Chapter 2
Mycroft was indeed inside of 221b already, grasping the handle of his umbrella as always as he sat on their couch.
"Make yourself at home, why don't you?" John tisked, annoyed that Mycroft thought he could just summon them back whenever he desired and come in uninvited.
Mycroft wore a tight smile, barely showing a sign that he had heard him. "I'll need you to stay here for a while without going out."
Sherlock immediately went into a scowl. "Why?!"
John flinched, he hadn't expected him to react so dramatically.
"Every time, you do this! Its absurd! I have cases to solve, work to be done. You can't just pop into my life when you like and pretend you have any hold over me!" Sherlock already looked as though he was close to throwing something.
Mycroft calmly stood up, twirling the handle of the umbrella in his hands. "Because it would be far safer for you here."
"There is absolutely no merit to your ridiculous claim and you can't keep me here." Sherlock practically spat.
"Hold on-" John wasn't sure if he was actually hearing what he thought he was hearing. " 'Every time' what?"
Neither brother spoke, they were locked into a staring match.
"Not every time there's a storm?" That actually would be absurd, Sherlock was right.
"Brother, tell your friend to leave us for a moment."
"Tell him yourself." Sherlock wasn't about to take the high road.
Really? John thought, crossing his arms at both their childish behaviors.
Mycroft caved, "Dr. Watson, would you mind if-" and of course Sherlock couldn't resist cutting him off.
"He's staying." His words were met with a somehow even more demanding look from the politician. "Anything you have to say to me, you may say in front of John." Sherlock was really trying his luck this time.
Mycroft's mouth tightened all the more as he tapped the metal tip of his umbrella on the floor. "Not this."
Sherlock looked at John in a calculating manor. "And what about you?" He had turned his gaze back on Mycroft. "How will you ride out this stupid storm?"
"In the safety of my home, as always."
"You mean in isolation." Sherlock shot back.
John had the intense feeling that he was missing whatever this fight was actually about.
"I don't have time to tell you again. I must return home. If you… insist on something more substantial to base my claims on, I'm afraid you'll have to let Dr. Watson leave us for some time."
"You're lying."
"Am I?"
"Proof of what exactly?" John looked between them both. Did they seriously intend on leaving him in the dark? Both the Holmes' seemed to be intentionally not looking his way now.
"John," Sherlock finally gave in, curiosity getting the better of him, "Would you make us some tea?"
So it really was that serious. John sighed, knowing it wasn't Sherlock's fault that he was being left out of the loop again. Besides, maybe that daft genius would explain himself later once Mycroft was gone. "Fine, but I hope you realize that Sherlock and I don't keep secrets from each other."
Sherlock didn't respond.
John tottered off to the kitchen, feeling rather uneasy about that. Was Moriarty back? He couldn't imagine anything else that warranted such behavior from the two of them. He turned the sink on, letting the water rush down from the tap and into the kettle. The back spray hitting him just a bit. Even indoors it seemed almost impossible to stay dry. John set the kettle on the stove, not being intentionally quiet necessarily, but if he happened to hear Mycroft and Sherlock talking, that was hardly his fault. After all, there was nothing much to do as he waited for the water to heat up.
But there was nothing. No angry shouts or outbursts. Nothing being thrown as he might have suspected. Not even whispers. John nearly peered around the corner of the kitchen to make sure they were still there when the kettle began whistling for him. Tea bags already in place, he poured three cups. The water turning dark from the brew. John felt his hands balling to fists at his sides, his uneasy feeling growing. He shook his head, needing to bring himself back out of this weird phobia he seemed to be developing. It was nothing more then a teacup and he needed to get ahold of himself. He carefully arranged the cups and a bowl of sugar on a tray before walking back towards the living room, making sure he didn't announce his return. But there was no tail end of a muffled conversation to be caught.
It looked as though neither of the two brothers had even moved. Sherlock was in his chair, his hands in his typical thinking position as looked at Mycroft with great intensity. Mycroft had a glimmer in his eyes, a nearly unperceivable twist at the corner of his mouth that gave away his amusement. What on earth had happened in the few moments that he was away, John wondered.
"Tea." He announced, setting the tray on the coffee table between the pair.
There was the feint sight of lightening from their window, likely still quite far off from them. Mycroft gripped the handle of his umbrella, twirling it once before standing. "Thank you Dr. Watson, but I'm afraid I really must go." He shot Sherlock a look. "Unless of course you would consider coming with, brother?"
John rolled his eyes, "I highly doubt anything could get him to go with you."
Again, Sherlock was quiet, clearly considering the offer. John blinked; he never thought he would see the day that Sherlock would honestly take that seriously.
"The flat is plenty safe and comfortable." Now was John's time to glare at the politician. He wanted Sherlock where he belonged, at home with him. He also wanted all this weird staring nonsense to stop.
"I'll stay in. For now." Sherlock finally stood, shredding his coat off.
John felt strangely relieved by that. Of course Sherlock wouldn't leave over some silly storm.
"You're sure of this?" Mycroft raised an eyebrow. "Its not only your own safety you should be considering." John could have sworn that he glanced at him for a moment.
"Everything will be fine." Sherlock gave a dismissive hand gesture, which clearly displeased his brother. Sherlock huffed, "I'll call if… if anything should come up."
"I suppose that's the best I can expect from you. But if you wait too long, you may be on your own." Mycroft warned before leaving.
John frowned at the tea he had made that went untouched. "You gonna tell me what all that was about?"
"He's… concerned about me." Sherlock was looking out the window, gauging how much rain they were getting.
"He always is," John went for one of the cups, not wanting to waste his efforts. "But why this time? Its just a bit of rain. Besides, I know you too well, you're obviously not staying in just because he told you too."
Sherlock closed the curtains. "John, you may want to avoid me for a bit."
"Hm?" John looked up from his tea, not sure what Sherlock was talking about. If he were afraid of some storm, surely he would want him to stay in with him as well.
"Maybe even stay away from the flat a bit. Find some woman to take on dates and stay at her place for a few nights."
Sherlock was encouraging him to go on a date? Now he knew something was wrong. "I realize you don't know a lot about dating, but that's not exactly how it works. It's not really a hotel situation." John tried to rack his mind around why Sherlock should stay in and avoid people during this weather. "Are you prone to illness or something? I really don't mind. Besides, I am a doctor after all, it would be best if I was here to take care of you."
Sherlock's eyes flickered up to John's at that before looking away again. "I'm not sure if this really falls under something you could help with."
John's worry subsided a bit at that, so it was just some sickness he was prone to or something along those lines. "Its still better to have someone help take care of you then to be on your own, isn't it?"
"Perhaps," Sherlock seemed unsure. He let out a little growl, what was he even thinking, the odds of it happening seemed utterly impossible. And yet… what Mycroft had showed him had left him speechless. If it was true, if he was in fact what he feared he could be, he would of course have to tell John. There would be no other way around it if he wanted to keep him as a friend. Besides, there was no reason to believe he was dangerous, it was just Mycroft over reacting again.
