Disclaimer: Sherlock Holmes & Co. are the original creations of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Warnings/Rating: PG-13 for insinuated homosexuality

Author's Note: Bored, so, posting earlier than I said I was going to. Thank you so much to everyone who has read, and especially those of you who reviewed and added this to your favs and/or watch lists. :)

Chapter 2

It was well past midnight when someone appeared once more. The few people that had been on the beach with him had long since left for home, leaving Watson alone on the beach for hours with nothing but the chilly air sweeping in from the sea and the crashing of the waves to keep him company.

Watson heard the man before he saw him, his voice clear and resonant as it rose and fell over the dunes in a bawdy tavern song. When the sound first reached his ears, Watson perked up and listened. To his displeasure, he realized it was getting louder, coming closer. By this point the doctor was tired, cold, and more than a little irritable. The last thing he felt like dealing with was a drunk.

He moved protectively in front of the pelt, planting his feet solidly; he didn't really expect the man would try and take it, but he would take no chances. Surely he was not the only one with even a smidgen of faith in the old tales.

From his vantage point, he could see the dark shape of the man coming down the trail that led to the beach. He was tall and slender, and moved with an easy grace, maneuvering around and up onto the rocks with an agility Watson found himself envying. As he drew nearer, Watson could make out finer details: worn trousers over bare feet, and a worn shirt with neither collar nor cuffs, shining dark hair and sharply angled features, and a confident, pleased smile that slipped immediately as soon as he first caught sight of Watson, standing on the rock not even fifteen feet in front of him.

The man froze in his tracks and his raunchy song died away. Grey eyes widened in surprise, and for a moment they just stared at one another, lost for words.

Watson restrained an nervous twitch - the ruffian was hardly appropriately dressed and was staring at him. He managed to muster a bland smile, hoping the half-dressed man would move on quickly.

But the man simply stood there, eyes roving over Watson, making him blush. He couldn't have felt more exposed and vulnerable if he had been naked. And then, slowly, fearfully, that intense gaze slid past him to the crevice. Watson's eyes narrowed a fraction.

A wave crashed hard against the edge of the rocks, the sudden sound making them both stiffen. The stranger cleared his throat, and his attention once again pinned itself on Watson. He began edging his way around the doctor warily, as though he expected to be attacked suddenly. Watson turned with him, keeping him in his line of sight. The man took a purposeful step closer to the crevice. Watson matched him, barring the way.

The stranger drew himself up to his full, not-inconsiderable height. "I would be much obliged if you would let me pass, sir," he said coolly.

Watson tightened his grip on his cane. "There is plenty of beach to pass around me," he replied, voice carefully neutral.

The man merely looked annoyed, and he did not falter, but Watson fancied he saw a glimmer of anxiety in his face. His eyes began to dart back and forth, to Watson, to the crevice, to the surrounding rocks. He seemed to be mapping out the quickest way towards the crevice. Watson was certain he must have known about the presence of the skin.

He frowned to himself suddenly, something niggling at the back of his mind. He had been guarding the Selkie skin for hours, and no one had even come near this end of the beach. Now this strange man comes along and seems to know exactly where it is?

Watson examined him closer, noting the tense set of his shoulders, the opening and closing of his fists. The man was afraid? Of what? Then, onto his sharp bone structure, with prominent collar bones peeking out of his shirt - the man was wraith-like in his leanness. There were stains on his clothing - booze and blood and crusted salt, it looked like, the hems were frayed ragged. He was balanced on the balls of his feet, shoulders-width apart; a fighter's stance. Sand was clinging to the man's bare toes.

His bare webbed toes.

Watson looked up again, comprehension sliding across his face like sunlight. "Oh, so it's you, then!" he laughed, and the Selkie stepped back, eyes widening.

"What is me?" he asked, playing the idiot. A bead of nervous sweat caught Watson's eye as it rolled down his neck, catching on his collarbone.

Watson reined in his amused smile and tried to look stern. "You're a fool, you know, taking such a risk. How could you think this would be a secure place to hide it?"

The man-creature twisted his mouth in resignation. "Well, I suppose I'm just unlucky tonight."

"I should say so," Watson remarked, shifting his stance to lean heavier on his cane. "But not so unlucky as you imagine, I think."

"What are your intentions then? Must I to fight you to recover what is mine?" the Selkie suggested sourly, hand still curled into loose fists. He started to widen his stance further, eyeing the fissure behind Watson.

The doctor held up his hands and stepped back. "You need have no fears on that front, for I've no intention of attempting to force you to become my lover."

He just barely caught the Selkie's surprise before it was hidden away again, enveloped by suspicion. He raised his chin and gave an arrogant sniff, and Watson was struck by the aristocratic look to his face. "As if you'd be able to force me into anything. I rather doubt I'd have much trouble overtaking you, in your state." He tilted his head forward again, casting a pointed glance down at Watson's bad leg.

"There's no need for such aggression, you know." Watson said frankly. "We both know it's all posturing. Were I in possession of your skin, you wouldn't dare risk an open attack."

Perhaps the doctor should have chosen his words better, for the beautiful creature stiffened. "What do you wish of me, then?" he bit out through gritted teeth.

Watson felt a pang of guilt stroke against his heart. The Selkie still thought Watson wished him some sort of ill. "The honour of knowing your name would suffice," he offered shyly.

The Selkie stared, and Watson immediately flushed. "I apologize, sir, that was terribly invasive and petty of me. I would not withhold your skin from you, even for such a simple thing as that."

"Then what do you want from me?" the Selkie demanded quietly, his eyes narrowed and calculating. Watson again shifted back, trying to look as no aggressive as possible.

"I'm not going to do anything to you, I swear it. I've no quarrel with you, and I've no desire of anything from you… except perhaps, that you will listen to me, and be more careful in the future?" He smiled and took several steps away from the crevice, gesturing for the Selkie to pass.

The dark-haired male eyed him suspiciously, starting towards the gap hesitantly. Watson nodded briefly and looked away, and the creature darted over and jumped down, the rocks hiding even his tall form from sight.

Watson smiled and came down the easy way, walking down the gentle slope. He started to leave, then turned around to see the Selkie standing by the opening of the split, watching him. He was clutching his pelt close to his chest, arms wrapped protectively around it like he was shielding a child.

"You may call me Holmes," the Selkie offered, not looking at the doctor.

"Holmes? Really?" Watson exclaimed in surprise. The man-creature looked at him sharply, and he felt himself flushing again. "That is… I would not have expected a Selkie to have such a… ah… common sounding name?" he said weakly, wincing in embarrassment.

Holmes did not seem much bothered by his rudeness, simply shrugging. "That would be because it isn't a Selkie name. My true name would draw far too much attention to myself, so I chose a standard human moniker." He gave the doctor a Cheshire cat grin. "So you see, I am not completely without sense in regards to my safety."

"You are still incredibly fortunate someone with lesser morals than I was not the one to come across it. To leave it out in the open, and for so long!" Watson scolded, shaking his head. "That was highly reckless, my dear sir, to leave your one vulnerability so open."

Holmes shrugged. "There is only so much I can do in that regard," he said. He hesitated a moment before adding on "I suppose I should thank you, for watching over my skin."

Watson smirked wryly. "Well, someone had to look after it, since it's owner is so negligent."

The Selkie sneered at him for that, but waved it off. He leaned down and laid the pelt gently out on the sand, then stood again. Uncaring of Watson's presence, Holmes stripped off the grungy shirt, exposing his bare chest. The moonlight illuminated the pale flawless skin and lean muscle, and Watson averted his eyes, clearing his throat.

The Selkie cocked his head to the side. "Something wrong?" he asked, sounding bemused. Then he looked down at his naked torso, and mirthful understanding flared in those sea-silver eyes. "Ah, forgive me. I momentarily forgot that nudity is somewhat unaccepted amongst humans."

"I wouldn't necessarily say unaccepted, just…" Watson glanced sidelong at him before turning to face him fully, fighting down the blush, "…frowned upon."

Holmes grinned mockingly, "Such modesty, my good doctor."

Watson blinked. "How did you know I'm a doctor?"

"The same way I can tell that you've been out here for hours," he answered abruptly. He turned away, directing his attention to carefully shaking out and folding up the filthy shirt.

Watson shifted and adjusted his jacket. "Well, then. Have a care, Holmes. Look after your skin better from now on." He waited for Holmes to meet his eyes. When the Selkie looked up, Watson winked and added on a cheerful "Doctor's orders!"

Watson turned and walked away straight-backed down the beach. He resisted the urge to look back over his shoulder at the beautiful creature lit up by the moonlight. If he had, he might have seen the Selkie watching him with intent curiosity, a charmed smile gracing his face.

End Chapter 2

See you all again in a week or so for the final installment! Feel free to check out some of my other work in the meantime!