For Joan

[theodorelasso]

Continued from here.

(warnings: sexytimes. also, panic attacks, brutal violence, attempted murder, discussion of suicide and actual murder... )

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[formersurgeon]

Her eyes are still closed, and her whole body is warm and comfortable and feels almost boneless. It takes some effort to move her right arm to wrap it around him and rest it on the back of his head, fingers sliding into his hair.

"That was amazing," she whispers.

She's drifting, her body responding to the exertion and the comfort, and she doesn't have sufficient mental cohesion to wonder if Ted might fall asleep too, much less if it's a good idea.

[theodorelasso]

Ted nods a little, nuzzling her neck. "It was," he agrees softly, slightly muffled against her skin.

He absolutely wants to just roll over and take a nap next to her, all cuddled up. He almost does, in a 'just gonna close by eyes for 5 minutes' way, but thankfully he has just enough willpower (not to mention remaining worry) to resist doing that.

So when he does finally roll off her, he sits up and makes sure she's nice and comfy under the covers, and he gives her a kiss, and then he gets up to get cleaned up. He wipes himself off with some tissues, and wraps the condom in them before he tosses it in the trashcan. (He's sure Sherlock will figure out they've had sex, but for his own peace of mind, he doesn't want to be blatant about it.) Then he goes and takes the sock off the door, and he gets dressed. He can help her get dressed after she's had a nap though.

[formersurgeon]

Joan is completely tuckered out. Every bit of strength she had was used up in the best of ways, and now she is sleeping soundly, warm and comfortable and safe and so loved.

Sherlock has been awake for a bit, long enough to be quite cognizant of what is going on in the bedroom. It pleases him that Watson and Ted are having sex, as it will be a good source of stress relief for them both. Once the sounds have ceased, Sherlock waits for the amount of time it would take for Ted to clean up and get dressed (he knows Watson is likely conked out from the effort). Then he gets up, goes to the room, and softly knocks on the door.

[theodorelasso]

Ted's had just about enough time to sit back down next to Joan and grab his laptop when Sherlock knocks on the door. He glances down at Joan just to make sure she's properly covered (she looks very comfortably snuggled up). He did also make sure that her clothes weren't strewn around.

"Come on in," he answers, once he's established it's safe, hopefully quiet enough not to wake her, but loud enough for Sherlock to hear.

[formersurgeon]

Sherlock enters as quietly as possible so as to not disturb Watson. Ted has tidied up, but Sherlock can still smell sex, still see the subtle changes in Ted's body language and demeanor that indicate a recent orgasm. He manages not to say anything.

"I am awake, if you would like to rest. Alternately, I could make us smoothies for breakfast, if you wish. And for Watson when she wakes. She will also need her medication shortly. As will you, I believe."

[theodorelasso]

Ted is incredibly grateful that Sherlock lets it go unremarked. It's better for everyone involved to let it be an open secret. If nothing else, he'd be able to tell by Joan not wearing her jersey anymore.

"Yeah, smoothies sounds great," he answers with a smile. "Shaun will be coming by soon though, so you'll need to keep her company if she's still asleep."

He appreciates the reminder about medication, though this time he hadn't forgotten, thankfully.

[formersurgeon]

Sherlock still thinks it silly to be so secretive about what is a biological need, but he respects Ted and Watson enough to let them be silly if they wish.

Sherlock looks at Watson for a moment, observing the depth of her breath and the movement of her eyes behind the lids. "If we manage to not wake her, she should sleep for at least an hour, probably two. When is your physical therapist coming?"

[theodorelasso]

Well you don't just magically stop being silly about something like that overnight. And it is low on his list of things to work on right now.

Ted looks down at his laptop to check the time. "About an hour," he answers. He'd enjoy Joan meeting him, but he doesn't think it's important enough to wake her.

[formersurgeon]

Sherlock nods. "If Watson is still sleeping I would be quite happy to watch over her. In the meantime, I will make smoothies for you and me. Is there anything else you require?"

[theodorelasso]

"Not right now no, thanks, Sherlock," he answers with a grateful smile. "Ooh, I'll text you a recipe," he adds, reaching for his phone. He did order groceries specifically with some recipes in mind, so might as well share it. He assumes following instructions will make it a lot simpler.

[formersurgeon]

Sherlock gets the text, and follows the recipe mostly to the letter, although he adds in pineapple in order to give just a hint of sour to the otherwise sweet concoction. He pours out three glasses and puts one in the fridge before carrying the other two to the bedroom. He offers one to Ted.

[theodorelasso]

Ted quietly thanks him, accepting the smoothie and putting his laptop aside so he doesn't spill all over it. He's gotten quite hungry by now, so he immediately starts slurping it down. He frowns softly down at it. "Did you add something else?" he asks curiously, though not disapproving.

[formersurgeon]

"Pineapple," he affirms, sitting in the chair with his own smoothie. "The recipe leaned a bit sweet, and I felt the light tartness of the pineapple would add a pleasant dimension."

As much as Sherlock speaks of food as nutrition, he's surprisingly good at creating pleasing taste profiles.

[theodorelasso]

"You were right," Ted answers, smiling with obvious approval, and sips some more. He can taste the pineapple now. He makes a mental note to ask Sherlock for cooking and baking advice whenever he feels like something's missing.

"Did you know pineapple stings your mouth if you eat too much cause it's actually basically eating you as well?" he asks. "I bet you did know that, you're a smart cookie," he adds with a smile.

[formersurgeon]

"It contains the enzyme bromelain," Sherlock says after a long sip of his smoothie. "Which breaks down the proteins in your mouth. Whether one could call that 'eating' without associated organs, however..."

[theodorelasso]

"See, I knew you'd know," Ted answers, pleased. Between him and Beard, he's surrounded by walking encyclopedias. "Don't suppose you've ever solved any pineapple-related crime?"

[formersurgeon]

"Watson and I did encounter a drug smuggling operation with a penchant for hiding their product in shipments of pineapple," he says. He takes another sip. "Another case was complicated by the presence of formaldehyde that is often utilized to preserve pineapple."

[theodorelasso]

"They use formaldehyde to preserve pineapple? Huh," he answers curiously. This is the kind of crime stories he enjoys hearing. "Hey, how come you call her Watson instead of Joan?" he asks, it just occurring to him to ask.

[formersurgeon]

Sherlock lowers his glass and swallows. "When we began working together," he explains quietly, "there were a number of reasons why I sought to maintain a certain psychological distance. Calling her Watson was a part of that. As things began to change, so did the significance of the name. I suppose it has become a symbol of the unique status of our relationship." He looks over at the sleeping woman with a slight smile of fondness. "The rest of the world calls her Joan, but she will always be my dear Watson."

[theodorelasso]

Ted has some context for the reasons Sherlock would want some distance. The reason why it stayed that way, and why it got a different kind of significance is heart-warming though.

"That's sweet," he answers softly. "I figure I'm probably the only one who gets to call her 'sweetie' without getting decked," he adds with a chuckle. That's not an uncommon nickname for a romantic partner though.

[formersurgeon]

"There are those who get away with a withering glare," Sherlock deadpans. He's generally right, though, and it pleases Sherlock that he seems fond of that aspect of Watson's personality. Plenty of men would not be.

[theodorelasso]

Ted chuckles at Sherlock's joke. Ted himself definitely has a need to be agreeable, and doesn't rise to the bait when insulted, doesn't take it to heart. He admires Joan's resolve to not let anyone treat her any way she doesn't want to be treated. She's never unkind about it, just firm.

It's comforting in a way. He knows if he ever accidentally stepped over a line, she would let him know. He doesn't need to tiptoe around her feelings - and Ted definitely has a tendency of doing that.

"She knows how to take care of herself, that's for sure," he observes fondly, looking down at her. Which is why it makes him sad how frustrating it must be with the state she's in right now. But she's getting better now, at least.

[formersurgeon]

"That she does," Sherlock says, also looking down at his sleeping partner, with just as much fondness.

"Has she mentioned Angus?" he asks softly.

[theodorelasso]

Ted frowns softly, thinking back. "The bust you used to talk to to work out problems?" he asks. He remembers that he suggested he could stand in for that.

[formersurgeon]

Sherlock nods. He figured it might have come up at some point, although it does make Sherlock wonder how thorough Ted's knowledge of the history of their partnership is. "Did she mention what happened to Angus?"