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The case was almost a failure, the culprit was found and arrested as usual thanks to Holmes. However he almost didn’t continue chasing after him after I received a minor slice of the knife on my cheek, barely crossing the skin.
He ran over to me begging to know if I was okay, I tried to assure him that I would be back in moments to help him take down the burglar, but he ran off before I could finish reassuring him.
I had barely turned the corner when I saw Holmes tackling the man on the ground, the thieves knife tossed to the side resting in the floor. I ran over to help him and we had the culprit pinned in seconds, Lestrade and his team turned the corner moments after the man was driven to the floor beneath my hands.
“Holmes, you can release him now.” I stated after he did not let the man up even when Lestrade team had arrived.
“Of course my dear Watson-“ he brought one hand into mine and brought the other to the minor injury on the side of my face. “-I should have never brought you, I should have known you could have been injured.” He murmured, looking down in shame.
“It’s a mere scratch my dear Holmes, nothing brings me more joy than working with you. I would be a fool if I did not acknowledge the risks that accompanies it.” I reassured him, it was all true, nothing brought me more joy than working with my Holmes. “Let’s make our way to bakerstreet, if you have already explained the case to Lestrade?”
“I fear I have not, give me a few moments.” He started to walk away, while still keeping one hand in mine, pulling me along.
“Holmes, are you sure you’re alright? Your hands are shaking.” I felt the tremors through his arm. Almost as soon as I mentioned it he dashed his hands into his pockets, pulling them away from me after the mention.
“I’m fine Watson!” He snapped, it was certainly odd. He never started getting irritable this early after a successful case. The more I looked he was lightly putting his weight onto the nearest tables and chairs, stumbling barely notably as he made his way to Lestrade.
“The case was elementary, the robber left-“ he gestured with his hands, stopping suddenly, for a second his eyes closed and he lifted a hand to his forehead.
I barely had a moment to realize he was trying not to focus on some form of pain before he was falling to the ground, eyes scrunched tight in agony hands shaking.
I just grabbed the collar of his shirt as he fell and cradled him to the floor, his head lolling against the side of my chest.
He groaned lightly in pain, “w-Watson?” His breath hitching as he said it, he tried to open his eyes to look at me. Lestrade stood above us, not moving.
“Lestrade, I’ll help him further at baker street. Call us a cab.”
“Holmes, Holmes, stay down, where are you injured?” I begged, he hadn’t revealed any injuries to me and didn’t seem like it was in his plans.
“Ab- abdomen.. st-“ he squeaked in pain and I streamed to unbutton his shirt to see him. “- stab wound, tried- stop. Watson?”
It hurt me deeply to see him in such a state, words failing such a usually eloquent man. “It’s alright Holmes, I’m here.”
He giggled slightly as I removed more of his shirt to reveal the wound “if you wanted to- to, undress me there were many easier ways.” The wound wasn’t too long but it was almost an inch deep, messily made with the knife that was thrown across the floor earlier.
I applied the small collection of bandages I kept, tight enough to help the wound clot.
“The cab to baker street is almost here, I’ll treat you further when we’re home alright?”
“Of course Watson, I trust you very much. Who else could I?”
He was half asleep by the time we entered the cab together, his head listing against my chest holding hands with me.