Counting to Six

[capt_facepalm]

Title: Counting to Six
Author: capt_facepalm
Rating: PG
Fandom: Sherlock Holmes (Gaslight)
Characters: Dr John H. Watson, Captain, Army Medical Department, 66th Berkshires
Summary: Watson remembers getting an important fact wrong
Warnings: (Stretches the prompt quite a bit)
Word Count: 100
Author's Notes: July 7th 2014 prompt: Wrong! A character discovers that he remembers a pivotal life event incorrectly

.oOOo.

Light-headed as he was, the memory of his commanding officer’s briefing echoed in Captain Watson’s head.

‘But Colonel,’ a young cavalryman protested. ‘The Ghazis do not take prisoners.’

‘They do not keep prisoners. There is a fine distinction, and that’s why you must reserve a bullet for yourself.’

But Watson’s service revolver lay out of reach. Badly wounded, he would have to crawl.

Just a few inches more…

Fingers touched its reassuring weight, and then, finally, he grasped it.

The enemy was closing and he could hear their laughter.

He was sure there was one shot left.

He was wrong.

.oOOo.

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Comments

[monkeybard]

Oh, oh! I love this! You are a drabble master and this proves it once again.

[capt-facepalm.livejournal.com]

Wow. Thanks!

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Oh that's heartbreaking.

[capt-facepalm.livejournal.com]

Thanks! The implications of this are truly heartbreaking.

[med_cat]

Oh dear :(

[capt-facepalm.livejournal.com]

Poor fellow.

[tardisjournal.livejournal.com]

Oh my! What an unfortunate mistake. Misremembering, indeed! :(

So much heartbreak in such a small fic--well-done!

[capt-facepalm.livejournal.com]

Thanks! This was not a good time for the poor fellow to lose count.

[keerawa.livejournal.com]

*winces* That's terrifying, both for the thought of what Watson will/did suffer, and the thought that he was that close to never meeting Holmes at all.

[capt-facepalm.livejournal.com]

Yes, the implications are terrifying, but being canon-compliant, it has a happy ending.
:)

[gardnerhill.livejournal.com]

*whimper* He gets home safe, he gets home safe, he gets home safe...

[capt-facepalm.livejournal.com]

He does get home safe, but perhaps not sound.
*cue the PTSD-angst choristers*

[hagstrom]

It's been said; you're a master at this-

[capt-facepalm.livejournal.com]

Thanks!
You are too kind!

[pompey01.livejournal.com]

But thank goodness for that missing bullet!

. . . unless this is an AU. In which case, brrrr.

[capt-facepalm.livejournal.com]

This is canon-compliant. Good old Murray will be along soon!
Of course, the way a revolver works, he had likely pulled the trigger more than once before he thought to examine the cylinders. That's what gives me the shivers.