Thanks Renaissancebooklover108. You'll see something of yours here!
Sherlock never paid visit to his brother. It was rather shocking, therefore, when he received a text telling him he'd be at his office that afternoon. Mycroft wondered what Sherlock meant by it, but only gave it a moments attention.
He entered his brother's office with a look on his face that immediately made Mycroft put his back up.
"Well, Sherlock. This is unexpected, though only marginally unwelcome. What do you mean by it?"
"Oh, you know. The usual. I had been meditating on the state of your person while I was away. I thought I'd come & chat with you about it."
Mycroft was suspicious. "Oh? What is it that you want to know? How much I wrung my hands? How often I lost sleep? What was going on with my diet?"
"Did you miss me?" Sherlock didn't smile. It was a natural place to start.
"You're my brother, Sherlock. What do you think?"
Sherlock finally sat in the seat opposite Mycroft, studying his face. "You felt guilty."
Mycroft shifted. "Yes. Yes, I suppose I did."
"What did you mean by playing my violin?"
"I hadn't picked up an instrument in years. It pained me to see it sit so idle."
"You have your piano. Your musical tendencies, however rigid, certainly had an outlet available to them," he smirked at that.
"What do you want, Sherlock? You are being tiresome," always busy, he only had a few moments spaced sporadically throughout the day for non-work-related things, & that time was usually spent sipping tea or coffee & reading the Times. Or, until recently, with Molly Hooper.
"Were you turning to Molly for comfort?"
At this, Mycroft stopped. "Are you suggesting that I ill-used her?"
"No. No, I suppose if you were that upset, Molly would be an excellent choice for company."
He looked away from Sherlock. "I suppose so, yes. She is a tender soul, Sherlock. She had a way of making me feel...better about things."
"Quite. She is just as you said. How are you going to handle things now? Concerning Molly?"
"Beg your pardon? What things?"
Sherlock stood once more. "Well, are you going to come around anymore? Are you going to simply toss her aside? She'll be broken up, certainly. If you're not, you owe it to her to tell her so. If you are, then you owe it to me to be forthright." He smiled internally. Just like childhood. Ensnaring Mycroft was a game he dearly loved.
"I don't know what you mean Sherlock. I know Molly is just fine. I have no intention, since you have returned, of seeking her company any longer. I'm certain that she will understand, & I dare say she expects it."
"Your spies are pitiful. I know Molly Hooper & I know that she's attached. She considers you a friend, god knows why, & you damn well better fix it, Mycroft Holmes. The morgue will be lost to me if you don't."
"You are pathetic, brother. Using her in such a plain manner. Vile, really. She knows how you use her, & still she allows it. She must be in love, poor girl," Mycroft was disgusted.
Sherlock smiled. He had him, he would discover soon the nature of Mycroft's mood. If he was attached to Molly, or if the guilt at thinking he played a key role in his brother's suicide was what was driving him to such odd behavior.
"That's neither here nor there. Go & talk to her this afternoon. Tell her your intentions. We then can move forward toward letting the public know of my return & reestablish my good name. You have quite a lot of work, Mycroft. Why do you sit there in such idle attitude? Best be on your way." Sherlock smiled & left.
How much he resented his brother at that moment Mycroft had a hard time ascertaining.
He really couldn't be bothered with his silly assignments. But it's true, he felt horribly guilty about the whole Moriarty affair. He would likely do his brother's bidding for some time to come. He would need to rearrange things in his schedule. He sighed, & thought about Molly.
What did he wish to do about this? He naturally assumed that he would simply stop spending time with her. He knew of her feelings for Sherlock, & truly, he didn't mind. He simply thought that now, she would have no desire to see any Holmes except Sherlock.
This suited him fine. Or did it? He must admit, he enjoyed spending time with the pathologist. What harm could be done if they occasionally met for coffee? Surely no one could object to such an innocent occupation. Perhaps this visit was exactly what Mycroft needed. He'd see Molly's reaction to that suggestion, & act from there. He began dialing his PA, he'd need to clear an hour or so this afternoon & change the surveillance on Molly Hooper.