CHAPTER THREE: POSSIBILITY TWO
"Seriously, Sherlock?" Alex asked, exasperated. "You thought I wouldn't figure out the Laundromat was a front?"
"Well, I did think I'd have to send you back a few more times," admitted Sherlock. Alex sighed and rolled her eyes, crossing the living room to dump his pile of sweaters in front of him.
"New rule," she said, "you want me to drop off the dry cleaning? You clean the fridge once a week."
"I dug into your background," Sherlock said, and Alex turned and raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"Did you know Joan Watson didn't exist until fifteen years ago?" Sherlock asked.
"Mm, didn't she?" Alex asked.
"No, she didn't. But Mary Watson did have a daughter before she married Daniel Watson- and a previous husband. That daughter's name was Joan Munday. Do you still prefer being called Alex?"
"Joan's grown on me," Alex shrugged. Sherlock blinked.
"You're really not upset that I figured you out?" he asked, confused.
"Figured what out? All you know is that fifteen years ago I changed my surname to my mother's."
"After your father died on an operating table. Coincidentally- or not, in my opinion, you started medical school within the next month." Sherlock nodded, "I'm curious though- why change your name? Alex Munday had many accomplishments to her name. I admit, I always deduced you were intelligent, but I never realized just how much."
"You should play your little hobby with me," Alex said, with an amused quirk of her lips, "I am an excellent fencer. It would be amusing to see which of us came out on top." Seeing the cheeky grin that crossed Sherlock's face, she rolled her eyes. "Not like that, Sherlock."
"Does NASA still contact you?" Sherlock asked.
"On occasion." Alex said, dismissively.
"Did you ever go up to space?" Sherlock asked, looking oddly hopeful.
"Only once. I didn't care for it." She told him. Sherlock stared at her for a long moment.
"I think there's a lot about Alex Munday I haven't learned yet. Like the true reason you changed your name." He said. "I will find out, you know."
"Like I keep saying, Sherlock," Alex said, "you do that."