Squeezing Holmes's hand closely, Watson did pause for a moment. He bent down to kiss Holmes, rather chastely; the idea that he might somehow lose Holmes to this was far too real, and far too horrifying to consider.

"Rest would be advisable," he said. "Plenty of it." He sighed again, shifting on the bed. Lying by omission was not something he was good at, not with Holmes. "I won't lie," he confessed. "This has the potential to be serious. If it gets no worse you should recover. You absolutely must tell me if you begin to worsen in any way."