Heavy
Sherlock Holmes laid back in his chair, his mind bent on finding Alexander. The irregulars had been deployed but he felt that there was something that he missed. The murder was so simple; the victim had been killed with a single bullet to the heart. There were no prints on the gun, and the lack of evidence meant unless Alexander confessed there would be no arrest. Holmes knew that the man would never confess to a petty crime, he would try to shift the blame to a lackey of Moriarty's who would then take his place in the noose. The lanky detective picked up his clay pipe and began puffing at it. Alexander was obsessed with his assistant; perhaps if he arranged a trap with Claire as bait... he dismissed the thought quickly. Miss. Watson would surely object to being used in that manner, but then again she was bent on getting rid of that man.
He turned to the empty desk that she sat at, he was still surprised that she was still working for him after all the turbulence that had occurred. Part of him was curious to why she stayed with him despite the danger. His mind told him that it was because it was safer then being alone. His heart on the other hand chose an ill time to stir, it seemed to say that there was more to that thought. Holmes's steel trap of a mind suppressed the heart's flutterings, there was no place for any of those thoughts in the middle of a case. The detective sank back in his chair and began to formulate the plan to catch the murder.
Across many streets Claire Watson sat in her cousin's sitting room, focused on keeping the conversation away from Holmes. She was a proud woman but her employer had awakened feelings she believed to be long gone. There was so much logic that told her that it was only a passing fancy, but deep down she knew it was not. Claire could only hope that no one would be able to pry it out of her before she was ready to reveal it. Mrs. Watson took an eager interest in Claire, for a young lady not much younger than she, Claire was drastically different in many ways.
"Claire, John told me that you came to London about ten years ago. Would you care to tell me how that came about?" Mary was kind and curious about Claire's life before London.
Claire brushed a stray hair out of her face as she spoke, "You might say I escaped to London. I was destined to marry a younger son of a local lord, I knew that my destiny was not going to be like my mother's. Ever since I could ride a horse, I always dreamed of a life outside the country, outside the simple life of marrying and raising children. My father knew this as well, and helped me gather the money I needed for a train ticket. We rode on horseback to the station, and I arrived here in London, with little money and enough motivation to get me to my first job." The young lady's eyes misted over in remembrance.
Mary took a gasp of shock at the sheer determination Claire had when she was younger, "That must have been a very difficult decision to have had made Claire. I know that leaving family behind is never easy." Mary reached out and patted Claire's hand in earnest.
Claire looked at John with a skeptical expression before she answered, "For some I would imagine it would be. But, for me it was either leave for London and gain freedom and happiness or stay and be miserable. As for my family, I had the hardest time leaving my father, he taught me so much about life and how important it is to find those you can trust." Claire wiped a phantom tear away, she missed her father's hearty demeanor but, it was a sacrifice she was willing to make.
Mary looked at her husband's cousin, aghast at the young woman's demeanor. "So, did you find what you were looking for Claire? John has only told me a few pieces of your past, he said that worked for Scotland Yard. I would imagine that must have been a very tough life." Mary was glad to know Claire, she hoped a regular lady like her was a good model for Claire.
Claire sipped her wine before answering, she was unsure what Mary's motives were in questioning her, but she played along. "I found many things here in London, freedom was the big goal and I achieve independence fairly quickly. I also found friendship, love, tragedy while in the service of Scotland Yard, it was tough some nights having to keep my cover while people got hurt. But, I found a good place with the boys, they were like brothers to me, and not a day goes past that I miss those days before Moriarty darkened my doorway..." Claire's tongue let the professor's name pass, with the knowledge that neither John nor Mary would know if it.
Watson saw his cousin's eyes darken at the mention of Moriarty, a name he did not recognize in the slightest. He was about to ask when he caught his wife's eyes on him, they seemed to tell him not to press his cousin. "So, Claire, are you excited about finding Alexander and bringing him to justice?" John asked, in hope that it would lighten the mood some.
Claire looked straight at her cousin's blue eyes with her own, "I will be glad when he is caught by Mr. Holmes, yes. Whether or not justice will be administered is up to Alexander, because if he tries to take me again, I will shoot him." Claire's tone sharpened and her face was contorted with anger.
Watson shrunk back from her sudden change in mood, "I apologize for getting such a rise out of you Claire, and I know it's hard for you since you escaped that place." Watson stood and sat next to her in hope of comfort.
Claire didn't shrink back from his presence, "You are forgiven John, I...just want that man out of my life. I don't want to ruin this evening with talks like this, why don't we change the subject to how you met Mary?" Claire pushed down the anger and listened intently to the couple's story. She was glad her cousin had found such a great lady, who loved him despite his long hours at work as well at Bakerstreet. As the pair spoke of their first conversations and leanings towards love, Claire's mind remained distant while her heart began to long once more for that type of comfort. The evening ended, and Claire was glad to be alone in her thoughts at last. As she entered her flat, the young lady felt her body relax as her hand reached for her violin. As she picked it up, Claire could not help but remember those evenings that seemed so long ago. She and Holmes would play their violins together and revel in each other's presence. Now, it seemed that they couldn't be together without her heart attempting to take control once again.
The thought of being with Mr. Sherlock Holmes in a romantic context was impossible in her mind's eye. They were both logical and emotionally distant but they both shared such a history of pain as well as pleasure. He had been there when Jack died and comforted her even when she didn't want it, he was there to help her pick up the pieces. Then, he had disappeared only to come into her life when she needed him the most, Holmes was there through her bad days and still considered her an asset. He was not a hero to her , he was a friend as well as her employer. And now after all these years together as well as apart, her heart began to steer her towards feelings of romance towards the detective. Claire stopped playing the violin in that moment, for the fear of rejection made ice run through her veins but, she had to take the leap otherwise have unrequited love for the man till her death. Claire began to play again with more fervor, she was going to tell him as soon as Alexander was dealt with. Then, the heavy prescience that man had on her actions would lift and she would be free once more.