For Joan

[theodorelasso]

Continued from here.

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

Comments

[formersurgeon]

As Ted works in the kitchen, Sherlock and Joan sift methodically through all of the documents. There's no overtly evil declarations, no direct orders to have the plane sabotaged, no smoking gun. And yet when everything is put together, the narrative it establishes is clear. Everything was set up in advance that the other members of the board would be on that specific plane at that specific location and time, and Rupert would absolutely not be. And then there was a wire transfer of money. A sticky note on the document identified it as being to a man suspected in partisan bombings in several locations in Europe, sort of a terrorist-for-hire.

When Ted emerges Joan looks up and takes a breath, feeling like she's been holding her breath for god knows how long.

"We'll wrap up," she responds with a small smile, not a happy smile but definitely a grateful one. She'll appreciate the break.

[theodorelasso]

Ted holds his crutches with his elbows for a second to give her two thumbs up, before heading to the bathroom. He doesn't take too long, and he's basically wearing the same thing once he's finished - just a fresh change.

"Would you like to freshen up before we head out?" he asks Joan. They did get dressed and her hair is in braids, so it's not strictly necessary, but she might want to feel a bit fresher if they're heading outside for the first time in a while.

[formersurgeon]

"A little," she says, smiling at him as she sets the folder down. "It would be nice to at least go to the bathroom and wash my face. And I should take my medicine before we go out."

Sherlock gets up and helps Joan to her feet and then into the wheelchair.

[theodorelasso]

Ted waits by the bathroom for Sherlock to wheel her over, so he can take it from there for the bathroom stuff.

"Do we have like a backpack or basket or something?" he asks Sherlock. "I prepared food, it's on the table and on the bottom shelf in the fridge, would you mind packing it up?"

[formersurgeon]

"I believe we have a basket at 221B," Sherlock remarks, turning to go find it.

Joan looks up at Ted and reaches for his hand.

"You okay?" she asks softly. She's sure he'd rather not have Rupert encroaching on their safety and healing here.

[theodorelasso]

He smiles, grateful for her concern, and leans down to give her a kiss. (He tastes like coffee and strawberries. He may have already snacked on a few.)

"I'm good," he answers. "I made a bunch of yummy stuff for us." Making food soothes him, especially when it's for other people. Something about the act of caretaking. So while he definitely doesn't want to think too much about Rupert (until he has to), at least he had the opportunity to distance himself from it.

[formersurgeon]

He tastes amazing, and Joan hums softly as she kisses him back. She can tell that he's relaxed and happy, and she's glad. She can do something with the information they've been given, but he isn't an investigator. It would likely only cause him grief. If she can prevent that, she will.

"I can't wait to taste the yummy stuff," she says with a smile.

[theodorelasso]

He's also very ready to make sure Joan has some breaks to feel relaxed and happy as well. He understands when she wants to be focused on a case, and doesn't want to be interrupted, but right now their circumstances are kind of special, and he will allow himself to interrupt to make sure she's taking care of herself emotionally.

"Alright, then let's get cracking," he says with with smile, wheeling her into the bathroom and helping her with whatever she might need, while Sherlock packs up the food.

[formersurgeon]

With his help she uses the toilet, then washes her hands and her face. The braids Ted gave her are still in and still look good, so she decides to just leave them. At some point later that day she wants to shower, but she can hold off for the moment.

"Can you get me my meds and some water?" she asks as he wheels her out of the bathroom.

[theodorelasso]

"Yup. Though I think I'm gonna bring you to them than the other way around," he says with a chuckle. Ironicallt it's easier to push the wheelchair around than it is to carry cups of water in his current state.

He remembered to take his meds after shaving too, thankfully. Having a visitor definitely made him forget about it for a few hours. Though that means he took them late enough in the day that he probably shouldn't take more until next morning.

Meds taken, both of them freshened up, food packed. Seems like they're just about ready.

[formersurgeon]

They find Sherlock in the kitchen, just finishing packing the food into a classic wicker picnic basket.

"How shall we get Watson down the steps?" he asks, surveying the wheelchair and the picnic basket and Ted on crutches.

[theodorelasso]

"Right right right.." Ted considers, looking at Joan for her opinion. "Sherlock carries you, I carry the wheelchair?" he suggests. It's less of a carry than gently wheeling it down the steps, but it's light enough and the steps are few enough that it shouldn't be a problem. "I'm guessing you'd rather save your strength for when we are actually in the park."

[formersurgeon]

"We can do that,"Joan agrees. It's not something she's thrilled about, but it works, and she definitely should be fooling around with steps quite yet.

Sherlock sets the basket down and helps Joan stand. He places the basket on the wheelchair, then carefully scoops Joan up into his arms.

[theodorelasso]

Ted makes his way down as well, carefully turning the wheelchair so he can gently and controlled pull it down the steps without jostling all the food too much. Once down he parks the wheelchair and takes the basket out of it, so Joan can sit back down. He's very glad Sherlock's at least uninjured, or this would've been a real challenge.

"Do you mind having the basket in your lap so Sherlock can push the wheelchair? I should probably use the crutches since we're walking for a bit," Ted says. Leaning on the wheelchair works, but it's probably not really ideal. He can't quite take his weight off the same way.

[formersurgeon]

"Sure," she says, taking the basket. It's a little awkward on her lap, but not that much.

"Where would you like to go?" Sherlock asks Ted.

[theodorelasso]

"Just somewhere up in Regent's Park that's not too crowded?" he suggests. He doesn't know it well enough to know like, the perfect spot or anything. "Somewhere by the lake and not too close to the road?"

[formersurgeon]

"We can do that," he says, and begins pushing the wheelchair in that direction.

This is the first time Joan has been outside in a while, and she turns her face up to the sky, closing her eyes and feeling the sun on her skin, taking deep breaths of fresh air. 221A is a spacious apartment, particularly by London standards, but she's nevertheless been feeling a bit cooped up. This is just what she needs.

[theodorelasso]

Ted is feeling much the same, although if he were to close his eyes, things would probably end poorly.

But last time he walked by here, he was more than a little preoccupied, so at least now he can take in the sights a bit more. There's a yoga place almost next door to them, followed by a pub. And a lot of houses that look at lot like his down in Richmond. And right next to the park, some real fancy buildings that Sherlock informs him are the Cornwall Terrace mansions.

Even with their mobility issues though, it doesn't take them long to the actual park. It's nice that they've got stuff like this so close. Already being surrounded by the green is making him feel better.

[formersurgeon]

Once they've found a good spot, Sherlock opens the picnic basket and pulls out a rolled-up picnic blanket. He spreads it out over the grass, then takes the basket and puts it on the blanket. He offers his hands to Joan, who is smiling, impressed.

"I didn't know we had picnic stuff at 221B," she says as he helps her get to her feet.

"It was leftover from the previous tenant," he says, his tone oddly gentle for such a seemingly banal statement. Ted might not notice, or he might wonder what the significance of the previous tenant is. Joan's smile fades. The previous tenant was Mycroft.

[theodorelasso]

Ted does notice, but mostly because of Joan's smile fading. He wonders if he should ask, but he feels like the significance of that sentence was intentionally kept vague. If Sherlock wanted to elaborate, he could choose to do so himself.

He puts down his crutches and carefully sits down, then makes sure Joan safely sits down as well, before he starts unpacking food.

[formersurgeon]

The memory of Mycroft is still difficult for them both, so Joan doesn't comment on it. Maybe at some point she'll tell Ted more about what happened. Of course it involved her own kidnapping, which Joan hasn't shared with Ted because she doesn't want to either trigger his trauma or make him think he needs to prioritize her experience.

Getting down on the ground is surprisingly difficult due to the lingering weakness in her muscles. Between Sherlock and Ted, though, she manages to get into a good position. Sherlock then sits as well, on the other side of the blanket from the two of them, giving them some space.

[theodorelasso]

At least Joan can lean against him if she gets tired. Or just lie down, for that matter. It's a beautiful day out, there's people chatting and laughing. Makes him feel more connected to the world. And grateful that they're both still in it.

He opens a box of strawberries and eats one, then closes his eyes for a moment and just takes a deep breath of fresh air. He smiles and then leans over and kisses Joan's shoulder happily. Sherlock will just have to deal with a little bit of cuteness from them.

[formersurgeon]

Joan smiles at the kiss on her shoulder, turning her head to press a kiss to his forehead in return. She's in full agreement that Sherlock will just have to deal.

She takes a strawberry from the box and eats it, closing her eyes as well with a sigh. It's a really good strawberry.

Sherlock doesn't react to the cuteness. Instead he lies down on his back, his hands beneath his head, his legs crossed at the ankles, just lounging.

[theodorelasso]

It's kind of nice to see Sherlock relaxing as well. Though Ted's sure he's mentally still going over the Rupert case. Hopefully Joan isn't though.

He scoots a bit closer behind/next to her, draping an arm around Joan's waist and leaning gently against her. "I love being in the park," he says softly, looking around them. "Just... people enjoying their day, taking some time to relax or to play. Even if you're sad in the park, on a day like this, at least it's a better place to be sad than being stuck inside."

[formersurgeon]

Joan leans against him, letting him support her. She can't help but wonder if his words are alluding to the twinge of sadness that she and Sherlock had shared at the memory of Sherlock's brother and Joan's erstwhile lover.

"Remind me to tell you about Mycroft," she says softly.