I've seen so many great stories originate from the "I'm a Doctor, not a…" challenge (which is a brilliant idea – should have thought of it myself!), and when I read them, I loved them all so much that I wanted to join in. Of course, it is not as splendid as most of the others, but it was fun to write.
This story (while originating from a challenge) is a little snippet of a chapter-story I'm thinking about writing sometime. Tell me what you think, please!
I'm A Doctor, Not A Sailor
"Really, Holmes!" I growled. "I would do a great deal to assist you, but this is rather ridiculous!"
"It is your own fault you must do this, Watson," answered he with a hint off lingering irritation from earlier that morning. "If you had not so badly blundered, I could do it myself. But alas, you let Lestrade discover my part in this case, and so terminated my involvement."
I felt extreme annoyance building inside me. I had only gone a few doors down to the little shop at the end of Baker Street to get a bit of coffee, and now he was blaming me for his being forced off the case!
"I told you time and again, Holmes," I said, biting back a more colorfully-worded response, "I did nothing of the kind. I did not even know the documents were withheld evidence or I should have hid them before leaving. It is not as if I handed him the papers myself with the precise purpose of throwing you off this case of yours!"
I heard a mumbled reply something along the lines of "You might as well have."
I started to retort quite bluntly, but then decided against it. How many times we had argued in this fashion, and in the end, neither won – product of his conviction that he was fully correct and my knowing that he certainly was not (though I must admit that it could also partially be due to my firm stubbornness for which he constantly shows his bête noir). One of us, at least, should act the grown man.
"Still, Holmes," I said instead, "I'm a doctor, not a sailor!"
"But you are a fisherman," he pointed out, the petulance in his eyes fading into a mischievous twinkle.
Well, I was glad he seemed to be recovering from his bad temper. I, on the other hand, was in no mood for his little jests.
"But Holmes, these clothes…" I trailed off, tugging uncomfortably at the dirty, distasteful seaman's garb.
I looked the farthest from a gentleman as is possible, in this tattered, filthy apparel. Unsightly bruises, scars, and inky black stains covered my hands and face – applied previously by an over-eager consulting detective with a little too much stage makeup on hand. I smelled of rotting fish, cigarette smoke, and old beer – all of which left me not daring to think of where Holmes had obtained this costume.
Needless to say, I had received not a few judgmental glances from people we'd passed on the street, and even here, at the docks, I seemed to be the objective for gossiping whispers.
"You shall fit right in as a below-deck hand on the boat, my dear Watson," he informed, though I could hear the impish amusement underlying his tone.
He had done this on purpose, as a form of punishment for me, I knew.
Just then, there was a loud toot from the vessel I was to board.
"And now," stated Sherlock Holmes, "you are to leave, my comrade. I shall await with readiness your return in a few hours."
I sighed, and for an instant, considered restating my offer to do his work for him. But I knew it was really my fault he was unable to do it himself, and so, with a reluctant sigh, I began to make my way towards the boat.
"And, Watson,"
I turned, curious at the sudden change of tone. His face was filled with a rare emotion, his eyes pleading.
"please do be careful," he finished. "I trust you will not have too much difficulty, but please, for my sake…"
"As I said, Holmes," I told him, smiling, for I was touched, "I am a doctor, not a sailor. I shall remain cautious; it is my instinct as such."
As always, if I had known what lay in store, I probably would have told him that I was a doctor, not Sherlock Holmes, and so I would not be so foolish as to attempt his insane task.
But that is the beginning of a much longer tale…
So would anyone like to know what happens to the doctor on the boat? Anyone at all???
