Sherlock flash-fic: "Arch-Nemesis" (PG)

[hsavinien]

Title: Arch-Nemesis

Author: H. Savinien
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Sherlock characters and situations belong to the BBC and ultimately Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. This fanwork is intended solely as a tribute.
Word count: 200
Author's note: Situational spoilers for the end of episode 3. Set directly after it.

***

John coughed and spat chlorine-flavoured bile onto the tiles beside his head. He felt as though he'd spent thirty hours on trauma shift, then been trampled; one side ached with what seemed like bone-deep bruising with some sharper stabs that might be cracked ribs, his throat was raw, and his head pounded. John pried his reluctant eyelids open. A pair of expensive-looking high-heeled shoes swam into focus about half a metre away, one toe tapping. He rolled onto his back, choking back a groan when that set his head spinning, and peered up. “Anthea” peered down at him, one eyebrow raised.

“Try not to die before the ambulance arrives.”

John huffed out a breath in almost-amusement, then winced as his whole side twinged. “Sherlock?” he croaked.

“Alive, about three metres behind you, half-drowned, bump on the head, broken jaw.”

“I think your boss's been demoted from arch-nemesis,” he slurred.

The tapping of her nails on the Blackberry paused momentarily and a suggestion of a smirk quirked her lips. “I'll inform him.”

John's mouth twitched into a tiny smile, then he let his eyes drift shut again and went back to trying not to whimper.