Disclaimer: I don't own Sherlock.

Hello, everyone! Thank you, as always, for the support. We'll cut to the chase straight away so for your reading pleasure, I present the next chapter.

*Rating for this chapter goes up to K+ for mentions/implied sex

Sherlock and Mary stared at the front door that had just been closed on them in stony silence before Sherlock snorted and walked away.

"Where do you think you're going?" Mary asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Home. Where else would I be going?"

"And that's all? You're not going to talk to me?"

"Nope."

Sherlock strode down the street, heading for the main road. Mary frowned before jogging to catch up with him.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"221B."

"No, you're not coming home with me. The whole point of leaving you on the doorstep was to get away from you."

"Well, thanks to you, I can't go into my house so I'm going to your house until we talk and figure this out. I'm sure Mrs. Hudson is qualified and all but I'd like to see my husband."

"Mrs. Hudson isn't a nurse."

"No, but she'll take care of John. She manages to keep you alive so John should be no problem."

"I do not need to be kept alive." Sherlock retorted. "She cleans, that's all."

"And cooks." Mary added. "Especially now that John's gone, though you've still lost weight."

"Have not."

"Have so." Mary shot back. "Don't think you're the only one who can spot details like that. I'm a trained nurse."

Sherlock ignored her (mostly because he didn't want to give her the satisfaction of being right but also because they'd reached the main road) and held up his hand for a passing taxi. It pulled to the curb and Sherlock got in. Mary followed, not giving Sherlock the chance to shut the door on her. He glared at her as she told the driver the address and then settled back to watch the busy streets.

To Sherlock's credit, he paid the taxi fare and unlocked the door, leaving it open for Mary after he passed through it. Mary followed him upstairs, though Sherlock immediately went to his bedroom and closed the door. The young woman didn't let it bother her and took off her coat before making herself a cup of tea.

While sipping it, an idea came to her. She retrieved her mobile from her coat and texted John.

[Sent 16:35] Are you alright? Mrs. Hudson locked Sherlock and me out until we can "behave."

She immediately got a text back, the same text Sherlock had gotten when he tried texting John as soon as he'd locked his bedroom door.

[Received 16:36] I've taken his mobile. John needs rest, not to be pestered by you two. Talk to Sherlock. Love Mrs. Hudson

Mary sighed and dropped her mobile onto the sofa before picking it up again, this time texting Sherlock.

[Sent 16:36] Did you get a text from Mrs. Hudson?

She heard Sherlock's feet hitting the floor and his bedroom door opened. He appeared in the sitting room a moment later, his dressing gown on his shoulders.

"We're in the same house, it's hardly necessary to communicate via text message."

"You're not communicating with me any other way." Mary said smartly, sipping her tea. "Kettle's boiled."

"Oh, offering me my own tea now? How quaint. Just another way you take what's mine and teased me with it."

Mary frowned as Sherlock picked up his violin and plucked its strings.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"What do you think it means, Mary? You're smart, I'm sure you can figure it out."

He put the violin to his chin and began playing scales.

"If you're talking about John - " Mary began and Sherlock stopped abruptly.

"Of course I'm talking about John. You don't actually think I was talking about the tea, do you?"

"Sherlock," Mary said with a sigh. "I know that you're having a hard time adjusting to John not being here."

"John not being here isn't the problem." Sherlock muttered.

"Then what is?" Mary demanded. "Is it me?"

"Well done." Sherlock said dryly, striking up another tune.

"I don't understand, Sherlock. You seemed fine at the wedding; we even thought you were happy about the baby. Why the sudden change?"

"No change," Sherlock said. "Just an increased air of transparency."

Mary sighed.

"I don't understand." She repeated. Sherlock stopped again.

"For almost three years I lived without John. I watched him suffer as a result of my death. So imagine my surprise when I finally get back to London and find you on his arm and that stupid mustache! Karma is cruel but fair, Mary, it is a fact I've learned to accept. I left him and he left me."

"He didn't leave you!"

"Yes, he did. I came back and he had a job, a wife, a house, and he's going to have a child. I do not fit very well into that picture, Mary."

"Of course you do."

"No, I don't and it's better to just accept it and move on rather than draw it out."

"Sherlock, we want you to be in that picture."

"No, you don't."

"Of course we do. We were going to ask you to be the baby's godfather."

Sherlock had not been expecting that, though he recovered quickly enough.

"I'd be a rubbish choice. All I do is attract serial killers and that's hardly the kind of influence you want for your child."

"But you care about John and I think you care about me."

"I never said I didn't care. I simply said I don't fit into your new life. The two are completely independent of each other."

"Only if you make them." Mary replied.

"Well, I do, then." Sherlock snapped. "He doesn't need me as a best friend. You're by his side, you're enough for him."

"He has two sides, Sherlock. Your place is next to John as much as mine is."

Sherlock remained quiet and Mary continued.

"John's life has changed but he still talks about you and he misses you. He doesn't say so because he's trying to spare my feelings but I can see it."

"Then why are you pushing me away?"

"Me?" Mary repeated.

"Yes you. I came to see John today and found him ill. I was trying to help him and you kept pushing me away and saying it wasn't my place. If you and I are really on equal footings then you had no right to tell me that."

Mary sighed.

"I don't doubt your intentions, Sherlock, but …"

"But in reality, he still prefers you to me." Sherlock said bitterly.

"No!" Mary exclaimed. "At least …" She trailed off with a sigh. "Look, I am John's wife. When he's sick or hurting, it's my job to make him better."

"So what's my job?" Sherlock retorted and Mary smiled.

"To get him drunk for his bachelor party; to calm him down when he panics about having a baby; to get this baby into trouble John and I would never allow; if it's a girl, help John break the guy's face when he's hurts her. Relationships do not operate on measurable principles. The way John and I interact is very different from the way you interact with him … I hope so, at least. But John still needs you."

"But not right now."

"Maybe not right now in this particular circumstance."

Sherlock sighed.

"I suppose I overstepped the boundary." It was as close to apologizing as he was getting.

Mary sighed as well.

"You're not the only one who's guilty here," she said. "I became overprotective of him. Believe it or not, I felt threatened when you showed up and I had to defend my position."

"You have nothing to worry about. I promise I won't become his wife."

Mary laughed and Sherlock allowed a small smile.

"I think we both owe John an apology." Mary said and Sherlock nodded.

"Uh … is it alright if I come? I won't stay long."
"Of course it is," Mary said. "I'm sure he'll feel better after a good sleep and would probably like the company."

"We can stop and pick up groceries on the way," Sherlock said, putting his violin down. Mary nodded.

"Sounds like a plan."

Mrs. Hudson was standing at the stove stirring a pot of soup when there was a knock on the door. She looked through the eyehole and saw Mary and Sherlock standing on the porch. She flicked the lock, opening the door.

"Have you worked it out?" she greeted them and Mary nodded.

"We have," she said. "Thank you for knocking some sense into us."

Mrs. Hudson smiled broadly.

"You're welcome. That wasn't so bad, was it, Sherlock?"

"It wasn't utterly terrible." Sherlock said, pushing past her into the house. Mary rolled her eyes but Mrs. Hudson chuckled.

"How is John?" Sherlock asked, setting the groceries on the counter.

"He just woke up," Mrs. Hudson said. "I'm making him some soup."

"May we visit the patient?" Mary asked with a smile.

"Only if you promise not to yell. I'll be in soon with his supper."

"Promise." Mary said and this time Sherlock rolled his eyes but led the way to the bedroom. He knocked on the door and pushed it open unceremoniously.

John broke into a weak smile when he saw Sherlock and Mary were in the same room and not bickering … they even looked happy.

"Mrs. Hudson locked us out," Sherlock informed him.

"I know." John croaked. "I'm sorry about that but I just couldn't take it anymore."

"It's alright," Mary said softly, sitting on the edge of the bed. "We, uh, we're sorry for how we acted. It was childish and not fair to you."

John glanced up at Sherlock, who nodded confirmation. Mary proceeded to tell John about their conversation. Sherlock remained quiet, as he was not particularly proud about being so hostile towards Mary and John's relationship. John listened carefully and then sighed. He looked first at Sherlock.

"You," he said. "Have always been my best friend. You found me when I was alone and my life has never been the same for it. But Mary is right … there are things she can do for me that you, frankly, can't."

Sherlock raised an eyebrow.

"But," John continued. "You will never lose your place in my life."

He glanced at Mary.

"Same goes for you," he said. "You are another one of my best friends … you're like Sherlock only you smell better, you're nicer to look at, and we can have sex."

Mary laughed and John smiled.

"All joking aside," he said. "I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with you and our baby … or babies, if that's the case."

Mary smiled and kissed John's forehead.

"I love you," she murmured.

"Oo oo," Mrs. Hudson clucked from the doorway.

"Ah, Mrs. Hudson, right on time." Sherlock said. "These two were about to enter into some mushy, over-romanticized conversation."

Mary pulled away and stood so Mrs. Hudson could put the tray on John's lap.

"Thank you," he said, picking up a spoon.

"Not a problem," Mrs. Hudson said cheerily. "Now that Mary and Sherlock are back, I'll be on my way."

"I'll come," Sherlock said, catching Mary's eye. "Take good care of him."

Mary smiled.

"Always."

"Thanks for coming, Sherlock." John added.

"Uh huh," Sherlock said, doing up his coat. "Oh, and when you're better, I've got a case for us. Squirrel heads keep appearing at crime scenes. Lestrade is convinced there's a squirrel-obsessed murderer ravaging the East End."

"What do you think?"

"Not sure yet," Sherlock said cheerfully. "But it'll be fun."

"Fun." Mary echoed, shaking her head. "And this is why you have two best friends," she said to John.

"Alright, enough chattering," Mrs. Hudson cut in. "John, eat your soup and then get some sleep. Sherlock, let's go."

Mary laughed as Sherlock made a face but followed Mrs. Hudson out of the room. John and Mary heard the door close and Mary glanced at John.

"Eat," she said. "And I'll draw us a bath."

"Us?" John questioned.

"Don't get any ideas," she said smoothly. "It'll just help you relax."

She disappeared into the bathroom and John ate his soup, so grateful he had two best friends. A squirrel-decapitating serial killer and a bath with his wife in the same day … even with the flu, John realized he was a very lucky man.

I have to say some of the conversation between Sherlock and Mary was the product of an RPG Cumberbatch Critter and I did awhile back. None of the lines are verbatim but the idea was certainly drawn from there.

This, my friends, concludes A Consulting Detective, a Nurse, and a Housekeeper. I hope you've enjoyed reading it as much as I've enjoyed writing it!

StoryLover18