Well, here's chapter 5. I'm too tired to give my shout outs, but you fine ppl. know who you are. And I heart you from the bottom of my…well, heart. This is short, probably one of the shortest yet, but I'm going to post it. HA!


While Andrew was deep in thought, Sabina tottered out of the restroom, all her strength sapped out. "Well," she said weakly. "That's a fine how-do-you-do."

Holmes merely nodded, clearly unconcerned with her petty "feelings" and other such nonsense. He had better things to worry about. "There are a lot of freaks out there who do a lot of freaky things. The killer would have found one fetish or another."

"You don't understand. I wrote that. I wrote that. He got the idea from me; I'm responsible for this horror…" She collapsed into an armchair, rubbing her temples. At last, she looked him square in the eye. "So, again, what are we going to do about it?"

"I need to get inside the killer's head and in essence, you're his brain." Sabina winced at the reminder. "You know his motivations, his fears, all that is him. I have some connections in some…less reputable areas, so I'll work from there…" Holmes paced as he talked, ambling along as he collected his thoughts.

"So, let me get this straight: I stay safe at home, while you get to do all the dirty work?"

"More or less."

"No way. I'm coming with you. I only get to write these things - I never get to experience them. This time, I want some real details." Sabina tried to hide it, but there was no mistaking the twinkle in her eye. The sense of adventure overrode her sickening guilt. Fueled by the desperation for writing the next great novel, Sabina planned on jumping in headfirst. "I'm in deep enough as it is - I haven't much else to lose."

Holmes arched an eyebrow. "Except, perhaps, your life."

Sabina shrugged, her good nature returning. "You win some, you lose some. Most artists become famous once they're dead anyway."

He furrowed his eyebrows and gave her the "you're stupid" look. "But…oh never mind. Anyway, your death would reflect badly on me and I have neither the time nor energy to be playing nurse maid."

"Whatever! I'm the same age as you!"

"How do you know?"

"Probably the fact that your face is everywhere except a Wheaties box helps. C'mon, I promise I'll only speak when spoken to and spend the remainder of time writing." Sabina leaned forward in excitement. "I can be like your Watson!"

Andrew cracked a rare smile. Little did Sabina know of the heartbreaking loneliness - living alone, stake-outs, and everyone he spoke to seemed to run in fear. He was used to it - ever since childhood, his rare gifts of deduction made him an outcast. At this point in life, Holmes had learned to keep his mouth shut in order to make friends. Even so, he was never available for social engagements. After a time, his friends would tire of him and he was left alone again. All their thoughtless jabs struck underneath his callous façade. Would they stop if they only knew? "Watson, huh? If it worked for them, then why wouldn't it work now? Sure, come along."


There, now be happy, damnit.