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]

"It's okay," she says, leaning in to kiss his cheek before getting up, carrying her plate with her. "I think we have milk and some cans of juice. Do you have a preference?"

[theodorelasso]

"Oh I'm good with either, but milk gives me the toots, so I think it's your preference we should be worried about," Ted quips with a smile.

[formersurgeon]

She laughs a little at that cute, folksy way to convey that bit of information. "Canned orange juice it is," she says, grabbing a couple and returning to the bed. "No apple juice, unfortunately," she says, handing him a can.

[theodorelasso]

He considers making a 'orange yous glad' joke, but decides against it.

"Don't think I've had either in a can before," he answers, opening it and taking a sip. Tastes the same but the experience is a little different. He sets it down then starts digging into the pancakes.

"You know, this place ain't so bad, but it could really benefit from some sort of home entertainment," he comments, looking around the boring mostly empty room.

[formersurgeon]

"It could," she agrees after taking a sip of her orange juice. "I think the argument was that it was important to use as little electricity as possible. This room doesn't exist in any official capacity, and the electricity is being taken from nearby sources. The fridge and the stove are necessities, but a TV is not."

[theodorelasso]

"Alright, but, you know, analog options. Board games. Deck of cards. Maybe some books or something," he suggests. They're sort of limited to 'spin the bottle' or 'never have I ever'. And he assumes there's no alcohol, so those wouldn't even be that fun.

[formersurgeon]

"I'll pass on the suggestion to Sherlock," she says with a smile. "You're right, though, there should be something. This particular safehouse is usually used for short term stays." She bumps his shoulder gently with hers. "I think we can keep ourselves occupied. We could tell each other stories. Or play 'two truths and a lie.'"

[theodorelasso]

"Ooh, yes, 'two truths and a lie' is great," Ted answers excitedly, as he shifts around to face her, crossing his legs. "You got one ready, wanna go first?"

[formersurgeon]

Joan hums as she chews her mouthful of pancake, thinking. "Okay," she says after swallowing. "When I was a kid I was obsessed with the mafia. I helped my dad write a book based on Sherlock and me. And I dated Sherlock's brother."

[theodorelasso]

Ted gets increasingly intrigued throughout the statements. "Hoo boy, okay," he says, frowning thoughtfully. "You did say your father is a writer, so I'm gonna assume that one is true, unless it's a misdirection."

He clicks his tongue thoughtfully. "The first one is hard, because little girls are mysterious and powerful, and you absolutely could have, but I think it's a misdirection, since this is your third career. But the last one sounds like a 'crazy but true' situation. So I'm gonna go with the first one."

[formersurgeon]

Joan smiles. "The mafia was like a soap opera when I was a kid. I had friends who swore they had relatives in the mob. This was before the big crackdown in the late 80s. It actually helped me with a case later on when we had to identify a body that turned out to be the son of one of the dons." She tilts her head. "Want to try again?"

[theodorelasso]

"Oh, woow," Ted answers, delighted. He doesn't mind getting it wrong as long as he gets fun stories like that! "Alright, in that case, I'm gonna go with the last one."

[formersurgeon]

Joan's smile deepens, but there's the slightest hint of sadness in it.

"His name is Mycroft. He's Sherlock's older brother. We met the first time Sherlock and I came London, and hit it off. We had what I think both of us assumed was a one night stand, that turned into more when he came to New York."

[theodorelasso]

Ted raises his eyebrows. What kind of name is Mycroft? Exactly the kind of name the brother of someone named Sherlock would have, he supposes.

"Alright, let's circle back to that - so your dad, total misdirection?" he asks curiously.

[formersurgeon]

"Well. My dad did write a book based on Sherlock and me. But I didn't help him. In fact, he didn't tell me about it at all. I found out when Captain Gregson asked if I had read my dad's latest book."

Joan had been furious with her father over that.

[theodorelasso]

"Yikes," Ted agrees. He'd be a bit miffed if his mom wrote a book about him without asking. That seems highly unlikely, of course. Although Ted is probably more used to being in the spotlight than Joan is. He's gotten the impression the intentionally avoid it.

"So, what happened next? Did you guys make up?"

[formersurgeon]

Joan is a fairly private person, and Sherlock is intensely so, so having their lives out there like that, however veiled, rankled them both.

"We did. We talked about it, and he told me he had done it to feel closer to me. I'm actually going to be helping him with the sequel. With Sherlock's permission, I might add."

[theodorelasso]

Aww. Well, as far as motivations go, that's at least pretty sweet, even if the method was foolish.

"Oh! So it was a trick question," Ted says. "If you'd asked me in like, a year, it would've been true! Can I demand a mistrial or something?" he asks, chuckling.

[formersurgeon]

"Aren't trick questions and technicalities part of the fun?" she asks, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Come on, your turn. What do you got for me?"

[theodorelasso]

"Alright, well, if those are the rules we're playing by, I gotta think of a real good one for you," he answers, then falls silent, thinking as he chews on pancake.

"Okay, I got it. I wore pajamas to prom. My favorite band when I was 14 was The Cure. Aaand I still can't explain the offside rule." He holds his hands out as if presenting the options.

[formersurgeon]

Joan blinks, chuckling as she considers those choices. "Wow. Okay. I can totally see you wearing pajamas to your prom, and you need to tell me that story. Hmm. The offsides rule is complicated, and I definitely believe that you still can't explain it. But The Cure? Really? I don't think 14 year old Ted went through a goth phase. I think that's the lie."

[theodorelasso]

"No no no, I got this, I got this," Ted says excitedly, almost bouncing in his seat. "Offside is uh, like when Sam passes to Dani, but Dani is closer to the other team's goal than any of their defenders. Oh, BUT, but it's when Sam passes the ball, not when Dani gets it, which means he can still sprint to it!"

Ted looks extremely proud of himself. Not just for remembering, but also for successfully tricking Joan.

[formersurgeon]

"Okay, okay," she says, holding up her hands, wrapping her head around this. "First of all, that is awesome, congratulations, very proud of you. More importantly, though...the Cure was your favorite band???" She gapes at him. "Seriously? Did you dye your hair? Are there piercings I don't know about?"

[theodorelasso]

"Well, okay it was like for two weeks when I was 14, and it was mostly cause I was mad at my dad," Ted clarifies with a shrug. "Hey, but you said trick questions were okay!" he adds quickly, pointing at her.

[formersurgeon]

"It's totally okay," she says with a smile. "And yeah, that makes sense. I think even you could feasibly have a two week goth phase."

She leans in to give him a soft kiss.

"So," she says. "Pajamas to prom?"