Life Before John

Chapter one

Surrey 1984

A seven-year-old Mycroft sits on a row of seats on one wall of a long white hospital corridor. He sits quietly and patiently looking up each time an adult walks past. He looks down the corridor at a man pacing in small circles further down the corridor. The man stops pacing and looks over at Mycroft. He offers the boy a small strained smile. Mycroft replies with a bigger one. The man walks over to Mycroft and sits down next to him, placing his arm around Mycroft's shoulders. Mycroft leans into his embrace. 'Will it be long now Daddy?' he asks softly.

'No, Mycroft, it shouldn't be long now.' Mycroft's father lifts the boy on his lap and cuddles him. 'Go to sleep, my son. You're exhausted.'

'Will you wake me when…'

'Yes I will.' His father promises. Mycroft leans his head on his father's chest and slowly drifts off to sleep.

Several hours later, Mycroft wakes as his father gently shakes his shoulder. Mycroft looks up at him bleary-eyed. 'It's time my little man.' Mycroft slips off his father's lap and stands waiting for his father to take his hand and lead him down the corridor to his mother's hospital room. Mycroft's father stops at the window to her room and lifts Mycroft up so he can look in at his mother reclining on the bed with a small bundle in her arms. Mycroft looks up at his father as he sets the boy back down and leads him into the room.

'Mother!' Mycroft runs to the bed.

'Hush little one, you don't want to wake do you?'

'Sorry mother.' Mycroft whispers. His mother pats the bed to indicate that Mycroft should climb up. Mycroft obeys without a second thought. 'He or she?'

'Sherlock.'

'Sherlock, my baby brother?'

'Yes Croft, Sherlock is your baby brother.' Mycroft looks closer at the bundle in his mother's arms. 'Do you want to hold him?' Mycroft looks up at her apprehensively. 'Don't worry, he'll be perfectly safe in your arms.' Mycroft nods and takes the bundle of baby and blankets, settling it in the crook of his arm. He rocks the baby gently and Baby Sherlock stirs.

'He's so small.' At the sound of Mycroft's voice, Sherlock opens his eyes. He smiles and gurgles as Mycroft gently strokes his cheek with a finger.

'He likes you Crofty.' Their father's voice floats towards the brothers from the opposite of their mother.

'I like him too. Were my eyes that blue? And was I that small?'

'His eyes are slightly bluer than yours were and he's slightly smaller, but he's healthy enough.' Mycroft gives Sherlock back to his mother and gives Sherlock's cheek another stroke. He glances up at the clock.

'I should be in school.' He attempts to scramble off the bed but his mother catches hold of him keeping him next to her.

'I don't think your school will mind if you miss a day as you get to know your baby brother.' Mycroft beams. A nurse walks into the room.

'How are you doing Mrs. Holmes?'

'Very well thank you.' The nurse reaches down and takes Sherlock from her. The nurse carries him from the room. Mycroft looks after her.

'Where is she taking him?' His mother hugs Mycroft close.

'Mycroft, Sherlock was born a little to early. The nurses want to keep an eye on him to make sure he will be able to thrive when he comes home. It's just a precaution.'

'When will he be able to come home?'

'Hopefully, he'll be home in the next couple of days.' Mycroft's mother yawns widely.

'Violet, get some sleep. I'll take Mycroft home now to get some rest and to finish sorting out the nursery.' Mycroft's father lifts him off the bed and takes hold of his hand.

'I love you mummy.'

'I love you too Crofty.'