I couldn't help it - combination of watching GMD and then EMPT yesterday set this plot bunny gnawing at me and it wouldn't be satisfied.
"WATSON!"
I jumped as Holmes's alarmed voice rang through the house. Even had it not been filled with a note of panic it still would have startled me, not having heard it for three years until yesterday afternoon.
I dashed into the sitting room to find my friend standing by the fireplace, looking rather frantic and holding his hands cupped together.
"What's the matter?" I demanded breathlessly, starting towards him.
He glanced from his hands to me and flushed uncomfortably.
"Erm, Watson, I – I am in need of your assistance," he said nervously.
"With what?"
"A slight – problem, most definitely your department," Holmes replied, extending his cupped hands to me.
I glanced down, then raised my eyebrows and looked at him.
"What happened?"
"I've no idea – I came in to light my pipe and he was there on the mantelpiece – next thing I knew he was falling off it, I barely caught him before he was in the fire!"
Holmes's face was filled with a rather endearing worry as he glanced from our motionless little friend back to me.
"Well, what do you do for a mouse that's fainted?"
I frowned, thinking. Holmes's eyes darted to the sideboard questioningly, but I shook my head.
"No, Holmes. I'm afraid my medical experience doesn't include the effects of filling a rodent with brandy."