A smile flickered over Watson's face. To hear that he was missed was far better than the fear that the absence had meant very little to Holmes, that walking away had been easy. It would break his heart to split himself away from Holmes now, but it would break his heart more to know he meant that little.

He drained the last of his brandy, and set the glass aside. "I should probably try to sleep," Watson said quietly. "It's been rather a long day, and it's getting quite late... I don't have office hours tomorrow but I may be called on for an emergency, one never knows."

He rose, looking anywhere but at Holmes. "You may stay up if you wish, of course. I'll just fetch you a blanket."