title from t. s. eliot.

Our Lost Kingdom

blood is thicker than water, but mycroft holmes has no place in his little brother's life.

Mycroft does not understand his little brother. Even when they along, before Sherlock grew old before his time, before Mycroft left, he could only observe. His brother has always been restless, a genius from the womb. They both are, but Sherlock is not his brother; he cannot sit still, cannot allow others to do work for him. Sherlock needs stimulus and Mycroft does not realize this until it is almost too late.

He sends his brother to rehab, but Sherlock quickly slithers out. Mycroft sends him off to get tea, but he comes back with a crime instead.

He only half-heartedly tries to discourage him. But Mycroft Holmes has never had a place in his little brother's life and so, does not get involved. Though he watches, more through that Detective Inspector and the lady who works at St. Bartholomew and the CCTV cameras than in person. None of them withhold information; and Lestrade and Molly try to do what he has asked because they worry too. He still has a small influence in his brother's life.

But then Captain John H. Watson, ex-army doctor enters and Mycroft finds his small grip slipping. His brother is changing, slowly becoming the man that he could be. Sherlock snaps less, slows down, and starts to feel—to care, all because an invalided army doctor limped into his life.

(Mycroft had talked to Lestrade after watching the two boys giggle their way out of sight, just to inquire after his brother.

Despite what Sherlock says, the Detective Inspector is an observant man: he sees through the façade.

"They're a team. They had conversations without even talking." Lestrade casts a glance where Sherlock and Watson had disappeared. "And... strangers don't protect each other.)

Mycroft resents Watson for helping his brother when he never could. He resents that he can bring Sherlock to life outside of cases. He resents Watson for proving his brother right: Sherlock doesn't need Mycroft.

(Sherlock needs John Watson.)