Dragonshifter: Okay, I was planning on updating this over Christmas Break, but due to other circumstances, I was unable to. I hope you all like this story. I am happy to say that this story still is in the number one spot for most visitors. It has for the last couple of months. That makes me happy. Please review.
After Holmes was patched up, he left to get some clean clothes on. Watson watched him go with a sad smile. Mary saw and put a hand on his shoulder. "You know, I think he really will settle down and I think he might settle down with us." Watson turned his head to look at Mary. "You think so?" Mary nodded and smiled. "You guys are too close. Besides, I don't think you or Holmes would have it any other way." Watson raised his eyebrow in question. His wife just smiled and nodded. "I would rather have him around than some other person that is dull." Watson laughed. "I happen to agree with you. I would have no other person around. Besides, all the other smart people tend to be rather boring at times. At least at this rate we won't have to worry about all those academics coming around trying to be my friends because they want what Holmes taught me."
It was Mary's turn to laugh. Since her husband had come back from Switzerland, every person who was intelligent or thought themselves important had tried to make friends of him because Watson had been close friends with Sherlock Holmes and they wanted to be Watson's partner in solving crimes so they could learn the methods that Holmes and now Watson used for their own gain. It nearly drove Watson crazy. Finally he had decided a few weeks prior to put all of the eager men that wanted to "help" him through what Watson considered a regular day with Holmes. Those who did not have the determination to do whatever it took to be Watson's work "partner" washed out within the first few days.
Those who were determined were a different case entirely. Usually Watson took up Holmes's part in the whole deal, which in all reality, he did not mind all that much, and He even found it fun at times. Watson did not tell Holmes about this whole arrangement because he had forgotten it in the shock of seeing Holmes and the oxygen apparatus again. It would be funny when he did find out. Of course that is something that Watson would tell Holmes when they got back to London. For now Watson just wanted to enjoy the company of Holmes and his wife.
Meanwhile, Holmes was buttoning up his shirt. He was thinking about what he had heard just after he shut the door to Watson's rooms. He was glad that Mary agreed to let him stay in her home. She knew that he wasn't the cleanest person, but she would let him live in her house. Holmes knew that he would need to work on being more normal, but it would hard for him to do, due to his habits being ones he had had since he was a young child. Holmes had been serious when he told Watson that he was going to do his best to be normal, or as normal as he could be.
When he was done getting dressed, Holmes left his room. He went down the stairs and out of the hotel. He had thought of going to try some food of a little restaurant that served Italian food. Unknown to him Watson had quietly followed him as soon as his back was to Watson's room. Watson had a smile on his face the whole time He followed his dear friend. Once Holmes was seated, Watson walked up behind him cat quiet. He tapped on his shoulder, which caused Holmes to yelp in surprise.
The few elderly couples in the restaurant chuckled at this. The two young men had the air of brotherhood about them. They knew that the two men probably made a game of playing tricks and surprising each other. Holmes turned to see who had tapped on his shoulder and was surprised to find Watson standing behind him with a huge grin gracing his features. He scowled and asked "When did you get so dang good at avoiding detection?" Watson came around and sat in the chair across from Holmes.
"Since I took up being a detective." Watson paused for a second then continued. "Holmes, when we get back from London, there may be some people wanting to see me." Holmes looked at Watson with a slightly puzzled expression. Watson's smile got bigger. "Well, you see, when I started up detective work again, let us just say that some people thought they could get the advantage of learning from me all that you taught me and everything I have learned about being a detective from observing you and your methods that you didn't necessarily teach me. I have put them through the same paces that you put me through and quite of few of them have started to leave me alone once they realized that I wouldn't be sharing your methods so easily and that every case they followed me on would be just as strenuous as the first few they followed me on. Let me also say that there have been two or three stubborn men that have done their best to stay with me."
Holmes was beginning to understand why Watson was getting so darned quiet. "I take it that you have been taking it at the same pace that you and I go at?" he asked. Watson smiled and nodded. "Only, I have been taking your part in the process. I hope you don't mind much." Holmes laughed. He didn't mind at all and he told Watson he didn't mind. Both ordered their food to go and something for Mary to eat. They laughed all the way back to the hotel. Mary heard them before they even entered the room. She smelled the food as well and it smelled delicious. She smiled and helped get the dinner set out at the small table in their room.