Title: Radish
Fandom: Sherlock Holmes (ACD)
Rating: G
Length: 985 words
Content notes: none
Summary: Watson’s plan for the garden plot is perfect. There is no reason why Holmes should request changes to it.


The sun slowly burned away at the morning mist that covered the Sussex coastal region. The filtered light tried to peak through the windows of a white washed cottage to let the occupants know of its arrival, but there was no one there to welcome it.

Watson yawned as he followed footsteps through the fallen morning dew. He wondered how long it would take Holmes to trod down the grass between their cottage and the shed housing the beekeeping and gardening tools. Approaching the shed, Watson saw the weathered wooden door open and Holmes energetically emerge carried two pairs of forks and hoes.

“You do realize that we are retired and can slow the pace a bit?” said Watson taking one of the sets from Holmes.

Holmes smirked. “That was not what you said last evening.”

He promptly turned and disappeared into the shed.

Watson sighed. “We are discussing the garden. This is an ambitious amount of work and it does not need to be completed today.”

Triumphantly Holmes returned and handed Watson a pair of gardening gloves. “Perhaps, but we have risen early and it may not rain today.”

So much for the laziest man in shoe leathers.

****

Watson watched the rich, dark earth fall in clumps from his fork. He stabbed the ground and leaned back to stretch and tried to relieve the ache in his shoulder. They were making slow progress and Watson would make even slower progress if he pushed his body too hard.

Without discussion, Holmes had decided they should work on opposite ends and meet in the middle. It was more efficient, he claimed, to divide their efforts. Watson decided it was easier to accept that plan than argue. Returning to the present task, Watson picked up his fork and began working again.

“I think we should plant the radishes there, by this end of the bed.”

Watson almost dropped his fork and looked at Holmes. Throughout winter, there had been seed catalogues and the weekly Gardening Illustrated in stacks on his desk. By lamp light, he would flip through them, dog's-ear pages of varieties that looked promising or gardening techniques he should try. He had even sketched out his plans. Holmes had known all of his activities; why bring it up now?

“That is not where I planned to put them,” Watson said punctuating the statement with a stab into the earth.

Holmes kept silent and returned to his attention to the area of untilled earth.

****

They worked a little longer until it was mutually decided that a break was in order and they returned to the house. Holmes went inside. Watson collapsed on an outside chair and wondered when had he allowed himself to be slowed down this much.

Holmes returned and pressed a glass of water in Watson’s hand and stood surveying their work. The sun was suddenly covered by a cloud and a cool breeze caused Watson to shiver briefly.

“We could have the ground prepared by tea time and begin working on the garden fence tomorrow.”

The garden fence was new this year. Watson was tired of having his vegetables, especially the radishes and lettuces, be eaten away by the native rabbit population before he even saw the fruits of his labours.

“We are in no rush; my seeds have not arrived.” Watson raised his glass and took another sip.

“You mentioned that you wanted to add another garden bed,” said Holmes.

Watson lowered his glass and turned it around in his hands. “I did. I also mentioned that we could acquire fruit trees-”

“The radishes could go in the new bed.”

Watson sighed. “You keep to your bees and I will tend the garden,” was said with more heat than he intended.

Holmes glanced down before setting off for the garden bed.

****

Watson returned his glass because he did not want to see another one lost - Holmes was quite capable of scattering them throughout the property. Watson was proud of his garden plan. He had followed the latest in gardening advice and would grow the radishes with spinach, which were said to be good companions. Why should he move them to the end of the bed where it would go against recommendations to have radishes grow with potatoes? The article considered this rather shameful, which was likely taking the matter too far. He pondered why Holmes had taken a sudden interest in reorganizing his plans. There was no protest any other year. Why was this year different?

Watson considered this as stood by the doorway and watched Holmes smooth out the soil with a hoe. Knocking his gloves against his trousers, Watson chuckled as his realization fell into place. He slowly moved from the doorway and walked down to join Holmes.

“Holmes, would the new bed, by chance, have a fence around it?”

Leaning on the garden hoe, Holmes met Watson’s gaze. “I wasn’t planning on building that one.”

“Do you have some other means of keeping out the rabbits?”

“Other than a fence, no.”

Watson smiled as it confirmed his theory. “Is there any other vegetable that should join the radishes?”

“Beets.”

“You want me to re-plan my garden to exclude those two vegetables?”

Holmes nodded. “What would be preferable.”

“Or I could continue with my plan and we could give any extras to Mrs. Lloyd.”

“Good heavens, no!” said Holmes looking appalled. “Each time she comes over she keeps sighing and making significant looks at you. She does not need any more encouragement.”

Watson chuckled and remembered their previous encounter with a very eager lady wishing to relieve Watson is his bachelor status.

“The plan stays Holmes. I am rather fond of radishes, even if you are not.”

Holmes frowned as he watched Watson pick up his gardening tool. As they worked, Watson wondered what other schemes Holmes had in store to rid his garden of radishes.