A/N: So yeah... on chapter 14. My writing binder is at home so I can't update my other stories. So I thought, hey, why not? Anyways... It's been way long since I updated anything, and I apologize for that.
Things were much more tense back at the old brownstone, and even though it wasn't too hard to figure out why, it was making things rather... difficult. Joan had thought about contacting Jane again, not that she would ever admit that to Sherlock. Not after what happened last time.
He tried to make it seem like seeing her was the last thing in the world he wanted to do, and maybe that was somewhat truthful, but Joan knew otherwise. Why else would he send her letters?
She softly knocked on his door. "Sherlock?" No answer. That either meant he was still asleep or just wasn't in the mood to talk. Or both.
Sighing, she went into the kitchen and hastily scrawled down a note for him:
Went to run an errand.
Will be back soon.
-JW
Well it wasn't really a lie.
She stuck the note on the fridge with a magnet and hurried off to finish what had been started. Yes, most would probably say she was overstepping her limits, and they would probably be right. Yes, there was a chance that her actions could only make both Sherlock and Jane more angry at her. But that was a chance she was willing to take. She knew what it was she needed to do. She needed to go back to the private school and find Jane.
Joan shut the door of her care and walked briskly up the weathered stone stairs. She gave a sharp tug at the large door of the main building and it opened with a loud creak, revealing a large polished stone hallway. "Hello?" she called, peering inside the doorway of the Head-Master's office.
He looked towards her and gave a friendly smile, walking over. "Watson, right?"
She nodded. "Yes."
"You came in the other day, didn't you?"
"Yeah, I did," she replied. "I need to speak to Jane again. Do you know where she is?"
He checked a few things on his computer. "Actually, I don't. She left a few days ago."
Left? "Well do you have any idea where she went?" Joan asked.
"Once they leave, I have no jurisdiction over them. She's off our radar," he explained, giving a slight shrug of apology. "You could try asking around, but I can't guarantee anything."
She murmured a word of thanks and stepped back outside the office. A few people roamed the grounds, mostly just going from one place to another, or so it looked. Suddenly a woman came over to the stairs, visibly uneasy and in a rush, her eyes darting from side to side. One of the teachers, maybe? "Excuse me," Joan called. "Miss!"
The woman looked up and her demeanor instantly change. "Sorry," she said. "I didn't notice you there."
"Are you one of the teachers here?" Joan asked her.
She held out her hand. "Yes. I'm Meredith Reed. And you are?"
"Joan Watson," she replied. "Um... I need to ask you about one of your students. Jane Bennet."
"Why? What about her?" Reed asked anxiously.
"I was informed that she left. I need to contact her."
A sad look came across Reed's face. "I'm sorry," she said, looking Joan seriously in the eyes and pressing a piece of paper into her palm. "But I don't know where she is." And with that, she hurried off to where ever it was she was originally going.
Joan examined the slip of paper she was given. It was an address to a post-box. But why would Reed lie about knowing something about Jane, yet give her this? It didn't make any sense. But whoever she was, Meredith Reed was hiding something.
What was it, though? Now that was the million dollar question.
Joan closed the door as quietly as she could, just in case Sherlock was still asleep. Okay, granted, sleeping till noon was not a habit of his, but sometimes habits slip.
"I saw your note," a voice said from behind her.
She whirled around. "Sherlock," she breathed, calming once she saw who it was. "You spooked me."
"Sorry about that, then," he muttered. "Where is it you went off to?"
"Does it matter?" she asked, trying to avoid a lecture.
"I would think so," he said. "So where did you go?"
"Well if you must know, I went to see someone."
He tensed up. "Who is this someone?"
Joan gave him a look. "None of your business."
"I believe it is my business, Joan." She wasn't completely used to him using her first name quite this often. "I have to make sure you're not contacting anyone you're not supposed to."
Ugh, why won't he just let me help him!?, she thought to herself. "I didn't. Now bug off." She stormed over to her room and pulled out her laptop as well as the slip of paper. "That's strange," she murmured. "The name on the lease is... Meredith Reed." Okay, this was getting weirder by the minute. "What isn't she telling?" Joan went on searching for maybe twenty minutes or so before putting the laptop away and going to the kitchen to find Sherlock sulking in one of the chairs, his eyes looked blankly at one of the walls. "You okay?" she asked.
He turned around. "What? Oh, yes, I'm fine."
"Are you sure?" She sat down across from him. "You don't seem fine."
"I was just thinking, that's all."
Joan looked down at the floor awkwardly. "Look, I'm sorry about snapping at you earlier. I guess I just had a lot on my mind."
"You don't have to apologize, Joan. I was over-reacting," he replied. "I just didn't want to put her through anymore drama than she's already been through."
Great, Joan thought. Way to make me feel guilty. "You want some coffee?" she asked, trying to switch topics.
He looked at her strangely. "Sure, I guess."
Joan got up. "Okay then. Coffee it is."
A/N: Okay, so could you guys do something for me?
If you can would you please include favorites in your reviews? (Favorite character; scene; chapter; line/quote) Also: How do you think I should end this. I'm honestly clueless.
Thanks again!
~Delila Jules
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