His Doctor~

Chapter 21

Mycroft Holmes stood outside Speedy's Sandwich Bar and Café, waiting for a certain doctor to arrive. It had been three months since the Adler incident, and Jo-Ann arranged the meeting to finally get the concluded result. Rain poured down heavily on the Government official, but luckily was blocked by his black umbrella. He frowned at the cigarette in his fingers, disappointed at the returning habit.

"You don't smoke?"

Mycroft turned to his right to see the doctor he was waiting for. Jo-Ann finally arrived, however soaked due to the rain. Her wet hair was pulled up in a ponytail, letting only her bangs cling to her face, her green rain jacket doing a so-so job of keeping her dry. Mycroft sighed and dropped the cigarette, crushing it beneath his expensive shoes.

"I also don't frequent cafés." He replied, swiftly closing his umbrella and carrying his briefcase inside.

Jo-Ann and Mycroft were seated immediately at a small table with a "reserved" card placed on top.

"The power complex strikes again." Jo-Ann chuckled to herself. After settling down, removing coats and ordering coffee, Mycroft quietly placed a plastic covered pile of documents on the table. Jo-Ann glanced at it a few times before speaking.

"Is that the file on Irene Adler?" she asked before taking a sip of her coffee.

"Closed forever." Mycroft smiled for a moment. Somehow that smile always scared Jo-Ann. "I'm about to go and inform my brother… or if you prefer, you are." Mycroft offered. Jo-Ann understood his reasons and listened intently. "One of us will tell him that Adler somehow got herself into a witness protection scheme in America… New name, new identity, she will survive and thrive." Mycroft explained, however his story seemed a bit too happy. "But he will never see her again."

"Why would he care?" Jo-Ann replied instantly, and with a hint of anger. "He despised her in the end. Won't even mention her by name… just 'the woman'."

"Is that loathing? Or despise?" Mycroft asked cleverly. "One of a kind. The one woman who matters."

"He's not like that." Jo-Ann argued. "He wouldn't feel that way… about her… I-I don't think." She felt her face grow a bit hotter. "And what do you mean 'the one woman that matters'? I mean I matter too… j-just a bit, you know… a-and he never said the woman, he just said… the woman… no-no individual uniqueness about that." Jo-Ann finished with a plain expression, although her words were so obvious. Mycroft stared at her with an un-amused look. Jo-Ann took another sip of her coffee and continued to speak. "He-He'll be fine with this witness protection scheme, never seeing her again… he'll be fine."

"I agree." Mycroft nodded. "…That's why I decided to tell him that." Jo-Ann tilted her head at this, pausing for a moment.

"…Instead of what?" she asked. Mycroft continued to stare at her, expressionless, before answering.

"She's dead." He replied.

Sherlock paced back and forth inside 221B, hands folded together underneath his chin. What do people do when they're in love? Love was a very big and vague word that can be expressed in countless ways. The Woman showed a side of love… was that how to show it? Seemed a bit… nerve racking. Jo-Ann certainly didn't like it when The Woman expressed her feelings that way, being noticeably uncomfortable. Jo-Ann liked romance, sentiment, all the sappy things that made would've make Sherlock gag a few months ago. He still felt a little sick at what some people would do to express love that wouldn't last.

But what could Sherlock do to show Jo-Ann he really loves her?

Maybe if he went to the Ballroom he could… Sherlock's eyes suddenly widened, lighting up with the new idea. The Mind Palace Ballroom always had violin music playing in the background… a song he never played in reality before. So what if he really concentrated and composed that melody? It would be a gift that came from his heart, as sappy as the idea was. Sherlock quickly started looking for blank sheet music to begin the project.