A/N: SORRY! I missed my deadline again. There are no excuses. Well, here's the new chapter anyway... I hope to have the next one up soon, but I couldn't predict when. :-P
Disclaimer: I definitely don't own Elementary- unfortunately- and this is for entertainment purposes only.
PLEEEEEEEEEASE review! Pretty please... with cherries on top?
With Detective Bell on vacation for two weeks, there was another detective filling in as Sherlock and Joan's NYPD liaison officer and partner. It was a spineless, idiotic man named Detective Herrley. Sherlock was baffled as to how this moron ever made detective, being unable to bag evidence correctly, talk to witnesses, or know how to put up with his Sherlockisms. But mostly the last one.
Being in an already agitated and nervous state, what with the incidents with both Joan and Fiona, Sherlock knew he was making things extra difficult for the cop; but frankly, he didn't care. His mind was too preoccupied thinking about facing Joan: he would have to eventually. He was so distracted, he failed to notice Captain Gregson's curious and sympathetic glances; therefore failing to foresee- and prepare for- what his friend would talk to him about.
"Sherlock," Gregson called from across the room, "come to my office for a second, will you?" Sherlock followed the Captain into his office without a word, his mind far away from his body. "So, Sherlock, I heard about your break-up…"
Sherlock's consciousness slammed back into him. He held his breath, waiting for his friend to talk to him about last night's encounter with Watson- expecting it was her from whom he had heard the news about the termination of his and Fiona's relationship, and therefore the subsequent sleeping with his partner.
"Well, I know break-ups can be difficult, especially considering the fact that this was only your second proper relationship. I just wanted you to know that I'm here if you wanted to talk at all, and for anything you need."
"Is that all you wanted to tell me?" Sherlock asked, anticipating a "No, also you're a son of a bitch for sleeping with, and then abandoning Joan" in response.
"Yeah, I think so," Sherlock let out a sigh of relief. "Was there anything else you were expecting?"
Standing- ready to leave this conversation as soon as possible- the consulting detective quickly said, "No, no. I… I just… it doesn't matter. Just out of curiosity, how did you find out that Fiona and I had broken up?"
"Joan called earlier this morning. She said that you might be having a hard time. Oh, also, she asked me you give you a message for her," Thomas picked up a yellow post-it note from his desk and, bringing his glasses up to his eyes, read aloud, "She said, 'she'd meet you for lunch, 1 o'clock, at Gino's to talk about an issue with the kitchen cleaning schedule'. That's all."
"Ok, thank you," Sherlock responded, practically running out of the door. The lunch meeting definitely wasn't about the kitchen, and he was nervous as to what Joan would have to say to him. Would she yell at him for taking advantage of her? Or slap him in the face and tell him she was moving out? Or maybe she really did want to talk about the kitchen cleaning schedule and he was just over-thinking things? No, that couldn't be it. She was most definitely going to be angry with him. Best case scenario: she shouts at him and suggests they forget it ever happened. Worst case scenario: she leaves him and moves out.
That was what he wanted least in the world- along with Irene returning. He didn't care if she broke every bone in his body, or poured a glass of wine over his head; he just dreaded being alone again and wouldn't know how to cope without his roommate.
Xxxxxxxxxx
After Joan had showered, dressed, and eaten breakfast, she deliberated calling Captain Gregson to tell him about Sherlock and Fiona. She thought she'd better, considering Sherlock's hatred of emotional conversation. Knowing him, he wouldn't tell Thomas unless the subject was prompted by the man.
Inferring that her housemate would be in a state of emotional upheaval after the events of the previous day, she decided not to tell the captain about her and Sherlock's incident last night, instead leaving a message for the detective to meet her for lunch to discuss the issue.
Of course, they would have to talk about it sometime, and she'd rather get it over and done with quickly so things could go back to normal as soon as possible.
If only they would…
A/N: Well, we're 4 chapters in. What are your thoughts? Any requests for where I should take this?
