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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[theodorelasso]

"Alright, have fun. Or sit next to her while she sleeps, whichever one ends up happening," he says with a chuckle, heading out.

When he gets to the club, the team are still out on the field pitch. And, he realizes as he heads to the door, Marcus and Lloyd are waiting outside. Presumably for the team, but they perk up considerably when they see him.

For once, Ted actually excuses himself that he can't really talk about all that yet, but that he'll be sure to invite them when he is ready to answer questions.

[formersurgeon]

Sherlock enters Watson's room and sits on the bed, his back against the wall and his legs stretched in front of him. He and Watson chat a little, about a case Sherlock has been following and some fascinating things he had just discovered about the peculiar practice of self-mummification once pursued by a few Buddhist monks.

The conversation is full of their usual sarcasm and snark, their own form of intellectual flirtation, and Joan enjoys it immensely. Still, she's tired, and eventually she begins to drift off. Sherlock lets her, falling silent, turning back to his computer.

Five minutes later Joan starts twitching.

[theodorelasso]

Ted's waiting in the locker room when the team get there. They all seem both surprised and relieved to see him - no doubt Beard has made sure to let them know that him and Joan were home and doing alright, but it's nothing compared to actually seeing him.

They react about as well as expected. There's some threats of violence against Rupert. Several well-meaning but misguided encouragements - most of these kids aren't necessarily intellectual giants, but their hearts are in the right place. They show a lot of faith in him, which simultaneously makes him feel valued, and also makes him nervous about actually coming back.

Once again it leaves him feeling supported, but also emotionally exhausted.

He promises Beard he'll let him know when he can come over for a visit, and heads to the apartment to pick up some things. Mostly clothes, since he's already got his phone and his laptop. He also makes sure to grab a small 'BELIEVE' sign to hang in 221A.

[formersurgeon]

Sherlock notices movement in the corner of his eye, and looks over to see Watson twitching. He closes his computer immediately, then sits watching her, his hands curled into nervous fists, counting to himself, until she stops seizing. It lasted for a little over a minute. He wakes Watson and tells her what happened. Together they decide to contact a doctor Sherlock knows who makes house calls, which Sherlock does as Watson falls back asleep. Then he texts Ted.

Wtson hd a seizure. Dr otw.

[theodorelasso]

Ted almost drops his phone when he reads that text. He doesn't even process it full, just sees 'Watson' and 'seizure', which says absolutely nothing about severity and makes Ted imagine the absolute worst.

He immediately just calls Sherlock, because he is absolutely not going to try to have that conversation in text.

[formersurgeon]

Sherlock isn't surprised when his phone rings. He answers, dispensing with greetings "She's all right. It was a mild seizure in her sleep. A doctor is on the way with an ambulatory EEG."

[theodorelasso]

Ted is glad those are Sherlock's first words, because he'd basically stopped reading when he read those words.

"Okay," he answers, taking a steadying breath, nodding to himself. "Okay, but what does that mean though?"

[formersurgeon]

"We'll have to see what the doctor says. Watson seems to think it likely they will prescribe anti-seizure medication."

Ted can hear the 221A doorbell ring in the background.

"That's the doctor. I'll see you when you get here."

Sherlock hangs up to let the doctor in and help tend to Watson.

[theodorelasso]

The best that could be said for that phonecall is that Ted is mildly less panicked. Reassured though? Not really. There's a big knot in his stomach.

He closes up his suitcase and heads outside, as quickly as he can manage, which is not particularly quickly. At least he finds a cab quickly. Then there's nothing to do but sit there, wringing his hands until he gets there and can hurry inside.

[formersurgeon]

He'll find Sherlock and Joan in the room. Sherlock is standing against one wall, his fingertips restlessly tapping his lips as he watches Joan sitting in the wheelchair, her eyes closed as the doctor, a blonde woman in blue scrubs, stands behind her, attaching tiny electrodes to her scalp.

[theodorelasso]

"Hey," Ted greets, slightly breathless, heading over to Joan. His first instincts was that he shouldn't interrupt them, but that instinct was quickly overruled by his desire to make sure Joan is alright.

[formersurgeon]

Joan opens her eyes and looks over toward Ted, using her eyes instead of turning her head.

"Hey," she says softly, reaching for his hand.

"I take it you're Ted," the doctor says, glancing up from her work to give him a mild smile. "I'm Dr. Bergen. Miss Watson and Mr. Holmes wanted me to reassure you that Miss Watson will be all right. Have you witnessed any seizures previous to this?"

[theodorelasso]

Ted immediately goes to take Joan's hand.

"Nice to meet you," he answers when the doctor introduces herself, a response so ingrained that he doesn't even think about it.

He shakes his head at the question. "No, no, I would have said something."

[formersurgeon]

Joan gives him a faint smile, trying to be at least a little reassuring.

"Unfortunately that's one of the problems with nocturnal seizures," Dr. Bergen says, continuing to place the electrodes. "They often go unnoticed since they happen when the subject is sleeping. It's fortunate Mr. Holmes was able to witness this one."

[theodorelasso]

"Well - one of us has been with her the entire time, including when she's been asleep, so we would have noticed, right?" Ted asks. He hopes dearly the reason they haven't is because there hasn't been any others.

[formersurgeon]

"Not necessarily," Dr. Bergen says as she glues down the last electrode. "Not if you were asleep, too."

Joan squeezes his hand a little. "Hey," she says to get his attention. "This isn't your fault. Okay?"

[theodorelasso]

Ted looks down at her with a worried frown, that says a part of him definitely still feels like this is his fault, going through various 'if it weren't for him...' patterns. At the very least, him wanting to go through with the gala. He knows he shouldn't think like that, but it's very hard not to.

He looks over at Sherlock. "Could you get me a chair, please?" he asks quietly. He wants to be close to Joan, but he's been on his feet more than he should.

[formersurgeon]

Joan can guess those thoughts are going through his head, and it makes her sad. She wants to make him feel better but she knows there's only so much she can do or say.

Sherlock nods and goes out, returning with one of the kitchen chairs, which he sets down next to the wheelchair.

[theodorelasso]

Ted quietly thanks Sherlock, and gives Joan a reassuring smile. He doesn't want her worrying about his feelings on top of everything else.

"So, all of this," he says to the doctor, gesturing at the electrodes. "Is to figure out how serious it is, or?"

[formersurgeon]

She smiles back, aware that they're reassuring each other while they're both probably putting on a brave face. Joan knows that this is serious, more serious than the doctor is letting on. People die from nocturnal seizures. It's a really good thing Sherlock caught it.

"Yeah, pretty much," the doctor says, stretching a gauze cap over Joan's head to help keep the electrodes in place. "I'll do some tests while she's awake, then we'll let her sleep and see if we can record an incident."

She gathers the wires together at the nape of Joan's neck like a ponytail and secures them with a tie.

[theodorelasso]

They have to put on a brave face, cause the alternative is panicking, and that's not going to do anyone any good. Hopefully this will be just another awful thing in possibly the worst month ever, but just another thing they can recover from.

"Alright, well, just tell me what you need from us. Including 'get out of the way'," Ted says, and gives a (somewhat weak) chuckle.

[formersurgeon]

"I'll need your help to get her in bed," the doctor says as she starts plugging the wires into the EEG machine. "Once I'm done here."

Joan definitely agrees that it's better to be brave for each other than to freak out together. She smiles at Ted and mouths "love you."

[theodorelasso]

Ted smiles at Joan, mouthing 'you too' back. He sits there watching the doctor, not wanting to interrupt. And worrying. He's definitely worrying. Just like Sherlock standing there off to the side, watching closely.

[formersurgeon]

Sherlock is certainly worrying, standing stiff and awkward on the other side of the room, his expression grim. He knows how serious this is, and is much less inclined to put on a brave face. That requires a level of social finesse he doesn't frequently concern himself with him.

"All right," the doctor says, the last wire plugged into the machine. "With your help, gentlemen, let's get Miss Watson in bed without getting the wires tangled."

Sherlock comes over and leans down to scoop Watson up.

[theodorelasso]

Ted stands up again, letting Sherlock do the actual carrying, and instead just making sure neither the wheelchair nor the wires get in the way, then helping her get comfortably settled.

"How sick are you of being carted around by now?" he jokes quietly at Joan, smiling softly at her.