Thank you all for reviews :D I love you guys. Let's make polygamy legal so I can marry you all.

Also, the story takes place about 2 years before Watson, so sorry, no Johnlock.

I am so, so sorry about history rambling (because that's mainly what this chapter is about). There had to be a base for at least a resemblance of plot (I can't write plotless fluff or PWP)


"Sherlock. My dear brother", said Mycroft Holmes, trying very hard to sound sarcastically.

Mycroft was standing in an open doors that led to his brother's flat. From what he knew, Sherlock could barely afford it and and was in search of a flatmate. With no success, obviously. Nobody would like to live with Sherlock Holmes.

Sherlock didn't even bother to look at him. He was laying on the sofa, hands clasped together as if he was praying, with an untied bow tie, vest and no collar.

"I think it was awfully wrong of Mrs. Hudson to let you in."

"I don't doubt it was. What have you done?"

"Gone out of arrest, solved a case. What have you done? Lost a pound?"

"Two, in fact. Why on earth did you shot an innocent woman?"

"How do you know?"

"I am the government, Sherlock, not the politicians. I know everything, not nothing. And I have met your... colleague."

"Colleague? Who? I don't suppose you meet the homeless beggars."

"Mr. Lestrade."

"Oh, him. He is not important. Well, brother, since you are here and I'm awfully bored, let me tell you something", Sherlock sat on the sofa. "You now take care of the Berlin Conference, don't you?"

"I sure do."

"Well, then, I think you should know that I have killed this not-so-innocent woman pretty much because of it. Lestrade's family, you see, has some business in Africa – not much legal, or at least not much moral, I suppose. I don't know much yet – bloody arrest, I need a helper – but I thought it would interest you."

Mycroft's smile suddenly disappeared.

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know much more. Yet. You may now go out, since I don't think you should any more business here. And you are interrputing my... thoughts. About. The case. Obviously" finished he, coldly, as he laid back down.

For the first time in his life Mycroft did just what his brother told him to do.

The known street has, since the meeting, become Mycroft's favourite place outside of Diogenes Club. But the club was too silent for now, he didn't need thinking at the moment. He, for the first time in his life, needed action.

He has been visiting Lestrade for two months now. Two times a week, sometimes more. Of course, he always paid, but refused to take what he's paid for. Not from confusion now, but from fear and uncertainty. He has been, since two months, trying to ask the Inspector about his family's business, but was too afraid he will scare Greg. He didn't take him for a coward, but who wouldn't be scared of the government's unhealthy interest in your family's immoral – and probably illegal – business?

This time it wasn't so late. There were still many people on the street, but Mycroft quickly noticed the similar coat. He liked to believe that Lestrade smiled when he saw him, but it was highly unlikely. Even if he did, Holmes couldn't see anything behind his coat's turned up collar.

"Listen, this is serious", said Lestrade when Mycroft came closer to him, and now he was sure that he wasn't smiling at all. "I have no time for your talks, no matter who you are. I wouldn't even if you were the God. I need to help my family and are many more clients who take less time to... satisfy."

"You are the first man – except my brother – who dared to tell me to fuck off."

"I didn't say "fuck off", but I damn well will if you don't understand the more polite version."

Of course, Mycroft wasn't planning to obey. The Berlin Conference was ending soon. He needed to get the problem off his head to finally be able to think about something else, and not end swinging on a rope to the parliament's delight.

Holmes tried to look Lestrade into his eyes, but it was impossible. First, he was turning his head away every time he noticed Mycroft's gaze. Second, his bowler was covering his eyes pretty well.

"I have seen Sherlock. Two months ago. Not sure where he is now, but he told me you should know why he shot this poor woman."

"I didn't know at the time, but I know now. I also know that it's none of your business."

"It's something to do with your family, doesn't it?"

"It' not quite moral, as you're probably aware." Lestrade was smirking, obviously making fun of the older Holmes.

"I am the government. I have seen – God, I have done more immorality than you could possibly imagine."

"They dismissed me. From police, I mean. Touching your little foolish heart, isn't it?"

Mycroft didn't say anything, his expression unchangeable.

"Why do you think my family situation is of your concern? It's the first time I hear about the government caring about people's life situation."

"The woman my brother killed – the widow – he was a widow of someone from your family, wasn't he?"

"...How do you know?", asked Lestrade, suddenly bewildered. He put his bowler up a bit, to look at Holmes.

"I am smart. But you knew that already," Mycroft said happily. He didn't know that. Sherlock did a good job playing with him, hiding all clues. Lucky guess, nothing more. He leaned in a bit, so that Lestrade could hear his whispering.

"She was a wife of a distant cousin of mine. He died. In Africa. That's really all you need to know."

"He had some business there, right? After his death it was hard for your family to continue that, am I right? That's why you are... well, where you are."

Inside his head, Mycroft was thinking rather about why did Sherlock kill an innocent woman.

"But it wasn't just about the death...", he continued. "It was about the times changing. It was both the cause of his death and of you family's poverty, wasn't it? In Africa..."

That was right. The Berlin Conference. Sherlock killed her just to show Mycroft something he may be interested about. And that he may change at the conference. The older Holmes' has sworn to remember to hate Sherlock for this.

"So, somehow, your family had a slavery business in African countries. That's why you came all tanned from holidays one day."

Holmes' long nose was almost touching Lestrade's one.

"Fuck off."


Mycroft threw a banknote at him and went away, not looking back. He wondered if their every meeting had to look like that.

There is, I think, going to be a next chapter. I mean, I have planned it and all... for you... guys... *creepy stare*

Sorry for uberlong wait and history rambling. I have bad and good news for you, though. The good news is, I have finished junior high, so I will have more time for writing now. The bad news is, since I have finished junior high and there are vacations, I am off to London until July 18th, so, probably, no updates for these two weeks.