The Only Gift I Need Is You
by @falling-raine and @semiaquaticcat
He forgot. He can’t believe he forgot. Sherlock Holmes, the greatest mind in London, forgot. How could he? He can remember so much, small details pertaining to cases and the events of crimes from 1902, but not John’s birthday? No. Of course he forgets that. John, his companion, his best friend, his partner. Sherlock can’t understand, doesn’t understand how he forgot this. John is one of– no John is – the most important thing in the world to him, and he still didn’t remember it was his birthday until Mariana burst through the door of 221B with a “Happy birthday, John!” and a wrapped present in her hand.
And Sherlock? Well, Sherlock panicked.
“Ah, yes, happy birthday John.” Sherlock stands from his seat, “I, too, have a gift for you. Which I will get… right now… from my… room.” He rushes down the hallway to his room, hoping that his panic hasn’t been obvious in his escape.
As the door shuts behind him, Sherlock looks desperately for anything that could be a suitable gift for his Doctor. He has books. Watson likes books. Maybe he could– but no, all Sherlock has are non-fiction, information and studies in criminology, and a set of The Lord of the Rings plus appendices John himself gave to Sherlock, because “I think you’d like the worldbuilding, mate.”
In his wardrobe he has a set of unbuilt model trains, from a period when he thought he could clear the itch in his brain with such things. It didn’t work, of course, and John isn’t interested in trains the way Sherlock himself is. (A shame really, as trains were quite interesting, and the choices made when creating each type of engine and train car includes such careful consideration in even the colour of the seats. Sherlock, himself, could spend hours explaining the unique colour choices on the Bakerloo line alone.)
No, that wouldn’t work. What else does he have?
Test tubes? No. Clothing? No. Class A drugs? Certainly not.
Maybe he could climb down the window sill, escape before Watson knew he was gone, and return with a suitable gift for his partner. Yes, that is what he will do!
Knock, knock.