Taking Care of Sherlock Holmes
John Watson slicks his fingers with a salve,
Slides them over rough skin, red and sore
From a slide on so many cobblestones,
Taking care of Sherlock Holmes.
/
Watson divides up detritus from the case,
Files it under 'A,' an impressive collection,
Erases the evidence of it from the room.
(This, also, is taking care of Holmes).
/
Watson sits in a silence hostile with
Hatred and hopelessness and failure
Deep and wide as an ocean.
(This, also, is taking care of Holmes).
/
Watson pulls his sleeves down low,
Buttons his shirt up high,
Hides the bruises deep as bone.
(This, also, is taking care of Holmes).
/
Watson opens the door, lets in
The next adventure, stays
By Holmes' side always, even now.
(This, also, is taking care of Holmes).
/
Because he's a doctor, because he's
A good man, but really because
He's his friend and friends take care.
(And Holmes takes care of him, too).
/
Holmes sits, lets skilled hands heal,
Soothing skin abused by his business,
Healing him though he doesn't deserve it.
(This, somehow, is taking care of Watson).
/
Holmes comes out of his room, sits
Making the atmosphere thick with regret,
The stench of failure sour and foul.
(This, also, is taking care of Watson).
/
Holmes notices— something he is good at—
When Watson's sleeves are low, his
Collar high, and is gentle, if not kind.
(This, also is taking care of Watson).
/
Holmes dampens down his defeat,
Focus on the adventure that awaits,
Admits to himself he can't avenge them all.
(This, too, is taking care of Watson).
/
Because he isn't the man he's perceived to be, because
He will persevere regardless, but mostly because
He believes in John Watson.
(And for some reason, Watson believes in him, too).
For the prompt from JackofCats - A case goes horribly wrong, and Watson has to once again take care of Holmes