Five Orange Pips: Pride / A Case of Identity: Bedside

[spacemutineer.livejournal.com]

Canon Story: The Five Orange Pips
Title: Pride
Author: spacemutineer
Rating: G
Author's Note: Back on the ball and all caught up again, hooray!

Holmes framed his pain as petty insult, something detached and superficial, wholly separate from the depths of his heart. Even then, he strove to maintain his affected demeanor, attempting to fool himself and me into believing in the aloof machine.

"It hurts my pride," he said.

I allowed the lie. Losing one's first client, or one's first patient, leaves scars.

---

Canon Story: A Case of Identity
Title: Bedside
Author: spacemutineer
Rating: G
Author's Note: Comes from Watson's line, "A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at the bedside of the sufferer." The case in IDEN is so hateful that I dreamed of peeking into Watson's medical drama instead.

The boy looked minuscule in his bed. Skinny, red-flushed limbs contrasted against the white sheets, too hot to be covered.

"If the fever breaks by nightfall, I think we can trust in Michael's recovery."

"And if it doesn't, Doctor?" His mother's eyes were as bright and fearful as his.

Watson wrung out another cool compress. At either bedside, they waited.

Comments

[ennui-enigma.livejournal.com]

First one: sad but true

Second: almost made me think of the first one. The canon only says that Watson became free at six oclock

glad to see you caught up, btw!

[spacemutineer.livejournal.com]

They are sort of similar/related, aren't they? Let's say that was intentional. ;)

Thanks!

[hisietari.livejournal.com]

The first one is a great deconstructing of the facade both Holmes and Watson try to make everybody believe in. The second is heartbreaking, and it ends just at the right point to make the reader gnarl their teeth in hope and frustration. Great composition!

[chess-ka.livejournal.com]

First one: a lovely look at the way Watson lets Holmes protect himself, but sees his pain anyway.

Second one: Such a perfect glimpse into the life Watson leads without Holmes, and what he has to deal with. It's sad and desperate.

[debriswoman]

Both well done,

The first, sadness and understanding of the need to hide it.

The second, perhaps the reason Watson seeks distraction elsewhere at times.