Title: The Other Side
Fandom: Sherlock Holmes (ACD)
Rating: G
Length: 853 words
Summary:  Holmes has a plan for his brother's birthday.
With grateful thanks to mafief who sent me the link to Felicia the Ferret, who was far more efficient

"Let me get this straight,” Dr Watson said.  “You have stolen, purloined or borrowed your brother’s umbrella and wish to return it in such a way that he has to puzzle out how it’s been done?”

“Correct,” Sherlock Holmes agreed.  “It will be an ideal birthday present for Mycroft.  And this is how we shall do it.  There is a redundant pipe which runs from Mycroft’s’ office along the side of the building.  It’s quite straight so his umbrella will slide along without problem.  We attach a string to the Ferret, who runs along the pipe with it and comes out on the other side.”

Watson grunted to show he was listening, and Holmes continued, “At the end of the string is a strong cord and we then attach the umbrella to the cord and pull it through.  I shall be in Mycroft’s office, and you will start the Ferret on his journey.  It should work a treat.  After all, what can possibly go wrong?”

Everyone had been feeling almost hopeful until Holmes uttered the last five words.

Nevertheless, they went along with the plan.  Holmes visited his brother and Watson attached the string to a temporary harness the Ferret was wearing and lifted him up to the pipe.  They watched as the string unrolled and began to disappear.  Then, after a while, it stopped.

“I thought Mr Holmes had measured the distance of the pipe,” Mouselet said.  “There seems to be quite a bit of string left.”

“It’s okay,” the Ocelot said.  “The string’s started moving again.”

This time the rest of the string disappeared.  Shortly afterwards there was a jerk and the cord started to go into the pipe.  Again, the movement was a bit erratic, but finally the cord had all disappeared and the umbrella began its journey.  All they had to do now was wait for the Ferret to return to confirm all had gone well.  They sat down and waited.  And waited.

--

Meanwhile, the Ferret had indeed made it through the pipe. 

“What happened?” Holmes whispered. 

The Ferret dropped the string, which had been in his mouth, and explained, “First of all I tripped over the string.  Then, just after that, the string broke, so I had to go back and pull it with my mouth.  A minor problem.”

Holmes picked up the string rather dubiously, since it was now rather slimy, and began to pull.  He could feel the tension from the cord, but somewhere it must be snagging because it wasn’t running as freely as he’d hoped, and he couldn’t risk pulling too hard in case the cord broke as well.  And all the time he had to be careful so Mycroft couldn’t see exactly what he was doing.  He was forced to concede that things weren’t going quite to plan.

--

Back in the other office, Watson and the rest of the gang looked at each other.  The clock outside had just chimed midday and it seemed to be taking far long than they had expected.

The Ocelot said, “Mouselet, I don’t suppose you’d go and have a look for us, would you?”

“All right,” Mouselet squeaked.  “But I’ll need a lift up.”

Watson helped her up and assured her he’d be there to help her back down again, and she scampered off.

It wasn’t long before she was back.  “The umbrella’s stuck in the pipe,” she said.  “It seems to have opened slightly.  I suppose I could try climbing onto it and see if there was anything I can do.”

“Oh no, Mouselet,” Watson said.  “It will be much safer for you if you don’t.  It’s Holmes’ problem, let him sort it out.”

The Ocelot and the Sloth stuck their heads out of the window to have a closer look at the pipe.

“I reckon if I climb along it, there’s a bit of movement in the pipe, so my weight might just free the umbrella,” the Sloth said.

“Is it safe for you?” Watson asked.

“Oh yes, there’s plenty of claw grips I can find.  Shall I try it?”

“Yes, why not?”

--

On the other side, Holmes had realised there was a major problem and got the Ferret to go back and see what had happened.

The Ferret hadn’t gone far when he scurried back.  Rather breathlessly he said, “The umbrella’s stuck but the pipe’s moving.”

Without thinking Holmes put his head out of the window.  This attracted Mycroft’s attention, who joined his brother.

“Hmm,” Mycroft said.  He looked straight at Holmes.  “That window cleaner is remarkably small.  And I was sure they came on Mondays.”  There was a rumble and the umbrella suddenly shot down the pipe and came to rest in front of Mycroft.  He took it up, waved to the Sloth, and called, “Thank you.  I wondered where my umbrella had got to.”  Then he turned back to his brother.  “Have you come to see more for a specific reason?” he asked.

“Um, no.  Just to wish you a happy birthday.”

“Thank you.  And goodbye.  Oh, and please convey my thanks to Dr Watson for his part in returning my umbrella.”