December 31: Write a story where Holmes and Watson must contend with that newfangled invention, the motorcar. (from Galazy1001D)

A/N: Not an expert on old motorcars, so if you are, please suspend your disbelief and enjoy regardless.

"I am really unsure about this," Holmes muttered to Watson in the backseat of his client's motor car as they drove back to London from the man's house. (How this came to be is a very long, complicated and tedious story, with which I shall not presume to bore you. Suffice it to say that they were there with good reason, though neither of them had been very keen to trust this motorcar.) Their client, a man by the name of James Benbow, was pouring water into the radiator because the engine was overheating.

"Don't worry about it; it looks like he's got it under control now," Watson replied.

"Ah! There we go, that ought to do it!" said Benbow, putting the lid on his canteen and slamming the hood shut.

Suddenly, the hood flew back up and hit him square on the jaw and he fell to the ground, unconscious.

Holmes and Watson leapt out of the car and knelt by his side. Watson checked for a pulse.

"I think he's just been knocked unconscious. Even if he doesn't have a concussion, he will be in no fit condition to drive."

"Well, let's put him in the back," said Holmes. The two of them picked him up and put him carefully in the back seat of the vehicle.

"I'm the doctor, I'll stay with him," said Watson. "You'll have to drive us."

Holmes paused for a moment, then irritably exclaimed, "I am infinitely frustrated that you make perfect sense! Fine, I shall drive us. How hard can it be? Benbow explained it to us."

He climbed into the drivers's seat. "All right, so to get it started, I turn this key." He turned the key in the ignition and the engine rumbled to life. "And then I have to put it in gear, like this…and that bigger pedal is the brake, and the smaller on is the accelerator, so if I push the accelerator now, we should—"

The car lurched violently forward and then halted.

"—go. Well, a little less pressure then."

"You don't say!" Watson exclaimed.

"Just be quiet and let me focus!" Holmes replied through clenched teeth. "All right then, let us try this again." He pushed gently down on the accelerator and the car slowly moved forward down the road. "Yes! Watson, I'm doing it!"

"Congratulations, Holmes, now focus on your steering or you'll run us off the road!" Watson shouted.

"Right," Holmes replied, sheepishly correcting his direction before they went into the ditch.

Half an hour later, they reached Baker Street in London.

"Holmes, remind me to never get into a motorcar if you are behind the wheel."

"Come now, Watson! We made it here safely!"

"Well we didn't hit anything, but I nearly had a heart attack during several of those sharp turns of yours!"

"Oh, be quiet, as if you could have done any better in my place."

A/N: Heheheh. That was fun.

Thank you to everyone who has read—and an even bigger thanks to those who reviewed—my stories this month. And an even bigger thank you to Hades Lord of the Dead for putting together this whole shebang, none of this would be possible without you. :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYBODY! :D