Drunk expansion

Chapter 4

Greg yawned as he moved to the kitchen, his body on automatic as he started preparing tea. He wants coffee, but Mycroft likes tea, and he got only enough energy for one, and since he already punished Mycroft with coffee yesterday he might as well, play nice.

Mycroft followed him into the kitchen working alongside Greg by taking out the milk and making things easier for his hand. He glanced to the stove and microwave.

"Can I order some dinner?" Greg turned to him.

"Yes, I think that would great. What are you in the mood for?"

"What do you feel like?" Greg asked but Mycroft had the same idea and they ended up talking together. Greg laughed out loud and Mycroft chuckled softly as he watches Greg.

"You always loved that steak from that one place close to my office." Mycroft suggested. Greg's eyes sparkled.

"Oh god yes. Their steak is amazing."

"Good. I'll quickly order." While Greg made the tea, Mycroft called and ordered the food. When Greg was done he took turns to place their mugs on the table. His eye caught a big brown file, with "top secret" stamped across it. He frowned but didn't say anything. Just as he was about to sit down he opened the one cabinet door and took out a packet of biscuits. When he sat back down, Mycroft was done and joined him. He took a sip of the tea and smiled.

"Thank you. My favourite."

"You're welcome, oh also you can open this, if I try the biscuits is going to end up on the floor." Greg said as he handed the biscuits to Mycroft. He took it with looking down in shame.

"Stop looking so guilty My, it's over and done with and it won't change what happened, if we want to work through this, you need to stop looking Iike I just kicked your puppy." Mycroft sighed and squared his shoulders before he looked at Greg.

"Okay." He opened the packet and held out the packet for Greg to take a biscuit before he took one for himself. Placing the packet down on the table he sat back.

Greg eyed the file again before turning to Mycroft, then back again to the file. Using his biscuit as a pointer he indicated to the file.

"Always bringing 'Top Secret' files with you, or is there a reason for it?"

"There is a reason." Mycroft replied as he put the mug down and pulling the file towards him.

"What is the reason?" Greg asked and then quickly added. "I can ask right?"

"Of course you may." Mycroft answered and the opened the cover.

"You said that if I take the time to explain it would actually help my case. This is my attempt at trying to explain. I... I... want a good case to give to you; I need to know that we can overcome this..." Greg tried to keep his emotions in check as Mycroft tried to explain, he never really heard Mycroft so unsure of himself and that is causing Greg a bit more pain than a fractured wrist, well the dismissal was more painful too...

"My..." Greg started holding out his hand to comfort Mycroft, Mycroft grabbed his hand but feeling the cast he quickly let go as if burning on a stove. Greg closed his eyes as he realised Mycroft haven't touched him since before it happened, they spend the night together two day before it happened, they talked during the day, had a quick lunch the day before where they shared a quick kiss but that was that, he got called away on a case, got home too late and so many other things that they essentially haven't had physical contact in about four days. Regardless how angry he was and hurt he was with the incident, he missed Mycroft, he missed holding him, even if it is just hands. He held out his hand.

"Take my hand Mycroft." Mycroft genuinely looked like he would rather not.

"We haven't touched each other in four days."

Mycroft looked stunned for a moment then he nodded.

"You gave me a brief kiss the two days ago after lunch."

"I did. You smiled." Greg replied, smiling.

"Of course, it was you." Mycroft looked at Greg's hand then slowly put his hand palm against cast covered palm. His long fingers falling in between the spaces of Greg's fingers. Greg watched as Mycroft tried to keep his emotions in check but was failing. He can't give this man up, he can't, and they have been through too much together for them to walk away. They need to work on this, to get to some compromise about how things need to change, but this man, who runs the country, is getting emotional just because he hasn't touched his partner in four days, there have been longer periods before but not like this, not when it was almost final.

Mycroft, the file forgotten, turned so that they sat face to face, his free hand slowly reaching out to Greg's face, touching his cheek.

"I feel stubble."

"Shaving is difficult at the moment, are you okay with having a boyfriend with a beard?"

"Is it grey as your hair?" Mycroft softly asked, not wanting to break the moment that is developing between them. Greg smiled

"Not all of it, its salt and pepper with a bit more pepper."

"If you'd like I can help you shave?"

"Yeah. I'd like that." Mycroft lifted his eyes from the stubble to Greg's eyes, the brown orbs filling his world with sunsets...

"I am so sorry for the pain I caused you, for making you doubt us, yourself, the strength we had together, I didn't think in that moment, I should have, I am known to think about everything at once and it failed me, and you ended up with the consequences."

Greg's eyes filled with tears.

"It's okay, it's a start, and I know you are not use to this, thinking about personal and professional stuff at once, but promise me, next time you will try?" Mycroft nodded.

"I will, I need to explain, the situation, a terrorist attack at Heathrow, a big one..."

"Shhh." Greg interrupted, now that the explanation is in front of him, he finds himself a bigger need, to listen later, he wanted to hold Mycroft, and let Mycroft hold him. Everything else can wait... he pulled Mycroft close and they just sat there, breathing each other in.

They were brought back to the real world when their food arrived. Mycroft decided to go get it while Greg put the mugs in the sink and put the rest of the biscuits away. Mycroft came back in with the food; the smell travelling through the air and making Greg's mouth water...the atmosphere was lighter and more relaxed than before. Mycroft cut Greg's steak in smaller pieces and Greg didn't mind one bit. Because of his hand it would be easier to eat at the table.

Mycroft pulled the file closer. Greg stopped him

"Tell me, don't show me. We can look at the file later." With a nod Mycroft started.

"Amir Shanwari was born in Pakistan, and raised in Azerbaijan; he got his degree in political science and technology at the National University of Switzerland. He used his education to build a small following, with major connections on the web. Long story short, he was able to get someone who could hack into the security at Heathrow, disabling the security protocols and measures, this would allow him to bring a bomb on board one of the flights. The idea was to detonate it in the underground station, which would cause a makes earthquake on top as the airport would collapse in itself. He had a friend that was part of your murder investigation and when we find out, it was already almost too late. I was needed to not only stop him, but assure a wide range of countries and diplomats that Heathrow safe and would stay safe."

Greg listened in silence, the more Mycroft talked and explained the glad Greg became that he succeeded in stopping a major international catastrophe from happening, still a little angry about how it happened, and he could ultimately understand why Mycroft did what he didn't. Swift action was needed. Mycroft smiled has been doing this a lot longer than what they have been dating or know each other for that matter, that he can forgive Mycroft for this, as long as it never happens again. After dinner Greg had a quick browse through the file.

"Do I actually have clearance for this?"

"No." Mycroft answered. Greg stopped and looked at him.

"What? Why did you bring it, let me look through it?"

"Because I wanted you to understand, to know I would never..." Mycroft couldn't finish his sentence as Greg kissed him. Mycroft responded by pulling him close. When they parted Mycroft was looking down at Greg, their foreheads touching.

"Gregory?" Mycroft softly asked.

"Hmmm.?"

"I love you."

"I love you."

"Would you consider that while you're arm heals you would stay with me?"