about half an hour after dinner,
  W prepares to leave 221B for work, again.
This practice had been going on for several nights now.
H, even still, interrupts W with the complaint
  "Is this really necessary?"
W grunts wearily at this continual quarrel between them.

H insists that W need not take night-work
  at the hospital to cover his expenses;
  H would gladly cover W's share of the rent, again.

W responds with irritation
"I know that! That is what I don't want.
  You have done enough for me already, Holmes.
  If I have trouble with my expenses, it is my business,
  and I will correct the problem."

H still tries to insist on helping,
  as a friend.
Even says that it's for his own selfishness,
  as H misses W's company in the evenings.
he offers to pay W for work he can do here at 221B.

"What work would that be--organising your case files?
  I'm a doctor. I have my pride."
W simply turns and goes.

H sighs and sits alone,
  brooding unhappily.

---

on W's return hours later,
  H meets him at the door.
says that he has a proposition to solve this mutual problem,
  something to satisfy them both.
"Just hear me out,
  and if you do not like my suggestion,
  I shall never protest your work again."

W hesitates,
  but decides that H promising to stop interfering
  might be worth it.
"Very well. What is your suggestion?"

turning, H beckons
"Come with me."
heads to his bedroom.

W follows.
"Holmes, this better not be updating your indexes,
  or tidying up what you won't permit the maid to touch."

H shakes his head.
"This is ... an experiment, requiring expertise."
he shrugged,
  "A bit of research for which I would need your assistance."
they reach the door and enter.
shutting it, H turns to W.
"It is not ... trifling."
H steps closer. "Or without satisfaction."

"Then what is it?"
W idly turns to seek out the nearest lamp to hand,
  that they may have light.

He eyes W in the dimness, stopping him
  and turning W around again.
"Do not worry," H stands quite close to W.
"This is a service that only you can do for me."
presses W back against the wall.

W blinks, his senses prickling.
"Holmes?" his voice hoarse.

after a pause,
  weighing the worth of continued pretense,
  H kisses W's lips.

W draws H back, warning,
  "Holmes, you mustn't--"

"I don't give a damn!"
kisses again, insistently.
he feels W tremble a bit, succumb.
H presses a deeper kiss,
  and W responds with his whole body.
H unfastens W's collar, caressing his neck.
he tastes W's tongue and draws out his breath.
whispers "Stay with me."
breathes against W's throat, kissing
"Do this for me."
licks
"You'll find this work very rewarding..."

W closes his eyes and moans,
  but shifts and shakes his head.
"If we're caught--"

H silences him with a forceful tongue.
unbuttons W and pulls out his shirt-tails.
reaches into W's trousers,
  still kissing down his chest.
"Don't do a thing, if you don't want to."
H slides down to the floor,
  "Blame me for taking you."
kneels, exhaling.
"Just let me..."

W swallows with a ragged breath.
"No."
sinks
"Let me..."
kneels and grasps H's shoulders,
  pressing him down to the floor.
"Holmes..."
W kisses him passionately.
ravishes him.

---

afterward, lying in bed,
  W caresses him and asks musingly,
"Holmes, do you realise
  that you essentially asked me
  to earn my keep like a harlot?"

H smiles and sighs.
"I prefer to think of it
  as a unique medical assistance."
touching W
"--You attending to my needs
  so that I don't do something desperate
  like throw myself into the Thames."

W laughs.
a kiss, sliding together again.