Pinky Promise?
Joan sat in the chair opposite the Doctor's desk as Sherlock took the seat next to her. She knew he was nervous, she could feel the nerves radiating from him as the middle aged man sat in the chair behind his desk.
"Thank you both for coming in." The Doctor started. "I know the call was a little out of the blue but the results came in a little sooner than we were expecting."
"That's good? Isn't it?" Sherlock held the older man's gaze. Joan shot him a look. He fell silent.
"Yes, yes it is." The Doctor smiled. "Dr Watson."
"Joan." She corrected as he smiled.
"Joan. The biopsy results show that the cancer is stage 3. We knew that it was aggressive and fast but it seems that it has reacted to the treatment." He smiled as Joan closed her eyes in relief for a moment. "The scan, however."
"Hold on." Sherlock sat forward in his chair. "The biospy result showed what? That we already knew the cancer was stage 3? That."
"Sherlock." Joan hissed. Sherlock turned to her and immediately fell silent. He could see she was on the verge of tears. He nodded, taking her hand. He knew she was more of a people person than he was, she saw the subtext where he often didn't when it came to human interaction. He nodded to the doctor to continue.
"The scan results came back and I have had them checked by my colleague in Oncology radiology."
"And?" Joan's voice was quieter than Sherlock had ever heard. He held his breath as the doctor smiled.
"I am happy to tell you there is no spread. The lymph nodes we removed and the mastectomy seem to have removed the majority of the cancer. The chemotherapy has mopped up the rest so to speak."
"I." Joan looked at the doctor. "I am not dying? You aren't recommending Palliative Care?"
"No, I am most certainly not recommending that today." He smiled as a tear slipped from her eyes. "I am recommending that you finish the course of treatment but that it is working. We will rescan in a few weeks time for certainty but I can say that I believe you are well on the way to going into remission."
"Oh." She paused. "I am?"
"You are."
Sherlock squeezed her hand. "Not dying." She whispered. "Not dying."
"Thank you." Sherlock watched as the doctor smiled slightly. "I don't know what to say. Other than thank you." He turned to Joan who seemed to be in shock at the news.
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Kitty boiled the kettle as she thought about the two young boys playing in the living room. She knew they were more like cousins than friends and knew how lucky she was that both children seemed to adore each other. She sighed as she filled the mug with hot water knowing that she had maybe an hour to wait before Sherlock and Joan came home. She desperately wanted Marcus to be with her but knew how private the couple were. There was no way Joan would open up if it were bad news and the house was full of people.
"Kitty?" Arthur walked into the room.
"Yes." She sat at the kitchen table as he climbed up on a chair. "Are you ok?"
"Mom and Dad went to the hospital, didn't they?"
"Yes, they did. Your Mum has an appointment with the doctor who has been looking after her. She'll be back soon."
"Ok." He nodded, his dark hair falling into his eyes. "Kitty?"
"Yeah."
"Is my Mum dies we have to look after Dad. You have to help me with that. You and Archie."
"You think she is going to die?" Kitty felt sick. She hadn't even thought he was aware of the concept but then she remembered who his parents were. "Arthur?"
"Well." He paused, frowning slightly. "We all do eventually. I know that. In school Miss Lewis had some time off because her grandmother died. So I know it happens."
"It does." Kitty chose her words carefully. "But your Mum isn't old. I know she hasn't been very well. I know we have all been looking after her."
"Yeah." He nodded. "But you will help me? Wont you? With my Dad? If we need to?"
"Oh course." Kitty smiled as her heart broke. "Promise."
"Pinky Promise?" He held up his hand as Kitty suddenly realised how young he really was. She nodded and linked her pinky finger with his.
"Pinky Promise." She repeated before he jumped off the stool before running back to the computer game he was playing with her son. She closed her eyes as she thought about what could happen if Joan didn't get well. She knew it was a possibility but it wasn't one she had let herself consider.
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Sherlock stood on the street as Joan pulled her coat around her. He seemed to be in shock as Joan slipped her hand into his. "Sherlock?"
"I." He turned to her as he tried to think of something to say. He was rarely lost for words but knew he had prepared himself for the worse news possible. Now he had no idea what to think. She smiled slightly before reaching up to touch his face.
"Hey."
"You're going to be ok."
"I told you as much." She smiled as he closed his eyes, nodding once.
"Yes, yes you did." He relaxed as he pulled her into his arms, holding her close as he buried his face in her hair. The wig she wore was nothing like her own hair but he didn't care as he breathed her in. "Can't lose you." He sighed as she tightened her hold on him. Her face buried in the crook of his neck she sighed.
"You wont. I am not going anywhere." She kissed him gently before pulling back.
He smiled slightly, remembering something Arthur had taught him the previous day. "Pinky promise?" Joan laughed as she took his hand.
"Definately."
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