“i’m fine, it’s just a flesh wound, i’ll be okay.”
Ambulance lights created a certain type of atmosphere at night that was hard to recreate any other way. Ambulance lights felt sterile, familiar in a way that reminded her of her time as an intern, running herself ragged through ER hallways and forgetting what it was like to live without caffeine pumping dangerously through her veins.
It was the addition of police lights that made her spine straighten that much further as she approached. There was a different type of familiarity in those, and the memories were far less rosy.
“Ah, doctor.” There was a clipped dismissive edge to Sherlock Holmes’ voice that made him instantly recognizable, likely even to a complete stranger. Alice wasn’t one of those lucky ones. “Knew you’d get here eventually.”
“And lo, here I am,” Alice replied mildly, coming up beside him. Tall and statuesque behind one of the ambulances, collar turned up against the wind, the detective was quite at his ease on the scene, hands pressed deep into the pockets of his overcoat as he stared down the stretcher as it was wheeled by him. “John’s away at his sister’s, or so they tell me. More of that stuff with his sister, though she’s been back on the booze again so there’s really no telling why he…”
“I don’t actually care, Sherlock,” Alice cut him off wearily. Her bag felt too heavy against her shoulder, and there was a damp hint of rain in the air. She wanted to be there for as little time as possible, particularly now that it was clear what kind of call this was going to be.
“Didn’t think they’d call you though, don’t they have other doctors at that hospital?” He turned to look at her as he spoke, and it was only then that the flashing lights illuminated the nasty gash across one of his cheeks. Her gaze lingered on it, while her thoughts remained steadfastly on, I don’t work at the hospital.
“Oh, I’m fine. Just a flesh wound, I’ll be okay.” There was an underlying smugness to his tone that deepened the tinge of annoyance that seemed to accompany every encounter she had with this man. “Keep your fussing brief and to the point, yes? I’ve got work to do.”
Another stretcher rolled by, and Alice’s gaze was drawn by a figure next to one of the police cars that was waving in her direction before he slipped into the driver’s side and started the engine.
“You’re a very observant man, Sherlock,” Alice mused as she shifted her bag higher up on her shoulder. “But very forgetful, you know that?” She left his side, heading towards the police car that did not contain any actual policemen. In moments, she would slip inside undisturbed, and the car with its doctor, patient, and driver would be allowed to pass out of the scene without any questions asked, and everything neatly covered up by morning. ”You keep forgetting that I’m not here for you.”
