trashchildren | For Joan

Sherlock doesn't need to ask who "she" is. He knows that Watson is protective of this man, so if she would agree to let Ted do this, she must truly believe that it will both help the case and somehow help him.

"I typically dissuade victims from meeting their victimizers outside of a courtroom," he says. "However, we do seem to be stalled in this investigation. And I am well aware that you want this case to be solved more than anyone, save for Watson."

He doesn't like this, but at this point...

"When can you be at Scotland Yard?"

Edited 2021-07-11 02:05 (UTC)

"Tomorrow morning?" he suggests. It's not like he has work. Doing something useful might also calm the weird feeling of being home on a work day. People are generally too busy to entertain him that time of day.

"Also," he adds, before Sherlock thinks it's time to move on. "Can you tell me anything about him? Like, friends, family, work, that kind of thing?"

One of the reasons he got absolutely nowhere with Turner back in that basement felt like it was because he had zero handholds, zero knowledge to base himself off. So it's important not just for him to get a better idea of who Turner is for his own sake, but if he's going to try to talk to him.

"Tomorrow morning, then." He would have ended the call had it not been for Ted jumping in when he did. It makes sense on a number of levels that he would want to know more about the man. It would give him a sense of power that had been lost to him when he was held captive by a person he knew nothing about, not even his name. But Sherlock knows Ted would also use that information to connect with Mr. Chapman, to whatever extent that was possible.

"He's a construction worker," he says. "He's lived all his life in Richmond. His mother seems to have abandoned him and his father when he was very young. His father died two years ago, leaving Mr. Chapman the house you were held captive in."

"Hmm.. Alright," Ted answers, pursing his lips. "I'm guessing his dad is the one who got him into football?" Judging by just how much he cares, that seems to be the thing that would make the most sense.

"The last thing they did together was attend a Richmond game," he affirms. "His father had a heart attack at his home sometime in the early morning after the game. Mr. Chapman might have been silent on other things, but he was quite vocal about how much he loves Richmond, and a big reason he has such reverence for the team is because of the sudden loss of his father."

"Yeah..." Ted answers with a sad sigh. He does feel bad for the guy. He really does. There must have been more things that happened to him, to make him some angry and so capable of violence, but at least the part about his father, that Ted can understand. "Okay, thank you. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Until then, Mr. Lasso."

He ends the call, then texts Watson.

TL ?ing TC tomAM

Across the Atlantic, Joan's phone buzzes with the text from Sherlock. She's used to his abbreviated text speak, so she can decipher it. She texts back.

Watch over him please.

An answering text pops up.

OfC

Joan tucks the phone back in her pocket. She's sitting at the table in the workroom, all of the locks from the rack laid out in front of her. The case is going nowhere, and she misses Ted more and more every day, so she's picking locks to try to calm her mind and order her thoughts as she waits for Ted to text.

Which of course he does. He's technically got plenty of time to just be on his own and talk to Joan, but he doesn't want to disturb her while working, and he thinks it's probably better if they have a somewhat regular time to talk. Besides, he likes falling asleep "next to" Joan.

They talk a little bit about Ted's visit to Turner, but mostly Ted just wants a distraction from that thought. After the phone call with Sherlock, he already spent several hours thinking about it - while baking, because that's a nice way to decompress and keep himself calm. And then he also got to give Shaun some baked goods to take home with him.

The next morning, Ted catches a cab to Scotland Yard. He's got crutches to help him walk around, and he's kind of glad to be out and about on his own. Makes him feel less stuck. A week ago he was still down in Turner's basement, after all. Hopefully this meeting with Turner today will be a nice bookend, help him process some things.

Sherlock meets him at the door with another man that Ted will recognize as Inspector McCoy, who was one of the men who questioned him in the hospital. "Mr. Lasso," Sherlock says with a small nod of acknowledgement. "I believe you've met Inspector McCoy."

McCoy smiles at Ted. "A pleasure to see you again. And out of hospital."

"Good to see you again," Ted answers with a genuine smile, holding his crutch with his other hand so he can actually shake McCoy's hand. They didn't get to do that last time, after all. "Yup, I'm healing alright. Give me a couple months, I'll be right back to trying and failing to outrun my team," he says with a chuckle.

McCoy smiles as he shakes his hand. "I'm sure they're eager to have you back." His expression sobers a bit. "I'm also sorry to hear about you and Miss Watson."

Sherlock glances away and clears his throat a little. The fact that Ted was Joan's boyfriend had become common knowledge at Scotland Yard after she forced their investigative hand to find him more quickly than they had originally been willing to move, and saved his life as a result. There was a fair amount of admiration of her for that. So when Sherlock spread the word that they had broken up over the concern that Ted had been a target due to an investigation, much of the Yard shook their heads in disappointment, knowing all too well how being in this line of work can destroy relationships.

"Thank you," Ted answers, sobering too, but leaves it at that. The good thing about faking that sort of thing is no one really expects you to want to talk about it anyway, so it's easy enough to just not. (Well, unless that someone is Keeley.)

McCoy pats his shoulder, then gestures him to follow. Sherlock falls into step next to Ted as McCoy leads them toward the interrogation rooms.

"I will be observing from behind the one-way glass," he says, softly enough that McCoy doesn't hear him. "I promised."

He pauses, not looking at the man next to him, the man who his partner and friend, the person he loves most in the world, cares so deeply for.

"Did you know it has been literal years since Watson and I have worked a case separately?" he says quietly. There's bitterness in his tone.

Ted nods a bit at Sherlock saying he'll be behind the glass. Joan had mentioned he probably would. He feels a little safer knowing Sherlock will be looking out for him, but more importantly, glad because Sherlock will doubtless see clues that Ted doesn't, if Ted does get him talking at all.

The second part makes him look over at Sherlock as they walk though. He gets the feeling Sherlock blames him for that. Maybe not directly, but by virtue of being in her life. He has been warned that Sherlock might get a little possessive.

Still, Ted doesn't get defensive about it. "I'm sorry about that," he says genuinely.

Sherlock nods curtly, still not looking at Ted. He has it exactly right. He cannot claim that Ted is willfully stealing her from him, because it is clear the man is not, and that Watson is with him of her own free will. He even knows that Ted is respectful of Joan's work and the time and attention it takes. Truthfully, if Watson had to become romantically involved with anyone, Ted is possibly the best of all possible worlds.

It doesn't change the fact that he is missing his partner and feeling her absence keenly. Nor that the reason she isn't in London is because she is trying to protect this man.

"The most important part of our work for me is our partnership," he says. "I know that is true for her as well. I guarantee you that this is hurting her, Ted. And not just because she is away from you."

Ted notes that Sherlock uses his first name this time. That's the first time he's done that. To make him take it seriously? To connect to him, speak to him on his level?

Still, Ted's not entirely sure what Sherlock is trying to say with all this. Is he trying to push Ted away, to guilt him into leaving? Is he just trying to make sure Ted takes Joan's best interests into consideration? Is he just sad and frustrated and taking out on Ted, or at least trying to vent some of that?

He already feels bad for what Joan is going through, he doesn't need to have it pointed out to him. He just thinks this option will hurt less than breaking it off. Especially in the long run.

"I know," he answers softly. "I don't intend to get between you guys. Or the work you do."

Sherlock knows that it would break Watson's heart if Ted were to leave her. He doesn't mean to drive him away, but Ted needs to know what Watson is likely going through, and he needs to take it seriously (hence the use of his name). It's coming out bitter because, as Ted suspects, Sherlock is in fact sad and frustrated. He hates it when he just cannot seem to figure out a case, and he misses Watson.

"Watson is unlikely to tell you that she..." he begins, then shuts up as they arrive at the interrogation room. McCoy opens it with a key and leads Ted inside, with Sherlock following. There's a table with a metal loop secured to one side, and two chairs. There's a mirror on one wall.

"You will sit here, Mr. Lasso," McCoy says, pointing at the chair. Then he points at the mirror. "Sherlock and I will be behind the glass. Once we are in position, a guard will lead Mr. Chapman in and secure him to the table. The door will lock when the guard exits. Under the table..." He leans down to indicate where. "There is a panic button. If things go south, hit the button and within seconds this room will be full of police." He clasps his hands, looking at Ted. "Any questions?"

Ted nods, looking around the room. About as sterile and unwelcoming as he would expect. Ted doesn't generally like hitting panic (or snooze) buttons, but he's glad it's there just in case. He hasn't completely ruled out the possibility of him having a panic attack.

Though currently he feels reasonably calm about the situation. Despite the idea of being locked alone in a room with the man who abused him. He vaguely considered having someone else in there with him, but he thinks Turner is more likely to talk if it's just him. Even if it's to be spiteful, rather than open up, at least he might let something slip.

"Uhh, yes. I don't see why you would, but did you tell him about me and Joan?" he asks. "It was one of the things he was focused on, but I think it would just be a distraction if he finds out we're not together anymore."

Sherlock and McCoy exchange a glance.

"It has not come up," McCoy says, looking back at Ted. "He is, as far as I know, unaware of how he was found and who might have been involved in finding him."

"How did Mr. Chapman focus on Watson?" Sherlock asks. It wasn't in the report of what Ted had told the investigators.

"Oh, he didn't know who she was," Ted answers immediately, because he can guess what that makes Sherlock think. "He saw a text from her in my phone. And then he seemed real intent on letting me know no one could ever like a 'loser like me'. That's when he smashed the phone." Ted gives a shrug. Obviously it's not an insult that actually hits him. "Projecting, probably."

All that about that what people think of you says more about them than about you. He figures Turner doesn't have the greatest self-confidence ever, and is hiding it behind aggression and arrogance.

If the man had known about Watson, it would have been clear evidence that she was at least part of the reason he had attacked Ted. But apparently he did not. Sherlock looks both relieved and disappointed by that news.

"We have not said anything about Miss Watson," McCoy assures him. "Whether you want to bring it up or not is up to you. If he brings it up, feel free to tell him or not tell him whatever you like." He gestures to the chair. "If you're ready..."

Ted nods a bit, looking around and giving McCoy's shoulder a grateful pat. "Thanks. Oh, uh, could we have some water? For both of us," he says, making sure to clarify. And then he remembers another thing he needs to clarify. "Plain, not fizzy." He's made that mistake enough times.

Then he goes to sit down, putting his crutches on the floor next to his chair.

"Certainly," McCoy says, returning the pat with an encouraging one of his own before going out to retrieve the water. Sherlock remains in the room, taking advantage of them being left alone for a moment to finish what he has to say.

"Watson is unlikely to tell you how much this is truly affecting her," he says. "She will care for you and neglect herself. I know this, personally, intimately. You need to know it as well."

Ted blinks a bit at them continuing the conversation from before, but then goes right along with it.

He frowns gently at what Sherlock says. It's not exactly a complete revelation to him, but it is a good reminder. The last thing he'd want is for Joan to burn herself out while making sure he's okay. But at least he thinks he's reasonably well-equipped to handle it, being decently insightful, and eager to care for others.

"Thank you, I appreciate that," he answers softly, nodding to indicate he understands and that he takes that seriously. It also means a lot to him that Sherlock is looking out for her.

"And, hey, I haven't had a chance to tell you," he adds, still speaking softly, but now not out of secrecy, just out of sincerity. "I really appreciate you helping to find me. You probably helped save my life, and well, obviously that means a lot to me. And that you're helping me do this, too."

Sherlock nods back at his acknowledgement of his insights on Watson. There's still tension in his expression, in his whole body, He's worried and sad and frustrated and here is this man who his partner cares deeply about and for whom has left London and Sherlock behind for who knows how long. And he's thanking him. Sherlock doesn't like to take credit for the work he does, turning down commendations and accolades and even payment. But this...this sincere gratitude from this good man who Watson loves...

"I am glad we were able to find you in time," he responds.

McCoy returns carrying two paper cups of water. One he hands to Ted ("Still water, as requested") and sets the other on the side of the table where Chapman will soon be chained.

"Anything else?" he asks.

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