A/N: Thank you everyone for your kind reviews. They are truly appreciated. If you are happy reading my scribbles then I in turn am delighted. :-)
Chapter 02: A bored Sherlock tests a supposedly-unlikely theory on John … This was a sudden light-bulb idea last night, so I quickly jotted it down. It's what I get for watching ST: TOS before bedtime.
Sherlock © ACD and BBC
Off All the Nerve
"John, you're a doctor."
John lifted his head from where it lay cupped in his hand and eyed Sherlock suspiciously. "I'm always impressed with your deductions, but stating the obvious takes some of the spark away. Don't tell me the great Sherlock Holmes is losing his edge?"
Sherlock ignored the jab and gestured to the television. "Do you approve the possibility of a nerve pinch?"
John stared at him, puzzled. "What?"
"This so-called nerve pinch … would you say it is medically accurate?"
John's gaze flickered to the TV for a moment before coming back to Sherlock. "You know, I put this DVD in because it's fictional, and hoped you'd sit there quietly so we – or more importantly, I – could watch it in peace."
Sherlock sniffed disapprovingly. "I don't require DVDs to pass the time. That being said, if you insist on watching a sci-fi it is bound to raise questions."
"Sci-fi is preferable to your shouting at Heartbeat and Miss Marple episodes [1]. Not everyone wants to know who dun' it before the person has actually done it."
Sherlock shot him an impatient look. "They would if they had even an ounce of deductive capability. Now, are you going to answer my question?"
John sighed. "No, Sherlock, a so-called nerve pinch is not possible."
"Yet the gentleman on screen has done it."
"Not quite hard evidence."
"He seems intelligent."
"He's not real."
"Does the same principle not stand?"
John gazed at Sherlock despairingly. "For someone who lives his life based on facts, why are you arguing a fictional ability?"
"I am not arguing it, merely questioning your reasoning."
"That's a fancy way of arguing," John retorted.
Sherlock waved away the doctor's irritation and continued. "You say this nerve pinch is not possible … although here is a man–"
"Vulcan."
"–male nonetheless, capable of rendering a person unconscious by pinching a trigger-point between the shoulder and neck. It gives the impression that this can be achieved if one locates the right nerve correctly."
"You can't just pinch someone into unconsciousness."
"Have you tried it?" Sherlock asked.
"No, because it's not medically accurate," John replied, emphasising Sherlock's previous words. "It may be possible if you applied extreme force to the area, but you can't do that with your fingertips. Now, either you shut up and let me watch this, or I put on an omnibus of Coronation Street [2]."
The subtle threat was enough to silence his companion, and John managed to get through the remaining episodes in peace.
As the final credits rolled John crouched down to reach the DVD player. Instantly he felt cool fingers pressing at the base of his neck, just shy of his right shoulder. He turned to Sherlock, one sceptical eyebrow arched. "Seriously?"
Sherlock frowned, clearly perplexed. "Odd. After observing the action carefully it seemed plausible–"
The tray whirred open and John turned back to remove the disc, groaning softly, "Sometimes I despair, Sherlock, I really d–"
Fingers squeezed; the doctor's head hit the floor and there he stayed, motionless.
"… Fascinating," Sherlock murmured.
~o~
End
~o~
A/N II: [1] Crime dramas; [2] TV soap.