Hello everyone! :) I haven't seen The Empty Hearse yet, but I'm planning to watch it tonight. Just by the way.
The idea of this fic is not entirely my own, there was this one picture on one Sherlock related Facebook page where Mycroft asked Sherlock why was he listed on sale in the papers. And well, I couldn't resist. I hope you enjoy. :)
„Sherlock. I've just seen an advertisement in the papers that said I was for sale. I do not suppose you have anything in common with it." Mycroft Holmes gave his younger brother a look that denied what he'd just said. Sherlock shrugged and put on a not very convincing look of ignorance and confusion.
„Of course not. Who would I want to sell you to?" he replied with a smug smile. Mycroft smirked at him and once again reminded Sherlock of childhood and these grimaces his brother had been giving him.
„No idea," Mycroft retorted, „especially when you have no right to sell something that's not yours."
„I wouldn't put it better way," Sherlock smiled and his bright eyes shone with amusement.
„So it must be a great coincidence that the phone number beneath this-" Mycroft made a sign of quotation marks with his fingers, „'extra special offer that will not repeat itself' resembled your own phone number perfectly."
„Strange world we live in, isn't it?" Sherlock replied. After a while he could stand it no longer and burst out laughing. „You should have seen your face right now."
„Yes, very amusing," Mycroft growled and tapped the tip of his umbrella against the pavement they were standing on, „now, when we've laughed, would you be so immesurably kind and explained to me why you put that advertisement in the papers?"
„Well, for fun obviously," Sherlock rolled his eyes as if nothing was clearer than that, „criminals obviously decided to go on a holiday and John has that new wife of his and has no time for me."
„Jealous, aren't you?" Mycroft smirked and he almost felt pity for his small brother whom he still considered to be the little boy who had made him pretend he'd been a merchant and Sherlock a pirate who robbed everybody of their money.
„Of course not." Sherlock said so quickly Mycroft had to smile, „But I don't get it. I'm so much more interesting than that woman. Nobody can appreaciate John more than me."
„I'm sure you were giving him tons of love and consideration and you cooked him dinners and you let him sleep when he wanted to." Mycroft said derisively.
„But- That's not what he wants! He doesn't want to be at home, have a calm life and a wife. That's not my John." Sherlock babbled, completely oblivious to the fact that Mycroft was with him.
„Maybe he's not your John, but he's changed. You were away for three years, Sherlock. You couldn't expect him to be waiting for you all the time." Mycroft almost forgot he was mad at Sherlock for the advertisement.
„I would wait." Sherlock whispered and his voice was very different from the one he had used only moments before.
„I'm sure about that," Mycroft agreed, much to his astonishment.
„I did it for him. I disappeared for those years because of him, to protect him. And he… he betrayed me." Sherlock bowed his head to hide emotions in his face from Mycroft.
„Sherlock, you can't turn back time. You can still be his friend, he's still much fonder of you than anybody else has ever been. Don't let that slip through your fingers." Mycroft couldn't believe his own words.
„I want him for myself. I don't want to share," Sherlock insisted and made a noise that sounded a lot like a sob.
„You've always been such a jerk, Sherlock," Mycroft said, „sometimes I wonder why they let you walk around when you're obviously a child."
„But I can make money and that's what I'm doing right now," Sherlock looked straight into his brother's eyes, „I'll sell you and I won't even be sorry."
They stared at each other for a little while and Mycroft was trying to shrug off the feeling of hurt pride. Sherlock was cursing himself for letting his brother see his feelings.
„Don't tell me anybody has called," Mycroft laughed, „that would really make me laugh."
„If it makes you feel good, Lestrade's called about three times by now." Sherlock said casually and watched his brother carefully. A big pack of emotions appeared on Mycroft's face, much more than Sherlock would need to prove what he had suspected long ago. He didn't miss just a great part of John's life, he also weren't there to see the most interesting thing about his brother.
„And?" Mycroft said, his voice uptight and stiff Sherlock had to put great effort into keeping his face serious.
„For the first time I told him I wouldn't sell him anything he already owns," Sherlock replied and watched the slight hint of red creeping into Mycroft's cheeks, „then he called again and I told him I might consider it and asked him what he offers. Lastly he called to ask whether I made up my mind yet."
„And you said…" Mycroft snapped impatiently, clapping the umbrella against the ground almost feverishly. Sherlock bit his lip not to laugh; Mycroft had after all tried to help him with John.
„I said I will sell you for a dog. He's supposed to find the cutest dog a world can offer." Sherlock replied and gave Mycroft a self-satisfied grin as he glimpsed confusion on the older Holmes's face.
„A dog?" Mycroft asked, still bemused. He remembered the times when Sherlock offered him his own little finger for exchange for a microscope, but this was strange. Mycroft had never heard Sherlock talking about dogs before, not even when he was a child. Unless…
„John likes dogs." Sherlock explained.
„So you're selling me to Gregory for a dog to give to John," Mycroft summed up and stopped himself as he heard what he'd just said. It was so weird. But it was how Sherlock was thinking.
„Obviously. Lestrade will do anything to get you and I would do anything to get John." Sherlock raised one eyebrow to show Mycroft that he thought it was completely clear.
„And you think getting him a dog would make John abandon Mary and move in with you, do your shopping and otherwise stand you? You're insane," The older Holmes turned his face from his little brother.
„Of course not. I would have to share him with the woman and also a dog." Sherlock rolled his eyes. „Are you really such an idiot, Mycroft? I'm keeping the dog and John will be coming to my place to see the dog."
„You're not able to take care even of yourself and you want a dog?" Mycroft exclaimed.
„I don't necessarily need to want it. And John will think the same so he'll be coming to take care of it. Don't worry, I won't let the dog suffer." Sherlock's phone rang in that moment so whatever Mycroft wanted to say remained unspoken as Sherlock fished the phone out of his pocket to answer it.
„Ah, good to hear you Greg! Have you got the dog?" Sherlock said into the phone and gave Mycroft a knowing look.
„A puppy! Well, that's lovely. You can come to Baker street now, he's here with me." Sherlock grinned as Mycroft's face turned dark red.
„Don't worry, he's fine. See you then. Bye," Sherlock hung up and patted Mycroft on the shoulder. „Well, your prince Charming is coming to rescue you soon."
Mycroft wasn't able to think of any witty response so he just followed Sherlock into the flat while the former was making a phone call once again.
„Hello John, I was wondering whether you'd like to see my new dog. – No, it's not a joke, I'm getting a dog. – Yes, Baker street, you once didn't have to leave your home to be there." Mycroft caught the last sentence with interest. So Sherlock was lowering himself to wicked and base remarks.
When they sat inside, neither of the Holmes brothers spoke but they were looking into each other's eyes intensely. Suddenly a bell rang and Sherlock stood up immediately and ran to open the door.
„Oh, hi Greg, come in," Mycroft heard from the hall and his heart beat a bit faster. This situation was so weird only Sherlock Holmes could have thought of that. All his thoughts vanished from his mind in the moment Greg Lestrade entered the room with a small furry ball curled in his arms. The detective was as handsome as ever, only his cheeks were a bit more flushed than usual. That with the small dog on his breast made him look irresistibly cute and Mycroft could not stop himself from admiring him. They looked at each other and blushed even more but both of them wore a smile upon their lips.
„So here you have him. I swear he's the real Mycroft Holmes and if you like to have it signed, you'll have to wait for a while. Now, give me the dog," Sherlock interrupted their moment harshly and got the puppy from Greg's arms. Lestrade frowned at the sudden lack of warmth pressed to his chest, but he said nothing. Mycroft was disappointed to see the dog leaving Greg's arms. Sherlock left the room in instance and soon they heard a loud thud when the front door of the house were closed.
Sherlock was standing in front of the house with the puppy stuffed awkwardly in his grasp as he was looking at all sides to catch a glimpse of John approaching. He was so busy with trying to see him come by taxi that he didn't notice Watson walking straight towards him.
„Hi, Sherlock," John greeted him and Holmes jumped into the air.
„Hey. You startled me," Sherlock admitted and his smile warmed up a bit. John was looking very well. Surely not her work, Sherlock thought for himself with jealousy.
„Did I? Wow, that's something," John grinned. Then he noticed the animal in Sherlock's arms and bent down a bit to get a better look at it. „So that's it?"
„Yeah. A pretty one, isn't it?" Sherlock smiled and moved the puppy a bit so it faced John directly.
„Sure. Hello, lovely. You're a little beauty, aren't you?" John patted the dog's head and then looked up at Sherlock again.
„What's its name?" he asked and Sherlock shrugged.
„I don't know, Lestrade's just brought it and I don't even know whether it is a male or a female." Sherlock replied and moved the dog in his hands again.
„Lestrade?" John raised one eyebrow, „is he making some extra money by selling puppies?"
„No, but I made him get this one because I was too busy. I exchanged it for Mycroft." Sherlock scratched the animal's head and he had to involuntarily admit it was quite cute.
„I'm not even asking what is this supposed to mean." John sighed.
„I basically sold my brother to Lestrade and he paid me with this dog. Here, hold it for a while," Sherlock put it into John's arms and the doctor accepted it.
„You sold your brother to Lestrade. Why am I not surprised?" John smiled and Sherlock felt quite happy with just standing there and watching John.
„I guess Lestrade will know if it is a male or female. But I'd prefer not to ask him right now." Sherlock caressed the dog and resisted the urge to let his hand come down John's forearm.
„You let Lestrade and Mycroft to solve their stuff in your flat?" John asked in surprise.
„I guess I did," Sherlock nodded.
„Wow. That's so wonderful of you, Sherlock!" John gave Sherlock a bright smile which the detective returned merrily. As he looked down at his most favourite human being and the cutest dog he'd ever owned (not that he had ever had a dog before), he knew that he might never take back the three years he'd been away, but he could still live in that moment.