Warhead On Legs

Title: The Strange Case of Sherlock Holmes
Fandom: Sherlock Holmes
Characters: Holmes, Watson, OCx2
Word Count: ~23,000
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Holmes is semi-retired and inclined to stay that way when Victor Callahan of Special Branch knocks on his door and requests his help with a case of murder and suspected treason. Holmes agrees to investigate only under protest, after Callahan appeals to his puzzle-solving mind more than his patriotism. As the case progresses, it takes Holmes to some very dark places in his own life, and the detective becomes more and more erratic while Watson is powerless to help him.
A/N: Written for the Holmes Big Bang



The pounding at her door was loud, aggravated, and intrusive on her senses. Katherine opened her eyes long enough to scowl in the direction of the front door and say a word that would have shocked most polite company. Banging in the middle of the night never meant anything good, though, so she threw on a robe and refrained from shouting any louder until she reached the foot of the stairs. "Just a moment!"

Holmes was not the first person she had expected at her door at this hour of the night, but she let him in anyway. "Miss Walsingham," he nodded curtly to her, stepping in. She watched his eyes dart around as though looking at her home for the first time, taking in all the details.

"Mr. Holmes. Isn't it a bit inappropriate for you to be calling so late at night?" The polite form of what in blazes are you doing here at this hour, banging down my door. Another hour earlier and she might not have been so polite. She did, at least, show him into the kitchen, which was both more and less polite.

He gave her a quizzical look for the gesture. "You're making tea?"

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Title: The Strange Case of Sherlock Holmes
Fandom: Sherlock Holmes
Characters: Holmes, Watson, OCx2
Word Count: ~23,000
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Holmes is semi-retired and inclined to stay that way when Victor Callahan of Special Branch knocks on his door and requests his help with a case of murder and suspected treason. Holmes agrees to investigate only under protest, after Callahan appeals to his puzzle-solving mind more than his patriotism. As the case progresses, it takes Holmes to some very dark places in his own life, and the detective becomes more and more erratic while Watson is powerless to help him.
A/N: Written for the Holmes Big Bang


The room was silent but for the crackle of a pine-wood fire behind a wall of copper and brass. There was no footfall, heavy or otherwise, and no brush of fabric or rustle of a newspaper or creak of a chair as someone rose from or settled into it. Occasionally there was the tap of bone pipe against ceramic urn as the ashes rose and the glimmer of a cigarette or the simmering of tobacco in the pipe bowl. But no one discussed the state of the weather outside (dreary) or the last visit (unsatisfying) or their custodian (infuriating) or the state of affairs in England at the moment (despicable). Neither man said much of anything. There was nothing left to say.

"Put that cigarette out."

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