Steve's third day in the same residence started with some of the best news he could hope for.

A veterinarian Mrs. Hudson had sent for examined the puppy, told Steve that by all means it should be dead and that it was lucky he had stumbled upon it.

He said it would survive and recommended a special mixture of milk for the puppy to replenish what it would have received from its mother, he also said to call on him if anything was wrong but he had a distinct feeling everything with the puppy would be just fine.

Most of what the puppy did after the early visit was sleep, Mrs. Hudson suggested a kind of sash some women used when carrying their baby's for the first few days, he said that for now he would simply prefer carrying the puppy's slight weight and small form in the crook of his arm, she didn't argue.

For some reason she seemed slightly dishearten when he saw her that morning but she had shaken herself and went about making breakfast.

He ate and fed the puppy then he took a plate in his left hand and carried it toured Sherlock's study.

The man was sitting at a small table rotating a pawn between the fingers of his left hand "good morning" he greeted the man that just hummed and Steve set down the plate close to him before settling in the open chair.

"this morning I informed lestrand of my discovery, he confirmed that she had been pregnant and they arrested Mr. green just an hour ago, he admitted to the murders as well as some things we weren't privy to, and a unnamed stockholder was named head of the company"

Steve hummed "sounds like a busy morning" Sherlock looked at him then glanced at his arm where the puppy still slept "I see your lost cause is recovering" Steve looked down and smiled "yes, the veterinarian Mrs. Hudson sent for said it was a miracle he had survived so long, a larger one being the fact he will completely recover"

Sherlock hummed again to himself and then he put down the piece he had been playing with "Care for a game?" he questioned motioning toured the chess set between Steve rose a brow then smiled a little "well now that depends detective Holmes"

At his raised brow Steve made a motion toured the nearby desk "Are you going to eat?"

-

Steve first met Watson several days later when he came to visit Sherlock.

The man limping slightly walked into 221B and could hear muffled voices obviously arguing.

He followed the sound Gladstone running off more than likely to nearly die again with whatever toxic plant Holmes had sitting out this time.

He found the voices coming from the sitting room on the second floor "for the last time you are not experimenting on my dog Holmes" a unfamiliar voice spoke "your dog? I thought he was our dog, I mean, we did find him together"

Watson heard a sigh "no I found him while you were uncontiose, and if memory serves Sherlock, I do believe I also had to carry you back here"

There was a grumble "we wouldn't have found him if not for me" looking into the room he found Sherlock sitting on the couch while someone with dark blonde hair sat on the floor.

"only because you nearly got us both killed!" Watson wasn't sure if he should interrupt or not but that choice was taken away from him when Gladstone suddenly plowed passed him into the room making a barking sound

The blonde bent forward and graved something before leaning backwards almost falling over, Sherlock turned his head "Watson! Good to see you old boy" he greeted.

Watson nodded "hello Holmes who is this?" he approached slowly to see the small blonde man trying to both keep Gladstone at a distance and a small blonde shape from wiggling out of his hands.

Finally taking pity Sherlock bent forward and took the bulldog pulling him away allowing the blonde to settle the small mass that Watson now relised was a puppy, into a more easily controlled position allowing him to look up.

"your doctor Watson?" he asked his voice was gentle and firm and held a nearly unrecognizable accent just under the surface.

Watson wasn't sure if he should answer the question or not but the man had already risen and started to approach him wiggling puppy held in one hand half tucked under his arm "I have heard quite a bit about you, my name is Stephen Rowen, I recently took up residence in your old room"

He made a sound of realization and shook the man's hand "ah, how has it been treating you so far?" the smaller man glanced back "so far surprisingly well, if he would stop asking to experiment on my dog it would be most excellent"

Watson laughed "he had killed my dog three times, it is best simply to keep it away from him"

Sherlock turned "I have always brought him back, and I do not intend to experiment on him Steve, just test a type of sedative" the man Steve rolled his eyes "how is that not experimentation Holmes?"

Sherlock shook his head "Stephen here has taken up the duties you left behind with your engagement, how is Mary?"

"she's well, how human of you to ask"

Steve smirked but fought it down and looked at Sherlock "if by duties he means try to keep him from getting killed with his self-destructive nature then indeed I have taken off right where you left off doctor Watson"

"I am sitting right here"

Steps approached from the hall "ah it's good to see you doctor" Watson turned his head and looked at Mrs. Hudson "good morning ma'am" he greeted and Sherlock turned "nanny tell them I am sitting right here and don't talk like I'm not in the room"

The older woman rolled her eyes "I am sure they more than realize Holmes" she said handing over what looked like a bottle to Steve.

Sherlock made a face and then released Gladstone that waddled over and into Steve's legs "Sherlock" the man complained dancing around the bulldog that had taken great interest in him as he tried to feed the puppy.

Watson turned his head toured Mrs. Hudson and motioned toured the hall way "who is he?" he questioned lowly once they were out of ear shot "a young artist, a day after he settled in he came back holding that puppy in one hand with Mr. Holmes over his shoulder, apparently he tried to take on a case alone and it disagreed with him"

His mustache twitched as he smirked "even when he isn't alone most cases do not agree with Holmes" Mrs. Hudson angled her head and there was a shout from the sitting room making both of them look inside Sherlock and Steve were arguing again as Steve continued to dance away from Gladstone that seemed to think it was some kind of game.

Watson blinked "he won't last three days"

Mrs. Hudson smirked "he's been here nearly two weeks" Watson looked at her with wide eyes mouth slightly gapped.

The old woman's face became fond and she looked at the bickering "it reminds me of the both of you when you moved in, they have started working on cases together and there hasn't been any recent gunfire in the house, it seems that Mr. Rowen is a good influence on him"

Watson smiled slowly "perhaps he is Mrs. Hudson. Perhaps he is"

Something crashed in the sitting room and they bother looked to see Steve now on the floor being attacked by Gladstone's slobber while holding the puppy put of the way "damn it Holmes" Sherlock was snickering at the man "that is" Watson started.

"if he doesn't end up killing him"