Title: And Blood Doesn't Count
Part: 3/?
Author: Usagi-Atemu-Tom
Rating: PG 13
Genre: Adventure, Mystery
Warnings: Spoilers for Season 3, AU to Season 3, Happy Ending
Pairings: Sherlock/John
Feedback: Always welcome and dearly appreciated
Summary: No matter how much he wishes for it, John is just not allowed to grieve in peace. Instead he has to deal with people he never wanted to see again and who now decide to force him into something he doesn't want. Can an unexpected friend from childhood days offer him strength when everything threatens to become too much to bear?
Disclaimer: Nothing is mine, everything belongs to their respective creators including certainly the great Sir Conan Arthur Doyle as well as Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss and of course the talented actors who gifted the characters with their great personality.
And as always, much thanks to Patroklos for suffering through my spelling mistakes and grammatical errors! You are a Saint!
Gritting his teeth in anger, John shot Harry an understanding look, even as his sister squeezed their interlaced hands harder in fear. Forcing his face into an unreadable mask, he turned to confront the two people standing in the doorway with a calmness he did not feel.
"Hello mother, hello father!"
"John", his father greeted back formally, while his mother held out a hand expectantly, obviously waiting for him to step forward and either take her hand or kiss her cheek as he had done as a child. He refused both, only taking a step forward to stand protectively in front of his sister.
Noticing the movement, Mrs Watson let her hand fall before throwing a frosty look at the oldest Watson sibling which her husband mirrored. They both strode inside the room without invitation.
"I see Harriet has reached you before us, intending to spread all kind of nonsense, no doubt", his father said with a disapproving voice. "Well, I'm glad we were able to get here in time."
"Indeed", his mother agreed, stepping forward with open arms and a comforting look so fake that John had a hard time hiding his disgust at his parents' antics. "Oh Johnny, we heard all about that flatmate of yours and we're so sorry. I know this must be a rather hard time for you so your father and I have decided this would be as good a moment as any for our family to finally mend and pull together. We will all support you through your hard times, rest assured.
"As a starting point, how about you leave this...", it was obvious she wanted to say something unkind but was able to hold her tongue at the last second, "living arrangement for a while and come home? Aunt Antonia is with us at the moment, I'm sure she'd love to see you. And she's brought family. Her recently-married daughter, along with her husband and two of his sisters. Rather nice girls really, Johnny."
For a moment, John really hoped he was hearing things but, remembering his parents, his mother especially, and recalling the last time he had spoken to them, it was obvious what she was hinting at.
"Let me get this straight", he said through clenched teeth, his shoulders shaking in clearly-repressed anger. Even Harry inched away from him towards the door. "I've just lost my best friend, who I happen to have been in a relationship with, and not even four weeks later you two show up as if nothing occurred all those years ago and try to set me up with some woman I know fuck all about?"
"Johnny, your language!" his mother complained scandalised, but that was the wrong thing to say. Instead of calming down, he snapped.
"Fuck my language, mother! I'm certainly not interested in marrying, therefore whatever you want, my answer is 'NO'! And now leave, if you please!"
"John? Is everything all right? Should I call the police?"
Startled, John noticed his landlady standing outside the door, her look hesitant.
"Mrs Hudson? Aren't you supposed to be at your sister's?" he asked confused, calming down slightly.
"Oh pish posh, what would I do at my sister's when I know there are people here who need me just as much", she replied resolutely, a half-hearted smile on her face. She stepped inside and turned to Harry, who had retreated towards the door by now, small and intimidated.
"Harry Watson, isn't it?" Mrs Hudson asked kindly. "We met last year at Sherlock's welcome back party, remember?"
"The one Sherlock didn't want to have", John mumbled with a snort, a small, wistful smile twitching around his lips.
"That would be the one", Mrs Hudson agreed, the same smile reflected on her own face. "Still, I think he could've stayed till the end of the night, instead of vanishing all of a sudden, don't you? The manners of that man sometimes!"
She shook her head before turning back to the still-cowering Harry.
"But I digress, my dear. Are you all right?"
Harry nodded mutely while John turned back to his expectant-looking parents.
"Johnny, your manners are certainly lacking, that really needs to change", his mother criticised sternly, her voice disapproving. "Ignoring us and not even introducing this dear lady."
The way she said 'lady' made it clear that she already thought of his landlady as anything but. And John was sure, the fact that Mrs Hudson ignored his parents in favour of his sister Harry didn't speak in her favour either, not that he cared what his parents thought.
"I really don't think Mrs Hudson needs to know who you are, mother", he replied coldly. "Besides, you were about to leave anyway, weren't you?"
"John, this is not how you should treat your parents. We are here to discuss your marriage, as you've already guessed. And we certainly didn't travel the whole way, into this kind of area", his father scrunched his nose in displeasure as he looked around the living room, "just so you can throw us out before we've come to an agreement."
Mrs Watson nodded emphatically. John however had finally had enough.
"I've said, 'no'!" he shouted, voice outraged. "Which part of a two-letter word don't you understand, for God's sake? I took my leave of family business long ago, and you know that very well, both of you. I've never wanted anything to do with the Watson heritage, with your jobs and certainly not with marriage. I left, if you remember, and even if you don't I recall very well what I told you, I don't want to hear from you ever again. Therefore - GET. OUT!"
John's furious rant was interrupted by a hesitant knock from the open door. He looked from his startled parents towards the doorway where a cowed Harry stood next to his astonished landlady.
As if in slow motion, both women turned their heads towards the new intruder who stood timidly in the doorway. It was a woman, around John's age. She was well dressed in a beige business suit, with dark brown hair in a simple plait which was fastened at the back of her head. Some jewellery in the form of a small but expensive-looking necklace and earrings completed the picture, neither particularly eye-catching at first sight. Her makeup was done in the same, understated style, her red lips forming a rather hesitant smile.
"Uhm, I'm not sure if this is the best of times, Lady Watson. Maybe I should return some other time?" she addressed his mother before throwing John a shy look. "Hi John, sorry to intrude on you at a time like this. But I'm sure this can wait until a more convenient, occasion right?"
John blinked a few times, looking more closely at the woman inside the door. She was pretty, no doubt about that, and the years had been kind to her but it still took him a moment before he recognised her.
"Cathy? Cathy Stormhill?"
His face must have shown a rather comical look of disbelief because the woman started to laugh in amusement.
"Hello John, I'm glad to see that you still recognise old friends", she said with a friendly smile.
"Well, I admit it's been ages since we last saw each other, but I should still be able to recognise an old friend nonetheless. What're you doing here?"
John noticed the small look Cathy threw his mother before putting two and two together. Of course, the sisters of his cousin's husband had simply been bait to test the waters. Cathy must have realised his epiphany because her smile turned rueful.
"Got it in one, John. I'm sorry, but you know your mother can be quite persistent. I admit I'm not really interested in any form of marriage, and I don't believe for a minute that you are either, but after she approached me I saw my chance to at least see you again after all these years. I do hope you'll forgive me for taking the opportunity? After all, we haven't seen each other since you joined the army."
Shaking his head, John glared at his parents before sending a kinder look at his childhood friend
"Cathy, you could've come by any time. I'd always be happy to see old friends, you must've known that at least."
"Oh no, how could I ever intrude into your life", she replied, waving a hand dismissively. "I mean, I've read your blog and it sounds like you're awfully busy. I never saw a good chance to just come by and catch up on old times. I mean, old childhood adventures, what do they weigh against all the excitement you've had these past few years?"
At that moment she remembered the reason for the Watsons' presence and she put a hand to her mouth, abashed.
"Oh God, I'm so sorry John. Look at me, not even here for a full minute and already I'm talking without thinking. I've heard about what happened to your flatmate, of course, and I'm really sorry, John, believe me."
The doctor swallowed down the scathing comment that had been on the tip of his tongue the moment she reminded him of Sherlock. Of course, his death had not been her fault, he knew that, and it had nothing to do with his annoying parents either. Sighing he breathed in deeply before looking at her as calmly as he could.
"It's okay, Cathy, don't worry", he reassured her before coming to a decision.
"Out, both of you!" he snapped at his parents before turning towards Mrs Hudson and his sister with a kinder face. "Please Harry and Mrs Hudson, you too. Cathy, you can stay. I guess we need to talk but I refuse to do so with those meddling people in the room."
His eyes turned to focus on his parents once more. There was neither kindness nor forgiveness in his gaze. "Out! Now!"
It seemed for once the elder Watsons knew when to retreat because both of them left the room silently, though his mother still sent a small, encouraging smile towards Cathy. Mrs Hudson ensured that both parents left the house before quietly inviting Harry to have a cup of tea in her flat until John had finished his business with his new guest. Harry agreed hesitantly, following the old landlady slowly after a long last look at her younger brother.
Only after the door to 221b had finally closed did John turn his full attention towards his guest, offering her the chair he himself had so often claimed, back when Sherlock and he listened to clients. He couldn't bear to see anyone else sitting in the seat that belonged to Sherlock, not yet anyway, so he took that one for himself.
John smiled at Cathy slightly. He was sure it was more of a grimace than anything else, but at least there was a bit of honesty there. Because no matter what had happened in the last few weeks, he was still truly delighted to see one of his oldest childhood friends again.
Cathy was just as he remembered her, friendly, polite and always smiling. She did so now, though ruefully.
John, I really AM sorry for my thoughtless blunder just now", she began, taking his hand. "I was so happy to have the chance to finally meet you again, that for a second it totally slipped my mind what happened to Mr Holmes. Please do accept my most sincere condolences for your loss."
Sighing John shook his head, waving her concerns away.
"I don't blame you for not remembering someone you didn't even know personally, Cathy", he soothed her, though his smile was slightly bitter. "I learned the hard way two years ago that the world doesn't stop revolving just because something bad has happened to one single person. But thank you, anyway.
"Now, let's get away from such gloomy topics. We both know I'm not at my best at the moment. But what about you? I have to say you're looking great. Considering my parents wanted to set us up, I can hardly believe you aren't married yet, or that there isn't at least somebody in your life."
Cathy laughed, rather amused now, her eyes crinkling.
"John Watson, the old charmer, you certainly haven't lost your edge, have you?" she teased him with a fond smile. "If you must know, I broke up with my last boyfriend some months ago and to be honest I'm still quite fed up with the idea of relationships in general. I rather like my freedom as a single woman."
"Well, why allow my mother to consider you as a potential bride for me then?" he wanted to know. "I mean, the reason for her choice is obvious. Your family is aristocratic with a good reputation and you're certainly well enough off for money. But you know me, Cathy, and you should have guessed from the fact that I've not gone back even once since leaving, that I haven't changed my mind."
"Honestly, that's exactly why I agreed", the woman now returned, seriously. "I didn't tell your mother that I'm not interested in relationships right now. As I've said, I really wanted to see you, and judging by your years of silence and absence, I suspected that your opinions from back then hadn't changed. As for your mother, I've got to admit that I was in serious trouble some months ago and she was able to help me."
Hearing this, John groaned, looking at his old friend in disbelief.
"Seriously? You allowed her to help you? Even though you know how cunning she is? Everything she ever does is for a reason. If she helps you, mother will make sure you remember when the time comes and she needs something from you. In this case, it's obvious she's using you to try and get me married."
Cathy sighed, shaking her head sadly, but not looking overly sorry.
"I knew I'd end up being indebted to her", she told him calmly, "and when she told me about your current situation and that it wasn't good for a middle-aged man like you to be alone for too long, I soon realised what the price for my debt would be. I really can't tell you the details because it's family business, but I couldn't turn down her help back then and I'm still grateful to be out of my difficulties.
"In fact, I do have a good idea that might work out. When I leave, I suspect your mother will contact me to find out how our conversation went. How about I tell her that you asked me to stay in touch so we can catch up over tea now and then? She'll understand that you need some time to get to know me again. It'll buy us more time and we can think of a way to prevent a wedding without your parents thinking I didn't try my very best. What do you think, John?"
The doctor let out a deep sigh, rubbing his eyes tiredly with both hands before threading his left through his hair in frustration.
"I'm not sure what to think, to be honest", he admitted. "If I had my way, my parents would leave me the hell alone, as they've done since I left for Afghanistan. But now they've finally taken some action and shown up at my doorstep, I'm under no illusions, this will definitely turn into a fight. One I'm not really willing or motivated to deal with at the moment."
"Oh John, I'm so sorry", Cathy whispered, sympathetically. "It's obvious to me now, how much you're still hurting from your loss. I've never seen you this broken."
"Well, you haven't seen me for a long time, so that's not saying very much", John replied bitterly, before catching himself. "Sorry, that was uncalled for. You know what? Leave me alone for now and we'll set a date for next week to have a serious talk. For the time being, tell my parents what you suggested, if they ask. Hopefully, I can prepare for next week and will be in a better frame of mind to deal with it all."
"Sounds good to me", Cathy agreed with a small smile.
"Thanks for understanding", John acknowledged, squeezing her hand. "No matter what happens, and however bad my mood, Cathy, I AM really glad that we met up again, you know?"
"Yes, John, I know", she replied and smiled again before standing. She handed him a small business card.
"You'll find my mobile number on this", she explained. "You can send me a text message when you're ready with the time and place."
"Right", John nodded, taking the card and putting it into his pocket. Ever the gentleman, he took his time to show her to the door. They exchanged a friendly goodbye before she finally left. John stared after her for several minutes, mind lost in thought.
It was only when the door to Mrs Hudson's flat opened and Harry nervously called his name, that he returned to the here and now. Sighing silently once more he looked down to where his sister and landlady both stood. It was time to move on to the next issue.
SHxJWxSHxJW
"John! Over here!" Cathy stood on the other side of the street, one arm in the air, carefully waving with a cup of coffee in hand, while her other held a second cup. John waved back and crossed the street, reaching her quickly.
"Sorry for the wait", she said and offered him one of the cups. "I hope you still drink it black without sugar? The traffic was hell, and then the fun of trying to find a parking space!"
She gave a wry grin, making it quite obvious that she expected one of the usual macho comments about women and driving but none came. John simply shrugged, accepted the coffee and gestured with his free hand to the other side of the road.
"Oh, don't worry. I was miles away, watching all the different delights that fountain has to offer. And the coffee's fine, ta by the way."
The smile he was offering her must have looked really forced, because her face fell and she watched him uncertainly.
"Everything all right?"
Sighing he waved towards the other side of the road, where some benches surrounded the fountain.
"Let's sit down."
She nodded and they crossed the street towards the benches, taking a seat on the cleanest one.
"All right, we're sitting", Cathy declared, gazing at John anxiously. "Now, can you tell me what's wrong? You don't look happy."
Groaning in frustration, the doctor pulled a hand through his hair, refusing to look at her, instead turning his eyes to the merry movement of the water in the fountain. They both played with their cups of coffee, occasionally drinking without saying anything. Finally John hunched his shoulders and looked up towards the grey sky. It looked like rain.
"It's been a month since your first visit," John finally sighed, rubbing his eyes tiredly. "And miraculously my parents have left me alone after you told them we needed time to catch up. And don't get me wrong, it has been nice, meeting for coffee and lunch. Still, I hope you can understand why my mood hasn't fully improved since Sherlock's death."
"Your parents have contacted you," Cathy surmised, getting right to the point. John looked up at her, surprised, and she gave him a small humourless smile.
"Me too", she admitted. "I'm sorry I tried to hide it. I should've known better and told you straight away. They're putting pressure on you too, I take it?"
Scoffing, he jumped up from his seat, coffee falling to the ground, spilling the contents, but neither of them seemed to notice.
"Putting pressure on me is not even covering it!" he informed her frustrated. "I TOLD them to leave me alone. Now I'm receiving E-Mails, instant messages and even COMMENTS ON MY DAMN BLOG from them. They're quite intelligent enough not to come near Baker Street again, but everything else they're able to use, they do. It's fucking aggravating."
"What have they told you?"Cathy asked rather tentatively. John was too far gone to stop now and he answered her question without even thinking.
"They told me that, unfortunate as Sherlock's death was, it's important I move on now. That the family's desperate, that the Watson line needs a worthy heir to represent the family in the future and with Harry's unfortunate taste in women and drinking, it's obviously down to me. As if my relationship with Sherlock wouldn't have been a disgrace to the family anyway! They'd sweep my bisexuality under the carpet, that's what they'd do, were I ever to agree to their pleadings. I mean, honestly, what do they take me for?"
"Oh dear! Poor John", Cathy exclaimed, catching hold of his hand to stop his agitated pacing. "I can understand why you're upset, believe me."
"I'm thinking of changing my number and seeing if I can ban them from the blog. Maybe I'll tell people I'm taking a holiday, leaving the blog alone for a while until my parents get the message."
"That might buy you some time," Cathy agreed, but she shook her head. "I'm not sure it will be very long, though. Not if I know your mother, the way she talks to me."
John stopped musing on his problems, realising that his friend seemed to have similar ones to his own, and turned around.
"Sorry for being so self-absorbed", he apologised, giving her his full attention. "So, what's my horrible mother been telling you?"
"Essentially the same thing", Cathy admitted. "That it seems you've warmed up to me after this month of contact. That my name and family will go well with the Watsons' and that I ought to start putting more pressure on you, to use my charms."
Grimacing, the doctor squeezed her hand, full of sympathy.
"Don't let her get to you", he advised, which caused her to smile honestly at him.
"I won't, don't worry. It's just not that easy with the debt I still owe her. But this month has given me time to think about our situation and last week I had a chance encounter that may provide a solution."
"Oh?" John acknowledged curiously. "What happened?"
"This might sound a bit crazy, but hear me out first, please?"
He nodded his head, gesturing for her to continue.
"Do you remember Stephanie Stringfield?" Cathy asked. John scrunched his eyebrows together in thought for a moment, before his face lit up.
"Steph? The one with the red hair, who had such a great interest in languages?"
"Yep, that's the one", she confirmed. "I met her last week by chance and of course we chatted about what's been happening in our life lately. Somehow we got on to the topic of men and marriage and she admitted that she's getting divorced. Well, I have to say, for someone in the middle of a divorce, she looked rather happy. I know from experience at work that it's always stressful, even if both sides agree.
"But Stephanie, well, she wasn't like any other soon-to-be-divorced person I've ever seen before, so I asked her how she was bearing up so well. And she told me - I could hardly believe it at the time, John - that the reason was simple. Her marriage had been a farce. She went abroad after she finished university and made lots of friends. One guy in particular really wanted to visit Britain so he decided to come with her when she returned home.
"They'd been good friends all along but there was never more, she assured me. Unfortunately, after his right of residence in Britain expired, his application for a prolonged stay was denied so Stephanie decided to help by marrying him."
At this point John couldn't stay silent any longer.
"You mean to tell me, she married that man to help him stay in Britain?" he asked Cathy in disbelief. "That's crazy, don't you think?"
"A bit unusual, but yes, that's exactly what she did", Cathy confirmed in a soothing voice before adding quickly, "And that's why I asked you not to interrupt me, John. I knew you wouldn't altogether approve of what she did but Stephanie assured me that at the time neither of them were in a relationship and they both agreed to stop the whole charade the second one of them fell in love and wanted to move in with that partner.
"It's taken some time to get to that point but now her 'husband' has found someone he seriously wants to marry and they've decided it's time to officially break up and divorce. You see, John, everything ended rather well, don't you think?"
"I'd say they were lucky that no one found out and reported them", he corrected before his eyes widened in realisation. "Wait a moment. That's your point! You want us to do the same? Marry as friends to get my parents out of our hair? Cathy, that's ridiculous!"
His childhood friend looked down at her feet, guilty and disappointed at the same time.
"But it would be a way out", she finally told him, looking up with determination. "I mean, it's been what, a month since we decided to try and come up with a solution in the face of your parents' insistence? And just moments ago you were complaining that they're crowding you. John this would mean an end to both our worries."
"Cathy, I've never considered marrying for any reason other than love and I certainly don't want to start now. Personally I think Steph took a huge risk with what she did. Admittedly, she also proved herself to be a great friend by going that far, I won't deny that."
Cathy bit her lip before a stubborn look crossed her face. She didn't dare to look at the doctor as she tentatively voiced her next question.
"What if Mr Holmes was still alive, John? Would you have married at all?"
Deathly silence fell. Only the noise from the cars, the people on the streets and the fountain could be heard though neither of them seemed to notice this at all. John glared at the ground while Cathy went back to biting her lip, obviously anxious and already regretting what she had said.
Suddenly, John looked up, his dark look gone, replaced by resignation. Bowing his head in her direction, he admitted defeat.
"Okay, that was a low blow, but you're right, Cathy. I can't imagine ever leaving Sherlock, if he was still alive. But Sherlock wasn't the type for marriage, hell, the only reason he would've ever considered it would've been as cover for a case."
John smiled wistfully at the idea before trying to get back to the topic at hand.
"And God help me, I would've agreed, and gone through with it, so I guess in the end I really am no better than Steph. But Sherlock is gone and, while I still can't see myself getting married any time soon, if ever, this is a different situation. It's not only about me, but you as well, Cathy. I mean, look at you! Beautiful, successful, still young. How do you know that you won't find Mr Perfect next week and then what? Still marry me as a good turn, and then when it all comes out, let your family and friends think you were betraying me even as we stood in front of the altar?"
"But John, I told you..." Cathy started to protest but she was interrupted when he raised his hands.
"No. I know you've told me you're happy being single, but you can't see into the future. I'm not doing something this crazy. I'm sure you mean well, and you want to help, but no Cathy. Just - no."
Sighing she looked at John closely, assessing how serious he was before nodding her head in defeat.
"Okay, I guess you're right", she agreed, voice subdued, but friendly enough. "Maybe the whole idea is crazy but we really need to come up with a different plan soon, or your parents will become unbearable."
Growling, John clenched his fists, eyes burningin anger as he thought back to the last entry his parents had left on his blog just this morning.
"Don't worry, I think it's time I stop the niceties and tell my parents in terms even they can understand that they are not wanted", he said tightly. "I've have quite enough of their persistence."
"If you're sure", Cathy said, obviously not convinced but willing to respect John's wishes for now.
"Quite", he replied confidently, head held proudly. "You'll see, not even a week from now, the next time we meet, you'll be free of any phone calls or however else they've been pestering you."
Cathy's only reply was a hopeful smile.
SHxJWxSHxJW
One month later, John surprised Cathy by calling her late in the evening.
"John", she greeted him, a bit worried about the unusual time of day.
"They've started sending postcards", he whispered brokenly. "Not even addressed to me but to Mrs Hudson and..." he stopped, his voice failing and he had to swallow twice before he was able to add, "and addressed to Sherlock too."
"Oh my God, John!" Cathy breathed, shocked. "Are you all right?"
There was a long pause where only John's breathing could be heard.
"I'm tired, Cathy", he finally uttered. "So very, very tired."
"What can I do to help?" she immediately offered, willing to do anything. Sighing, John gripped his mobile phone tighter, staring at nothing as he muttered.
"Tell me about your plan for this wedding."
TBC...
