Not gonna make much sense, but you'll forgive me, I'm sure...

I don't know the original series this is based on, and I have yet to watch it, but I was nevertheless quite intrigued by this plot, which left many things to imagination and my own detecting skills. I confess that you lost me during some or the other scene, which I blame on not having the necessary background information, but I think I managed to get back on track xD If not, you'll just have to tell me where I'm wrong.

So, I am wondering about a few things, and although I doubt you're going to tell me what you were aiming at with them, I'll list them here.
1. Beth's first meeting with the "old" Holmes. To me it sounded like she was more or less blackmailing him and Watson with an illegal affair (what's going on behind closed doors and so on). If that's the case - but you can of course blame it on me being a fangirl - then I think their relationship later has cooled down quite a lot already when Beth comes.

2. There is a certain tension between Beth and Holmes, which might and might not be love, but as of yet, I'm not sure which kind of love it is. Especially the last chapters suggests that it's romantic, but those afore are hinting more at a father-daughter-relationship. Possibly her pregnancy changed his view of her, but I'll wait for more information before making up my mind about that.

3. Random information: I listene to this song w youtube com/ watch ?v= fIGDQL KvUMw the whole time while reading. So I've now heard it about two hundred times, since it took me approximately three hours, I think.

4. I at first thought the man Beth meets beside the oak was Watson, but when Holmes met him there, too, I started to get suspicious. If she's seen the real Watson now, wouldn't she recognise him? At least as long as she's in that "dream"?
The other option is that it's not Watson, but Lestrade. I don't know what to settle for yet, and it might be a random stranger or someone from the series I don't know, or someone from the original books I haven't thought of, but so far I'd bet my money of one of those two. Feel free to surprise me ^^

5. Beth's sudden "death", where Holmes comes and picks her up at the morgue. I understand when she died, but what I cannot understand is how she could die in such a way that Watson - who I think is a good doctor - thought she was dead. At least in case she didn't drink some poison (if I remember right, she did drink something before, wasn't it brandy?) like Juliet. Anyway, drinking substances without thinking seems to play a great role here... I shall keep that in mind.

6. The mysterious voice. I have several theories about that one, and I have to admit that starting from the moment you brought that one in, I was thinking about the books by Ralf Isau, which you probably don't know, "The dreams of Jonathan Jabbok". The boy also misses whole weeks and months of his life until he finally has to decide which of the two worlds he's travelling between he wants to live in. Being prejudiced by knowing that story, I'm curious as to what your explanation for Beth's weird "dreams" is...
In contrast to Jonathan, however, the voice is not quite intent on Holmes and Beth solving a problem for it, although it might be that, by choosing a very weird way, it's trying to make them realise something about themselves, taking the hard way because both are hardheads. Actually you have me fearing that one of them will be dead at the end, possibly both.

7. Why ever Holmes felt better about the ring being in Beth's possession, I felt more sick. On a metaphorical plane, the original owner's and her situation are alike, but what is Holmes hoping for? That she's gonna die in childbirth? I'd not put that past him, because humans have deep, hidden feelings that are so dark they don't even dare to venture close, and despite his obvious love (of whatever kind) towards Beth he's quite unable to really deal with Watson being reborn.
And I really hope she found that necklace and realised it's a present from Holmes; but, those two being as they are, it's more likely that one day she's gonna take it out and accuse Holmes of something or the other plan by giving it to her. Great.

I am tired, I haven't slept that much during the weekend, so I fear I overlooked quite a lot of things while reading, but I like the way you describe the course of madness they're taking at the moment. What I'm wondering is to what end you want to bring this, since it can only go so far without one of them being harmed severly or dying. At the moment I feel that you're pretty close to the borderline, and once crossed, it's gonne be very difficult to bring about a "happy end" (in quotation marks because I don't expect you to pull a Hollywood Happy End out of your hat, which wouldn't fit the story at all".

8. Eh, the spoiled reader's coming out again ^^ I don't know if it's on purpose, but sometimes you forget words in a sentence, and can it be that you're also skipping between American and British spelling?

Last but not least, no kidding in what you told me. Surrealism for sure, and lots of metaphors, of which I'm afraid I'm only getting half, but never mind. So far I've liked what I read, although you're giving me quite something to think about with that story. I'll see if I'll be able to disentangle the knots myself before you give the solution ;-P

Ha det, Enaty

A bit confusing but it held my attention as well
i do hope that it is not complete yet.

Greetings and good evening.

Though in some form I had delivered this critique to you personally, here it is 'on the record,' so to speak.

Now I will never argue that I am a total neophyte when it comes to Sherlock Holmes; about the only thing I could tell you definitively was that it was written initially by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a "Great Scot" in the truest form of the axiom. I went into "chapter 1" which you say is more of a prologue with little understanding of background so I'll probably end up getting lost or having to go back and re-read things more frequently than most of your esteemed readers.

When I went through this particular chapter in its entirety, there were a few things that I thought were worth noting (apart from my general confusion). I'd noticed the specifics in the dialogue that gave each character their own distinctive voice; Holmes was very calculating, Watson (or his posthumous robotic variant) always proper, Lestrade impulsive and driven. The ability to convey three (at this point) distinct personalities by means of written prose is a powerful skill to posess and you do so very well consistently.

One of the things that I wondered about, as a newcomer to the storyline, was some of the specific wording in the dialogue. At times, it seemed to suggest that it may not be happening in London at all - in fact, this chapter never implicitly sets the scene *in* London to begin with. Perhaps London is something totally different in the 22nd century?

Honestly, you probably shouldn't feel the need to embelish details into every aspect of the story and I am positive that things will become more or less clear as I go through the ensuing parts. Still, a little explanation or background can go a long way into broadening your work to appeal to larger audiences.

A fine start to an intriguing story.

I'm so happy that you updated! Great chapter.

Wahoo!
huzzah!
I`m thrilled you`ve kept going.
excellent excellent excellent.

Excellent! I'm so glad you updated this story! It's a little tricky to read, and some of the writing is hard to crack through, but it's worth trying to figure it out.

Great job!

I'd just thought i'd say i've been reading this for a while and really like it. I think it is downright silly you don't have hundreds of reviews.

Update ASAP

Woah man, this is awesome! Totally creeps me out/enthralls me. I love it. Please do finish. This is something I really want to see the end of. Anyway, totally impressed. And your characterization is great.
If you need betaing or anything, I`d love to help (anything to see the end!)
Alicia

Oh. My. Gosh. I thought SH22 was a dorky cartoon with a cliched detective, but man, this is the coolest story in the category. I just LOVE this scene:

Beth Lestrade took the steps to the sitting room two at a time, not bothering to knock before entering. She found herself stuck dumb at the sight of it all. A massive chemistry set occupied what floor space wasn’t covered by stacks of books, papers, and furniture. Bottles of unknown liquids lay strewn about, or unceremoniously knocked over. The only clear place in the whole room was a lone chair by the fireplace, in which sat a hawk like man, his head bowed.

“Do take care not to upset my chemicals, Lestrade.” The languor in Holmes’s voice accentuated by a wave of his pale hand. “I should hate to see them spilt.” He didn’t look up.

Lestrade started to open her mouth. “I suppose Watson sent for you then?”

Her mouth closed. “He did. What is the meaning of all this, Holmes? I haven’t heard from you in days.”

“My dear Inspector,” he said looking at her finally, “surely you are aware I get a bit in the dumps, so why act surprised?”

“Being depressed is one thing, what you’re doing is something else.”

“Is it really?”

“What have you been doing in here anyway?” She gestured towards the glass set on the floor.

Holmes followed her gaze with his eyes rather than turning his head. “I have been attempting to re-create a sedative that has been off the market for sometime. I dear say I’ve succeeded. The solution works as it should.”

Lestrade narrowed her eyes at him, speaking sternly “What solution?”

“Hm? Oh. Morphine.” He held up an ancient syringe. “I would offer to you, but I agreed with the real Watson that the sharing of needles is a nasty habit.”--

Your Holmes is so well done and more like the way he was in the books. It makes so much SENSE that he'd try to make his own narcotics. He's a law unto himself, after all.

Your Holmes has a spark that was definitely missing throughout SH22. He actually brings to mind the Granada version as well as the book version.

I also like Lestrade in this story (read the whole thing and look forward to reading Chapter 9). I usually hate her (I don't like SH/BL shippings either). In the cartoons she just rubbed me the wrong way. But I like her in "Morphine". She seems so much more human and likeable.

In fact, all the characters are well-done. I wonder if the Irregulars will show up. In a way, I hope not, though that's really up to you as the writer.

I could go on and on about how much I like this. :-)

Wow. This story is written so well. I read it awhile back & am glad to see your continuing to update! I must admit I'm a little confused on the whole time flipping thing, but I guess I'll get the hang of it. Please keep up the good work!

I'm so happy you updated! Great chapter. Please update soon.

wonderful though somewhat confusing. I had a bit of a slip trying to follow the plot these last few chapters, so I hope it'll become clearer.

This is a great story! Please update soon!

So, why is Sherlock having these dreams now? And which reality is...reality, 1889 or 2104? Can't wait for an update.