Destined to Be
Title: Destined to Be
Author(s): holmes221b
Rating: G
Character(s): S. Holmes, J. Watson
Summary: The single act of turning left instead of right could change the world...and change the order of things.
Warnings: Alternative Universe, slight reference to injured Watson
Word Count: Right--486 words; Left--462 words; Total--948 words (not including foot notes)
Author's Notes: Slightly influenced by the Doctor Who episode "Turn Left", written for this week's weekend writing prompt. Some poetic license taken concerning the locations of a certain pair.
Right (AU)
Watson
I pulled on the reins, bringing the dog cart to a stop at a fork in the road. I had a choice to make, go right or go left.
If I went left, I would go against the wishes of my parents and become an Army surgeon. If I went right, I would go against my own wishes and become a simple country doctor, taking over the practice of my father's best friend.
A simple choice to make--right or left?
With a sigh, I made my choice as I pulled on the reins, directing the horse to take the road I had chosen.
~*~
Holmes
I swore as I came to a fork in the road. It wasn't on the map of the area I had committed to memory before taking this case.
A life hung in the balance, dependent on my choice.
Right or Left? One meant death, the other life, for my client. But which one was which?
I prayed to a god I doubted even existed that I took the right one, as I made my choice.
Moments later, I encountered a man driving a dog cart. The man had an air of sorrow, as though he had lost someone close to him. But surely he would know whether I was going the right way to get help.
~*~
Watson
"Excuse me, sir," a voice called, startling me from my black thoughts about the fourth commandment(1). "But is this the way to Pembroke?"
"It is," I replied, frowning at how short of breath the man was. "Do you need a lift? I'm heading that way myself."
The man didn't give me a chance to change my mind--not that I would do such a thing, the man did not look well at all--as he immediately jumped into the back of the dog cart.
"I'm in a bit of hurry," the man admitted. "Doctor Brody in Pembroke is the closest doctor to the farm I'm staying at."
"You need a doctor?" I asked, then mentally slapped myself in the face. Of course the man needed a doctor, he had practically said as much! I could feel the man's annoyed glare at my obvious question, agreeing with my thoughts.
I turned around the dog cart, eliciting a cry of confused surprise from my unplanned-for passenger.
"I'm a doctor," I simply explained.
~*~
Holmes
I watched Doctor Watson as he tended to my client, inexperienced hands sewing shut the gaping wound in his thigh.
'Fresh from medical school,' I concluded to myself. 'But he is certainly a gifted member of the profession.'
I nearly jumped clean out of my skin when the doctor interrupted my thoughts by poking me in the ribs.
"Sorry to disturb you, Mister Holmes, but I'm finished here," he informed me.
Even to this day, I don't know why I asked him to stay with me. But I am glad that he accepted.
Left (Canon)
Watson
I pulled on the reins, bringing the dog cart to a stop at a fork in the road. I had a choice to make, go right or go left.
If I went left, I would go against the wishes of my parents and become an Army surgeon. If I went right, I would go against my own wishes and become a simple country doctor, taking over the practice of my father's best friend.
A simple choice to make--right or left?
With a sigh, I made my choice as I pulled on the reins, directing the horse to take the road I had chosen.
~*~
Holmes
I swore as I came to a fork in the road. It wasn't on the map of the area I had committed to memory before taking this case.
A life hung in the balance, dependent on my choice.
Right or Left? One meant death, the other life, for my client. But which one was which?
I prayed to a god I doubted even existed that I took the right one, as I made my choice.
Eventually I arrived breathless in the village of Pembroke, and rode in the local doctor's dog cart back to my client's farm.
The criminal got away, but at least my client survived the encounter.
~*~
Watson~Christmas Day, 1899
Holmes, feeling guilty that I had to spend the entire holidays in bed because I had taken a bullet that had been meant for him, offered to tell me about one of his cases from before we met. I jumped on the chance, for he rarely made such an offer without some sort of prodding on my part.
"Holmes, we nearly crossed paths with each other that day when your client was shot in the thigh," I exclaimed once he had finished recounting the events of the case.
"I know," Holmes admitted. "If you had chosen to obey the wishes of your father, or if I had taken the wrong route..."
"Things would have been a whole lot different," I finished.
Holmes nodded.
"Do you think you would have been able to tolerate my, um, eccentricities, if you had met me before the war?" he asked.
"Possibly, Holmes," I replied. "But would you have thought to ask me to return with you to London, a total stranger to you?"
"In these matters, Watson, the only certainty we have is that nothing is certain(2)," my friend replied. "But I would like to think that I would, and that you would accept the offer of a stranger."
"A pity we can't find out for sure what would have happened," I remarked.
"But it does us no good to dwell on such things, my dear Watson," he said as Mrs. Hudson entered my room with a heavy tray.
(1)The Fourth Commandment is "Thou shalt obey thy father and thy mother"...at least it is for Roman Catholics...I'm about 80% certain it is the same for Protestants.
(2)Holmes is quoting Roman scholar and scientist, Pliny the Elder, here.
Author(s): holmes221b
Rating: G
Character(s): S. Holmes, J. Watson
Summary: The single act of turning left instead of right could change the world...and change the order of things.
Warnings: Alternative Universe, slight reference to injured Watson
Word Count: Right--486 words; Left--462 words; Total--948 words (not including foot notes)
Author's Notes: Slightly influenced by the Doctor Who episode "Turn Left", written for this week's weekend writing prompt. Some poetic license taken concerning the locations of a certain pair.
Right (AU)
Watson
I pulled on the reins, bringing the dog cart to a stop at a fork in the road. I had a choice to make, go right or go left.
If I went left, I would go against the wishes of my parents and become an Army surgeon. If I went right, I would go against my own wishes and become a simple country doctor, taking over the practice of my father's best friend.
A simple choice to make--right or left?
With a sigh, I made my choice as I pulled on the reins, directing the horse to take the road I had chosen.
~*~
Holmes
I swore as I came to a fork in the road. It wasn't on the map of the area I had committed to memory before taking this case.
A life hung in the balance, dependent on my choice.
Right or Left? One meant death, the other life, for my client. But which one was which?
I prayed to a god I doubted even existed that I took the right one, as I made my choice.
Moments later, I encountered a man driving a dog cart. The man had an air of sorrow, as though he had lost someone close to him. But surely he would know whether I was going the right way to get help.
~*~
Watson
"Excuse me, sir," a voice called, startling me from my black thoughts about the fourth commandment(1). "But is this the way to Pembroke?"
"It is," I replied, frowning at how short of breath the man was. "Do you need a lift? I'm heading that way myself."
The man didn't give me a chance to change my mind--not that I would do such a thing, the man did not look well at all--as he immediately jumped into the back of the dog cart.
"I'm in a bit of hurry," the man admitted. "Doctor Brody in Pembroke is the closest doctor to the farm I'm staying at."
"You need a doctor?" I asked, then mentally slapped myself in the face. Of course the man needed a doctor, he had practically said as much! I could feel the man's annoyed glare at my obvious question, agreeing with my thoughts.
I turned around the dog cart, eliciting a cry of confused surprise from my unplanned-for passenger.
"I'm a doctor," I simply explained.
~*~
Holmes
I watched Doctor Watson as he tended to my client, inexperienced hands sewing shut the gaping wound in his thigh.
'Fresh from medical school,' I concluded to myself. 'But he is certainly a gifted member of the profession.'
I nearly jumped clean out of my skin when the doctor interrupted my thoughts by poking me in the ribs.
"Sorry to disturb you, Mister Holmes, but I'm finished here," he informed me.
Even to this day, I don't know why I asked him to stay with me. But I am glad that he accepted.
Left (Canon)
Watson
I pulled on the reins, bringing the dog cart to a stop at a fork in the road. I had a choice to make, go right or go left.
If I went left, I would go against the wishes of my parents and become an Army surgeon. If I went right, I would go against my own wishes and become a simple country doctor, taking over the practice of my father's best friend.
A simple choice to make--right or left?
With a sigh, I made my choice as I pulled on the reins, directing the horse to take the road I had chosen.
~*~
Holmes
I swore as I came to a fork in the road. It wasn't on the map of the area I had committed to memory before taking this case.
A life hung in the balance, dependent on my choice.
Right or Left? One meant death, the other life, for my client. But which one was which?
I prayed to a god I doubted even existed that I took the right one, as I made my choice.
Eventually I arrived breathless in the village of Pembroke, and rode in the local doctor's dog cart back to my client's farm.
The criminal got away, but at least my client survived the encounter.
~*~
Watson~Christmas Day, 1899
Holmes, feeling guilty that I had to spend the entire holidays in bed because I had taken a bullet that had been meant for him, offered to tell me about one of his cases from before we met. I jumped on the chance, for he rarely made such an offer without some sort of prodding on my part.
"Holmes, we nearly crossed paths with each other that day when your client was shot in the thigh," I exclaimed once he had finished recounting the events of the case.
"I know," Holmes admitted. "If you had chosen to obey the wishes of your father, or if I had taken the wrong route..."
"Things would have been a whole lot different," I finished.
Holmes nodded.
"Do you think you would have been able to tolerate my, um, eccentricities, if you had met me before the war?" he asked.
"Possibly, Holmes," I replied. "But would you have thought to ask me to return with you to London, a total stranger to you?"
"In these matters, Watson, the only certainty we have is that nothing is certain(2)," my friend replied. "But I would like to think that I would, and that you would accept the offer of a stranger."
"A pity we can't find out for sure what would have happened," I remarked.
"But it does us no good to dwell on such things, my dear Watson," he said as Mrs. Hudson entered my room with a heavy tray.
(1)The Fourth Commandment is "Thou shalt obey thy father and thy mother"...at least it is for Roman Catholics...I'm about 80% certain it is the same for Protestants.
(2)Holmes is quoting Roman scholar and scientist, Pliny the Elder, here.