Late one evening in early October, I came into the parlor to find Holmes exceedingly hostile.
“Did you know?” He whispered.
The look upon his face gave cause for my blood to run cold. It created a full body shiver. I proceeded with the greatest caution. “About what?”
Then he screamed at me as if I was the lady on the steps, “did you know!”
“Know what?”
He stormed from the room. I stood staring out the window wondering what could be the matter. I went over lots of facts in my mind but could come up with nothing. The sun was setting when she returned.
Lizzie came into the parlor, she asked as she took off her hat, “did he tell you?”
“No.”
She looked stunned for a moment, then moved her head from one side to the next. “Sherlock,” she whispered bolting from the room.
I ran after her. We ran from Bakers Street, across streets and into alleys until I had no clue where we were. She found Holmes laying in the street bleeding. “Sherlock,” she asked in a panic. He moaned in pain when she touched his side.
“Watson, call a constable.”
“No,” Holmes moaned. His words were but a whisper, “I went looking for a fight and found one.”
“No,” she scolded. “Fighting requires that you defend yourself. You did not.”
We worked together to lean him up against a building. “What do you care?”
He could have hit her and done her less damage. “I beg your pardon.” She stared at him. His eyes were closed and all he was doing was breathing.
She left. She left us both there on the street. No name street as far as I was concerned. I had no idea where we were. With great effort, I was able to get Holmes to his feet and we were able to find a cab.
Back at Bakers Street, I cleaned his wounds as he came around. “Watson.”
“What am I supposed to know?”
“She has been seeing another doctor.”
I was in shock. “Since when?”
“September.”
“Where?”
“St. George’s, she has been seeing a surgeon there.”
“Did she tell you why?” I received no answer. “I have noticed that she is in pain and favors her right side.”
Mrs. Hudson burst into the parlor. “Mr. Holmes, Doctor!”
I went to her. “Urgent telegraph for Mr. Holmes.”
“Thank you.” I returned to Holmes.
“Read it.”
I did so. “It is from Hopkins, Come at once, St. George’s Hospital.”
We got there as quickly as we could. Inspector Hopkins met us in the hall. “Do you know what is happening?”
“No.”
I ran down the hall hoping to find another doctor. I found an operating room, with a patient on the table. A nurse started pushing me out the door.
“Wait.” I heard a voice I thought I knew. “Dr. Watson.”
“Yes.”
“It is I, Vernet.”
“I meant not to interrupt.”
“No please, change, help me. We know the patient.”
“Lizzie?” I questioned.
“Nurse, help him get ready.”
With Vernet to guide me, we performed an appendectomy. I had never been inside the human body like this. I had amputated limbs on the battle field, but never had I had my hands inside a living person. It thrilled me to no end. Once he removed it, he held it up to me. “Look at the size of that thing. It could go at any moment.” When he laid it in a pan, it split with bile oozing from it. “Yes at any moment.”
After we were clean, we went to find Holmes and the good inspector. Holmes was beside himself. He looked at me with despair in his eyes.
“How is she?” Hopkins finally asked.
Vernet smiled, “she is fine.” He patted me on the back. “We removed appendix and she is fine. Will take weeks to heal but she is strong. Will do fine.” He shook my hand, “thank you Dr. Watson. You may help me anytime.”
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