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]

She closes her eyes, enjoying the feeling of him playing with her hair.

"Is there anything Keeley or Roy like?"

[theodorelasso]

"I dunno, we don't really eat dinner together. You wanna just leave it up to them when they get here?" he asks, dutifully braiding.

[formersurgeon]

"That would probably be best. Sherlock can bring over our extensive collection of take-out menus from 221B."

She reaches behind her to touch his knee affectionately.

[theodorelasso]

Ted smiles at the touch - he enjoys how she's always reaching out to be just a little bit in physical comfort, even if they're busy doing something.

He finishes one braid, and leans in to give her shoulder a quick kiss, before getting up and moving to the other side to do her other one.

"I don't usually order that much. If I don't want to make dinner, I just eat at the Crown & Anchor."

[formersurgeon]

Joan smiles as he kisses her shoulder. She loves all the little ways he gives her physical affection. It makes her feel so very loved, which is particularly nice with the physical difficulties she's fighting through.

As he moves to the other side she reaches out to take and squeeze his hand for just a moment before letting go and turning so he can get to the other side of her hair.

"Hard to argue with the Crown & Anchor," she remarks with a smile.

[theodorelasso]

The only downside to all this affection is it's incredible easy for them both to get wrapped up in it, to just keep returning and escalating. And then soon enough they're either snuggled up or they're having sex, and either way they won't want to get up. It's dangerous. Still, there are definitely worse problems to have.

"It's true. Great food, great ambience, great location. Outstanding staff," he says with a chuckle, obviously referring to Mae.

[formersurgeon]

In their present circumstances, she doesn't necessarily see that as a downside. Spending most of their recovery time snuggled up (and occasionally having sex) sounds perfect as they recover.

"Mae is a treasure," Joan agrees with a smile. "I love it when she's yelling at the TV with those superfans."

[theodorelasso]

"Which times? When they're yelling at soccer, or at Bake-Off?" he asks with a chuckle, finishing up the second braid.

"There, all done," he says, and gets to his feet to move the wheelchair into position.

[formersurgeon]

"Pretty sure there was cricket somewhere in there," Joan says, amused.

She smiles, gently touching the braids. "I can't wait to see it!" She holds out her hands for Ted to help her to her feet.

[theodorelasso]

Ted's a little trepidatious about just helping her to her feet on his own, but he's going to trust that she knows what she's doing. He takes her hands and prepares to help her up when she's ready. He's also very much ready to catch her if she overestimates her strength though.

[formersurgeon]

She stands, and staggers, grabbing his arms to steady herself.

"I'm good," she says quickly so he doesn't freak out.

[theodorelasso]

He does very much appreciate her reassuring him, cause he is internally freaking out just a tiny bit. But he's mostly just trying to be something solid she can hold onto, and hold onto her a bit to steady her.

"Alright," he answers, a bit nervous, but ready to help her sit down. "You wanna pop by the bathroom while we're up and about?" he suggests. Especially if she doesn't want to be carted around while they have guests.

[formersurgeon]

She lets go of one of Ted's arms to grab the arm of the wheelchair and carefully lower herself into it with his help. She nods at the suggestion. She still doesn't love having to be helped in the bathroom, but she still has to go.

"Sounds good."

[theodorelasso]

At least now she's pretty close to being able to do it herself. There's an end in sight for it.

"Oh, and I had a thought," he says, as he grabs his crutch and hooks it over his arm, so he'll have it even as he wheels her around. "If the weather's nice, how about we go have a picnic in the park tomorrow? You know, we've been cooped up for a while, and it would probably good for us to get some sunlight and fresh air."

His hour in the park earlier had helped him, and made him realise how much he was missing it. It might help with the trapped and restless feelings. And she's strong enough now that it shouldn't be a problem.

[formersurgeon]

"That's a great idea," she says, smiling up at him. "It would be nice to get some fresh air and sunshine."

They've all been cooped up, and it would do them good to get out a little.

"Sitting on the ground might be interesting," she notes. She's stronger, but sitting on the ground takes more strength than sitting in a chair or in bed.

[theodorelasso]

"You could always just sit leaned against me," he suggests with a smile, going to wheel her out to the bathroom, leaning on the wheelchair for support.

[formersurgeon]

"That sounds really nice," Joan says, smiling back. "What kind of food do you like to have on picnics? Sandwiches? Potato salad? Cole slaw?"

[theodorelasso]

"Oh yeah, breads and spreads," Ted answers. "Some charcuterie, you know? Though you don't have to go too fancy, sandwiches are great. You know, Beard and I do Secret Sandwich Switchroo."

[formersurgeon]

She laughs a little at that. taken aback by the whimsy of the phrase and incredibly curious. "What's Secret Sandwich Switcheroo?"

[theodorelasso]

"Well basically it's just that we make each other lunch, but what kind of sandwich we make is a surprise," he says with a chuckle. Reaching the bathroom, he parks the wheelchair next to the toilet, then offers his hands to help her to her feet.

[formersurgeon]

Joan chuckles. "That is so you and Beard," she says. She adores the friendship between those two men, the dedication to one another and the clear affection they have for each other. Making each other sandwiches is such a simple example of that.

She grips Ted's hands and carefully stands up out of the wheelchair. The dizziness is a lot less now, which is good. She grips his arm with one hand and carefully works her dress up and her underwear down.

[theodorelasso]

Ted resists making a comment about strip tease, instead just making sure she doesn't overbalanace, and that she sits down.

"Alright, call me when you need me," he says, and grabs his crutch and goes to give her some privacy.

[formersurgeon]

"Will do," she promises.

Once she's done, Joan flushes the toilet, and once again gazes at the wheelchair, wondering if she can make it by herself. It's really, really tempting to try. But she manages to rein in her pride once again, knowing that there are few things more embarrassing that dying of a head injury while trying to get off the toilet.

"I'm done," she calls.

[theodorelasso]

Ted returns with a smile, going to help her up.

"You know that period early in dating where you're really in love but you're not ready to be aware of your partner's bathroom habits? Totally cool with skipping right past that into just being really in love," he quips.

[formersurgeon]

She smiles at that, grasping his hands and carefully standing. "To be fair, it was kinda foisted on us. But I'm cool with it, too. There's something to be said for being really in love without being hung up on bodily functions."

She manages to get her clothes in decent order, then carefully sits in the wheelchair.