I was much refreshed this morning and scarcely bothered to shave before hurrying to Watson's room. When he answered the door, he certainly looked surprised to see me so early, and was still in his dressing-gown.

"I apologise for waking you, but--"

Before I could finish, he pulled me into his room again and kicked the door shut. We embraced so tightly, and he pressed me back against the door, covering my face in kisses. "Oh Holmes."

"My dear Watson." I laughed and caressed his face, where his morning stubble was scratching me. "I've not felt that since the morning before you left, Watson."

He paused and stepped back to look into my eyes. "When we slept together?" he whispered.

I nodded and caressed his hair. "How I've missed you so."

He suddenly tried to kiss my mouth again, and I pulled back. "Watson!" I extricated myself from his arms and stepped toward the nearest chair.

With an effort he controlled himself and sat down on his bed. "I'm sorry. I thought..." He frowned and looked puzzled.

"I've woken you too early," I said. "You are not quite strong enough yet, are you?"

He glanced at me for a moment, then said, "No."

"Then I am sorry. Perhaps I should go."

"No! No, stay, please."

"Very well." He looked hurt and fearful that I did not forgive him for the attempted kiss, so I came toward him again and took his hand.

He squeezed it and stared up at me as I stood near. I tried to smile reassuringly, and he slowly began to relax. "I missed you," he said.

"And I you, my dear."

"I love you."

It was so good to hear him say so in person after these three months apart. "I love you too." I leaned down and kissed his cheek again.

He looked sad rather than happy, and he suddenly released my hand. "Would you... step away from me?"

I was puzzled by his sudden coldness, but I suppose he was still making an effort to control himself. I retreated back to the chair and sat down in it. "You look so weary, Watson. Did you not sleep well?"

"I slept--" There was a strange edge to his voice. He hesitated a moment longer before admitting, "I dreamed of you."

"Oh." I frowned with regret for my carelessness in returning his embrace at the door, instead of being wary.

He said, somewhat irritably, "What else could you expect after last night? Asking me to kiss you, touch you..."

"I'm sorry," I said. "I knew it was a risk, but the craving was so strong and I could not bear it--"

"I am glad you came," he assured me with less anger. "I certainly did not want you to take morphine again, and I'm glad you came to me before it was too late. If I had only known--if you had sent me a telegram, I would have rushed right home to you."

"Would you?" I asked, smiling with pleasure now.

"Of course, Holmes. I would do anything to stop your awful habit."

"I know that, but I feared--well, with your doctor making you stop our correspondence, I feared that you might not even read any message from me."

"Of course I would!"

"Well even if you did, I thought he might stop you from coming back."

"He could not stop me!" Watson said, outraged at the thought. "I told you I would come home to you."

"Yes, but you were not well yet."

"I would always come when you need me, Holmes. I--I'm coming home with you today."

"Yes, so you promised last night." I beamed at him happily. "I can hardly wait, Watson. Shall I help you pack?"

"Oh, I--not yet, Holmes. Um, let me get dressed."

"Oh of course. And you need to shave as well." I rose. "Shall I meet you downstairs for breakfast?"

"Yes, please."

"Very well." I went to him again and kissed his cheek. "Till then, my dear."

He nodded and watched me go.

---

So I went downstairs and got us a table; the hotel's dining room was still fairly empty at this early hour. I ordered coffee and what German foods that I remembered Watson saying he liked in his letters. As I waited for him, I also asked for a local railway guide so that I could see which trains we could take home. I should allow him time to pack properly and also to see his doctor before going. It pleased me to hear him say that he would come with me regardless of what his doctor said.

I suppose that he can continue his treatment by correspondence, and just visit London prostitutes as necessary. The thought is still distasteful to me, but I suppose if he must have relations with a woman to be cured, I will have to tolerate it. Better that he come home smelling of some whore than that he try to marry again and leave me.

Watson joined me then, looking neat and handsome.

"Good morning," I said, since we had neglected to say such greetings earlier, in our rush to embrace.

"Good morning." He sat down and saw me consulting the railway schedule. "Oh, I think I'll be ready to leave by noon."

"Good." I poured coffee for him and he thanked me.

Then he glanced at the full breakfast laid out for us and looked pleased. "So you have a full appetite today, Holmes?"

"Yes, especially seeing you again, I feel much restored to spirits."

He smiled and began to eat. "I thought they did not have pretzels on Tuesdays?"

"I requested them especially, since it is your last day in Germany."

"You requested--?" He glanced at the whole meal, noticing now that it contained all his favourites from sausages to jam. "Oh, thank you."

"The least I could do for waking you too early, my dear. Hmm, yes, these soft pretzels do taste rather good when they're warm."

"Yes," he said, "especially with the coffee."

"Indeed."

So we breakfasted and chatted awhile. I offered again to pack his bags for him while he went to see his doctor, but he said no. "There's no need to be so eager, Holmes. I don't want to disturb Dr. Klemperer too early. He shall not be expecting any patient right after breakfast after all, and I do not want to put him in a mood. Let him go to his office first."

"If we must. But surely you won't wait until your regular appointment time?"

"No, I shall see him straight away to let him know I am going, and to settle the bill. Oh, by the way, Holmes, do you mind buying our train tickets for us? I also have to settle the hotel bill today and will be short of cash after that."

"Of course, Watson. Do you need any money now?"

"No, no. I am fine. I just need to receive my latest royalty cheque to replenish my bank account."

"Oh, your earnings from your stories?"

"Yes."

Watson also has a considerable sum from selling his practice last year, but we have agreed that he should not touch his savings normally. I believe he also feels slightly awkward about spending any of it, since he regards it as a direct present of money from me, through my cousin Dr. Verner. Watson much prefers to rely on his wound pension and his royalties. But why should money matter between us, when he trusts me to keep safe his chequebook from his gambling habit? I wonder if I should offer to settle his bill with Dr. Klemperer as well, since after all I am responsible for his illness.

"I could settle your hotel bill along with mine."

"Don't be silly, Holmes." He lowered his voice and glanced away. "It's my own fault for my cure taking so long."

"Oh, Watson--" I put my arm around his shoulders, but he brushed me off and moved his chair away.

"Not now," he said.

"I'm sorry."

He quickly dismissed it and cleared his throat. "I shall pack after breakfast. Why don't you go on ahead, Holmes, to get our tickets and drop off your own bags? You can also stop and see a few sights before we go."

"I would like to go with you, Watson."

"That would be nice." His face softened. "Well then, after you come back from the train station and after I have packed, I'll check out of the hotel. Then we can put my bags in the carriage and go about the countryside for a bit before coming back to town. At ten-thirty, you can wait with my bags while I go in to see Dr. Klemperer."

"Yes, Watson."

---

So we did as agreed, enjoying a pleasant morning, although he still would not sit right next to me in the carriage. I had to settle on the opposite seat from Watson. Finally our carriage drew up to Dr. Klemperer's practice, and I waited outside for him.

However, to my surprise, there was a considerable argument inside, until the German doctor rushed outside and looked straight into the carriage at me.

"Herr Holmes, I presume?" he asked with some scorn.

"Dr. Klemperer, I presume?" I must admit I still resented him for keeping Watson from me for so long.

Watson came out, looking flustered. "Doctor, will you please--?"

"No!" he said forcefully, before glancing back at me. "Not until I have spoken to this gentleman. Would you come inside, Herr Holmes? I shall have my servant watch your carriage."

"If you insist." I came down and touched Watson's shoulder, since he looked so upset.

But Watson withdrew from me again, while Dr. Klemperer looked on disapprovingly. "You see?" he said to Watson.

So I controlled myself, though I didn't like seeing Watson in such distress.

Dr. Klemperer spoke in German to one of his servants, and then we went inside, to his office. Once in private, the specialist approached me with the same look of scorn. "How dare you, sir?"

"I know I am at fault for my poor friend's illness, doctor, but I have apologised to him for Reichenbach, and will do everything possible to make it up to him."

He scoffed at me and glanced at Watson in disbelief. "He is as blind as you! Herr Holmes, I am not talking about Reichenbach. I am talking about your coming here to take Watson back to London! I will not allow it."

"Not allow it?! What--"

"You have ruined the work of three months! You come here in the middle of the night, undoing any progress he made with the woman, and you entice him to go home with you, all for the sake of your drug craving."

"I need him!" I answered. "I cannot go on without him anymore."

"You are a selfish bastard!"

I tried to assault the man, but Watson held me back.

Dr. Klemperer went on, "If you truly cared for your friend, Herr Holmes, if you were truly sorry for deceiving him at Reichenbach, then you would let him go. You would allow him to be free of you."

"I have endured him being gone for three months--"

"And yet when it suited you before, you left him for three years."

I broke free of Watson and hit the man.

He did not strike back, merely holding a handkerchief to his injured face and walking over to his desk. He did not complain and just glanced at me witheringly.

Watson grasped hold of me again, to prevent any further violence, but when I looked at his face, all the fury and outrage left me. I sank into a chair, shaking with misery and guilt about Reichenbach. "Oh, Watson, I'm so sorry. I--"

He shook his head and brushed the tears from my eyes, but I could not calm down. "I never should have left you."

"Hush."

Dr. Klemperer came forward again, making Watson let me go and back away. He pulled up a chair and cleared his throat. "Herr Holmes, let us leave aside your mistake. You regret it and he forgives you. I apologize for mentioning it, but I wanted you to understand that you are in fact capable of living without him."

I shook my head, but he would not let me protest.

"It is difficult, yes, but you must make this sacrifice for your friend. For his own good, and yours, you must let him go now. Go back to London without him. Let him remain here and continue his treatment."

Watson protested, "Holmes needs me. I must keep him from the morphine."

"Ask another doctor to monitor him then," Klemperer said. "Why should he be your patient? Focus on your own health right now."

"He won't listen to anyone else."

"He must distract me," I added.

"Distract yourself with your cases," Klemperer insisted. "Announce that you are alive again to the public. What is the point of secrecy now?"

I looked to Watson, then nodded. "If it will make you happy."

"I--thank you, Holmes." He nearly went to me for an embrace, but Klemperer put up a restraining hand.

"Then it's agreed, you will go home without him, and--"

"No, I want him home with me. I cannot--"

"Do not be selfish."

Watson said, "Please, I want to go. I-I cannot stay here at a hotel forever. It would be easier for me to be at home."

"And how shall I treat you?" Klemperer asked sceptically.

"He can be treated at home," I said. "Let him write to you and visit the brothels in London if he must."

"It is not that simple, Herr Holmes. He needs not only to reacquire his taste for females, but also to avoid you."

"How long? For God's sake, how long?"

"As long as he needs to forget. We made some progress, and yet you have undone it all in one night, what with your clinging to him and touching him. We might have to start over."

"No! No!" I could not bear the thought of another day, let alone another three months. "There must be some other way."

"Oh there are plenty of other quack treatments. Have you heard of faradization, for example? Electrical impulses to your--" he gestured to the area.

"God no!" I reached toward Watson in concern.

Dr. Klemperer dismissed it. "It is foolish nonsense."

"It's barbarous!"

"And I do not propose it. There are many 'experts' with all sorts of theories as to how to treat this illness. Personally I believe that the most effective cure would be for Dr. Watson to marry again."

"No!" Watson would not have it.

Klemperer insisted, "You would not have to sully yourself with prostitutes, and can be happy with a respectable woman again. You would move out and be able to return to friendship with him."

"We are friends now."

"No, you are something else, something dangerous. Come, see sense. So long as you move out of Baker Street, you could return to London, and is that not what you both wish?"

I considered it, still reluctant to lose him, but Watson remained adamant. "I will not marry again! Why will you not let that go?"

"Because you refuse it so strongly! I could have cured you long ago had you agreed to even go courting some young lady. What kind of patient are you, who says no to the surest cure? It seems that you do not truly want to be helped at all."

"I do! I--" Watson covered his face and sank onto a chair, crying.

"Watson!" I went over to him, despite Klemperer's objection. I knelt close and held him to me, kissing his forehead.

Watson clung to me and whispered softly, "I love you."

"And I love you, with all my heart."

Klemperer threw up his hands and sighed. "You have made your choice, then." He went to his desk and wrote out his bill. "Fine, then pay it and go. I have no use for a patient who will not cooperate in his cure."

Watson still needed some time to compose himself, so I paid his bill, then shuffled him out the door. He protested when he realised what I'd done, but I insisted on leaving now, and he finally acquiesced. If it was true that I had undone three months of work, then I should indeed pay for it, I supposed. In the carriage, I was glad to still hold Watson next to me, and I told the driver to hurry us to the train station. At last we could go home.