Title: Waves
Author: Pompey
Universe: ACD retirement years
Rating: G
Warnings: none
Word count: 283
Summary: Watson enjoys the beach.
Prompt: July 12 – a body of water
It had taken some time and persuasion, but Watson was once more sharing digs with Sherlock Holmes. That is, he had taken up permanent residence in Holmes' guest room (which, truth be told, Holmes had only ever meant for Watson from the moment he purchased the Sussex cottage.)
It was, Watson, reflected, an idyllic spot. The cottage actually provided a bit more space than their rooms on Baker Street and much more peaceful and private. The garden was carefully tended to for the sake of Holmes' bees. The air was cleaner than London's could ever hope to be. And the coast provided an ever-changing mural of interest.
Watson had long been an admirer of nature, particularly fields and woods. He found he enjoyed the Channel even more. The susurrus of gentle waves, the roar and crash of the whitecaps, the perpetual movements, the scent of salt and brine – these drew him to the shore on a near daily basis.
Watson never forgot the lesson from his first day there, though. Holmes had found him seated on the sand, peacefully watching the waves. He had turned away from the water to greet his friend, who surprisingly had gestured for him to turn 'round again.
"A word of advice," Holmes said with a slight smile. "Never turn your back on the ocean."
"Not even if I have you watching my back?" Watson asked, somewhat pawkily.
"Not even then. There's nothing I can do to stop the ocean if – "
Watson gasped in shock as an inordinately large and cold wave splashed over him, drenching him entirely.
Holmes choked down a laugh and handed Watson his dry handkerchief. "If that were to happen," he finished mildly.