Prompt from Hades Lord of the Dead: A conversation with Death.
Sherlock Holmes and Death were no strangers. On multiple occasions, the two brushed paths. The dark shadows between life and death were an ill-defined murky river. The two rarely acknowledged their encounters; and, if they did, it was short.
"Hello, Death," Holmes might say as he lay pale and motionless in a fever-coma.
"Hi, Holmes," Death would reply cordially. "It looks like Dr Watson's medicines are working. I'll see you later."
At Reichenbach Falls, Death was a little more optimistic. He waved at Moriarty and Holmes as they passed him on the muddy path to the precipice - two geniuses in one day. He looked forward to the stimulating conversations. He was put out for several weeks when only Moriarty showed up at dinner in Hades.
There was really only one time when Death and Holmes argued. It occurred quite unexpectedly during a routine examination of Mr Garrideb's collections.
"You shall not have him!" Holmes gazed at Death, his eyes contracted and hardened into two menacing points of steel."
"But its his time," Death argued. He held up Watson's life contract.
"I don't care about your contract. You simply will not have him." Holmes' eyes burned red-hot poker. He glanced down at the limp form of his companion cradled in his arms. Then, never wavering in his mind against Death, the detective crashed the butt of his pistol over Evan's head.
Death had seen enough people to know when he was beat. The young man under Holmes' pistol butt, although not fatally wounded today, would be joining sooner than Holmes or Watson. He sighed. "It is only a superficial wound. He will live. Good bye, Holmes." A dark cloud lifted from the room.
"…my friend's wiry arms were round me, and he was leading me to a chair.
"You're not hurt, Watson? For God's sake, say that you are not hurt!"
It was worth a wound — it was worth many wounds — to know the depth of loyalty and love which lay behind that cold mask. The clear, hard eyes were dimmed for a moment, and the firm lips were shaking. For the one and only time I caught a glimpse of a great heart as well as of a great brain. All my years of humble but single-minded service culminated in that moment of revelation."
The Three Garridebs, ACD