For Joan

[theodorelasso]

Continued from here.

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

Comments

[formersurgeon]

"You'll love that," Joan says to Sherlock. "I know you enjoy teaching."

"A child is different from a protégé, Watson," Sherlock says.

"Not that different. You just need some extra patience. I've seen you train roosters. I'm sure you can manage a ten year old."

Sherlock scoffs again, and again it's more amusement than anything else.

"Just don't teach him how to pick locks," she says with a smile. "Or hotwire cars. Non-criminal activities, please."

[theodorelasso]

"Yes, please," Ted agrees immediately. "And nothing his mom is likely to get mad at me for," he adds quickly.

Which of course mostly depends on making sure whatever Henry learns, he'll also learn to use responsibly. Self-defense is great, for example, but if he ends up breaking the arm of a bully, that's maybe not so great.

[formersurgeon]

"Single stick might be okay," Joan says. "Knife throwing is right out."

Joan wants to try to maintain a decent if distant relationship with Michelle as well. She still hasn't met Ted's ex-wife in person, although they spoke briefly over the phone when Henry came to visit them, Michelle clearly wanting to check Joan out a little. Joan feels that exchange went well, and as the visit also went well, she imagines Michelle might be a little more at ease the next time Henry visits, whether in London or in New York.

That won't last long if Henry returns to Kansas throwing knives and jacking cars.

[theodorelasso]

"You could teach me how to pick locks though," Ted adds with a playful smile. He's only half joking, and they all know why. It could've saved his life, or at least spared him a lot of pain.

[formersurgeon]

"I believe I shall leave that to Watson," Sherlock says, looking at his partner. He knows that she often practices picking the locks in their collection as a way of soothing herself when she's stressed. Besides, if he wishes to learn how to pick handcuffs, which seems likely given his ordeal, teaching will require physical contact, and Sherlock thinks Watson would like that more than he would.

[theodorelasso]

"Alright, summer workshop," Ted says with a smile. "You teach me to pick locks," he says, looking at Joan. "And then you teach Henry to..." he says, looking over at Sherlock and pausing for a second, considering. "Do you know to build robots? He'd love that."

[formersurgeon]

"I'm afraid electronics are not my forte," he says, and looks to Watson. "Perhaps Mason?"

"Maybe. Not sure Mason would be the best of influences, though."

[theodorelasso]

"Who's Mason?" Ted asks curiously.

He's also pretty sure Sherlock knows way more about building robots than Ted and Henry know combined, or at least could learn in less than an hour. But he'd like Sherlock to be able to teach something he considers fun himself.

[formersurgeon]

"One of my Irregulars," Sherlock explains. "A cadre of individuals who are experts in fields where I myself am lacking."

"Mason is a computer prodigy," Joan says. "He also does things with AI and some robotics." She looks at Sherlock. "He's in college now, though, right?"

"At NYU," Sherlock responds. "Still available."

[theodorelasso]

"Oh, cool," Ted answers, and he really does find it cool. It doesn't surprise him they have all sorts of people to consult for whatever areas they're not experts in. Fill out their knowledge holes.

"Do you have any musical theater experts? Cause I'd love to spend an evening with them," he says, again only half joking.

[formersurgeon]

"I do know a Broadway producer who has produced a number of musicals," Sherlock offers.

"Is that Alistair's friend?" Joan asks. Sherlock nods.

[theodorelasso]

"Really?" Ted asks, obviously kind of excited and not trying to hide it. "Like actual Broadway, not Off or Off-Off?"

[formersurgeon]

"Some of the best shows are off or off-off," Sherlock says, his tone characteristically dismissive. "But yes, he has produced actual Broadway shows as well."

Joan smiles at Ted's excitement. She knows he loves musicals. If she had been aware that Alistair's friend produced musicals on Broadway, she would have told Ted before now.

[theodorelasso]

"Well, sure, but they don't usually make it to Kansas, you know," Ted points out. He wouldn't be familiar with any of them. It's usually the big stuff that he actually ends up seeing. Plus, he probably enjoys the glitz and glam of big shows more than Sherlock does.

[formersurgeon]

"I can introduce you to him if you like," Sherlock says. "He might be willing to get you backstage to something he's working on."

"I've met him, he's nice," Joan adds. Not that it matters all that much...Joan knows that Ted can get the good side out of just about anyone.

[theodorelasso]

Ted nods enthusiastically. "I'd love that, yeah!" he answers, trying not to seem too eager. "Would be a cool thing to do this summer." Obviously not something he's going to think too much about right now.

[formersurgeon]

Sherlock nods in acknowledgment. Joan gives Ted a slight smile before leaning into him again.

She takes a small bite of her sandwich.

[theodorelasso]

Ted smiles back and gives Joan a slight squeeze. They have plenty of time to work through their sandwiches before it's finally time to board the plane.

He pulls out a book and stuffs his backpack under the seat and settles in for a long ride. By the time they finally make it to the Brownstone, it'll be well after bedtime, but maybe closer to local bedtime, so hopefully that works out.

[formersurgeon]

Joan settles into her own seat to Ted's right and stares off, lost in her own thoughts.

Sherlock sits to Ted's left, and he's stiffer than usual. He's looking around, at the flight attendants, at the captain as he boards and is greeted by one of the attendants before going into the cockpit. His eyes dart around at the other passengers. He's extremely nervous.

[theodorelasso]

Ted has expected Joan to be lost in thought, but as he looks over at Sherlock, the obvious nerves surprise him a little.

"You alright, Sherlock?" he asks softly.

[formersurgeon]

Sherlock glances at Ted then looks away. He's silent for a long moment, tapping his index finger and thumb of his right hand together.

"I dislike flying," he says finally, his voice very quiet but tight.

[theodorelasso]

Ted already gathered that much. It's not particularly subtle, even if Sherlock is often tense and overly observant.

He's about to ask why, but remembering back to the comment about emergency exits, he can probably guess.

"Cause of all the things that can go wrong?" he asks. And, probably, the lack of control, and inability to fix it if it does go wrong.

[formersurgeon]

That is, of course, exactly it. Sherlock grimaces a little, hating for his vulnerabilities to be laid so bare. But this is Ted. He's come to trust the man, to care for him. He knows that trust and care is mutual. And one of the things he's learned from Watson is that vulnerability within trust and care is not only safe, it strengthens the bond.

"The captain," he says, quietly enough that only Ted can hear him. "He was listing to one side as he walked on the plane. A bad ankle? A drink too many at the airport bar? A cerebral ischemia that has yet to make itself known?" He nods toward a man two rows ahead of them. "That man has served time for a violent crime, and he has been eyeing the flight attendants. Does he want a drink" A date? Or is he deciding which attendant to take hostage?" He lifts a finger, listening to the idling engine. "There is a slight knocking in the left wing engine. It could be an irregularity that is only noticeable when the engine is idling, or it could be a missed fracture in the gusset that will cause a mid-flight disintegration."

[theodorelasso]

To be fair, all the things that can go wrong is usually what people dislike about flying. They're just not always so aware of the specifics.

Ted might argue that there are hundreds if not thousands of flights that go off without a hitch every day. But with Sherlock's analysis, he sees that such a bland statement probably won't help.

It's not exactly news to Ted, but it does remind him that Sherlock sees too much for his own good. Even just listening to him causes Ted to have a gentle anxiety as well, but he brushes that aside.

"How many times have you flown? A handful? A few dozens?" he asks gently.

[formersurgeon]

"Is this where you tell me I have yet to be in a plane crash so it is unlikely I shall be in one now?" Sherlock asks dryly. His tone has a characteristic sarcastic edge to it, perhaps a little sharper than it typically would be when he's speaking to Ted, thanks to the detective's anxiety.