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's ready to catch her, but grateful when he doesn't need to. And then smiling when she leans in to kiss him. Before he hands her the towel, he decides to wrap his arms around her, gently pulling her close, just enjoying a moment of being skin-to-skin. A downside to having sex like they just did is they can't cuddle up naked the same way.

[formersurgeon]

She wraps her arms around him, holding him close in turn, loving the simple intimacy of being skin to skin. She loves how physical they can be with each other in ways that aren't directly sexual, even when they're both completely naked. She would love to just cuddle with him for a while, but they have things to do.

"Can we be naked tonight when we fall asleep together?" she asks softly. "Since we don't have to have Sherlock watching us anymore..."

[theodorelasso]

Ted loves physical contact, sexual or not. There's just something solid and comforting about it. It's why he's sad Sherlock doesn't work the same way, or at least has a low tolerance for it. But thankfully Ted gets all his hugging and cuddling needs satisfied by Joan.

He smiles warmly when she asks, and nods. "I'd love that," he agrees. "As long as you don't mind keeping one part of me covered," he adds playfully, and taps the foot that has the cast on it.

[formersurgeon]

Sherlock is certainly not one for non-sexual physical contact, which makes the times when he's allowed it or engaged in it, like holding hands for those few seconds in the park, all the more momentous. Joan, on the other hand, is significantly more physical, and is very grateful for the ability to hug and cuddle with Ted, because otherwise she just doesn't get much of it in her life.

She smiles and narrows her eyes as she considers his caveat. "I think I can let it slide," she says with mock seriousness, then smiles wide.

[theodorelasso]

"What a gracious and forgiving woman you are," he teases happily, giving her a quick kiss. Without fully letting go of her, he pulls the towel off his arm and unfolds it, wrapping it around her back, and pulling back a little bit to hand the ends to her.

[formersurgeon]

She grins at him, and happily kisses him back. When he hands the ends to her she carefully wraps the towel the rest of the way around herself and tucks in the corner, keeping one hand on him at all times to maintain her balance.

"There...help me over to the chair?"

[theodorelasso]

"Yup, here we go," he answers, holding her hand and keeping one arm around her back, both for support and in case she stumbles. He misses being able to simply pick her up, but he's grateful she doesn't need to be lifted around anymore.

[formersurgeon]

He'll be able to pick her up soon enough, and hopefully by that point it will be for the sake of fun rather than necessity.

She makes it to the chair without much incident, and carefully sits down.

[theodorelasso]

Once Joan is seated, Ted takes off the plastic protecting his cast, and grabs a towel for himself and wraps it around his waist. He doesn't go around shirtless often, but he won't mind if Sherlock sees him when they're just coming out of a shower. Though he makes a mental note to actually make sure the bathrobes are in the bathrobe before the next time they shower. Simpler that way.

Before he goes he takes Joan's head gently in his hands and plants a kiss on top of her head, before he takes them both to the bedroom.

[formersurgeon]

Sherlock is in the living room, on his laptop with earbuds in. Whether he was wearing the earbuds the whole time or put them in when he started overhearing certain enthusiastic sounds coming from the bathroom is unclear. He looks up from his laptop for a brief glimpse of Ted rolling Joan into the bathroom, and looks down again with a slight smile on his face.

Once they're in the bedroom and Ted has helped her out of the chair and onto the bed, Joan requests a tunic and leggings, something nice and simple and comfortable for her visit with Beard.

[theodorelasso]

Either Sherlock did so assuming they would get up to something, or he heard something. Either way, Ted doesn't really want to consider.

He helps her into the clothes as well, even if she doesn't need as much help anymore. It actually takes him longer to get dressed, because he's run out of sweatpants and need to get a pair of khakis over the cast.

[formersurgeon]

She appreciates the help. Some things are still a little difficult, like hooking her bra. Even with things that aren't difficult, though, it's still nice to have him looking out for her, if just for a little while longer.

She watches him struggling with the khakis, wishing she could help.

"When do you get your cast off?"

[theodorelasso]

"Oh, and least 3 weeks," Ted answers, frowning down as he wiggles the khakis over the cast. "But probably longer, cause my ribs have been healing to."

And then there's the hypothermia. He was basically told that his body was healing from so many different things, it was probably gonna take a bit longer for the cast to come off than it usually would with this fracture.

He finally manages to get it over, and stands up to pull the pants on properly finally.

[formersurgeon]

She nods. That sounds about right.

"I'm sorry," she says softly. She knows this is hard for him, being out of commission and away from his team. "Do you have to be out of the cast to go back to coaching? I mean, you don't absolutely have to be able to run with the players, do you?"

[theodorelasso]

"I mean, it's more fun that way," he answers with a smile. "But no. I was thinking of starting up again on Monday, assuming you're alright without me by then."

It is looking very promising, otherwise he wouldn't have put a specific date on it, in case she insisted him going back despite her needing him.

He'll have to do a whole lot more sitting, he supposes, but as long as he can be present and he can use his voice, it shouldn't be a problem. He is nervous about going back though.

[formersurgeon]

"That's great!" she says with an enthusiastic smile. "I'm so glad you're going back to work. I'll be fine." Even if her strength isn't completely back to normal by then, Sherlock can stay with her. It's important that Ted get back to his team.

"Do you think I could be at the game that Saturday?"

[theodorelasso]

Ted smiles, relaxing a little at her enthusiasm, which reassures him.

"Yeah, of course," he answers immediately. "I'm sure Rebecca and Keeley will love to have you up there with them."

[formersurgeon]

"I'd like to be there for your first game back," she says with a smile. She wants to be as supportive as possible, because she knows this is really important to him, and that it can be tough going back after something very traumatic and very public.

[theodorelasso]

He nods, smiling warmly. "I appreciate that," he answers softly.

He pauses buttoning up his shirt, and goes to sit next to her for a moment, just to give her a grateful kiss. He loves her so much and is so happy he has her to support him.

[formersurgeon]

She happily kisses him back, then leans against him, resting her head against his, just enjoying this moment together with the man she loves.

"I love you," she says softly, smiling.

[theodorelasso]

"You too," he answers. It's probably the billionth time they've said it today, but it just doesn't get old.

He just takes a moment to sit there, until his phone pings and he checks it, seeing a text from Beard. "Ah, Beard's on his way."

[formersurgeon]

Joan likes the fact that they both like saying and hearing it so much. Maybe they say it so often because they're spending all their time together, or maybe because they're working through a difficult time and it gives them reassurance and strength to be reminded of how deeply they love each other, a constant touchstone even when things get dark. Maybe when things are easier and they are interacting with the world more the frequency of those words will abate, but Joan is in no hurry to deprive them of those expressions of love.

Hearing that Beard is on his way breaks the quiet moment, and Joan sits up. "Great! Let's get me into the living room so I'm ready when he gets here."

[theodorelasso]

Probably also because they very recently admitted it for the first time, just two weeks ago, so they're still in that state when it's kind of new. But even without all those things, he doesn't think he'll ever want to stop saying it occasionally.

"Yup," he answers, finishing buttoning up his shirt as he gets to his feet, then holds his hands out to Joan to help her into the chair so they can head to the couch.

[formersurgeon]

There are couples who seldom say those words. Joan and Ted are clearly not one of those couples. While the frequency may drop, Joan can't imagine them not saying "I love you" to each other on a fairly regular basis.

Joan grips Ted's hands and lets him help her up and into the chair. She could probably walk into the living room just fine, but for the moment she'll conserve her strength and reassure Ted that she's safe, so he's not too anxious about leaving her side.

[theodorelasso]

He appreciates not having to worry too much. He's sure if it was just her, she would be pushing herself a lot more. Maybe not quite being reckless, but definitely harder on herself. He's glad that a side benefit of him worrying about her makes her a little kinder to herself and more patient with her body.

Ted grabs a sweater and puts it over his shoulder, then his crutches which he hangs off his arm, then heads towards the living room. "You want some food or drink before we head out?"