Love Covers All Sins
is a Sherlock Holmes fanfic written by KCS.
Culverton Smith's arrest leaves Watson reeling, not so much from the revelation of the killer as from his shock and anger towards Holmes' deception. Will the two friends somehow manage to overcome this breach between them?
This fanfic includes examples of the following tropes:
- Anger Born of Worry: When Holmes reveals to Culverton Smith that he didn't actually touch the poisoned spring, Watson originally feels utter relief that he won't have to watch his best friend die. After a few moments of digesting what just happened, however, his relief and confusion changes to fury at Holmes' deception and lack of trust.
- Apron Matron: Mrs. Hudson takes on a more active role than usual. She orders Holmes to eat after finding out he's been fasting for three days and scolds the sulking detective, saying that he should apply his powers of deduction to what about his actions so upset the doctor. She shows no remorse for this "impertinence" either.
- Accusation Fic: The entire story essentially adds a predictable coda to The Adventure of the Dying Detective. As much experience as Watson has had with Holmes' bizarre and theatrical personality, the detective faking a fatal illness (and insulting his professional capabilities when Watson tries to help) sends him over the edge and causes a nasty argument which Watson did not include in the narrative.
- Captain Obvious: Holmes tells Watson to take care with the cup of tea he's handing him, as it's very hot. Watson snarks about him being a masterful deducer of clear-cut conclusions.
- Catch Your Death of Cold: Holmes finds being outside (even in a cab) rather unpleasant after three days of weakening himself to fool the killer, and notes that he hopes neither he nor Watson will become ill from the rain. When he catches the doctor's attention, Watson tells him he shouldn't be outside in his condition, and Holmes tells him that the advice applies to them both.
- Get Out!: Holmes orders Watson out of the apartment after his tirade.
- Grey Rain of Depression: The weather has already become foggy and wet when Watson leaves 221 Baker Street, and as he has time to think about his outburst, the rain reflects his depression.
- Innocently Insensitive: Holmes is initially too caught up in the pleasure of closing the case to realize how his methods of doing so affected Watson. After thinking about how the same situation would have affected him had their positions been reversed, he realizes he just put his best friend through a horrifying and heart-wrenching afternoon and he dashes off to make amends.
- Ironic Echo: While trying to keep Watson from discovering his "fatal illness" was faked, Holmes says that if Watson insists on him being doctored, he wants one in whom he can have "some confidence", directly before sending him off to fetch Culverton Smith. As Watson storms out, he tells Holmes that the next time he needs a gofer, he hopes he can find one in whom he has "some confidence."
- Literary Allusion Title: The title comes from the Book of Proverbs.
- Never Got to Say Goodbye: In thinking over his orders to Watson, Holmes realizes how agonizing it would have been for the doctor to cram himself behind Holmes' bed to serve as a witness to Smith's gloating and to believe Holmes would die of the poison before he had a chance to say goodbye.
- Rage Breaking Point: Holmes' final contribution to pushing Watson into a temper occurs when he calmly remarks about how well the arrest went, as though this hadn't been a gut-wrenching business for the doctor.
- Trauma Conga Line: As opposed to The Adventure of the Dying Detective, the fic goes into great detail about how horrible the events of Culverton Smith's arrest were for Watson, who Holmes left in the dark as he didn't trust the doctor's acting. To start with, he receives a call from Mrs. Hudson that Holmes has gone into a sudden downward spiral and will probably die before the day ends. Then Holmes insults his skill as a doctor when he tries to get his friend to permit treatment and sends him after Smith, claiming he has more confidence in him than in Watson. Afterwards, he has to hide himself and listen to the villain's Evil Gloating, and to add insult to injury, Holmes appears to have forgotten he was there and shows no remorse over putting him through all this.
- What Have I Done: When Holmes realizes exactly how much the deception (and his insults) hurt Watson, he holds his head in his hands and then leaves as soon as possible to find the doctor and apologize.
- Who Dares?: Watson's outburst begins with him demanding how Holmes dared put him through this. After having some time to think about the argument, Holmes agrees that he absolutely deserved it.
