NB: Another chapter! This one is very short, but I will make up for it by making the final chapter extra long! I don't own these characters!


"Watson!"

Silence.

"Watson!"

More silence.

"Watsooooooooooooon…"

Watson opened his eyes. The clock struck three, making him groan, and was immediately followed by three heavy raps on the door and his name being called by the most irritating man alive.

"Watson, old boy, open up or I shall be forced to break your window again!"

Watson flung himself out of bed, dislodging Mary, and ripped open the bedroom window, glaring at the dishevelled form of Holmes hovering outside his door.

"Don't you dare," he snarled.

Holmes beamed; he had what he wanted.

"Watson! I have discovered the most wonderful invention!"

"Holmes…need I remind you what time it is…"

Holmes looked so genuinely baffled by this comment that it was all Watson could do to keep a straight face and continue looking angry - that was the most irritating and endearing thing about Holmes, he was as loveable as he was a nuisance.

"Go away, Holmes," he said, not ungently.

"But I've discovered something marvellous!" Holmes protested, and then launched into his usual tirade, gesticulating wildly and stamping about on Watson's (now clean) doorstep. "While I was researching for an antidote to the venom of the Indian swamp adder - you remember that case, don't you, the one with of the speckled band? - well anyway, while I was researching for that - did I mention I am almost there, I think a rare Indian herb may be the answer to it - anyway, as I was researching this - and don't, whatever you do, listen to whatever Mrs Hudson may say about the singe-marks on the wall, the woman loves to exaggerate - anyway…"

But by this time Watson had zoned out and was contemplating his hasty exit from his warm bed with regret.

"This is all very interesting, Holmes," he said, sounding as enthralled as he could, cutting through the man's blathering, "But how about I come downstairs and we talk about this inside?"

Holmes flailed, annoyed at being denied the opportunity to show off for a few minutes because of human decency but pleased that Watson was going to listen, and eventually nodded.

Watson withdrew from the window.

Silence reigned in Cavendish Place. Holmes withdrew his pipe from his pocket, lit it, and glanced up at the window, wondering if he should start shouting for Watson again, but just as he did, the man himself appeared at the window.

"Holmes," he said.

Holmes raised a finger and opened his mouth to continue his ramblings, just as Watson lifted a huge pail of water out of the window and emptied its contents over Holmes's head with a loud vengeful splash.

Holmes paused, dripping wet, his finger still raised, his pipe knocked slightly askew by the onslaught of the water.

Watson smiled brightly down at him.

"Goodnight, Holmes," he said cheerfully and slammed shut the window.

Down in the street, Holmes stood silently, dripping for a moment, then grinned to himself, withdrew his pipe from his pocket and trotted down the front steps, on the hunt for excitement and danger.

Upstairs in the room, Watson climbed back into his bed and closed his eyes, his moustache twitching in amusement as he replayed his vengeance in his head.

He could not get to sleep until the clock struck four.


Please R and R! The NEXT CHAPTER is the FINAL PART!