Short Sherlock Stories

The Losing Side

(A/N Hi so in case it wasn't clear "Jo" is short for Joan Watson, and Jo's husband's name is Martin :D Also, it kind of just drops you in here so sorry for the lack of buildup, and ends pretty abruptly, but I still hope you enjoy!!!)

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Sherlock begins to softly deduce the situation sitting in his chair, and reads Jo like a book but she cuts him off,
"Dont. Don't. you. dare."
"Just stop, stop doing that, not now, not to me"
Sherlock, being himself, couldn't help himself, and persisted. He continued to deduce,
"Shut up Sherlock, just shut up!"
"You don't know, okay? You just- you don't know how it feels to have the one you love ripped away from you!"
"Unable to do anything" Jo screamed at him.
Sherlock stays quiet, but looks at her with sad eyes. Yes he did.
"You could never understand, how could you?" she continued, a little hysterical.
"You don't feel anything! A-and you don't love, you don't love anyone!" Jo said unable to hold back.
"You're just a machine! A machine that chooses not to feel! I can't just turn it off like you!"
Sherlock remains stoic and silent but the sadness is starting to show through. Jo can see it, but to her, it looks like pity.
"Sentiment!" Jo said scoffing at the tears in her eyes.
"A chemical defect found on the loosing side!" she said in a mocking manner, throwing her hands in the air.
"That's it, isn't it?" Jo said quieter in a defeated tone.
"I'm always on the loosing side..."
She said looking at the ground to hide that the tears had began to run. She brought up a hand to her face. She hadn't meant all of what she had said, but she couldn't stop herself.
"Jo... "
Sherlock cautiously began with his eyes lowered, but stopped when he heard a soft sob.
He looked up fast and saw her, broken, crying into her hand. He's not use to this, dealing with raw emotion, especially her. She always bottles them up, that's just who she is. So to see her with all her walls down, his brain froze.
He slowly stood up, and tried to shut off his brain for once, and turn on his heart, for her. For the only person that made him use it. 
He walked forward while keeping his eyes on her, and without a word, but with every ounce of love his heart could muster, placed her in his arms and just held her there, as gently as he could.
He previously deduced from her state of hysteria she would lash out, but she stood still and sobbed, accepting his embrace which only confused him more. Why would she accept this from him? Wasn't she angry with him? He didn't understand, but with each sob that came from her, his heart broke more and more.
He felt so many things, all at once. He let the sentiment in, he let it consume him, and felt a tear fall down his face. But he didn't wipe it away or try to hide it. Because for the first time in a long time, it felt okay. It felt like it was okay for him to. He didn't have to put on his 'Sherlock Holmes' persona, he could just be Sherlock.
They stayed like that, him allowing her to grieve, and letting the emotions out. Then Sherlock says in a low and calm voice,
"Jo..."
She stops to take a deep breath, then pulls back enough to look him in the eyes with her own teary ones. Another tear falls down her face.
Sherlock brings his hand up, and wipes away the tear with his thumb.
He looks at her with so much emotion it makes Jo's face morph into one of slight confusion.
Caught up in his sudden burst of emotion, he almost said it, how much Jo means to him, that he loves her more than anything in this world, but how could he? She was grieving Martin. He clears his throat, looking down then looks her in the eyes and instead says,
"I made a vow, that I would protect you, both of you, and I failed, and for that Jo Watson I am sorry." he said hoarsely.
"But, please know this... that you are the best thing that ever happened in my life"
"and I promise, that I will be there for you...always."