Their first night together had been Mary’s first time;
she was shy and unsure. Soon after she shed most of her inhibitions. Mary
proved to be a most enthusiastic and passionate lover. She was eager to please
her husband, and Watson was also eager to please his wife.
3 weeks went by quickly. Watson and his wife had enjoyed the sights, sounds and tastes of France, Spain and Italy. They enjoyed their nights too.
On their return to England, Mary busied herself with
the duties of setting up house while Watson established himself in private
practice.
After a few
weeks they had settled into a comfortable domestic routine. To supplement his income while he
re-established his practice Watson kept his hospital job, but changed to more suitable
hours. Mary kept her position as governess, but did so on a more part time
basis. They seemed happy. Their days busy with work, the nights with each
other. Watson hardly thought of Holmes
these days, perhaps this truly was the path that was meant for him all
along.
As Christmas approached Watson’s mood was positively
jovial, his practice was thriving and he was able to reduce his hours at the
hospital. He and Mary spent more time together and discussed starting a family.
Watson had become desperate for a child, he loved Mary but felt as though there
was a void in his life. A child would fill that void.
It was December 23 when Mrs. Hudson walked into
Watson’s office. She was quite distraught. “Dr. Watson, please you must come
with me, he’s in a terrible state.”
“Holmes? Is he unwell, or is it just a case of over
extending and self- denial?” Holmes habits always frighten the poor woman. She
always feared that his self-denial would kill him, but until now there was
always Watson when things took a turn for the worse.
“No, it is isn’t that, I think its pneumonia. He gets
into these terrible coughing fits, and his breathing is all wheezing and raspy
like.
He’ s burning with fever.” She wrung her hands, and her eyes pleaded with him.
“I don’t know that he shall allow me to examine him,
but I will come.” Watson pulled on his
jacket, and scribbled a not to Mary, he handed it to his nurse “There’s an emergency I must see to, would
you please see that Mrs. Watson get this.”
Grabbing his bag He and Mrs. Hudson hurried out side and caught a cab
for Baker Street.
When they reached their destination, Watson went
quickly up the stairs taking them 2 at a time, he knocked on the sitting room
door, there was no answer. “He’s in there Doctor,” Mrs. Hudson called to him
from the bottom of the stairs. “ He was in no condition to go out again after
coming home the way he did.”
Watson knocked again, and again there was no answer,
panic set in. If he's as bad off as she
thinks. Watson felt a knot in the
pit of his stomach, He forced the door open, there was no one in the sitting
room.
“Holmes?” He called again no reply. Watson was filled with dread as he looked
towards the bedroom. He rushed into the bedroom to find Holmes half collapsed
upon the bed.
His breathing was as Mrs. Hudson had said, wheezing
gasps for air, and he was soaking wet with sweat, yet wrapped in his dressing
gown and blanket to prevent the shivers.
Watson picked him up and placed him fully on the bed,
he was lethargic and not fully conscious. He struggled for every breath. “It’s
going to be alright Holmes.” Watson
stroked his face and then reached into his bag for the thermometer, he placed
it in Holmes mouth and waited.
His fears were justified Holmes fever was nearly
104.5,dangeroulsy high. He had to bring the fever down and he had to do it
fast.
“Mrs. Hudson! MRS. HUDSON…” She had become accustom to
rushing up the stairs to answer Holmes and was there in a matter of
seconds. “Yes Doctor?” She glanced
nervously at Holmes.
“Please draw a warm bath, not to hot or cold but warm.
See to it there are plenty of towels, hurry now.”
She left to do as she was told.
Watson began to remove the layers of clothing Holmes
was wearing; each soaked through with his sweat. Holmes seemed unaware of what
was happening and did not object when Watson removed the last of his garments.
Wrapping him in the blankets he picked him up and
carried him to the bath. Mrs. Hudson was finishing laying out the towels,
”Please bring fresh linen and blankets for his bed. ” Watson smiled and gently unwrapped Holmes and placed him in the
bath. Washing him as well as cooling him, Watson soothed him with the water and
his words. “It’s alright, you have a fever and I an trying to bring it down.”
Holmes was disoriented, and tried push Watsons hands
away. He began to mumble incoherently and Watson could understand few words. He
seemed to be asking for his brother Mycroft, and wanted the evening paper.
Watson removed Holmes from his bath and wrapped him in
towels, suddenly Holmes was seized by a coughing fit, and it shook through his
body like an earthquake. He was unable to breathe for several minutes
after. Watson feared that this combined
with the fever could mean that Holmes end up in hospital.
It would be a long night, there was nothing much Watson
could do but wait until the fever broke, and assist Holmes in sitting when the
coughing fits over took him. He would sleep in the chair by Holmes bed to keep
close watch.
He listened to the wheezed breaths, the struggling for
air and for the first time in a long while he prayed.
The night was long and sleepless, there had been no
quiet moments, every 10 minutes Holmes body was wracked by the coughing, and
his fever had yet to break.
Several times during the night Holmes became semi lucid
and would call out for his brother, and try to get out of bed. Watson had no
problem restraining him, as he was too weak to do much of any thing. He was not aware that it was Watson who was
his doctor and he cursed bitterly when he found out.
Dawn broke on the December 24 and Watson was relieved
that Holmes had made it through the evening,
It was still touch and go for most of the day, but as
if by a miracle at the stroke of midnight on 25 December Holmes fever broke, he
woke up and looked around confused.
He tried to speak but was over come by the coughing,
Watson moved to the bed to find Holmes awake yet incapacitated. When the
coughing subsided Holmes looked at Watson with languid eyes and managed a weak
smile.
Hoarsely he said “Some people will do anything for the
attention of a friend eh Watson?”
Watson was about to reply when Holmes gasped and fought back another
coughing fit “It is Christmas today is it not?” he managed to get out between
coughs.
Watson smiled, “Yes it is why do you ask?” Holmes tired to get up but fell back upon
the pillow’s " I have to get the papers to Mycroft by 1 am..” looking at
the clock he tried to get up and out of bed.
“Holmes you are in NO condition to go any where” Watson
placed a hand upon Holmes chest. “The papers can wait until you are well”
Watson admonished.
“No they can’t, they must be delivered, before 1 or
else they will be meaningless.” He
began to cough again. And again was
left breathless for several moments. “Watson would you consider doing me a
favour?” He asked sheepishly.
“Yes Holmes I shall gladly bring the papers to your
brother and explain your condition to him”
Holmes smiled then told him where the papers were. Watson arranged for Mrs. Hudson to sit with
Holmes whilst he ran his errand.
As Watson left with the papers Holmes mused This is a re start of a beautiful partnership. Good Old Watson. And he smiled.