Disclaimer: All recognizable Elementary characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners including, but not limited to Arthur Conan Doyle and CBS. The original characters and plot are the property of the author of this fan fiction story. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any previously copyrighted material. No financial gain is associated with the publishing of this story. No copyright infringement is intended.
Author's Note: This is a bit of rewrite of "Bella" (03x04). You'll remember it as the episode when Joan says she would like to hug Sherlock. It could have gone another way, right? Let me know what you think. Thanks for reading! -dkc
Bound
They stood in the kitchen discussing Andrew and what Joan presumed was Sherlock's goal to get Andrew as far away from New York as possible by setting him up with the investors in Copenhagen.
"I like him," Sherlock said convincingly. "He's intelligent. He hasn't just jumped into a new business. He has the patience and self-possession to wait for something worthwhile. And, more importantly, he understands you. He understands you and me."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I mean, that whether you care to admit it lately or not, I am an important part of your life and whether I say it out loud or not, you are an important part of mine. My return to New York was driven in a large part by my desire to repair our relationship. I think even though we might draw further or nearer to each other depending on circumstance, you and I are bound somehow."
The skeptical look on Watson's face was dissipating as the power and sincerity of his words began to sink in.
"Andrew accepts that without feeling needlessly threatened. It's a rather enlightened position. And no, I've got no desire to banish the man to Scandi-bloody-navia."
Sherlock, having concluded his monologue, returned his attention to what he was doing.
"Okay, I believe you," Joan spoke to Sherlock's profile. "I kind of feel like hugging you right now."
"As my friend, you know that would be a rash decision." He was calm and detached as much as he could be.
Joan smirked. She knew that Sherlock was right, but she still felt an overwhelming desire to hug this man who was, for all his flaws, a genuinely good man.
His phone dinged, grabbing his attention. It was a message from Kitty, pulling them both back into the case at hand.
When Sherlock began explaining what Kitty had found, turning to leave the kitchen, Joan couldn't resist the impulse. She reached out and gripped his hand. He stopped in his tracks and turned to her with a cross yet concerned look on his face.
"What is it?" he was short.
Rather than hug him, as she instinctively wanted to, she leaned up and pressed a kiss to his cheek.
"Thank you," she whispered.
He was gobsmacked.
Dropping his hand and heading out of the kitchen, Joan left him standing there completely stunned by what was a simple, friendly kiss. They had had so little physical interaction in their time together, so few touches, that this was startling.
It was then that Sherlock realized maybe he wanted Andrew out of the picture after all.
-finis-