Author, I am delighted by this gift brimming with rich, luscious feeling and care. The relationship between Holmes and Watson here is warm and natural, lived in.

And the emotional hurt/comfort is excellent. Holmes would of course carry that pain and residual fear with him, unable to release it and unwilling to express it. I adore such a caring, intelligent, and observant Watson, seeing through Holmes and the bible at the center of his own case (!) with ease. I have a personal headcanon for this story that Watson bumped his head while doing some fishing inbetween interrogations. :)

A few details I just adored:

Holmes carrying Watson's telegram in his breast pocket to keep him close, if only in text.

And this wonderful section of dialogue, expressing my favorite thing about Holmes and Watson together, their perfect match. Watson and his optimism is exactly what Holmes in his firm logical drive needs so desperately.

"I have never felt so powerless, so helpless. Such despair."

"Such love," he said. "Such devotion. Such joy at our reunion."

Ah, thank you so much for writing this!