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]

Ted starts heading back, then looks up as he sees Sherlock. "I'll get Joan some clothes, I'll be right in," he says, not thinking anything of him looking at him, figuring he was just waiting for them to finish.

[formersurgeon]

"Does Watson know?"

Sherlock is not one to beat about the bush, nor to be coy. It isn't even a matter of attraction between Ted and his physical therapist, as Ted clearly loves Joan and is devoted to her, and Sherlock would be surprised if Ted would ever consider cheating on her. It's more that this is something important about Ted, and something Sherlock knows Joan would want to support him about.

[theodorelasso]

Ted pauses, tilting his head and frowning in confused curiosity. "Know what?" he asks. "That Shaun's sister is doing a recital?" It's the only thing he can think of that Sherlock could be referring to.

[formersurgeon]

"Is it just Shaun?" he asks, his voice quiet and as gentle as Sherlock gets, clearly asking out of the care he has for both of them. "Or are you attracted to men in general?"

[theodorelasso]

Ted stops, his pleasant smile fading for a moment. He definitely wasn't expecting that. It makes his hackles rise a little, for reasons he doesn't stop to identify.

"Boy, you'd better put that detective brain back to work where it belongs," he says with a chuckle, an attempt to be playfully dismissive, but it doesn't quite have its usual warmth. It ends up reading a bit like a warning.

[formersurgeon]

Sherlock notes the warning and continues anyway.

"I understand if it's a secret," Sherlock says, still quiet and gentle. "With your background and your chosen occupation, it would make sense if an attraction to men is something you would want to keep hidden. That is why I am asking you here, and not in front of Watson. Whether you tell her or not is your choice. I would point out, however, that Watson loves you deeply, and would support you."

[theodorelasso]

Ted stares at Sherlock in disbelief as he talks. He doesn't know what to say. He can't quite make himself deny it, but he definitely doesn't want to talk about it with Sherlock.

"How about you keep your theories about my personal life to yourself?" he answers, and there's definite hostility in it. Before Sherlock can answer, Ted scoffs and heads to get Joan's clothes.

[formersurgeon]

Sherlock watches him go. He supposes that is answer enough.

He stands there for a moment, tapping his fingers on the glass of water he's holding for Joan's medication. He's clearly upset the man, which really was to be expected, for the very reasons Sherlock outlined. He's not exactly sorry, but he certainly wishes the encounter had gone differently.

Watson needs her medication, so Sherlock heads into the bedroom.

[theodorelasso]

Once alone, Ted takes a second to take a deep breath and calm himself. He's aware that was not a great reaction to have, and that Sherlock probably was trying to be nice. But he also wishes he'd leave things alone when they're none of his business.

He takes his time to gather clothes for Joan, not wanting to head in there immediately if Sherlock's in there. There's a limit to how long he can dawdle though, so soon enough he heads in there.

"Morning, sunshine," he says, smiling with his usual cheer, even if it takes a little bit of work to maintain just now. "Or lunch, I suppose."

[formersurgeon]

Joan is sitting up in bed, holding the covers up and over her chest and drinking the water Sherlock brought her. She beams as Ted comes in and hands the glass back to Sherlock, who is sitting on the edge of the bed next to her. Her hand is noticeably steady.

"Hey," she says. "How did your appointment go?"

Sherlock gets up and heads out of the room to give them time and Watson privacy. He doesn't look at Ted as he passes by.

[theodorelasso]

Ted likewise does not look at Sherlock.

"Good. He only yelled at me a little bit for walking too much," he jokes playfully. "How are you feeling?" he asks, setting the clothes down on the bed and sitting down next to her. He was at least using both crutches now, holding the clothes under his arm.

[formersurgeon]

She smiles at the joke and reaches out to take his hand, threading her fingers through his.

"I'm feeling pretty good," she says. She's not holding the covers as tightly to her chest, so they've slipped down a little, not exposing her breasts entirely, but the edge only an inch or so above her nipples. "It would probably be good for me to try walking a little today."

[theodorelasso]

"Well hey, you can use my crutches," he says with a smile. "Although I'm pretty sure they'd have to be height-adjusted in that case," he adds, looking over at them. There's a pretty significant height difference between them.

"You wanna get dressed?" He's distracted enough that he barely registers how good she looks right now.

[formersurgeon]

"Thanks," she says to the offer of the crutches. "But it would probably be better if you and Sherlock helped me." Really, a walker would be best, but Joan is a little too proud to go that route.

"That would be good, yeah," she agrees to getting dressed. "Sherlock is good at averting his eyes but it seems a little unfair to force him to do that for too long."

[theodorelasso]

A walker can't catch her if she falls, or at least not as effectively and carefully and they can though.

"Not that good," he comments quietly about Sherlock, picking up a shirt and unfolding it, ready to help her on with it.

[formersurgeon]

She frowns, tilting her head, puzzled. "What do you mean?" It's a strange thing to say. The nearest she can guess is that Sherlock saw her naked while she was sleeping. But that didn't make sense, because Sherlock wouldn't stare and Ted wouldn't be protective like this.

[theodorelasso]

Ted looks up, realizing that was maybe a weird thing to say. Well, nuts. He hadn't wanted to say anything about it.

"Oh, no, he just.. said something. It's not a big deal," he answers. Hoping that he is actually managing to make it seem like not a big deal.

[formersurgeon]

Oh no. Joan's frown deepens. She had thought they settled the whole issue with Sherlock making comments about their love life, but apparently not? Ted says it's not a big deal, but he would say that regardless just to be nice.

"What did he say?"

[theodorelasso]

Ted presses his lips together. He doesn't think 'nothing' is going to fly.

"Something inappropriate I don't care to repeat," he answers, which is definitely true. "Really though, it's no big deal. I told him how I felt about it."

[formersurgeon]

Sherlock has said inappropriate things before that Ted has just let roll off his back, so Joan doesn't believe that what he said isn't a big deal. But it's clear that Ted doesn't want to repeat whatever it was, so Joan isn't going to push. She'll just have to ask Sherlock.

"Help me with my shirt?" she asks, changing the subject.

[theodorelasso]

Ted does have a feeling she doesn't quite believe him, but at least she drops it.

He picks up the shirt again, holding it up for her to put her arms through. He's glad to see that she's doing better, able to do some of it herself without him helping with everything.

"You know, you look real cute with braids," he says with a smile, wanting to lighten things a little bit.

[formersurgeon]

She's glad she's able to do more now, too. At this rate she'll be mostly functional is a few days.

She smiles at the compliment. "I'll have to let you braid my hair more often," she says. Then she looks at the underwear. "Should I lie down?"

[theodorelasso]

"Probably easiest," Ted answers. He's pretty sure he already made the joke about being more used to taking the underwear off than the other way around.

[formersurgeon]

He did, and in a roundabout way it led to the amazing sex they had this morning.

Joan lies down carefully and settles her hands on her belly.

"Do you want to lie down with me for a while?"

[theodorelasso]

"Yes," he answers immediately, and his smile looks more relaxed at that. "Abso-friggin-tootely," he adds.

He helps her on with her underwear, then picks up the tights. "Wanna put this on first, or is it more comfy without, if we're just gonna snuggle anyway?"