Hullo lovelies! Here we go again. I feel like I have to remind you one more time: English isn't my first language, this is not beta'd, let me know what you think and all that jazz. This is based on The Boscombe Valley Mystery and it's literally a work in progress, I know as much as you do. Let's see how it goes.
Mary and John are sitting in their kitchen having breakfast when the doctor's phone beeps; his future wife smiles.
- You're being summoned by The Great.
- Shut it, you don't know. I'm a doctor, maybe it's an emergency.
John reaches for his phone in his pocket and unlocks it.
- Whatever.
- Told you.
Mary smiles again and sips her tea, leaning back on her seat.
- You know you like it.
- Yeah…I mean, yeah, it's him.
"Lestrade just called me. Big case coming up, he wants me to help with the Silicon Valley murder. I hope your leash isn't that tight at the moment. Join me. The flight is at 11.15, tomorrow, Heathrow. Be there. SH"
- Does he still finish his texts with "SH"?
- Yes, and he gets mad if I reply without "JW". Go figure.
- What is it now?
- Something I can't do. He wants me to go to California.
- California?!
- Yes, the Silicon Valley murder. That English businessman found dead near the Guadalupe River. Charles McCarthy, if I remember correctly. The other day Sherlock went on and on and on about that. "It's unacceptable. It's not Silicon Valley, it's Santa Clara Valley. It's like calling London "The Tea Conglomerate".
Mary laughs.
- It's impossible for me to keep a straight face when he says things like that.
- Trust me, he takes his rants very seriously. You have to suppress the laughs and hope for the best.
- What are you going to do?
- Don't worry, I'm not going.
- Why not?
John almost chokes on his tea and looks at Mary with a furrowed brow.
- What do you mean why not? It's not Brighton, it's San Francisco. I have a job here and I have a wedding to plan. With you. And most of all, it's an eleven-hour flight. With Sherlock. SHERLOCK-HOLMES.
- Okay okay, calm down, I'm just saying, why not. You can take a week off from work, it's your practice and you have people who can replace you for a bit. Plus, I can manage a week by myself. I have things to do. Colors to choose.
- You have colors to choose.
- YES! Go! You have my blessing.
- What if I don't want to?
- Please, John.
Mary reaches out for John's hair, stroking it lovingly, and gives him a quick kiss.
- I know you. And I know him. Or at least I understand the dynamics between the two of you. It's not like it's an everyday thing.
- I feel like a kid asking his mom permission to go and play with his best friend.
- Exactly. Go and have fun. Don't accept candies from strangers and call me.
John smiles and kisses her back.
"Permission granted. Coming over in a bit. JW"