Face the Odds

Chapter 22: Human

"Oh, John." Marie said in surprise, and John greeted back: "Marie."

"Leaving already?" Marie asked curiously, glancing at Sherlock before refocusing on John as he shrugged.

"Er, yes, yeah." He said, before glancing at Marie and frowning.

There was a small bulge in Marie's jacket pocket, hinting at a box, but it was too small for him to tell what it was. At first, he wondered if Marie was taking pity on Sherlock and sneaking him cigarettes, but dismissed the thought quickly – Marie was strict on differentiating her love from Sherlock's health.

"Isn't it kind of late for Christmas presents?" John asked rather abruptly as he gestured at Marie's pocket.

Marie looked at him in surprise, as did – oddly enough – Sherlock.

"What?" Marie asked, and John repeated: "Well, Christmas and New Years have passed, and I know you two spent both together at the hospital. I heard from Molly that you also brought in the twins, though how you managed to keep them from crying at Sherlock's face-"

"They are clever." Sherlock interrupted. "It was simple to deduce that I was merely injured somehow-"

"They're babies." John retorted, and Sherlock fired back with a small smile: "Almost a year old."

John stared at Sherlock, examining the detective's face as he thought he detected something strange in his tone, before glancing at Marie, who looked just slightly amused and slightly anticipatory. Suddenly, he put two and two together, and he said in a sudden epiphany moment: "I'm going to make a deduction."

"Oh, okay." Sherlock said, frowning. "That's good, I suppose. Though you really don't need to feel as though you need to prove something, Scott and Sheryl have been tested for intelligence well above their-"

"Happy birthday." John interrupted, looking at Sherlock.

Marie coughed, choking on her laughter at Sherlock's stunned face. The detective was staring at John, who just looked back with a small smile on his face, before Sherlock finally nodded.

"Thank you, John. That's ... very kind of you." He mumbled the end, glancing down at his mug in almost embarrassment.

"Never knew when your birthday was." John mused, his tone light, and Sherlock murmured softly as he lifted his mug to his lips: "Well, now you do."

"Should I leave you two alone for a bit? Haven't felt this much like I was third-wheeling for about five years." Marie teased, earning a slight cough from Sherlock as he almost choked on his drink, while John rolled his eyes.

"Oh, har, har, we're all parents now." John pointed out dryly, and Marie smiled at him. He smiled back, though it was slightly strained and his eyes strayed to the door once more.

Marie saw it, and her gaze softened. Moving forward, she kissed John's cheek, silently letting him know he was free to leave if he really chose to, before she walked to where Sherlock was sitting, watching them.

His eyes met John's, and he looked away quickly, turning to face Marie as she settled on the arm of his seat, pulling out the small package and handing it to him. John stood, watching momentarily as Sherlock brightened to find it was a new magnifying set, nestled safely inside a cushioned case, before he leaned up and kissed his wife gently on the cheek, something Marie accept with just the slightest hint of sorrow and dejection still hanging around her.

"John." Mary interjected impatiently. "Ask her. I know you want to – just ask her."

"Marie."