A/N: This was supposed to be a Joanlock one-shot about Sherlock's trunk of cold cases after the episode An Unnatural Arrangement (S02E06). I decided to make it a collection of short fics for fun. Let me guys know what you think of it!

Disclaimer: As usual, you guys know how this goes.

Trunk of Cold Cases

- Sherlock's thoughts about partnership.

Sherlock moved a couple of dusty old boxes aside as he was looking for his least favorite furniture in the brownstone. For something he clearly loathed as it reminded him of his failures and limitations as a 'deductionist', he was clearly a masochist for even looking for the damned thing. But then, he dismissed the thoughts. He was doing this for Watson. For his partner.

The way Watson looked at him when he finished the case Basken gave them bothered him. She stormed in with accusing eyes and she looked betrayed. After solving numerous cases with Watson, Sherlock started to warm up to the idea that he now, has to share his deductions, his skills and the cases with a partner. He already adjusted to the thought that he has a partner to consult with as well. Apparently he still had a lot to learn.

He was stuck with the current case they were working on when he saw the file lying in the kitchen table. He forgot he was supposed to get himself some tea to soothe his mind and looked into the file instead. It only took him around half an hour to solve the case. It was pretty elementary. It was only a series of robberies involving food carts after all. So after solving the case, he emailed and informed Detective 'not Bell' of the breakthrough he had with the said case.

Consequently he was really startled when Watson charged at him in the precinct briefing room demanding an explanation as to why he solved her case. Right then and there he explained how partners were supposed to work together, that there were no 'his' or 'hers', but their argument was cut off by Detective Bell for a lead in their case. Their discussion however, continued in the brownstone where Watson demanded equality in their work. Suffice to say, he was a bit perplexed that even Watson would think that way after her endless tirades of sharing things together when she was still his sober companion.

But then Watson followed up her argument that she wants to be 'useful' for once. That she wants to be up to par with Sherlock even just a bit when it comes to solving cases. She wants to hone her skills and prove her capabilities by solving cases independently. At the very least, he never thought of it that way. Watson was clearly good at her job even when she was still a sober companion, she has been very helpful to his work. Hell, she even improves Sherlock's work and person. He still clearly remembers the moment he confessed to Watson that he was better with her and he meant every single word.

Still, Watson wasn't wrong about her argument as well that Sherlock has more experience than her. So that's how Sherlock ended up in this dusty, cramped space he calls an attic. He was still rummaging through boxes when he spotted the familiar trunk.

"And the trunk is gonna help me how?" Watson asked, doubt washing over her face as Sherlock presented the old trunk to her.

"Inside, you will find files on several cold cases. My cold cases. They are the handful of mysteries in my entire career which have eluded my powers of deduction." Frustrating as to how that sounded, it was true. Sherlock have utilized countless hours just trying to solve the cases inside the trunk, but he has his limitations.

"So the next time you wish to hone your skills on a solo venture, I encourage you to peruse them," he continued, "I've already given them my all. So there's little risk that I will arrive at a solution before you. You might even succeed where I have failed." And there it was. He was giving Watson the unofficial pass to prove herself to be better than him. The very Sherlock Holmes who, with great confidence, declared that he was smarter than everyone else he knows.

After his little speech, he wasn't surprised when Watson received the case with genuine gratitude albeit with a slightest hint of confusion.

"Thanks." She said. At that moment, Sherlock realized that he did the right thing. Seeing that he had made things right with Watson made him feel content and at ease.

Once their case was solved, he had a little 'talk' with Captain Gregson about not giving up in his marriage. Ironic, that even he considered giving advice about marriage but Sherlock wasn't even sure what made him say that. He just realized that a thing like marriage isn't trivial as much as he would like to think it is. It has something more to it, far more intricate that he ever had imagined. Just like partnership.

As Sherlock went home that night, he saw Watson open his trunk and could read from her posture that she was delighted. He still had a lot to think and consider about this partnership thing in order to properly make it work with Watson. They're partners after all.

After a couple of days, the consulting work has toned down. Sherlock spent his time picking locks and doing his memory exercise. He was in the middle of memorizing a line from a Quentin Tarantino movie while trying hard not to forget several facts from a documentary about penguins when Watson burst into the room.

"I solved a case!" Sherlock looked up to see a very excited Watson. "Meet me downstairs and I'll present my findings." She went out the room and her footsteps echoed down the hall. He sighed and turned off all of the telly. Sherlock isn't exactly fond of being bested at what he does, but after seeing Watson's face as she exclaimed that she solved one of his cold cases, he's considering an exception. After all, as long as Watson is happy, everything else is well.