I Saw Three Ships: Gen
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holmes_minorTitle: I saw three ships
Rating: Gen
Length: 500
Notes: Holmes/Watson, for the monthly prompt. And for the fffc January special prompt of 'closure' and this quote: "And when I asked you how you’d been, I meant I missed you more than I’ve ever missed anything before." — Iain Thomas
Summary: Holmes has been away from 3 weeks. He returns on Christmas Day.
I waited at the docks on Christmas Day, pacing and smoking and sighing.
Then, at last, I saw it. Or them, rather.
Just like the song, I saw three ships coming sailing in on Christmas Day, on Christmas Day. I saw three ships coming sailing in on Christmas Day in the morning.
I began to whistle.
I did not meet his gaze as he disembarked. I could not, in fact, for his cap was pulled down low on his brow. It was not Sherlock Holmes who returned. It was Captain Basil. He’d been away from his East End haunts for three weeks.
I watched him for perhaps a minute.
No hesitation, no stiffness, no sign of weakness.
He was well, then. And that was the best Christmas gift I could’ve received: a healthy Holmes safe and home.
I gave him an hour’s head start.
I arrived at Baker Street just in time to wish Mrs. Hudson the compliments of the season as she, in her best hat and cloak, oversaw the loading of her trunk onto a carriage.
“Isn’t it wonderful, Doctor? Mister Holmes home for Christmas!”
I nodded, bid her a pleasant journey, and hurried inside to greet the prodigal sleuth.
Even before I reached the sitting room, I notice a difference.
It smelled wonderful.
And when I reached the last of the seventeen stairs, I gave a shout of surprise.
Holmes was there, as if he’d never left, in his armchair, swathed in his indigo dressing gown, by a roaring fire.
And the halls of 221B, bare when I’d left that morning, were royally decked!
The garland of holly and ivy that I’d been too morose to contemplate was draped along the mantelpiece. The handsome fir that I’d been too melancholy to purchase and decorate stood before the front windows, whose curtains were drawn.
Ribbon. Candles.
The whole Dickensian fantasy made real.
I turned my heat and gave a second exclamation.
A veritable feast was laid out on the table!
I’d been so anxious about Holmes’ return, I’d only managed a cup of tea this morning, and my belly rumbled at the sight.
I gave Holmes a look of astonishment.
How had he managed all this, this Yuletide transformation, in a matter of minutes?
Mrs. Hudson, of course. Then I cast my mind back to a troop of whooping boys I’d passed on my way. Holmes had, no doubt, employed his irregular army in his campaign.
He stood and held his arms out and smiled and said,
“How’ve you been, Watson? And when I say how’ve you been, I mean I missed you more than I could endure!”
I smiled. “Three weeks is not three years, Holmes. And this time, you kept in touch.”
“A trio of cryptic telegrams was all I, or rather Captain Basil, could manage.”
“It made all the difference, Holmes. And this!”
“Happy Christmas.”
And it was then I realised that the curtains were drawn for a reason, and I fell into his embrace.
Rating: Gen
Length: 500
Notes: Holmes/Watson, for the monthly prompt. And for the fffc January special prompt of 'closure' and this quote: "And when I asked you how you’d been, I meant I missed you more than I’ve ever missed anything before." — Iain Thomas
Summary: Holmes has been away from 3 weeks. He returns on Christmas Day.
I waited at the docks on Christmas Day, pacing and smoking and sighing.
Then, at last, I saw it. Or them, rather.
Just like the song, I saw three ships coming sailing in on Christmas Day, on Christmas Day. I saw three ships coming sailing in on Christmas Day in the morning.
I began to whistle.
I did not meet his gaze as he disembarked. I could not, in fact, for his cap was pulled down low on his brow. It was not Sherlock Holmes who returned. It was Captain Basil. He’d been away from his East End haunts for three weeks.
I watched him for perhaps a minute.
No hesitation, no stiffness, no sign of weakness.
He was well, then. And that was the best Christmas gift I could’ve received: a healthy Holmes safe and home.
I gave him an hour’s head start.
I arrived at Baker Street just in time to wish Mrs. Hudson the compliments of the season as she, in her best hat and cloak, oversaw the loading of her trunk onto a carriage.
“Isn’t it wonderful, Doctor? Mister Holmes home for Christmas!”
I nodded, bid her a pleasant journey, and hurried inside to greet the prodigal sleuth.
Even before I reached the sitting room, I notice a difference.
It smelled wonderful.
And when I reached the last of the seventeen stairs, I gave a shout of surprise.
Holmes was there, as if he’d never left, in his armchair, swathed in his indigo dressing gown, by a roaring fire.
And the halls of 221B, bare when I’d left that morning, were royally decked!
The garland of holly and ivy that I’d been too morose to contemplate was draped along the mantelpiece. The handsome fir that I’d been too melancholy to purchase and decorate stood before the front windows, whose curtains were drawn.
Ribbon. Candles.
The whole Dickensian fantasy made real.
I turned my heat and gave a second exclamation.
A veritable feast was laid out on the table!
I’d been so anxious about Holmes’ return, I’d only managed a cup of tea this morning, and my belly rumbled at the sight.
I gave Holmes a look of astonishment.
How had he managed all this, this Yuletide transformation, in a matter of minutes?
Mrs. Hudson, of course. Then I cast my mind back to a troop of whooping boys I’d passed on my way. Holmes had, no doubt, employed his irregular army in his campaign.
He stood and held his arms out and smiled and said,
“How’ve you been, Watson? And when I say how’ve you been, I mean I missed you more than I could endure!”
I smiled. “Three weeks is not three years, Holmes. And this time, you kept in touch.”
“A trio of cryptic telegrams was all I, or rather Captain Basil, could manage.”
“It made all the difference, Holmes. And this!”
“Happy Christmas.”
And it was then I realised that the curtains were drawn for a reason, and I fell into his embrace.
no subject
Date: 2018-12-28 06:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-12-28 06:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-12-28 09:35 pm (UTC)Loved how Holmes showed his tender regard for Watson by fixing up the Christmas decorations and food to show they were now together and no longer needed to be melancholy (both of them).
Also the ending when they came together? Watson would be proud of my sigh. I always enjoy a Holmes returning to his Watson and this was especially splendid at Christmastime!
no subject
Date: 2018-12-28 10:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-12-28 10:14 pm (UTC)As always I loved your use of description - I could just see the scene that Watson returned to at 221B. And on a minor note, always splendid to see the indigo dressing gown get another outing ^__^
no subject
Date: 2018-12-28 10:26 pm (UTC)Thank you! I did puzzle for a moment over the colour of the dressing gown. The mouse grey got vetoed because it's Christmas and I wanted something festive and rich.
no subject
Date: 2018-12-29 07:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-12-29 10:23 pm (UTC)