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The second shipment of "The Art and Stories of Three Patch Podcast: Celebrating BBC Sherlock Fandom 2013-2023" is finally here, and I will be hard at work packing and shipping out these books to our over 100 Indiegogo supporters over the next few weeks!

If you missed it, this is @threepatchpodcast's 240-page hardcover book that sums up 10 years of podcasting and recording the BBC Sherlock fandom. We have a few extra copies available that are now available for purchase on my Etsy:

If you *did not* receive your book yet AND did not get an update email about your book, please reach out to us! There are definitely still books in transit, but we want to make sure you have all received your books.

260706

by Holmesianlove

Chapter 7: On the Case

“So... What is this errand that we're running?” I asked, after I had followed him in silence long enough. 

“I’m... 
a detective, Watson,” he finally offered in reply.

“You are?” I turned my head to look at him, eyes widening.

“Yes. 
Among other things,’’ he offered, as if that made it so much more palatable. 

“Among other things?” 

“Yes.” 

I was astonished. Suddenly finding him the way I had done in the alleyway seemed to make more sense. At least… maybe it did?

“Right. And so... we're... detecting now?” 

He gave me a withering look. “Investigating... is the present participle you're looking for.” 

“Ah. 
I thank you, kind sir.” I gave him an overly dramatic gesture with my hand, signalling a regal bow, but he ignored me and I felt completely ridiculous for it, returning my hand to my pocket instead. “And so... What exactly are we... investigating then?” 

“My client seems to have misplaced a valuable item. A precious statue... a family heirloom. 
Someone seems to have taken it from his study and it is my…” He cleared his throat and looked over at me. “Our job, to locate its whereabouts.” 

I felt suddenly thrilled. Our job? He was including me in this investigation? I would not let him down. I thought hard about what to ask next but he was so serious about everything. I couldn’t help myself. “Has he looked around his house? Tidied up a bit? If it looks anything like yourapartment, it's likely to just be underneath a pile of papers,” I scoffed, pleased with myself for the useful suggestion tied up in a playful jibe.

“Thank you for your assessment, 
Watson. Yes, we have tried all of the obvious places.” 

I couldn’t tell if Holmes liked my suggestion or thought I was an idiot.

“He believes that one of his staff has stolen it and sold it for gold. 
It's very valuable,” Holmes carried on. 

“How valuable?” Suddenly my interest was piqued. 

“This piece is worth fifty pounds.”

I stopped walking. This was no small job. He paused with me. “Oh, I see. That's… considerable.” 

“Quite.”

“
And so, we are…?” 

“Investigating,” he said simply, beginning to walk again and I followed suit. 

“Investigating, I see.” I nodded. “Where does one start with such matters?” 

“I have a few people knowledgeable in such things, antiquities, dealerships. 
I am planning to speak to a few of my learned friends. See if they have come across the item. 
It's quite unusual. Likely to be something that people in the field will speak of amongst each other when it becomes available for sale.”

“Brilliant,” I interjected. He looked at me a little surprised by the compliment. It seemed to throw him off for a moment before he composed himself. 

“Failing that, we shall attend some gatherings.”

“We shall?” I turned my head, looking surprised. 

“Yes, I think so, if you're amenable to such things?” He stopped walking again to look at me. For a moment he seemed… nervous.

I was embarrassed to realise I blushed under his close scrutiny. “Certainly, I could... I… Yes, I could.” 

He let out a little sigh of relief and nodded happily. “Excellent, then we will attend some gatherings and listen to the gossip. 
Wealthy people love to gossip. About antiquities – items, they feel they have acquired at a bargain. Somebody will absolutely not be able to help themselves. And if the wealthy won't, certainly the servants might. One of us can sneak into the servants' quarters and also listen in.” 

“Oh… I see. You are suggesting that I would fit in better downstairs?” The disappointment was clear in my voice. I had briefly forgotten my place in the excitement.

“I said no such thing. I simply…” 

“Hmm. I'll try not to be offended but your meaning was apparent, Holmes. You are wealthy and I am not. I would be better suited downstairs. I shall go where you need me to. I’d like to be of use. That was the purpose of my moving in. The arrangement, was it not?”

“Watson, I said no such thing.” 

Suddenly, he seemed wrong-footed and our conversation stopped. Tension had returned between us. We continued to walk in silence. I could tell he was deep in thought and we didn’t discuss the topic again. I followed him in silence as we visited two different, unusual stores selling nick-knacks and strange items, books and antiquities out on the Main Street. Stores I had never been into before. At one point I nearly cried aloud and embarrassed myself when an unmounted, stuffed bear’s head caught me by surprise. 

My feet were starting to ache from the amount of walking across London we had managed without my cane for support and my ears had begun to ring from the deafening silence between us. “Goodness, it really is a gloomy day, isn't it?” I couldn’t help saying aloud, as we rounded yet another corner. 
I gathered my coat closer to my body, desperate to try and keep out the chill, which seemed not to affect Holmes in the slightest. 
As if my words had called to the heavens in a plea, the clouds suddenly parted and the sun appeared out of nowhere. Before I could even comment, I heard the strangest noise, like an animal in pain. I didn't realise it was Holmes at first. It was almost like a squeal. 
And he grabbed at me and pulled me into another shop, knocking the wind right out of me. 

“Holmes, 
what the devil?!” I shouted in fright. 

I barely have a memory of what happened next but I swear my feet left the ground and I moved faster than felt humanly possible. Suddenly I was inside a very dark and very musty store, a ringing in my ears. It took a moment before I understood it was the doorbell instigated upon our entry. Holmes had  the front of my coat firmly grasped in his hands and had shoved me quite firmly against a wall inside the store. We were pressed together against the wall as if we were hiding for our lives from the law.

I breathed heavily, trying to work out what had occurred to cause this response and I looked up at him to see him also breathing at a rapid pace, in a blind panic. “Holmes?” I asked gently, trying to see if he was alright. His eyes were clasped tightly shut and he was not listening at all. “Holmes?” I asked again, trying to get his attention. “Are you quite alright?”

He nodded frantically, but didn’t open his eyes at all. “I don’t… understand what happened just now. Why are we—?”

Slowly, he opened his eyes and looked down at me. And I lost the ability to speak. Those eyes were looking right into mine, panicked, frightened.

“Well now, we’re alright. I don’t know what caused your response... but everything is—“ 

His eyes had started moving across my face and he gasped, stepping away from me, letting go of my coat as if I was hurting him and then he suddenly grabbed at my face and now it was my turn to suck in a breath in surprise.

“Holmes?”

“You’re… you’re cut…” As quickly as he had touched me he let go and stepped away as if touching me caused him great pain. 

“Holmes?” My face was drawn with concern and I didn’t understand what was happening at all. The two of us stood there awkwardly and I had no comprehension of what was the cause of it.

“You’re bleeding,” he choked out, pulling a handkerchief from his pocket and handing it to me, as he looked away.

“Oh. Sorry I…”

Holmes started pacing and mumbling to himself and occasionally glancing in my direction. Apparently I had done something criminal based on his reaction. Perhaps he had a fear of blood? Some people were afflicted with that - a sudden weakness that came over them when they smelled it or saw it. Perhaps he didn’t want to be embarrassed by it in my presence? Perhaps he felt faint?

“Ah Mister Holmes! What a lovely surprise!” The shopkeeper cried out. “We rarely see you during the day. What can I do for you?”

Holmes flashed me an angry look, before disappearing into the store to speak to the owner, leaving me absolutely confused. I turned to look in an antique mirror on the wall, dabbing at the scratch on my cheek and wondering what on earth had just occurred between us.

The link to AO3

A huge thank you to @helloliriels for the stunning cover art created for #FTH2026

Thank you to all my lovely supporters who have read my writing before. Please let me know if you want me to remove you before the next part! Or if you’d like to be tagged

@otter-von-bismarck @silvergoldsea @calaisreno

@westandforships @fuck-off-watson-rp @notjustamumj @melodious-me @sherlocke3d

@therealalexisamess-blog @e-b1838 @rhasima @salmonsown @tropelovingpainter 

@dw91165 @pileofstardust2106 @moonkeller @surprisinglyokay @r4venlyn  

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@sillygirlsmindpalace @johnlockficclub @rainstarboii @bheadhe 

@battledress @kholkate @randomquadballpun 

@kittenmadnessandtea @whatnext2020 @egregiously-chuffed @chriscalledmesweetie @catlock-holmes

@starlitkeys @lumilama @yorkiepug @talkativeanxiousturtle @kettykika78 

@givemesherbet-blog-blog @naefelldaurk @a-victorian-girl @phoenix27884 @peanitbear 

@lisbeth-kk @helloliriels @totallysilvergirl @221beloved @safedistancefrombeingsmart  

!!ONE SPOT AVAILABLE!!

Info -Location: Belgium, near to both German and Luxemburg border -Dates: from 13-16 August 2026 -Arrival from 3.30pm on 13 August (Thursday). -Checkout at noon on 16 August (Sunday). -Special discount price: 250 euros! This includes accommodation (single room) and food (which we'll still have to cook ourselves, however).

Activities There will be 3 writing/fandom workshops/activities each day. The rest of the time is for writing, hanging out and making new fandom friends. Also there will be daily trips to the supermarket to get all the food we need. :)

For whom? Fic writing M/M shippers of British films/series like Sherlock, Good Omens, LOTR, James Bond etc.

More info, including link to registration form, see this post!

Tagging a few people again below the cut. Please help signal boost!

by Holmesianlove

I will post a chapter each day (there are 14)  AO3 link below as well.

Chapter 3 - Avoidance

I brought him a cup of tea, and those eyes never left me. He had not said a word. It was incredibly unnerving. I had not received a name, or an explanation. He had followed me willingly, once the police had released him into my care. It felt strange, to lie, to take charge of a situation, in order to ensure the mystery man didn’t leave my sight again. In truth, I wasn’t entirely convinced that he was real until the Inspector had arrived and started speaking to him in person. Until that moment I was convinced I was hallucinating. How could the man I had seen on a few strange and isolated occasions, usually either drunk, or in agony, be right here in front of me? Surely it could only be explained as another hallucination? Perhaps a response to trauma? I had witnessed a murder and in my moment of horror, the very same man had appeared again? Surely that must be it. Only this time he was real. This time? Had he been real every time? Or only this time? I had so many questions. Was I allowed to ask them? Would he even speak to me? How could he possibly have been present at the Battle of Maiwand? Surely that one had been a hallucination?

I sat opposite him. “I’m… ah… Watson. Doctor… John Watson,” I offered awkwardly.

He smiled at his tea cup, not looking at me. “I know,” he said, nodding.

I frowned. “You… you know?”

He simply nodded as his only reply.

“Well how is that possible? We’ve never met!” I asked.

His smirk was somehow equal measures of irritating and charming because he was clearly in on some sort of joke that I had no knowledge of and I didn’t enjoy not knowing.

“Doctor John H. Watson studied at St Bartholomew's Hospital in London, receiving your medical degree from the University of London, with further training at Netley as an assistant surgeon in the British Army. Sent to India with the Fifth Northumberland Fusiliers Regiment of Foot before being attached to the Sixty-sixth Berksire Regiment of Foot. Wounded at the Battle of Maiwand, suffered an enteric fever and sent back to England on the troopship HMS Orontes. Your family is all gone now and you’re leading a rather tragic and lonely life wandering London and drinking yourself to an early grave, which is a sad and sorry state of affairs given your god-given talent as a surgeon and the fact that you have simply got a psychosomatic limp.”

“You read Heinroth? You know of psychosomatic disorders?” Was all I could think of to say in reply as I sank back in my chair. I swallowed hard, staring at the man who simply stared back. “And besides, I assure you my limp is…”

“You left your cane in that alleyway and you haven’t needed it for an hour. You practically carried me up that staircase without it,” the man said simply, to end the discussion. “This is a rather depressing flat, if I may observe.”

“You are rather impertinent, for a man who very nearly died and was just rescued.”

“Oh I assure you that was mere theatre,” he retorted.

“I beg your pardon?”

“For your benefit,“ he added, with a little bow of his head.

“For my…?!”

“Indeed.” He gave a half smile and then sipped his tea politely and returned his cup to his lap.

I looked horrified. I was certain of that. The man was entirely far too familiar. And yet somehow I was intrigued and excited by it. No one had ever been close enough to me to be bestowed that honour. He made my pulse beat faster. I had no idea what he would say next and it was the most electrifying thing I had ever felt.

He sipped at his tea again, his eyes never leaving mine, making every one of my nerve endings light up without having to lift a finger to touch me. He was… observing me. And enjoying it.

“Are you going to tell me about yourself then?” I attempted to ask.

He simply shook his head slowly from side to side, still maintaining eye contact.

“I have a spare room, nicer than this. Perhaps you would like to see it? I could use a doctor. If you would like employment?”

“What exactly were you doing in that alleyway?” I asked.

“Not important.” He put down the cup and grabbed his coat. “Come on then. I assume you’re interested.” And with that he walked out, expecting me to follow. His coat billowed behind him in a ridiculous and enticing flourish as he left the room.

“My life isn’t tragic and lonely!” I called out to him as I sat there for all of a minute longer before I finally leapt up and followed.

Chapter 4 tomorrow…

A huge thank you to @helloliriels for the stunning cover art created for #FTH2026

Read from the beginning on AO3

Thank you to all my lovely supporters who have read my writing before. Please let me know if you want me to remove you before the next part! Or if you’d like to be tagged

@otter-von-bismarck @silvergoldsea @calaisreno @westandforships @fuck-off-watson-rp @notjustamumj @melodious-me @sherlocke3d

@therealalexisamess-blog @e-b1838 @rhasima @salmonsown @tropelovingpainter @dw91165 @pileofstardust2106 @moonkeller @surprisinglyokay @r4venlyn  

@wssh13 @br-nz @solarmama-plantsareneat @givemesherbet-blog-blog @sillygirlsmindpalace @johnlockficclub @rainstarboii @bheadhe 

@battledress @kholkate @randomquadballpun @kittenmadnessandtea @whatnext2020 @egregiously-chuffed @chriscalledmesweetie @catlock-holmes

@starlitkeys @lumilama @yorkiepug @talkativeanxiousturtle @kettykika78 

@givemesherbet-blog-blog @naefelldaurk @a-victorian-girl @phoenix27884 @peanitbear 

The Fifth Pip, Chapter 3

What would have happened if Moriarty decided to keep John, to see how long it would take Sherlock to notice he's missing?

Part 7 of More Words (You don't have to have read the other parts to read this one - the series is drabble-inspired short stories) 💕

Thank you for reading / reblogging!

@lisbeth-kk @meetinginsamarra @copperplatebeech @lhrinchelsea  @totallysilvergirl @keirgreeneyes @missdeliadili @redmondcollege @naefelldaurk @chinike @peanitbear @raina-at

@7-percent @rampant-mayhem @readingwithgwen @loves-to-read-fanfic @helloliriels @a-victorian-girl  @chriscalledmesweetie @stellacartography @thegildedbee @otterpuff11 @masterofhounds

Hi Dolphin! :D

Ooooo good question?? I know I do, for sure, just can't recall immediately which ones deal directly with the aftermath of THoB. I do have quite a few THoB lists so they'll definitely be on one of these if I've read or been recced them:

THoB Fix It Fics

THoB Fics Pt. 2

THoB Fics Pt. 3 (MFLs) (Feb 2026)