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The Gödel Problem	By : marksandspence Category: S through Z > Sherlock (BBC) > Sherlock (BBC) Views: 1053 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: This story is based solely on the television show Sherlock that airs on BBC1, written by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss. All characters belong exclusively to them, the BBC and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s estate.

Chapter List
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The Gödel Problem
[Sequel to The Thinker Challenge]
Author: Mad (marksandspence@yahoo.com)
Setting: Post Series 3 of the BBC1 series, Sherlock. I have not incorporated anything from the teaser for Series 4 (= Moriarty’s return), under the assumption that such events were resolved prior to the start of this story.
Rating: Mostly Mature (PG-13), occasional explicit (M).
Summary: Sequel to The Thinker Challenge. Sherlock returns to London with Sio, helping her recover from the ordeal in Bahrain. They navigate the ins and outs of a faux marriage while confronting family, friends and old flames. As the dust settles, Sherlock begins to suspect that all is not as it seems with Sio and that her memory of events in Bahrain may not be entirely reliable.
Disclaimer: This story is based solely on the television show Sherlock that airs on BBC1, written by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss. I borrow their universe to play in and do not claim any ownership or intend to make any money off of this fun hobby of mine. All characters, except the ones that I have created, belong exclusively to them, the BBC and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s estate.
Feedback: As always, feedback is much appreciated. Happy also to discuss plot points and address ambiguities!
Author’s Note: I was going to keep this sequel under wraps, because it started out as more of an Epilogue 2 containing some exposition and some relationship stuff with a sprinkling of character development, i.e., not quite enough meat on its bones for a proper story. But then I had a dream. Literally. It was a crazy dream and introduced some very non-Sherlock elements, but gave me the skeleton of a plot that I think nicely wraps up the Sio/Sherlock storyline. So if things get a little crazy, that's just my subconscious going wild J Oh, and yes you do need to read The Thinker Challenge for any of this to make sense!
Chapter 1: Witness to a Ruse
Once they make it through passport control, Sherlock starts to notice a slight stiffness in Sio’s walk – not unlike what casual runners look like as they walk from the finish line of their first marathon to the comfort station; starting strong and confident, but slowing with every step and sometimes collapsing at the end. She takes his arm and leans on it as they walk toward the gate. He says nothing.
*
The plane is a 777, with three seats on each side of the central aisle. John suggests the middle seat for Sio, but she takes the aisle, much to the frustration of Sherlock who despises being flanked. However, keeping John from planting seeds of doubt about the intentions of Sio’s brother is paramount, so he begrudgingly concedes the window seat. The three of them sit in virtual silence while the plane leaves the gate and taxies. The minute the wheels of the plane leave the tarmac, Sio closes her eyes and does not open them again until the seatbelt sign is turned off.
Sitting there, she remembers the last moments she had with Cae, her brother. She did not cry, though it seemed an acceptable time to do so. Perhaps she was still angry with him; angry that her imagination did not match the reality of his thoughts. Or perhaps it was relief that stemmed the tears, knowing her ordeal would soon be over. Still, at that moment and for whatever reason, she accepted him at his word and refused to ask anything more. She gently climbed onto his lap to cuddle as she had when they were both children, kissing him on the cheek and pressing her hand against his.
Sherlock glances over toward Sio a few times, noting the stillness of her expression. He lifts his left arm, bringing his hand nearly close enough to touch her hand before quickly reaching forward to grab his book from the seat pocket as he notices her eyes begin to open.
“I thought you were asleep,” Sherlock says as he examines the cover.
“You did not,” she responds with a knowing frown.
“Obviously, but it seemed a reasonable way to start,” he says with a pleased smile.
“Not a bad idea, though. You’ve been through a lot,” John offers.
In truth, she feels herself straining to detect any unusual movements in the plane’s trajectory and likely will continue to do so for the remainder of the flight, something that would have once come automatically, but now requires concentration. Sleep seems an impossible goal.
“Do you think there is anything you could do about that cut while we are on the plane? I’m afraid it is in rather unpleasant conflict with the placement of the seat cushion,” she asks John, wondering if this is the cause of her lack of mental acuity.
“I’ll ask for a first aid kit – I’m sure I can at least give it a bit of padding,” John says as he reaches up to call the flight attendant.
“What about my things?” Sio asks Sherlock with narrowed eyes as they wait for the first aid kit to be delivered.
“Henry made sure your lab was reasonably packed up. I kept a few bits and pieces from your flat. Had to put that on the market, of course.” Sherlock responds.
“Couldn’t you have just rented it out or something?” Sio asks, mildly annoyed.
“Too much trouble, frankly. And I didn’t know if you would be coming back,” Sherlock responds with just a lingering twinge of bitterness.
Which is totally unfair, of course. He had been able to put her out of his mind in the end, once the flat was sold and the physical evidence of her existence had been removed. It only required a steady activity to prevent thoughts from intruding and generally, he went back to the life he was most accustomed to – the one before her. All was perfectly acceptable. And yet, from the moment he saw that envelope at Molly’s, he found himself in a rather frenzied state of energy, the like of which he can’t quite recall having experienced before. Manic, is likely the correct term for it. Now, having her next to him, is the calm, the tempered anticipation.
“I suppose you’re right. I hope you got a good price for it,” she relents.
He just shrugs, “You can stay with me until you’re sorted.”
She nods.
An odd expression crosses John’s face and after a brief pause, he asks, “So who did you get as witness…for the marriage? Presumably you still need one of those.”
“Oh, here we go. John perpetually gets upset over being left out,” Sherlock explains with a dismissive shrug.
“I’m not upset. Just curious,” John peevishly responds. “I mean, after you faked your own death without telling me, you did promise not to…”
“I most certainly did not promise anything of the sort,” Sherlock responds.
“Really, because I thought maybe you did,” John says, annoyed.
“It was just a judge, John. It’s not like there was any sort of ceremony,” Sio explains.
“A simple matter of convenience. Nothing like the explosion of public sentimentality that you indulged in with Mary,” Sherlock adds.
“Witness. Just asking whom you trusted more than me. Again,” John snides.
“It was Wiggy, wasn’t it?” Sio asks, turning to Sherlock.
“Indeed it was,” Sherlock agrees.
“Your drug dealer. Good to know where I stand in the hierarchy,” John responds.
“Rubbish. Can you imagine my brother having a conversation with Wiggy? That’s what it was all about, really,” Sherlock explains.
“And you didn’t think I could keep a secret from Mycroft?” John says.
“We just thought it best to keep it a secret form anyone that mattered,” Sio says.
“Umh hm,” John mutters skeptically.
“Besides, you seemed oddly against the whole idea anyway. You might have talked Sherlock out of it and then where would I be? In a pile of bloodied stones, I suspect,” she explains further.
Sherlock responds, “Exactly, John. You need to stop being so sensitive.”
“I think we showed brilliant foresight, don’t you?” Sio says to Sherlock.
“It has proven to be useful,” he agrees. “And think how irritating it will be for Mycroft to discover he is now your brother-in-law.”
“Don’t worry, John. We promise to invite you to the divorce. Or perhaps you don’t need a witness for that?” she asks, genuinely not knowing the answer.
“And if you are desperate to write a speech, you are more than welcome,” Sherlock offers.
John scowls amiably.
“Speaking of Mycroft, what are the chances he will be waiting for us at baggage claim?” Sio asks, feeling tired at the thought.
“Virtually non-existent. Well, rather unlikely. Assuming they haven’t suddenly implemented fingerprint checks….”
“But surely his spies must have told him that you left the country. Won’t he be tracking your movements?” John asks, skeptical of Sherlock’s confidence.
“Of course. Normally. If he weren’t in quarantine,” Sherlock answers.
“Quarantine?” John responds.
“He may or may not have been exposed to something that may or may not be dangerously contagious,” Sherlock explains.
“Is he actually sick?” Sio asks, trying not to sound pleased.
“As a dog. Of course it’s just a bit of food poisoning, but there might have been a mix-up in the lab that was processing his bloodwork,” Sherlock responds with a satisfied grin.
John can’t stop himself from laughing. He tries, but to no avail.
“You are a devil,” Sio says, glancing sideways at Sherlock as she fights back a smile.
*
In the end, Sherlock had booked the flight in to Luton, to avoid the chaos and surveillance of Heathrow. It seemed to work, although there was a brief moment of panic as Sio was asked to leave a fingerprint at passport control. The agent explained it was a new requirement being phased in and since her passport was obviously new, would she mind participating? She agreed to avoid suspicion, regretting it instantly. Still, no alarms went off and they were able to breeze through customs and head straight for the taxi line.
Once safely inside the car, Sio says to Sherlock, “Have the driver drop John and I off at whatever hospital is convenient. We’ll meet you back at Baker Street.”
“Don’t you want me to come?” Sherlock says half-heartedly as he really does not care to.
“You hate hospitals and I hate witnesses. It won’t take long – surely John can get us to the front of the line,” Sio says casually.
“I’ll do my best,” John answers with some concern.
Sherlock nods, happy to be freed of this obligation.
When they reach the hospital, John is able to get Sio through to a room quickly. She requests to see a female doctor and sends John out into the hallway. He lurks and is able to get an idea of what is being done by glimpsing the comings and goings. One of the nurses passes a camera to the doctor through the curtain. The doctor passes a vial of blood to the nurse. After a while, a nurse beckons John back into the room.
Sio, waving a few bits of prescription paper at him says, “Be a dear, John, and get these filled while I get dressed. I’ll meet you in the waiting area.”
John takes the slips – antibiotic tablets, some antibiotic cream and painkillers. He nods and turns to go. Before heading to the pharmacy, he is able to catch a glance at Sio’s chart as he makes a bit of small talk with one of the nurses with whom he has worked before.
A while later, John returns to the waiting area with the bag of medications. As Sio is getting ready to leave, she turns to him and says “I need to be alone for a few days. Will that be difficult?”
John, slightly confused about what she is asking, responds, “Do you want me to book you a hotel room? I’m sure I could find something…”
Sio sighs, “You misunderstand -- I can be alone with Sherlock. I’m just not ready to deal with Mycroft or anyone else.”
“I’m not prepared to infect him with malaria, but if I get the opportunity, I’ll see if I can negotiate some time,” John says with a faint smile.
Sio nods. John steps out into the street to wave down a taxi. As he waits at the curb, he hears a text come in on his phone.
SH: Is she pregnant?
John shakes his head before typing.
JW: No.
SH: Well that’s something.
***
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The Gödel Problem