Disclaimer: I do not own Sherlock Holmes. If I did, things would be very…different.
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Delicate
In Holmes' mind, Watson is fragile. It does not matter to Holmes that the doctor, save for his leg and shoulder, is perfectly active and strong.
Watson has survived so much, Holmes reasons, he must be very breakable now. This is why Holmes so often supports the doctor when he limps, or when Watson cannot move because of the pain in his shoulder, or when Watson is merely tired of standing alone. This is why Holmes restrains himself from simply pulling Watson into an embrace and kissing him until the doctor is quite breathless.
Much as Holmes would love, love, love, to do that, he stops himself. If he did that, he could hurt Watson, and just the thought of the dear doctor in pain is hateful to him. Watson is porcelain, thin and small and very, very delicate.
Too delicate for the secretly passionate detective to have, much less hold.