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]

That pulls her up short. How could she be so myopic?

"You're right, I haven't. I guess I was just too wrapped up in the fear that it was Moriarty. I should have asked, and I'm sorry. Who do you think might have done it?"

[theodorelasso]

"Well, I was just making an observation, cause that's the thing, I really don't like thinking about people that way," Ted says, staring at the photo again, frowning, falling silent. Rupert's got this self-satisfied smirk...

He doesn't like keeping this from Joan - actually he really hates it. He doesn't know what to do with this information. Or why apparently only he was given it. He feels like he's being played with. Is that it? Is that something Moriarty would do? Does she just want to see what he does? Or is she just leaving the decision up to him? And if he tells Joan, what are they even going to do about it if they can't prove it?

Actually no, not 'if' he tells Joan. When. He wouldn't want to keep this from her. Regardless of what he wants up wanting to do about the information. And... even now, a part of him knows exactly what he's going to do. Because if Rupert truly would do something like this, he shouldn't have the power to...

He's just... He's not ready for that yet.

[formersurgeon]

"You always see the best in people," she says softly. "Sometimes it makes it hard to see the worst." And vice versa.

She decides that maybe a change of topic might be called for. So she puts the phone on speaker and pulls up a travel site. "There's a flight from JFK to Heathrow at five...I think I can make that."

[theodorelasso]

Ted perks up at that. And he has to do some mental math. That's ten for him. Then add travel time. She'd probably be there at six in the morning. It's less than a day away.

"Yes, perfect," he says, the happiness at this prospect evident in his voice. "Beard and I can come pick you up."

[formersurgeon]

"Okay, 5pm it is..." She's quiet for a moment, choosing the flight and paying for it. "There we go." It feels drastic, but she doesn't want to spend another moment apart.

"It'll be good to be home, she says softly, deliberate in her word choice this time.

[theodorelasso]

It feels drastic to Ted too, but the appropriate amount of drastic.

"I can't wait to see you. I love you," he says excitedly, feeling giddy. Even despite everything else going on. "Although, oh boy, I guess you'd better get packing, huh?"

[formersurgeon]

"I don't have a lot," she says, closing her laptop and carrying it with her as she heads for the stairs. "It will just take me a minute. Do you want me to call you from the cab?"

[theodorelasso]

"Sure, yeah. I just gotta call Beard," Ted answers. "And hopefully get some sleep while you're on the plane, except now I'm so excited I'm thinking that might be a challenge," he adds with a chuckle.

[formersurgeon]

"I'm not sure I'll be able to sleep either," she says with a smile as she makes her way up the stairs. She's pretty wired herself, between the stress and the joy. "I'll call you on your regular phone, okay?"

[theodorelasso]

"Alright, talk to you soon," Ted answers, grinning happily.

After they hang up, he calls Beard, who can apparently tell just by the sound of Ted's voice that Joan is coming back to London. They make arrangements to head to to airport in the morning, Beard promising to worry about everything, and Ted just has to be awake. Which he doesn't think is going to be a problem.

[formersurgeon]

"I love you," she says before they hang up.

She puts her laptop onto the bed and texts Sherlock.

Flying back to London.

Then she pulls out her suitcase, sets it on the bed, and starts packing. It literally takes her about a minute, since she didn't bring much when she fled London in an equally drastic action. Once she's done she heads out, locking the Brownstone behind her. As she's heading toward the street to hail a cab, she wonders how long it will be before she returns. Just a little over a month ago she couldn't imagine staying in London. Now...now she can't imagine staying apart from Ted.

When she's in the cab and on her way to the airport, she pulls out her phone to call Ted and finds a text from Sherlock.

Bdy fnd

Crap. She thinks about calling Sherlock, but she had promised to call Ted, and with everything going on she didn't want to worry him.

She texts back:

Send me info via email and I'll review when I'm on the plane.

Then she calls Ted.

[theodorelasso]

Ted picks up immediately. "Hey there," he answers happily. "Oooh, feels kinda naughty to be talking to you on this phone now," he jokes.

[formersurgeon]

She smiles, her cares melting away by the sound of his voice.

"Feels good, doesn't it?" Her smile turns thoughtful. "We don't need to pretend anymore."

[theodorelasso]

"Yeah, we've already done that twice, and honestly I'm kind of bored with it," Ted answers, deadpan. He can't wait to be obnoxiously lovey-dovey. "Once you get here, can we just... take a vacation from worrying about everything? Just take a few days to just relax and enjoy each other's company?"

[formersurgeon]

She laughs. "Me too."

She thinks about his request. They still don't know who paid Perry, nor who killed him. But Sherlock could continue working the case, and a few days of rest with Ted would be wonderful.

"I'd like that."

[theodorelasso]

"Good," Ted answers with a sigh of relief. "There's just been... a lot of everything lately. Feel like we gotta take some time to heal emotionally, not just physically, you know?"

There's only so long they can keep going like this. Especially with the emotional rollercoaster that their relationship has been as well.

He doesn't take any joy in what's happened to Turner, and potentially also Perry, but... He feels relatively safe for the moment. He doesn't think anyone's going to come after him for at least a while. Possibly ever, but...

Well, they'll see. Ted is an optimist, but after these past two weeks, he's also.. a lot more nervous and cautious than he used to be. Which honestly he feels like is something that is more of a loss than being physically out of commission for a while...

[formersurgeon]

It makes Joan sad that what happened has taken away some of Ted's trust and joy. She hopes he can recover it, that it can heal just like his legs and his ribs heal. If time just to themselves helps that happen, then they should absolutely take that time.

"I agree," she says softly. "Do you want to go somewhere together?"

[theodorelasso]

"Oh that might be nice.." Ted says, considering. He'd be fine just staying in his apartment though. It's not like he can run around sightseeing right now. He's got Shaun coming by daily too... "I dunno, I'll think about it. Honestly, as long as you're there, that's all that matters."

[formersurgeon]

Joan was thinking about the seashore, somewhere they could lie in the sand, holding hands as they listen to the waves and soak up rays. But she's totally fine with just staying home, too.

"Whatever you decide," she says, "I'll be there."

She intends to not leave his side for as long as possible.

[theodorelasso]

"Good," Ted answers, smiling, daydreaming about just holding her again. He falls silent for a few moments. "I'm sorry, I don't really have much to say right now cause I'm just so busy thinking about getting to see you again," he says excitedly.

[formersurgeon]

"That's okay," she says with a smile. "I can just talk. I took your advice and went out to have a drink with Marcus the other night. It was really nice."

[theodorelasso]

"Oh good!" Ted answers, happy for her having a bit of a break too. She deserves it, and probably needed it. Especially with the news they've gotten today. And yesterday. "You didn't tell me much about him, what's he like?"

[formersurgeon]

She loves that he asked. That he cares about the details of her life.

"He's a detective with the precinct," she says. "He's worked with us for a while. Almost from the beginning. He's a good guy. Really sharp, while also having less of an ego than many others. He's had his clashes with Sherlock, but he and I have always gotten along."

[theodorelasso]

He cares so much about the details of her life, he could listen to her talk for hours if she wanted to.

"That's nice, I'm glad you got to catch up a bit," Ted answers. "I look forward to meeting all these friends of yours. Though preferably outside of a work setting," he adds with a soft chuckle. Joan obviously knows a lot of people within law enforcement, and he's had enough stuff related to criminal activity that involves himself.

[formersurgeon]

"I look forward to introducing you to them," she says with a smile. "I told Marcus all about you. Of course, it was in the context of our supposed breakup, so. He understands, though. And definitely knows that our pretend breakup wasn't due to anything you did."