Holmes drifts into consciousness similarly to how he drifted away from it; the biggest difference is that when he opens his eyes and sees Watson, there isn't anything wrong with him. He's Watson, whole and safe, without any hallucinations clinging to his shoulders. There aren't any voices, either, though there's something, faint and faraway. He closes his eyes to focus on it, and then picks it out; it's crying, quiet and muffled.

He opens his eyes again and the sounds connect with the visual, and he frowns. Watson crying? Another hallucination?

"Watson?" he murmurs, and he reaches out, his fingertips grazing Watson's leg. "Are you real?"