An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Word count: 56,458
Chapters: 24/24
Fandom: Sherlock (TV), Sherlock Holmes & Related Fandoms
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Sherlock Holmes/John Watson, Sherlock Holmes/Victor Trevor, Mycroft Holmes & Sherlock Holmes
Characters: Sherlock Holmes, John Watson, Victor Trevor, Mycroft Holmes, Angus Ardle, Edward The Abdicator
Additional Tags: Angst, Romance, Tragedy, Alternate Universe - Different First Meeting, MI6, Family, Regret, Alcohol Abuse/Alcoholism, Pining, Unhealthy Relationships, Sexuality Crisis, Don't copy to another site, Sherlock Holmes and Drug Use, Sherlock Holmes Has Feelings, John is a Mess, Ram problems, John Watson is a Good Doctor, when he actually bothers to go to work, deep sea fishing, John is good with his hands, get your mind out of the gutter, or on second thought don't, Empty sad loveless sex, And also the opposite, Top shelf quality pining, Sherlock Holmes Being a Drama Queen
Summary:
They say that people who settle in such isolated, wild places cradled and battered by the sea are exceptionally at peace with themselves or running away from something. Sherlock certainly knows which one applies to him, but what about his reclusive neighbour John Watson?
Rec: Sherlock finds himself quite out of his element when forced into temporary exile on a remote windswept island in the North Sea, but the adventure soon turns from a struggle for physical survival into a complex emotional rattling of cages when he makes the acquaintance of the enigmatic John Watson.
Since I went into this expecting something more AU, I just want to clarify that this is more an alternate meeting in the sense that both men are the same characters (although John’s back story has been shifted around somewhat), just that they become acquainted in a different place under different circumstances. But Sherlock is still the London-based consulting detective, and John the ex-army doctor whiling away his existence as an underchallenged GP.
Part of the great allure of this story for me was the delicate peeling back of both John and Sherlock’s armor layer by layer as we discover what has brought them to this place, both literally and figuratively, through recurring excursions into the past. The takes on Victor and Mary (both past relationships) went places I didn’t expect, creating new angles from which Sherlock and John now approach each other.
The other major point of interest for me was the integration of the exotic location into the story, both as a means to drive the plot and create ways for the characters to interact, as well as a reflection of the state of the characters’ minds and even their souls. The stark beauty and harshness of the land and water are unflinchingly yet lovingly brought to life, creating a richly detailed backdrop worthy of any cinematic experience.
I do feel it fair to mention as well that there is untagged Sherlock/OMC interaction. It’s not actually infidelity, but if it makes you unhappy to see either of them with someone else (not past), then just know it doesn’t interfere with the happy ending, rather facilitating it.
