From Sirensbane: Pandemic


In those final years of ours, when we had both retired to the cottage in Sussex and the war was over, there was very little we disagreed on. This, I believe, was the first time since 1914 we had engaged in such a fiery row.

"You are being purposefully bullheaded!" Arthritis did little to affect Holmes's skill upon the violin, and thus it was that he punctuated each of his points with a jab of his bow in my direction. "My God, Watson, I thought that bumbling oaf in your stories was merely a sensationalist conjuring of your imagination!"

I felt my face flush red at the double insult to my writing and my intelligence, but responded as calmly as I could through gritted teeth. "The matter is not up for discussion. I will go to the camp first thing tomorrow. If it is infection you are worried for-"

Holmes scoffed. "I am not worried for myself, Watson! I am younger than you-"

"Hardly!"

"- and besides, do you truly think me that selfish?" He shook his head, the black hair upon it long since turned silver, and flung that blasted bow of his at last to one side. "If you or I catch this horrid influenza by chance, then so be it. But to go so deliberately to an infection site... you are mad! And what difference shall you make anyway?"

"I am still a doctor." My voice was low, soft. "You came out of retirement to assist with the war effort. Is this truly so different?"

"Yes," Holmes insisted emphatically. "Watson..." The desperate edge to his tone finally caught my attention. His expression was pleading. "Please. Why are you doing this?"

"This influenza..." I began haltingly. "It isn't- it isn't like other illnesses. It kills practically indiscriminately. Men, women, old, young..." I closed my eyes, my memory soaked with thoughts of Mary. Too young, far too young... "I am just one old man, Holmes. If I can save one life, surely the risk is worth it?"

A light brush of a hand against my own startled me, and I opened my eyes to see my friend crouched in front of me.

"My dear fellow." His wrinkles deepened into a sad smile. "Your conclusions are erroneous. For don't you see, if you were to succumb to this illness it would not just be one life lost, but two?"


A/N: Huzzah, finally I begin work on my own challenge! Thanks to everybody taking part this year, it's been so great reading everything that's been written so far.

Regarding this response - the illness they're referencing is the Spanish Influenza, which was known to take the lives of people of all backgrounds, ages, etc.