Disclaimer: I don't own the brilliant Sherlock Holmes, the wonderful John Watson or any other characters. I will play with them for a bit, but always return them as found.

This set of drabbles is used to keep me writing, so hopefully, I never reach that dreaded moment of writers block while working on other stories. I tend to flow towards more of the hurt Watson stories. I like seeing the humanity in Holmes; not just a brain without a heart. :D

Reviews/positive feedback/pointers/constructive criticism is all lovely and will be cherished.

Without further ado, enjoy.

Gladstone

Gladstone was a tiny puppy; a large head on a very small body. When Holmes had first laid eyes on the small dog, he thought the unfavourable creature was almost comical, except the dog drooled like a leaky faucet and always managed to keep underfoot. More than once he had found himself chasing the dog after a beaker of chemicals had managed to get in his mouth. The dog would run from him, tongue swinging, stout legs carrying him away from the raving detective. Holmes would give chase, arms out stretched, long legs trying to keep up with the quick dog.

'How could a dog with that short of legs move so fast?'

Holmes skid to a halt when the dog took to safety behind a pair of clad legs. He slowly raised his eyes to the disappointed gaze of his fellow lodger of only three short months.

"Holmes, would you please leave my poor dog alone?"

"Watson, would you please see to having that dog leashed to the ottoman or to something where he would no longer be a hazard to my experiments, which I will remind you, are of the utmost importance."

"You are blaming a pup for your failed experiments. Does your depravity know no bounds?"

"No. My experiments would be a raving succsess if I didn't constantly need to redo three weeks worth of preparation for a single test that could possibly change the way the world understands sound travel."

"Indeed," the Doctor had produced a leash and was attaching it to the dog's collar, "why don't you take a moment from your 'test' and come to the park with Gladstone and I, and get out of the flat for a while."

"But with the dog gone I could finally finish my experiment and record my results."

"Holmes, you haven't been out of the flat in days, it's high time you got out and saw a little sunlight." There was some rustling behind Watson, and Holmes could smell Mrs. Hudson's perfume.

"The Doctor is right you know, you are looking a little peaky," Mrs. Hudson walked over towards the men, brandishing some sort of vegetable she would no doubt try and feed to her lodgers that night, " and women like a little colour in their men."

"Is that right Nanny?"

"Go with the Doctor Mr. Holmes, I would rather enjoy an afternoon to myself without having to clean up some fire or explosion of sorts."

"Come Holmes, Gladstone is already to leave, we're just awaiting you."

"Nanny?"

"Yes, Mr. Holmes,"

"If I do not come back, please see to it that my room is cleaned and my belongings shipped to my brother's estate."

"Of course."

"And Nanny..."

Mrs. Hudson bestowed him with a suspisious eye, "yes..."

"Do be careful of the adder in my closet, he's managed to escape the sealed box twice now," he said as he grabbed his overcoat and placed a hat atop his head," and I would detest to have you wake up with a poisionous snake slithering in your night cap."

"It is lovely out here, is it not Holmes?"

"Yes, I suppose it is, other than the cold."

The park had a long and winding pathway, which led to one of the many creeks that flowed from the Thames. February was chilly, and the temperature had dropped enough for the creek to freeze over and the blades of grass to crisp and sparkle with frost. It was a picturesque sight, and Watson was soaking it up.

"You actually believe in the romantic drivel of snow capped mountains and bubbling brooks?"

Watson looked at him in curiosity, "yes, why should I not?"

"I just thought that as a military man, you would see the world through eyes of black and white."

"Perhaps it is because I am a military man that I do not see the world through black and white," he said with mild reproach, "the world is full of colour, and nothing could compare to the joys of beauty."

"You've been scribbling in that notebook of yours again."

Watson's laugh filled the quiet park, followed by a sharp, "Gladstone, come!"

The dog had wandered over to the frozen creek, and was standing on the thin ice. "Gladstone, come here!" Watson started making his way over to the dog, his cane tapping on the ground. Holmes rolled his eyes and followed.

"I knew that dog was nothing but trouble from the moment I saw his wrinkly face."

Watson kept moving towards the dog, stopping at the edge of the creek. "Gladstone, come." He tapped his fingers on his thighs and used his authoritative voice that Holmes was sure he used in the war. It was a very commanding voice; warm and inviting but held power and knowledge, and it even had Holmes listening to what the Doctor had to say. But the bull was not listening. Which was strange in itself because the dog listened to no one but Watson. Then the sound reached the two men standing at the creek edge. The crack of the ice giving away beneath the dog.

Watson gave the dog one more try, "Gladstone, come." The tiny dog turned his head towards his owner, his brown eyes huge and troubled.

It was frightened, Holmes deduced.

The sound of Watson's cane clattering to the ground broke him of his reverie.

"Watson, what in the Devil's name do you think you are going to do?"

"I'm going to get my dog."

"The ice isn't thick enough for the dog to stand on, do you think it's thick enough for a grown man?" Regardless of the man having an incredibley emaciated frame from which the war had left him with. Even Mrs. Hudson's excellent cooking wasn't enough to shake the souvenir the war had given him.

The look Watson had sent him could have made a weaker man turn on his heel and leave the man alone in a heart beat, but Holmes wasn't a weak man.

"What do you propose then, I'm not leaving without him and we're running out of time."

For once in his life, Holmes couldn't think of anything, "I'm not sure."

Huffing, Watson lowered himself and spread out as large as he could. "I'm sure if I only stay at the edge I will be fine, I just need him to move closer...come Gladstone, come."

The dog gave Watson a pleading look and took a tentative step forward.

The ice gave way beneath the dog, and Gladstone gave a terrified yelp. Watson slid himself forward until his hands wrapped around the little dog. The ice under him broke and he felt himself slip into the icy creek. Just as his face went under the water a hand snagged the back of his overcoat and heaved him back towards the shore. His face broke the surface of the water and he saw Holmes lying in the spot he had just been in, holding the collar of the coat.

Standing and shivering, Watson looked down to the little, soaked ball of fur clutched tightly to his chest.

"My Lord, for a little dog, he does cause a lot of trouble doesn't he?"

Teeth chattering Watson replied, "is sure seem that way."

Suddenly an overcoat, that wasn't dripping, was placed over his shoulders and a scarf that wasn't his, fastened around his neck, "what will Mrs. Hudson say when we arrive back home," the detective said as he steered Watson out of the park and hailed a hansom and used his best woman's voice, "you cause all that trouble when you're in the flat and when you go out with the good Doctor you let him swim in a creek in the winter. You should be a more considerate friend."

Watson coughed, which Holmes reasoned, was supposed to be a chuckle under normal circumstance.

"Yes, well, you could have volunteered to venture out and grab the dog," Watson said sitting back in the leather cushions of the wagon, relaxing his leg.

"I was preoccupied fishing for a grown man."

Watson smiled and closed his eyes, then jerked them open again, "my cane!"

Holmes smiled and handed it to the Doctor, "I picked it up on the way out of the park."

"Thank you, dear Holmes."

Something warm bubbled in Holmes chest and he looked back at his resting companion. He was still shivering, but he looked less haggard now, with Holmes' coat wrapped around his thin shoulders. Watson was still holding the little dog to his chest, stroking his head. The warmth in his chest grew a little, and he was confused as to why he didn't understand why he felt so comfortable around this decorated army veteran.

The hansom came to a stop and Holmes opened the carriage door, giving the driver his fair, and helping the doctor to the door. Said door swung open and a concerned and mildly agitated Mrs. Hudson stood staring at Holmes with a silent fury, and the Doctor with a maternal look as she ushered Watson inside. "What have you done now Mr. Holmes?"

"I didn't do a thing!"

"He's being honest," whispered Watson. Holmes gave the man a grateful look and started for his room, "I'm going to change into something warm and preferably dry."

"I'll start the fire, Doctor," Mrs. Hudson said as she relieved him of his overcoat and his soaking hat, "would you like me to run a hot bath?"

"I'm just going to change, thank you Mrs. Hudson."

She nodded and left to light the fire.

When Holmes came back downstairs he saw Watson sitting on the settee. "Feeling better then?"

"Much," Watson said.

Holmes saw that the doctor was holding the dog again. "He's a little troublemaker isn't he?"

"Yes, he does manage to attract trouble, like someone else I know."

Holmes looked away, hiding the small smile that creeped across his face, "I know not of whom you speak."

"I'm sure you don't."

Holmes felt that queer feeling in his chest again. That warmth that made him feel completely comfortable and wanted. A feeling he hadn't felt with anyone else but this individual. A feeling he didn't understand, and as he looked across the parlor at the man who risked his own safety for the little, drooling fur ball that was asleep held securely to his chest, Holmes realized,

he didn't mind not understanding.

END

That's my first drabble for this section.

They will vary in length. Shorter, perhaps longer.

I hope to hear from you guys. I love opinions.

Seulment Alors