For Joan

[theodorelasso]

Continued from here.

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

Comments

[formersurgeon]

"Pretty sure they call it football there, too," she teases gently. "And technically speaking, it's not mine. The property belongs to Sherlock's dad."

The elder Holmes is a terrible person in a lot of ways, but his extensive land holdings are useful.

[theodorelasso]

"Mmm. Yeah, well, I'm talking to you, not the Argentinians," Ted teases back. "They probably call it something like... El futball," he adds, trying to mimic Dani. They speak Spanish in Argentina, right?

[formersurgeon]

She chuckles. "Something like that." She met Dani briefly in the investigation, and was impressed by the sheer joy the man exuded with his love for the sport.

"You could coach there under an assumed name. Grow a goatee." She smiles mischievously. "Or shave your mustache."

[theodorelasso]

"I have done that, though it's been years. Really spooked Henry," he answers with a chuckle. He definitely thinks he looks wrong without a mustache, but he's also not so precious that he wouldn't do it.

He tells Joan more about Henry's reaction, and after that play some more two truths and a lie, though of course it veers off into mostly just storytelling.

Given their long nap, it's pretty late before either of them feels remotely sleepy.

And even when they do go to bed properly, Ted barely dozes off, before waking up and just lying there for an hour or two, listening to Joan's calm breathing to avoid feeling anxious about being in a basement. (The smell, the echo of the walls, with no sound from outside...)

Eventually he gets up, as carefully as possible to avoid waking Joan (who thankfully was sound asleep by then), and he just starts making bread using that mix. It takes very little skill or creativity, but at least he gets to knead some dough. He saves the actual baking for the next morning though, though that's nice, as then they get to eat it for breakfast.

[formersurgeon]

Joan's sleep isn't dreamless this time. She dreams, strangely enough, of Moriarty. The woman is in the cell where she was held after Joan "solved" her and captured her. The painting she's working on isn't Joan, though. It's Ted.

She wakes up and is momentarily anxious when Ted isn't beside her. Then she sees him baking and relaxes.

They have fresh baked bread and jam for breakfast, and it's perfect. As they're eating, the burner phone buzzes. It's Sherlock, saying to expect Simon. A minute later there's a knock on the door, and she peeks out to see a teenager decked out in punk gear and carrying a mailbag. He identifies himself as Simon and hands her the bag, then leaves.

Inside the bag is Ted's suit and Joan's ballgown, along with some of Joan's makeup, hair product and perfume, and Ted's cologne and shaving supplies.

Once they're ready to go, Joan leads them out of the building a different way than they entered, and they catch a cab to the gala.