The Yellow Face: Truth and Doubt

[methylviolet10b]

Author: methylviolet10b
Rating: PG
Character(s): Sherlock Holmes, John Watson
Summary: Holmes reflects on the lessons learned from Effie, Lucy, and Grant Munro.
Warnings: Slight spoilers for YELL.
Word Count: 60, plus two quotes from the story itself, in italics. Plus an extended-play version. What can I say? This one got away from me.
Author's
Notes: 60 words of my own inspired by one of the canon stories.
Disclaimer: I don't own them.

YELL – Truth and Doubt

Any truth is better than indefinite doubt.

Our journey to Baker Street was silent. I was consumed by my observations. Where doubt existed, love and trust withered.

How many times had I concealed the truth from Watson in the course of our cases? Demanded his unquestioning faith?

How long until Watson’s trust became doubt?

By the time we reached our rooms, I knew what I must say.

"Watson…if it should ever strike you that I am getting a little over-confident in my powers, or giving less pains to a case than it deserves, kindly whisper 'Norbury' in my ear, and I shall be infinitely obliged to you."

  

Extended-play version (100 words):

Any truth is better than indefinite doubt.

I plucked Watson’s sleeve, and we quietly withdrew, leaving the unique little family to their privacy – and their newfound happiness. We were both quiet on our return trip to Baker Street. I could not say what preoccupied Watson’s thoughts, but I knew what consumed mine. The lesson was impossible to mistake: where doubt existed, love and trust withered.

How many times had I concealed the truth from Watson in the course of our cases? Demanded his unquestioning faith?

How long until Watson’s trust became doubt?

By the time we reached our rooms, I knew what I would say to him.

"Watson…if it should ever strike you that I am getting a little over-confident in my powers, or giving less pains to a case than it deserves, kindly whisper 'Norbury' in my ear, and I shall be infinitely obliged to you."

Comments

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

I like the way you've shown this dawning on Holmes, although I do wonder whether it will really have an affect. And how often Watson did say "Norbury".

[methylviolet10b]

You raise an excellent point - and I don't think Watson ever did say 'Norbury' in canon!

Thank you!

[debriswoman]

An interesting background to Holmes' request.

[methylviolet10b]

Norbury is one of those classic moments. ;-) Thank you!

[spacemutineer.livejournal.com]

That's an interesting observation. Holmes is extremely secretive with his partner. I'm not sure it bothers Watson, though. His trust of Holmes seems implicit, even if it frequently stretches the boundaries of what one man should be asked to accept.

[impulsereader.livejournal.com]

I agree. I think Holmes's concern is unfounded - but I still like that he felt it and acted on it. Watson deserved the courtesy even if he never actually had to enact it. I thought the story said he'd whispered it only a few times or something like that...but I'm too lazy to hop over and check. :-)

[methylviolet10b]

Thank you! I had fun speculating what might cause Holmes to make such an extraordinary statement to Watson. It's unique in the canon, and I had to wonder why Norbury? :-)

[methylviolet10b]

I think that by and large Watson is quite accepting of Holmes' secrecy. He trusts Holmes, and he has a huge respect for his intelligence (particularly when compared to his own, which he frequently underrates). But there are also multiple incidents in the various stories where Watson expresses some resentment of Holmes' reticence. I think Holmes is a keen enough observer to note that, and even perhaps resolve to do a little better - although perhaps not actually follow through!