Watson put cloth and basin to one side, and he resettled himself alongside Holmes, curling protectively around him. "Go ahead and sleep, then," he answered in a whisper. He stroked his fingers over Holmes's skin. "I shall be right here."

He pressed a kiss into Holmes's hair, resisting the urge to pull Holmes against him like an overprotective and smothery mother.

"You'll be fine," Watson murmured, admittedly half to himself. "At least if I have anything to do with it."