For Joan

[theodorelasso]

Continued from here.

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

Comments

[formersurgeon]

Sherlock notes that fact as well, and he's almost certain he knows who that relative is. His investigations into Mr. Chapman had uncovered the fact that his mother left Turner and his father when Turner was very young. Sherlock hadn't looked into her because there was really no need to, since past a certain point Mr. Chapman was merely part of a bigger picture with bigger fish to fry. Now, however...

He sees Ted's anger, and resolves to talk with the man about it when they've got a moment alone.

"It's very kind of you," Gerald says with clear admiration. "Particularly considering your history with Mr. Chapman." He picks up one of the forms and slides it toward Ted. "This says you take responsibility for making arrangements for the disposition of Mr. Chapman's remains." He passes him a pen. "Please sign on page two."

[theodorelasso]

Ted just nods, picking up the paper but not the pen, skimming quickly through it. He's not sure he's in the right mindset to even fully absorb that kind of legal speak right now, so after a moment he wordlessly hands the paper to Sherlock.

In the meantime, he turns to the woman. "And I'm guessing you can help me with organising those arrangements?"

[formersurgeon]

Sherlock takes the paper and scans it. It looks fairly standard, insofar as anything like this can be standard. He sets the paper down where Ted can reach it when he's ready.

The woman nods. "Once the paperwork has been signed we can take possession of the body and prepare for the funeral and burial." She puts a hand on one of the binders. "We have some options here for funeral and memorial products."

[theodorelasso]

Ted nods thoughtfully, looking at the binder. That's a lot of decisions he doesn't necessarily want to make, but that he still wants to make sure is made well.

He draws a steadying breath and picks up the pen with his left hand, signing it, then pushing it back across the table with another nod. There's a very strange feeling inside him at being now responsible for a man who tried to kill him.

[formersurgeon]

Once again Sherlock wishes Joan were here. She would be much better at helping Ted through this emotionally. He keeps an eye on Ted, aware of how difficult this must be and ready to speak up if necessary.

Gerald takes the paper and the pen and stands. "Thank you. If you will excuse me, I'll make sure we're ready to make the transfer. Mr. Lasso," he says with a nod, then another nod to Sherlock before he leaves the room.

Susan pulls one of the binders over. "Do you have any thoughts on coffins and caskets?" she asks in a gentle, soothing tone.

[theodorelasso]

Ted appreciates Sherlock's quiet support though. Ted knows he's got his back. It's like with Beard. Maybe they can't talk him through it, but they're there for him, and that still means the world. If he falters, there's someone to look after him.

"Something simple, you know?" Ted asks. He's tried to think of some of this beforehand, at least. "But respectable, doesn't have to be cheap. Just no pointless frills." No one's going to see it anyway - he tries to stop that thought in its tracks. But Turner was a simple working man, it wouldn't feel right to give him something fancy anyway.

[formersurgeon]

"Certainly." She opens the binder and flips through a few pages, then turns the binder so Ted can see. "We have woven willow caskets, pine caskets, bamboo caskets..." she says pointing to each. On the opposite page are printed wood caskets, including this one.

[theodorelasso]

Both woven willow and bamboo caskets sound pretty weird to him, like the wrong kind of simple. Like Turner's a picnic basket.

He huffs a laugh at the soccer casket, lifting the page to show Sherlock. "What do you think: tasteless, or honoring his memory?" he asks. It also looks a little silly to him, like a mean joke. But on the other hand, Turner literally said football was all he and his father had.

"Hey, can you do custom prints?" he asks suddenly, turning back to Susan.

[formersurgeon]

"Seems a bit garish," Sherlock opines, wrinkling his nose slightly.

"We can," Susan answers. "What did you have in mind?"

[theodorelasso]

Ted nods in agreement with Sherlock. They can get the same theme across in a slightly less flashy way. Turner didn't seem very flashy.

"Maybe just like, the AFC Richmond logo on like the top there," he says, tapping the lid of one of the caskets. "And then maybe the song: We're Richmond--"

He cuts off abruptly, staring blankly at the table.

[formersurgeon]

'Til we die.

Both Sherlock and Susan know how that phrase was supposed to end. Sherlock watches Ted, feeling for the man yet looking a little lost, not knowing what to say.

Susan is obviously more experienced with situations like this. "We can definitely put the logo on the top," she says gently. "Perhaps a red stripe as well, with yellow borders?"

[theodorelasso]

Ted swallows and nods a bit. "Yeah, that sounds good," he answers quietly, sitting back in his chair.

[formersurgeon]

"Do you want to take a break, Mr. Lasso?" Susan asks, her voice steady and reassuring. "I could get you some water."

[theodorelasso]

"Sure, yeah," Ted answers, mindlessly agreeing more than he actually considers whether or not he'd like that.

[formersurgeon]

"I'll go get that for you," she says as she stands. She glances at Sherlock, who gives her a small nod. He'll tend to Ted.

Sherlock waits a moment after the door is closed before he speaks.

"Do you wish to call Watson?"

[theodorelasso]

Ted glances over at Sherlock. "No, I.." he answers, a gut reaction, before pausing. Trying to move past the gut reaction, and consider whether he actually wants to.

"No, we're gonna head back there afterwards, I'll be alright," he says, a bit steadier. He doesn't really know what he'd say anyway, or what he'd want to hear. But he's glad for the moment to pause.

[formersurgeon]

Sherlock nods, looking down, wishing he had more to say but knowing that sometimes being present is a help in and of itself. He considers talking to Ted about Chapman's mother, but nixes the idea,thinking it's likely only going to upset him further.

[theodorelasso]

Ted sits there in silence for a moment, then pulls out his phone after all. Instead of calling her though, he just sends Joan a text. Both to get her thoughts, and to reassure her that he's doing alright.

We're thinking about a simple wooden casket with the AFC Richmond logo printed on the top. Thoughts?

[formersurgeon]

When Joan gets the text she can't help but smile a little. It's very Ted. She texts him back:

I like it. It's a good way to honor him.

[theodorelasso]

Ted just sends her a thumbs-up emoji back, then pockets the phone again. He does feel a little better from having reached out, even without letting on that he was upset. It's just nice to know she's there for him, to have that little bit of connection to her.

[formersurgeon]

Sherlock sees Ted relax a little as he receives the text. The detective isn't looking at Ted's phone and he doesn't have to to know who he is texting with. He smiles a little to himself, happy Ted can find such comfort in such a small exchange with Watson.

There's a soft knock on the door. Sherlock supposes it's the funeral director, and looks to Ted.

[theodorelasso]

Ted looks up, half turning in his seat. "Come on in," he answers, sounding a bit more chipper.

It's still a defense mechanism, of course, but at least he's capable of it without feeling like he's gonna fall apart.

[formersurgeon]

The funeral director enters, a cup of water in her hand. She sets it on the table for Ted, then sits down, looking at both Ted and Sherlock to gauge the situation. She can tell that things have settled a bit.

"So, are we decided on the coffin with the Richmond logo and colors?" she asks, to settle the matter before moving on to other things.

[theodorelasso]

"Thank you," Ted says, picking up the cup and taking a sip. It's still water, thankfully. It hadn't occurred to him to specify.

"Yeah, that'll be good. Don't make it too overwhelming though, just some details on some sort of dark wood," he says, a bit more focused now.

[formersurgeon]

"We can do that," Susan says, flipping through pages of coffins and caskets until she comes to this one.

"Something like this?"