What a day. First he was forced to go for a walk, then be someone's good Samaritan. And now, the most annoying feeling of all….confusion.
"John?"
It was a strange, unwanted thing to feel when one of your greatest accomplishments was to be so self-possessed all the time. To be in control or at least put a logical pattern to what is in front of you. But all of a sudden, it fell apart.
This woman. Knew John. Called him John. How? She could be a work connection but the woman was a teacher, no sign of military service. His mind was racing, the mind palace a distinct mess of concepts and possibilities. Could John have had a long lost sister?
...or had he been watching too much trash telly?
"Yes, John Watson." She seemed a bit exasperated, and nodded towards her right hand. "My ring," they both looked down at the ring with the green stone, which so obviously clashed with the color combination of the rest of her outfit.
Two unconnected things. Or were they? Was his skill at deduction getting worse? Never show confusion, feign understanding, he told himself, hearing himself murmur "Yes," to her while he became increasingly frustrated with his inability to connect John and this woman. Had she hit her head? Was she a reporter in deep disguise?
"The stone. You know it?"
Finally something he could understand. "Yes, jasper, set in white gold, 14 carat. Green jasper, type of chalcedony, impure variety of silica, the ancients loved it, and especially…."
She waved her other hand for him to stop. "Yes, yes, sufficient. You're good. Just…Describe it to John. He'll tell you who I am. He'll remember. And I hope that may convince you, at the very least, to come see me."
The indignant paramedic had finally had enough and forced her into silence and dismissed Sherlock, who took the rest of the walk back to the flat to try and think of how to tell John about this mystery woman.
