Title: Sympathy
Fandom: Sherlock Holmes (ACD)
Rating: G
Length: 192
Author notes: This was inspired by The Adventure of the Retired Colourman - particularly Barker: Holmes' "rival". And there's perhaps a cheeky nod to a scene in Sherlock's TSoT.
Summary: It's not easy putting up with geniuses.

Some time after the case concerning the retired colourman had been completed, Holmes and Barker worked together again.


Watson stood together with Barker’s female associate, and watched as the two detectives searched the muddy ground for evidence.

He turned to Miss Whittaker.

“Just wanted to say,” he murmured, “how lovely it is to finally meet someone who understands.”

“Indeed…” said Miss Whittaker. She leant closer. “Mine’s taken up the banjo, you know.”

Watson winced. “Mine’s been experimenting with atonality.”

Miss Whittaker nodded in sympathy.

“Mine’s got half of the sitting room floor covered with his papers now.”

“Ha!” said Watson.

Barker glanced at him briefly over the top of his sun-glasses, and Watson dropped his voice again.

“I haven’t seen our sitting room floor since 1895.”

“Hum...” said Miss Whittaker.

She stared at Barker, who was attempting to examine something on the ground through his dark lenses.

“Mine absolutely refuses to give up those wretched grey-tinted spectacles.”

Watson looked on in bemusement as Holmes got down on the ground and began licking the ‘something’, his bottom stuck high in the air.

“Well,” he said. “Mine just likes making a spectacle of himself.”