Title: The View from the Gate
Fandom: Sherlock Holmes (ACD)
Rating: G
Length: 300 words
Summary:  Dr Watson is waiting for Holmes

He stood, leaning over the wooden gate, looking out over the moor.  Soon his companion would join him, but for now he was simply enjoying the view.  Although the sun had set a while ago, and the last few rays had been swallowed up by the night sky, the moon had already risen.  A quick glance confirmed it was not yet a full moon, that was still a few days away, but the sky was clear, and its light was sufficient for him to distinguish some of the features.

The stunted copse was to one side, the trees beaten down over the years by the strong winds which would soon be blowing as the year moved on.  On the other side there were bushes, where he could just hear small animals moving, causing the branches and leaves to rustle.  A sudden movement in the sky and this impression was confirmed as an owl swooped down and grabbed its breakfast, rising again almost as swiftly as it had descended.

The shadows cast by the moon reminded him of other times when they’d been in similar situations, but these he banished, preferring to concentrate on the scene in front of him.

The sound of crunching gravel alerted him to the arrival of his companion, and he was not surprised to feel a hand on his shoulder and a quiet voice in his ear saying, “Ready?”

He nodded and half reluctantly turned away from the view over the gate.  It had been almost perfect, but he knew from past experience that perfection never lasts and that it was better to retain a memory of an instant of perfection, than stay too long and see it ruined.

He turned and together they made their way down the track.  There was work to be done.