Work Text:
Truth In Wine
Dr. John Watson stumbled down Baker Street on his way home from his club. He had allowed himself to partake in a drinking game and now was feeling the effects. He steadied himself by holding on to a lamp post for a minute. 221B was within his sight so he knew he could make it. And he finally did, with Mrs. Hudson greeting him and saying something he did not catch or bother to stay and clarify.
He entered the sitting room, and Sherlock Holmes was at his chemical table writing in his science diary. He looked at Watson with amusement.
“You are inebriated” he said.
“That is an accurate deduction my dear friend” Watson replied.
The word deduction brought a mischievous thought to his mind, and he made his way to the chemical table and leaned on the edge.
“Speaking of deductions” he said, “I have a question for you Holmes.”
Holmes sat back in his chair with arms folded and looking apprehensive.
“Maybe ask me when you are more yourself.”
“I am always myself, Holmes, but never mind that, here is the question.”
And he leaned closer to Holmes and said softly.
“What are you deducing when we are together in that way?”
“What!?”
“For example, when you have your hands in my hair and then suddenly pull it, I know you are about-
“Watson!” Holmes interrupted “Enough.”
Watson blinked and looked puzzled.
“What have I said that is wrong? I just want to know if your sharp mind notices these things. Like I notice when your eyes lose focus and have a distant look when I—
“Watson!” Holmes said as he stood up. “I am not having this conversation with you, not in your state anyway.”
“I am in a perfectly fine state, thank you very much. Now tell me what you notice.”
“I notice you are a drunken fool.”
Watson pushed up from the desk and faced Holmes a little unsteadily.
“I am not a fool” he said.
He studied Holmes for a moment.
“You cannot talk about it because you are ashamed” he said “You are ashamed of it.”
Here he paused and then added “and of me.”
“Watson, you should retire to your room and sleep it off” Holmes said.
“Very well but let me tell you something. I am not ashamed. Not for anything the church may say nor the law either. And I never will be. I guess I am the only one here who has read of the Greeks.”
Holmes said nothing but stared past Watson.
Watson looked at Holmes, arms crossed, jaw tight, and not looking at him.
“I am going,” Watson said and stumbled to his room.
The next morning Watson woke on his stomach, fully clothed and sprawled atop the covers. He still had his shoes on too. He had a terrible headache.
He suddenly panicked wondering what day it was. Should he be at the surgery? Then he sighed with relief when he realized it was Sunday. He was not required at the surgery.
He then winced as the memory of his conversation with Holmes returned. I should be embarrassed, he thought. But he was not.
He was most thankful when Mrs. Hudson entered his room with hot water.
“I would have knocked” she said “but the door was open.”
“Thank you Mrs. Hudson.”
After he washed and put on clean clothes, he did not feel any better. He made his way down to the sitting room.
Holmes was sitting at the dining table eating toast. The smell of eggs made Watson feel a little sick, but he sat at the table.
“Good morning,” he said.
There was a pause so long Watson thought Holmes was not going to answer him.
“Are you more yourself this morning” Holmes said “or do you stand by what you said last night?”
“I stand by it because I live it” Watson replied.
Holmes’ eyes narrowed.
“You think you are more enlightened than me because you can have a vulgar conversation? Is that your point?”
“I was not aware I was being vulgar. I was speaking of natural acts. People talk about such things.”
“Very well, “Holmes said “then let us talk about it.”
Holmes picked up his teacup, took a sip, then slammed it down on its saucer.
“I do not like my intimate partner coming home drunk and accusing me of being ashamed of him because I do not like talking about such things.”
“Noted” Watson said.
“Because I am not ashamed of you or anything we do.”
“Point taken” Watson said.
Then the next thing Holmes said made Watson’s eyes widen.
“Nevertheless, if you must know, I am not deducing when we are together in that way because I am caught up in the moment. I am feeling alive and not thinking.”
Holmes then looked at Watson and held his gaze.
“However, there is a moment I do remember and that is when you start possessing me” He paused. “My eyes lose focus and take on that distant look.”
Watson gulped.