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221B Baker Street is unusually quiet this evening. Watson has been writing but Holmes looks unsettled. He keeps floating between activities, but not saying a word. Eventually he throws himself rather dramatically onto the settee and growls quietly.
"Holmes? Are you all right old man?" Watson asks quietly.
Holmes doesn't respond for a moment before forcing out the word "fine" and scowling.
"Ahh, I see. Would you like a quiet evening? Is everything else too loud? You can nod or shake your head." Watson moves closer to his friend but doesn't touch him.
Holmes nods before his arm moves over his eyes.
"Would you like me to talk or just stay?"
Holmes holds up two fingers to indicate that he would like the second option. He then sits up and pats the settee next to him. Watson understands the invitation and sits next to him. Holmes leans on Watson's good shoulder and cuddles up to him. A blanket is carefully wrapped around Holmes' shoulders and Watson moves slightly to get more comfortable. Holmes' head finds itself over Watson's heart and after a while Holmes falls asleep. Watson stays where he is because the last thing he wants to do is disturb his much needed rest.
Watson reads the paper that was laying beside him and when Holmes wakes up he leaves a small kiss on the detective's brow.
"Thank you Watson."
"What for?"
"For allowing me a hushed evening. I believe I was tired, which caused sounds to be too loud, and my thoughts were racing." Sleep still clings to Holmes' voice and lends it a lovely quality in Watson's opinion.
"I am happy to help you in whatever way you need me to." He smiles as he kisses Holmes' head again. "You are feeling better now?"
Holmes hums in acknowledgement. "Yes. Thank you. Your shoulder provided a grounding constant, and the sound of your heart a consistent sound I could use to drown the rest out. You truly are the one fixed point in a changing world."
"I am always happy to help you Holmes."
Holmes curls up against Watson again and Watson begins to read the paper. The room may be hushed, but the devotion and love in it certainly isn't.