Normality
Kitty ushered both young boys out of the house, knowing that if she didn't then there was a very good chance they were going to be late for school. She had no wish to face the wrath of the Elementary School teacher, knowing the older woman was as formidable as any criminal she had faced. She turned, yelling to Joan that she would be home later. The reply was muffled as the front door closed behind her.
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Sherlock poured the hot water into the mug as he thought about the day ahead. He was keen to get to the police station, knowing that Marcus would have a rather interesting case for them. He knew Joan was just as keen to get back to work as he was. He had no idea if Joan returning to their consulting work was a good idea but the last two hospital appointments had been reassuring. She was officially in remission. Her Oncologist was happy with her, she had to have appointments every few months but she was no longer recieving treatment. He sighed as he sipped his drink, knowing that she would join him in the kitchen when she was ready.
"Hey." Joan pulled her top so that the waist was lower as she stood in the doorway to the kitchen. "Any coffee for me?"
He smiled, nodding to the mug already sat on the dining table. She seemed nervous, he had no idea why. Joan Watson was the ultimate detective, her analytical skills he mused was not the level his was, but then he assumed his skills were genetic whereas Joan had learned hers from her years in medicine and alongside him. He smiled slightly, knowing that there were no words to describe how proud he was of her. She tilted her head towards him. "What?"
"I was thinking."
"I would be worried if you weren't." She smiled as she picked up her mug. "Kitty is collecting the children from school today."
"I know."
"We are meeting Marcus at 10."
"I know." He smiled slightly. "You are nervous."
"Yeah." She sat at the table. Sherlock sat opposite her. "I know I shouldn't be." She paused. "I feel like the new girl. I was the new girl at school so many times you'd think I would be used to it."
He frowned slightly. "You have done this job before. You know everyone who works there."
"What if I am no good? What if I can't go the job the way I used to? I may have lost the knack." She paused as Sherlock shook his head.
"Poppycock."
"Excuse me?" She looked up.
"You know you aren't any worse at the job than you were before you got cancer. As you have said yourself, you lost a breast not a brain. You can do this, probably better than ever, probably better than me."
"I don't think so." She raised his eyebrows.
"I'll be with you. All the way. We go and listen to what Marcus says. If you think you can't take the case then we wont. I wont do this without you. One thing I learned when I was away is that without you I am not as good at this work as I can be. So, we do this together or we don't do it."
Joan smiled slightly as she got to her feet. Sherlock followed her as she touched the jaw length black wig she wore. "Ok, well. Do I look right? Do I look like I have a wig on? Do I?"
Sherlock shook his head. He had no idea why she was suddenly so insecure. "You look beautiful." He answered honestly. "You look like you have never been away from the Precinct. I promise." She smiled as he brought her hands to his lips. "Now we need to go. If we aren't to keep Marcus waiting." He held her hand as they walked out into the street.
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