said as he stood next to Lestrade, presenting a united front. However Sergey jerked his hand from behind his back while Lestrade reached for her cuffs.

"Nepradva li," he said as he aimed a sonic blaster at them both. "I can wait here all day you two."

"Put the gun down," said Lestrade angrily.

"If you don't surrender, I'll shoot the Detective you seem under the thrall of," said Sergey, aiming his gun at Holmes.

"Lestrade… let me handle this," Holmes said grimly.

"Wait… let him go. And I'll go with you," Lestrade said suddenly. Sherlock shook his head, not believing what he heard.

"Now you're making sense, Maliska," said Sergey as Lestrade threw her ionizer down and walked forwards. He jerked her the rest of the way by her wrist, and held her close to his side while still covering Holmes.

"Lestrade, don't be an idiot!" Holmes cried.

"I'm sorry… it's the only way," she said softly. "I don't want you hurt because of me, Holmes."

"Say goodnight, Detective," he laughed as he backed out of the room and fired. Holmes dodged as the sonic charge loosed and landed inches from where he tumbled out of the way.

"Lestrade!" Holmes shouted as Sergey dragged her away down the hall.

"I won't let you go… not now," he added sadly. He didn't notice a shadow fall across his sightless eyes, and a voice calling his name.


Watson happened to be standing in the door, glancing anxiously around the room. "Holmes!" he cried, stepping through the door which was charred and singed. Holmes groaned and lifted his head at the sound of his friend's voice. Watson gently helped him to stand, and glanced at the bandage over his eyes.

"What on earth happened Holmes?" he gasped. "It looks as if there has been a fight… where is Lestrade?"

"We must get after them quickly," Holmes said as he wandered about the room, trying to find his Inverness and other items, though he kept bumping into furniture everywhere in his efforts.

"Who?" Watson asked, glancing around. He scanned the room with his sensors, and waved his hand over several likely places.

"Sergey Lernov, and Lestrade… he's kidnapped her," Holmes said darkly.

"Your eyes," Watson exclaimed as he scanned the bandage.

"Are perfectly fine," Holmes said as he pulled of the bandage. He grimly regarded Watson with a cold gray gaze, filled with anger and worry.

"I shudder to think what has happened to her… if Lernov has captured her… if he's connected to these men…" Watson said as Holmes grabbed his Inverness, deerstalker and cane.

"So do I. I can't let them get away with this… where is the ship you came on?" Holmes asked.

"At the spaceport but it's departed," Watson said sadly.

"Quickly… we must not let them get too far ahead," Holmes said as he rushed down the hall, Watson closely after him. He slipped on his outer garments, and raced to the stairwell as Watson scanned for residual traces of Lernov's DNA and heat pattern. They rushed down to the main level and out of the lobby into the street.

"This way," Watson said.

"There should be a craft… the shuttle that Lestrade and I arrived in," Holmes said as they rushed off towards the spaceport.

"Right…" Watson said. "I do hope it's still there."