Disclaimer- I don't believe you can seriously think I could ever own these guys! Ok, you're right, lawyer would! Not mine. Happy? Good! Now I'm going to sulk!



My estimate seemed well placed. Only three days after Holmes' dramatic reappearance, the details of which had been splashed all over the headlines of each and every newspaper that very evening, he was deemed well enough to return to his rooms, and so it was that I found my self attempting to oversee the recovery of one of the most difficult patients I have ever encountered.

Holmes please lie still! I pleaded, for the fifth time in as many minutes. The annoyed glare that was directed towards me told me my friend was anxious to be up, no doubt to chase down the men who had held him captive, but I knew all too well how disregardful he would be of his own health, and so was determined to keep him under my eye for as long as possible.

The glare soon subsided and I turned back to my writing, hoping Homes was willing to lay quietly. A noise from the couch drew my attention and I looked up quickly to see Holmes withdrawing his hand from the table.

What are you doing? I asked, trying to keep my voice neutrally curious, but failing miserably. His eyebrow arched, but his voice when he answered was unaffected by any emotion.

I was merely reaching for my pipe my dear Watson. The slight smile nearly made me think he had been hoping for just such a reaction fro mme, but I dismissed the thought as unworthy. I watched until he was laying back again, the pipe smouldering in his mouth, ann then turned back to my writing.

I had managed a further sentence when the rustle of movement again sounded. This time I tried to ignore it, but slight rustlings continued until I was forced by sheer curiosity to see what Holmes was doing.

Just pouring my self a glass of water, he said, catching my glance. He settled back again, the picture of peace. The idea made me want to laugh, but it seemed as though Holmes was finally asleep, and so I smothered the impulse. On hindsight I suppose I should really have known better than to assume I could ever win while playing against a master such as Homes. But it still took five more disturbances of perfectly innocent in nature, before I admitted defeat.

All right Holmes, I conceded eventually. Rest tonight, and tomorrow I'll declare fit enough to get up and chase after whoever it is you wish so badly to chase. The nod and smile that met my statement would have annoyed me, but I had suddenly realised that for him to be indulging in mind games was a sign of returning strength, and so I let it pass, dwelling on the pleasure it gave me to have him back, while he, true to his word, slept.

The next morning I was disturbed by Mrs. Hudson setting my breakfast on the table. Holmes was no where to be seen.
Have you seen Homes anywhere? I asked, wondering how he had left without rousing me. She nodded.

Yes sir. He left early this morning, just as I was getting up. He asked me to leave your breakfast until later than usual. Said you'd had a hard evening and needed your rest. The cheek of the man to suggest it was I who needed rest arrested my speech until Mrs. Hudson had left, and so there was no-one to hear me expound on the subject of detectives with erratic mental stability.

It was late evening when Holmes finally returned, looking terribly worn out, but massively triumphant. I allowed him to settle himself in his favourite chair before asking him where he had been, and what he had been engaged in doing. He sighed before answering.
I have been solving two cases. My dear man, he said quickly, holding up a hand to stop the protestation that was on my lips. My dear man, allow me first to explain, then you may chastise me for my lack of self concern all you wish.

I couldn't help but smile at his choice of words, and settled down to listen to his story. If nothing else I knew it would be interesting.
In actually fact I had no idea at all that I was working on two cases, until I happened to cross paths with Lestrade earlier this morning. I'm sure you guessed that I was hunting down my captors today. It seemed logical to me that they would attempt to leave England, if not the British Isles,as soon as they could.

With this in mind I headed to the docks to obtain a copy of the passenger lists. It seemed unlikely that they would have delayed by as long as a week, but while I was talking to the clerk I saw Lestrade and overheard him telling a constable that the surveillance of the docks should continue. Therefore it was safe to assume that if Messrs. Weastie and Hawkins had attempted to leave via boat, they would have been apprehended.

I strolled over and found Lestrade was trying to solve the mystery of the unknown drowned man. Quite what he expected to achieve by surveying the docks when it is perfectly obvious he ought to have... but that is of little consequence. His description of the dead man matched that of Mr. Weastie perfectly, and a few pieces of the puzzle this case had become began to click in to place.

He left his chair and walked over to the fireplace, a slight frown on his face as he fiddled with the tobacco. Eventually his pipe was smoking to his satisfaction and he turned back to face me.
For the last few days I had seen much of Mr. Hawkins, but no sign of Mr. Weastie at all. As far as Lestrade and myself could gather from what little we knew, the two men had had some sort of argument, supported by the bruises on the body when it was discovered. It would also explain why it was suddenly decided to hand me over to my friends instead of simply killing me.

It was obvious that Mr. Hawkins had to be found. I spent a good two hours walking around this great city before finding myself in one of the lesser parts of town. It was then that I remembered hearing one of the men mentioning a meeting point. I believe they felt I could not hear them while they were discussing it, but I have excellent hearing as you know and I distinctly heard the phrase the silver kettle.

I wondered aimlessly for a while longer, pondering on this, glancing up at the occasional sign. One such sigh proclaimed the building to which it was attached to be the Black Dog, and it struck me that this Silver Kettle may well be a similar establishment, as I see from your expression you deduced.

By removing my over coat and rubbing a slight amount of dust on my shirt I managed to blend in quite well with the local inhabitants, and had soon obtained detailed directions to the Silver Kettle. No sooner had I walked in through the door than a man jumped up from his chair and bolted through the back door.

I was after him naturally, but , much as it pains me to admit, Lestrade was already there. He had been shadowing me all day, that much I knew, but he had noticed me headed to the building and decided it was important. So he had been looking the premises over and happened to be standing most conveniently by the rear entrance when Mr. Hawkins rushed out.

Homes stopped talking and sat back in to his arm chair, puffing contentedly.
So you solved the identity of the mystery corpse and also caught your kidnapper. I take it Mr. Hawkins has confessed?

came the reply, and thanks to your efforts, he will not only be tried for the murder of his colleague, but also for the crimes he participated in with his gang.

But I gave them all the evidence! I cried, astonished that Holmes should have forgotten that the papers had bought his freedom. But he was smiling again, and I ceased my protests.

You gave them the papers in the blue envelope marked W' did you not? At my nod he continued. Well then. They asked for the evidence I had gathered on their gang's activities, which you gave them. They did not however ask for the evidence I had gathered on them, and so that was still safely in my files until I presented it to Lestrade this afternoon after having taken it with me this morning.

With that he relaxed and sat complacently while I sat slack jawed at the risk he had taken. But after a few seconds I realised that he was always taking risks of one type or another, and that there was no reason for this risk to be any different.