Joan was stunned. "What?"

"Do I really have to repeat it?" Sherlock stood and began walking, headed for his room.

Joan jumped up and followed, close on his heels. "I just don't understand…Can you even be deported? I mean, you're only from London…"

"Anyone who isn't born an American citizen is considered an immigrant. The INS is very strict on those rules." Sherlock started to climb the stairs.

"But…but…" Joan stuttered.

"But nothing, Watson. I'm leaving and there is nothing you, or I, can do about it." Sherlock turned to face her when he was standing in front of the door to his room.

"But, Sherlock…You can't just give in! You have to fight for what you want!" Joan felt herself desperately trying to make him fight to stay. She didn't want him to leave…he was her only real friend.

Sherlock looked at his feet. "I'm sorry, Watson." He turned his back to her and opened his door. "I've got to pack."

"Sherlock-" She was cut off by him shutting the door in her face. Joan was scared. She didn't want him to leave her alone. She wanted to stay by his side as his partner…PARTNER! "That's it!" Joan ran down the hallway and into her room. She rummaged through the small jewelry box on her vanity and when she found what she was looking for, she slipped it on her finger. The piece of jewelry was a ring; a diamond ring. She had inherited it from her grandma when she passed away last December. It was supposed to be for the day she got married to her soul-mate but this was an emergency. Joan ran to Sherlock's door and was about to knock on it but hesitated.

Should I tell him my plan? What would he say? Would he still leave?...Would he be mad?

Joan decided against telling him and made her way towards the front door. She paused to dress herself in her coat and put more comfortable shoes on before setting out on her mission.

She hailed a cab and when one stopped, she got in, told him the INS' headquarters' address, and they were on their way.

After a short ride, the cab pulled over to the curb and she paid the driver.

"Thanks, keep the change." Joan handed over the money and smiled.

The man spotted the diamond ring and smiled. "Pretty ring. Your man must be loaded. You must be a very lucky girl."

She laughed. "Yep. I'm the luckiest woman in the world…"

The man nodded and Joan exited the car.

She entered the large building and was surprised to see that it was somewhat empty. She waited in line for fifteen minutes listening to people in front of her fight with the man behind the counter about their expired licenses and how much they wanted to stay. The man wasn't hearing any of it; he was in a mood. Joan wouldn't have noticed this before working with Sherlock, but now she could spot out in a crowd what each person was feeling.

"Next."

Joan continued to stare at the floor, engrossed in her thoughts.

"Next."

Joan looked up and saw that it was her turn. "Oh, sorry." Joan stepped up to the counter and put on her best smile.

"What do you want?" The man asked in an impatient tone.

"I would like to speak to Trent Normand, please." She continued to smile and beg with her eyes.

The man grunted. "Do you have an appointment?"

"No…but-"

"But nothin'. You don't have an appointment so you don't get to see him." The man looked at the woman behind Joan. "Next."

"You didn't let me finish. I need to see him. It's an emergency."

"Don't care. Come back with an appointment and you'll get to talk to him." The man motioned the woman behind Joan to step forward. "Next."

"Wait." Joan blocked the woman's way. "Please. I'm begging."

"No. Leave." The man moved over to the next empty window and helped the woman.

Joan gritted her teeth. She was about to leave when something caught her eye. The man was shaking. It wasn't a regular response to anger... Realization hit her like a ton of bricks.

He's going through withdrawal...

"One more thing." Joan added.

The man glared at her from the next window. "What?" He demanded.

"I think you should let me talk to him." She smirked.

"Oh, yeah? Why should I let you?" The man seemed amused.

"Well it would be terrible if your boss found out about your drug problem…wouldn't it?" She smiled as his amused smirk dropped.

"W-what?" He moved over to the window she was standing in front of.

"Well it would be tragic if your boss…well I don't know…found out about your dirty little secret." Joan watched his reaction closely to see if her observations were correct.

"Um…um…I don't-"

"And the way you are stuttering and starting to sweat would suggest that I'm right." Joan watched him look around in a panic.

"How did you…?" He wiped the sweat off his hands onto his jeans.

"Let's just keep this a secret, okay? I know that's what you want." Joan winked.

"Yes. Please. Thank you." He started to move on to the lady next to her.

"Wait, wait, wait. You're not off the hook yet. This can all go away once you agree to let me see Trent."

The man looked around to see if anyone was watching him before replying. "Alright, alright. His office is the second door on the left. Please don't tell anyone about this…okay?"

Joan nodded and walked away with a smug grin on her face. She went to the second door on the left and knocked.

"Come in!" Trent called from within.

Joan entered and Trent stood immediately.

"Joan…What are you doing here?" Trent asked.

"I didn't get to explain at the Brownstone…" Joan sat down in one of the two chairs placed in front of his desk.

"Explain what?" Trent asked suspiciously as he sat down.

Joan held up her hand and let him see the diamond ring.

"Is that…?" Trent started.

"A wedding ring? Yes it is." Joan smiled.

"You and Sherlock?" Trent leaned back in his chair and raised his eyebrows.

"Yes. I didn't get to explain. As you can imagine, this came as a huge shock to my husband and I."

"Hmmm…Do you mind if I ask Sherlock about all this?" Trent tried to strike fear into her, just in case she was lying to him.

"Not at all. We can discuss it over dinner tonight. Say…seven?" Joan stood.

"Um…sure." He walked her to the door. "I'll see you and your…husband…at your home at seven then."

"See you then." Joan exited and smiled to herself. Phase one, complete. Phase two, in progress.

Time to tell Sherlock.

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