The Curious Case of Dr. Watson
by Lyrical Soul

Chapter Three

As I eat my breakfast, Holmes paces about the sitting room, clouding the air with the smoke from his most foul of tobaccos. I watch as he moves restlessly from the window, to the fireplace, to his table of chemicals, then back to the dining table to stand near me.

After his fifth circuit around the room, I set my fork aside with a clatter. "Holmes... are you all right?"

He whirls around from his spot at the window, and stares at me. "Me? Hah! I am quite fine, Watson. It is you I am concerned with."

"Honestly, I'm all right. Rather anxious to speak with Penelope, but-"

"She is accusing you of a heinous crime," he cuts in. "A crime that could see you hanged, or at the very least imprisoned for the rest of your life. Why on earth would you presume she should wish to speak with you?"

"It was my thought to send her a note, asking her to speak with us both, and perhaps shed some light on her motives..."

"You will do no such thing!" He tosses his cigarette into the fire, and sits down in the chair opposite mine.  "Her madness has a definite method, Watson. It will be revealed in time, but until then, I implore you to put away your genteel notions of right and wrong, and be aware that there is villainy here, and that you are in the center of it. I must insist that you trust my methods completely."

"I understand your reasoning, Holmes, and I do trust you. But you must understand my feelings in all this." I ignore his customary sneer at my wording. "I know you do not put much stock in feelings, but it is what those of us who are not Sherlock Holmes have to go on." Pushing my plate away, I move back from the table and stand. "I am not so naïve to think that she doesn't have a reason, villainous though it may be, to have accused me of such things. However, I do have my pride, and it is that part of me -  not the wide-eyed innocent you still seem to think me after all these years- that wishes to set things right. Perhaps I can convince her to recant."

"It would be a feather in the cap of Inspector Lestrade were he able to garner enough evidence to arrest you, Watson." His tone is rather dry, but his eyes are like flints. "If we go about this your way – the gentlemanly, tender way, paved with pressed flowers and scented notes – you shall surely end up in Pentonville, picking coir. And what will you have gained by your efforts to make the devious Mrs. Langstrom see the error of her ways? Calloused hands, an aching back, and your reputation in ruins. And mine by association."

"Ah, yes, and you would be left without your chronicler and your gun hand. Not to mention your faithful companion, at your beck and call!" I am shouting at him, and for the life of me, I cannot fathom why I am angry at him. But it is beside the point; one cannot take back words, no matter how much one wishes. "Forgive me, Holmes. I am... I fear I am not myself. I think I shall change clothes and keep my scheduled patients today. Perhaps the routine will keep my mind from wandering."

"Yes, of course," he says, his eyes darting away from mine. "If you feel it would be best, then do so."

"Holmes..."

"No, my dear friend..." He sips at his tea, and gives me the briefest of smiles. "Do not fear that you have insulted me. You are an honorable man, and a true gentleman. I am humbled by your indignation, and shall do my utmost to make sure that justice is served."

"I have every confidence in you," I say sincerely.

"Not yet, Watson," he responds. "I fear it will take much more than words on my part, but you soon shall."

"It was not my intention to make you think me disillusioned in you, or in our friendship, Holmes. My trust in you is always what it has been. Please understand that I am frustrated, I am nervous, and am torn between wanting to run far away, and to go to her and demand answers." I watch him for some sign of his earlier caring, but find none. Perhaps I imagined it. "I shall return later this afternoon," I say resignedly. "Hopefully before supper."

He doesn't respond; but I can feel him watching me intently as I leave the room.

 
Chapter Four