Days

It had been three weeks since the night Arthur had woken in the middle of the night to question Sherlock. The little boy seemed to have settled into what had quickly become a new routine. They both worried about Joan, neither knowing what was the right thing to do or say when she was feeling unwell but their bond had grown stronger. Arthur liked having Sherlock around and Joan had come to see that having another adult in her son's life was a good thing. The surgery had gone well, it was just days until chemotherapy was due to start in a few days. She had read all the current literature and knew Sherlock was approaching her cancer treatment as a case. He wanted to know everything about it and every single thing that could happen. She sighed as she heard the two men in her life in the kitchen. Moments later Arthur ran into the living room, jumping onto the sofa next to her.

"Mom."

"Yes, Arthur?"

"Are you ok?"

"A bit sore." Joan had decided there was no point in lying to her son. He was a pre-schooler but he was smart and he knew when adults were not being honest. She decided to give him as much information as she thought he could handle in a way he could handle it. Seeing him worried about her broke her heart. "I've taken my medicine. I will be ok." Arthur nodded.

"Good."

"What? You have more to say?"

"Auntie Kitty called from London. She is coming to stay! She has decided to visit but it is a secret! So shh!"

"Does Sherlock know?"

"Oh yeah but we have to keep it secrets. Marcus and Uncle Tom are to be surprised." Arthur jumped off the sofa as Sherlock arrived in the room. He looked more awkward than usual.

"He told you then?"

"Yes." Joan smiled. She shifted slightly so he could sit next to her. "You asked her to, didn't you? Kitty should not be in New York. Its not safe for her. Does she know I am ill?"

Sherlock stuck his hands in his pockets as she raised an eyebrow. He was not a good liar, never having seen the need to be. He just told the truth, no matter how difficult or he didn't say anything at all. It seemed in this case, discretion had been the better part of valour.

"I thought it prudent to omit that information. She wants to see us and Arthur."

Joan nodded, knowing she would love to see her friend again but knew Kitty had a knack of getting information and working out what was going on. Sherlock watched her for a moment, hating that she had winced in pain as she had moved. The bandage on her chest wasn't especially large but what had been a new biopsy had turned into a lumpectomy with some lymph nodes being removed. He knew she was anxious about the treatment and how he would see her. Joan took his hand. "I'm ok, the dressing is a little uncomfortable. That's all."

"You'd tell me if."

"I would. I will." She smiled as he took her hand. "Chemo starts on Monday. I can do this. Knowing you are here and you and Arthur get on so well. I know I can do this." He swallowed hard, hoping that she was right.

xxxxxxx

Day turned to night as Joan and Arthur slept. Sherlock knew he would be unable to sleep until he had found out what he could on the treatment she was having. Quietly he slipped out of bed, headed down to the kitchen and opened his laptop. He knew there was little Joan wouldn't tell him but she was a private person. If she thought she could protect the people she cared about he knew she would. His heart sank as he read the latest research on Stage 3 breast cancer, the risk of lymph node involvement and possible treatments. He had no idea so much was involved in the management of the illness. His heart broke for the woman laying sleeping in her bed. He closed his eyes, knowing he was going to have to be stronger than he had ever been before. Memories of his own mother being unwell and his father's somewhat useless response to the situation came back to him. He knew his parents had loved each other once but he also knew both were cold and unfeeling on the surface. He had no idea how they had managed to conceive children when they had apparently had such disregard for each other. His mother's death had devastated him but his father and brother had carried on their usual 'stiff upper lip' approach to life. If he was honest with himself he had never understood it but had forced himself to copy their behaviour. He had wondered if the drug abuse had been an attempt to bury the emotion he felt and the distaste he had towards the other members of his family. He closed his eyes as a sudden realisation dawned. Whatever happened with Joan. Whatever the outcome he wouldn't dismiss young Arthur the way his family had dismissed him. His son deserved better,

"Hey." He turned to see Joan in the doorway to the kitchen. "Are you alright?"

He swallowed hard as he looked her in the eye. "I'm fine."

"So why are you in the kitchen at 3 am? Do you have a case? I thought you weren't taking anything on at the moment."

"I'm not." He got to his feet as she stepped closer. "Its something I wanted to check."

"And it couldn't wait until the morning?"

"No." Sherlock held her gaze. "I didn't want you or Arthur to find it."

"Oh." Her eyes widened.

"Not that. I am not looking at that." He smirked "I no longer feel the need to look or engage in such activities." He stepped towards her as she blushed slightly. "I don't know why I ever did."

"You are a heterosexual male."

"True." Sherlock smiled. "But, I was wrong. Sex is so much better when it isn't just a function. When the person you are with means so much to you."

"Is it."

"Definitely." He kissed her gently on the forehead as felt her arms wrap around his neck. He could see she was exhausted.

"So? What were you looking at?"

"Doesn't matter."

"To be so important it must matter if you were here at this time of night."

"Just a few questions I had about your treatment. I want to be certain anything I do or do not do doesn't adversely affect your wellbeing."

Joan sighed, resting her head against his chest. She had to admit she hadn't thought he had looked beyond the surgical aspect of her care. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"Being so thoughtful." Joan pulled back to look him in the eye. "Please, come to bed. We both need the rest. I think tomorrow is going to be a long day." He sighed, letter her take his hand and lead him back to bed. With chemotherapy starting soon he knew he had to be fully informed, there was too much at stake and he was not prepared to lose Joan when he had just got her back in his life.