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Hello again, here is chapter 3 finally, I hope you all haven't lost interest in it :)

I would like to say a quick thank you to everyone who has reviewed the previous chapters in this series, and that I truly appreciate your comments.

Disclaimer: I don't own Sherlock Holmes or his enchanting friend John Watson… still.

A not-so-gentle nudge of my shoulder finally awakened me and my bleary vision cleared slowly to focus on the shining grey eyes of Sherlock Holmes, standing at the side of my bed staring down at me with an annoyingly joyful expression at such an early hour; and I knew that it was indeed early as there was no comforting ray of light peeking out from the gap in the curtains as there usually is in the mornings, no, it would have been pitch black had Holmes not had the courtesy to shine a lamp directly in front of my face.

"Holmes, what the devil is going on?" I muttered tiredly, feebly waving the lamp away from me so as to protect what was left of my retinas.

His answer was to throw my trusty blue dressing gown at me and his smile broadened at my expression of dismay.

"A case-"

"No, no, but it is of equal value to me. Don't dawdle now Watson, meet me in the sitting room as quickly as you can now." And I was left in total darkness once more as the light from the lamp followed his hurried movements down the stairs.

I sighed quietly as I stiffly rose to wrap the dressing gown around me, and made my way carefully towards the sound of clinking glass in our shared sitting room. I assumed that the clinking would be Holmes as he poured us each a glass of brandy, but as I made my way further into the room, I could see the form of my friend sitting with his back facing me as his hands moved eagerly over the various phials and tubes on his chemical desk.

His head snapped towards me suddenly, and I couldn't help but be alarmed at the clear signs of exhaustion that adorned his features; the dark circles under his eyes and the ghastly pale pallor of his skin.

I approached him warily, rubbing the remains of sleep from my eyes with the sleeve of my dressing gown, "Holmes what are you doing at-", I glanced at the clock on our mantle, "half past two in the morning..."

Before I had a chance to voice my complaints at being woken at such an ungodly hour, Holmes had risen and guided me by my elbow towards the chair he had just vacated. Reluctantly I sat down, and looked up at him despairingly, awaiting some kind of explanation.

He gestured excitedly towards the mess of equipment on his desk and as my tired eyes failed to focus on anything of importance, he spoke with an in exasperated tone, "The contents of this boiling tube is one-of-a-kind Watson, truly unique, and I implore you to hazard a guess at its purpose."

"Well I-"

"If you pour it over any surface," he interrupted hurriedly, "It shows any fingerprints that have tainted it in the last twenty four hours, and can also be used as a remarkably successful cleaning agent!" His eyes shone with pride and his very being seemed to glow in the light of his triumph, but I found my own expression resembling more of an aggravated scowl.

His smile seemed to falter slightly as he finally noted that I was not sharing in his delight, and as my weary eyes met with his, I spoke through gritted teeth, "You woke me up, at half past two in the morning to show me some kind of multi-purpose disinfectant?"

"Disinfectant? Well I don't know about that-"

"Half past two in the morning!?" I growled in disbelief.

I rose from the chair in one sharp movement and took a step towards him, his face seemed to drain completely of any colour that it might have once had, and I paused for a moment to try and calm my severely overstrained nerves.

I reached out my hand towards him, and he flinched slightly in anticipation of my strike, but as I rested it gently on his shoulder he breathed a shaky sigh of relief.

His shoulders were still tensed as I spoke to him in a tone much calmer than I felt was capable of me at the time, "Go to bed Holmes. You can show me the glory of your newly invented… concoction in the morning at an hour when I am much more likely to offer praise alright?"

I felt him untense at my words and smiled slightly at his resigned nod of agreement. I patted his now slumping shoulder one final time before beginning my limping shuffle towards the stairs leading to my bedroom, and my smile widened as I heard Holmes follow me quietly before offering me his arm to help support me up to my room.

I linked my arm through his and muttered a tired thank you as I attempted in vain to conceal a yawn; glancing at Holmes briefly my heart felt heavy at the expression of guilt that now covered his features and I longed for that look of shining pride that had dominated his being only a few moments ago, and I realised with shame that he had only called upon me at such an unusual hour because he wished to share his victory with me, and only me, and that he had felt comfortable enough in our friendship that my approval was needed on the instant, and that he desired my judgment almost as urgently as I require his during the trials of our cases together.

It was these thoughts that prompted me to cease our ascent on the staircase, and to face Holmes with the warmest expression I could muster, "It can show all the fingerprints within the past twenty four hours?"

His face once again lit up as a large smile graced his lips, and I couldn't help but mirror it, "Of course my dear Watson, of course, but I will show you the rest in the morning." and he began to lead me once again towards the comfort of my room, which I was having a difficult time imagining being as soothing as the feeling of Holmes' arm entwined with my own.

Ok, I am sooooo sorry for the ridiculously long period between the last chapter and this one, but preparation between the exams annoyingly had to take priority :( but it's ok, because they're all over now and I actually have free time now *shock horror*.

So anyway, I'll try and update this within the next day or so, and reviews really would make my day :)

Lenniiieee xx