Elementary, My Dear Joan

Precautions

The manor loomed over the large, well-kept grounds; the sky only seemed to cloud over above the tiled roof. Bushes with roses as red as blood stood to attention along the extensive driveway. Joan looked down at her lap nervously. Her previous attempts to yank the door open had been futile thanks to the driver locking it when she'd entered the 'cab'. As the car swerved to a halt in front of the house, the driver got out and opened her passenger door, allowing her to step out uncertainly.

She mumbled a half hearted "Thank you" before slowly making her way up to the thick, mahogany door. There was no knocker nor a doorbell. However before Joan had chance to debate how she would assert her presence, the door was flung open to reveal a tall, blonde woman. Joan frowned and cleared her throat "Mycroft Holmes, I presume." The resemblance was there: tall, deep eyes, the odd freckle on the cheek. However, unlike Sherlock, this woman's clothes were more formal and feminine. She grinned smugly "Joan Watson, I hope."

Joan ran her tongue along her teeth and nodded curtly. Mycroft smiled wider and opened the door wider, stepping back to allow Joan through "I hope your journey was quite alright. Did you get my message?"

"Yeah" replied Joan, stepping in with her arms folded in agitation "Although not many people take kindly to being kidnapped, Miss Holmes. I could have you arrested." Mycroft laughed airily, stroking the ivory pearls around her neck "Oh I'd like to see you try!" The doctor's brow knitted together with confusion. What did she mean? After a moment, Mycroft stopped chuckling to herself and placed her hands behind her back "I should only like to discuss with you a matter of great importance to me, to you... and to my dear sister. I did try to page you but I was rather rudely ignored." Joan's lip curled back slightly and her eyes darted to the side. For the first time, she noticed how much the clean, contemporary interior contrasted with the 14th century building.

Sensing her 'guest's' discomfort, Mycroft smiled and gestured to the left "Perhaps we would be more comfortable in my study."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Joan sat stiffly opposite the other Holmes sister who lounged on the other side of the large desk. Mycroft held an antique looking umbrella in her hand, twisting it on the floor with her index finger "How are your nerves?" She asked suddenly. Joan swallowed thickly and shrugged.

"They're okay. I thought we were here to talk about Sherlock?" Mycroft waved her hand flippantly "I just asked because I've noticed your hand doesn't shake when you feel threatened, unlike most other people." The doctor blinked rapidly before her face broke out into a small grin. She pointed at the woman in realisation "Oh, you're doing that thing. That deduction thing that Sherlock does." Suddenly, Mycroft's face dropped and she rolled her eyes in an almost bored fashion. She sighed and rested her chin on her fist "What's your relationship with my sister, Miss Watson?" Joan bit her lip, unsure of what to say "Uh- um... We're just colleagues."

"How long have you known Sherlock Holmes?" Mycroft's voice was becoming unnervingly low and Joan shifted in her seat.

Steeling herself, Joan gripped the arms of the chair firmly "We only met twice before I came to look at the flat. She invited me to come and see her on the second meeting." Her lip quirked upward as she added "I'm going to accept her share offer." Mycroft raised her eyebrow and looked down at the telephone in the centre of the desk "No you're not. Sherlock Holmes is a dangerous, fragile woman, Miss Watson and I can't have anyone-"

"Who are you to tell her what to do?" Joan cut in "To tell me what to do? You don't even know me" Her voice rose slightly in mild offence; Mycroft's eyes widened in shock at her sudden outburst "My sister, Sherlock, is a drug addict, Miss Watson; I have just managed to get her as you say 'back on track'. I fear an Ex army doctor with an addition for danger may be the cause of her relapse." Joan's mouth gasped open slightly. Sherlock was a junkie? She didn't know how to react, whether to be outraged at Mycroft's accusation or be anxious for her new flatmate's safety.

However, she knew that from her medical classes, Sherlock would take drugs regardless of whether Joan was with her or not. Drug addicts were quite independent and capable of finding a fix no matter what. But what she didn't understand was how a woman that intelligent and poised could ever be into drugs in the first place- there was more to this, she could tell. Finally, she had her answer "Listen, Holmes" she spat "If your sister chooses to relapse, it'll be her fault. You can't stop her seeing people because you have some weird, twisted obsession with her! She's never mentioned you so I doubt she'd mind if you left her the Hell alone!"

Mycroft remained silent for a while before clearing her throat with a small shrug "Very well, Joan but I must remind you of the danger you'll be putting both yourself and Sherlock in, quite selfishly." Suddenly, the phone began to ring. Both women stared at it for a moment before Mycroft finally picked it up "Hello?"

Joan couldn't help but crane her neck to hear who was on the other end of the line. There was a loud shuffling and a cuss "Mycroft! What have you done?" Sherlock. Joan gasped and stood up but Mycroft held up her hand, asking her to remain silent "Nothing, Sister mine."

"Don't play games with me, Mycroft! Is Joan Watson with you?"

"Why yes. Quite a..." she glanced upward "Charming woman." There was an undertone of sarcasm in her voice and Joan's hands curled into fists at her sides. Sherlock growled "Joan? Joan!" The doctor looked at Mycroft who nodded, silently giving her permission to speak once more "Sherlock?"

There was a small sigh of relief followed by more shuffling "Stay where you are! Don't move, I'm coming to get you! Do you hear me? Don't mo-" Suddenly, Mycroft put down the phone, cutting Sherlock's voice off. Joan scowled and started forward "What the Hell did you do that for?"

There was no reply as Mycroft sighed and pressed a small button on the desk next to her lamp. A few moments later, two large men burst through the door and grabbed the young doctor by the arms, beginning to drag her from the room. She kicked out in an effort to anchor herself to the ground but they were too strong for her. The last thing she heard was Mycroft's voice drift behind her "Take her back to Baker Street, the East wind is coming."