[A/N: This chapter is dedicated to Sonofluffymuffin, as the person who requested it in September, and is now getting another chapter, 3 months latter. I hope you all enjoy!]

Sherlock Holmes paced impatiently across the paper-filled office that was one of his brother's few regular destinations.

Mycroft eyed him keenly "what is that you've got troubling you so, brother?"

Sherlock took his time, knowing that anything he said or did could aid in his brother's deductions, and he hadn't yet decided if that was a good or bad thing. Finally, after several more minutes of agitated pacing, he stood still and spoke deliberately "It is Watson, the man I've been boarding with."

Mycroft nodded understandingly and urged him to continue.

"He has just joined me on another case, it's proving to be quite the challenge–

"I assume it's not about the case?"

Sherlock returned to pacing, faster than before "No it's not." The detective sighed, searching for the right words "I guess he is just the most singular man I have ever chanced to meet."

Mycroft stared at his brother; Sherlock never got this way about anything. "Pray go on." He requested, for the detective had stopped, and Mycroft wanted to hear more so that he could prove or disprove the theory he had already formed.

"He just… There is… something…" Sherlock stopped walking and stared off into the distance, distracted.

Mycroft shook his head; he couldn't believe it, but that confirmed it better than any words could have. His brother's behavior was so out of character he was surprised Watson hadn't realized it already. Now to decide what to say to him; being as out of it as he was, Sherlock could reply anyway, particularly seeing that it was, after all, illegal.

After another moment of weighing the options he decided "Brother!"

The detective snapped quickly out of his reverie "Yes?" he asked urgently.

"I believe I know the root of your problems." Mycroft chose his words carefully.

"Really, what is it?"

"Umm… well, I believe it could be called infatuation, affection, attraction, though most commonly called the emotion of love."

Sherlock began to laugh uncontrollably, definitely not the result Mycroft had expected, but then again his brother was full of surprises.

"Mycroft, honestly, you can be quite the comedian if you put your mind to it." He said between gasps for air.

Mycroft shook his daid, this was going to be much more complicated than he had previously thought. Once Sherlock's laughter died down, and he was merely clutching his sides, Mycroft tried again "I assure you this is no jest, I honestly have deduced that you are "in love" so to speak with Dr. Watson."

Sherlock's expression became mildly surprised "And what led you to that conclusion exactly?"

"Well, I would say your word choice, expression, sighing, overall distractedness, and stumbling with speech." Mycroft replied calmly, as if he were a doctor listing the symptoms of a common malady a patient showed.

"I can't believe it." The usually confident detective fell into the chair across the desk from his brother thinking. It was inconceivable, so improbable really, but the more he thought about it, the more it rang true, the more he realized how he felt about Watson.

"It's illegal isn't it?" he asked his brother who nodded in reply, though the answer was one he already knew, having made the law his personal study ages ago. It was then that he realized how he could never tell Watson, for the sake of his friend's trust and friendship.

"And what am I to do now?" he asked exasperated.

"Well, I have read his records of your first adventure together, and if it were any other man I would not recommend this, but just based on how he writes about you, I believe he feels the same. I cannot be absolutely sure, without meeting him but–"

"–Just get to the point already!" Sherlock exclaimed impatiently.

Mycroft sighed at his younger brother's impatience "Just keep getting to know him better; I believe what you wish for will come soon enough. In the mean time I would like to meet such a remarkable man, as you describe him. Now, get out of my office, I am not to be harboring to be criminals on government property." He waved Sherlock out with a smile.

The detective nodded, and left quickly, he was late for afternoon tea with Watson after all.