John's Chapter again.
Word count: 1387 (this chapter)
Please review? (: And as always, enjoy.
A/N: Late. Sorry. So very sorry, my muse died. I considered a funeral but then he "Reichenbach Fall"ed me and came back again. It's okay. I thought Mycroft needed to show his face again.
I do not own anything - this chapter has been beta'd a little
Sherlock had fallen asleep in Mycroft's car on the way back, his head against John's shoulder. John ignored Mycroft's pointed glances and kept one hand twined with Sherlock's for when he felt the stabbing pains and squeezed tightly, whimpering in John's ear.
"How is he?" Mycroft asked softly as Sherlock slept on, still holding John's hand like a lifeline.
"I've honestly never seen him worse in the time I've known him." John held Mycroft's gaze steadily, running a thumb over Sherlock's hand when he squeezed particularly tightly.
"No, I have to admit, I've never seen my brother come so undone. You must mean a fair bit to him, he's never told anyone what happened to him that night, not even me, not properly at least." There was a sick fascination on Mycroft's face.
"If he trusted me, I won't betray him." John's voice was steady as he watched Mycroft carefully, but he couldn't maintain the gaze, as Sherlock whimpered and pressed against him, digging his nails into John's palm. "Hey, hey I'm here. Shh... It's okay, I'm here Sherlock, it's okay." Sherlock was half awake, and he pressed his face against John's coat, allowing John to hold him close against his chest.
"I'm sorry." He whispered, and John felt his heart break a little.
"Don't be, you've done no wrong." There was a silence in which Mycroft stared pointedly at John and Sherlock, raising his eyebrows.
"Does Mycroft think I'm still asleep?" It was nearly inaudible, and John chuckled a little, shifting so that Sherlock was more comfortable.
"No, he knows you're awake. But you can go back to sleep." John told him softy, imperceptibly tightening his grip on Sherlock and adjusting how he was sat.
"Okay." Sherlock nuzzled into John's coat and tightened his fingers in John's shirt. "Thank you."
"You're welcome; sleep well Sherlock, love you." The words just slipped out, natural on the tongue, and had Sherlock been more alert he would have pounced on it, but as it was, he squeezed John's hand softly and settled more comfortably on him.
"Love you too." He murmured; John thought nothing of it and dismissed it as Sherlock being Sherlock. After about ten minutes, Mycroft raised his eyebrows at John.
"Yes he's asleep."
"Oh good, I need to talk to you, be frank." A multitude of jokes ran through John's head, but he snapped a lid on them.
"What is it?"
"I need to know that Sherlock will not regress to his drug days."
"I can't promise that, it's out of my control, but I will do all I can to prevent it happening."
"Good. You're also in control of all medical treatment of his from now on, including psychiatric care."
"Why?"
"There was no one better suited to the job than you."
"Right."
"And finally, don't hurt my brother."
"I would never."
"You can promise this?"
"I can promise I won't knowingly cause him harm." Mycroft seemed satisfied with this, and nodded. Sherlock shifted in his sleep, now he had both his arms around John's neck. Mycroft raised an eyebrow and John ignored it, soothing Sherlock the moment he started to whimper softly in his ear.
"We're in London." Mycroft stated a few minutes later, still observing his brother and Sherlock as Sherlock gave a tiny, pitiful whine. John shook Sherlock's shoulder gently, not wincing as Sherlock dug his nails into John's back hard enough to draw blood.
"We're in London." John whispered and Sherlock nodded, not making a move to get away from John.
No, you don't have to move." Sherlock, who had tensed, settled down again.
"221B I presume." Mycroft's voice came, startling them.
"Where else?" John asked; a blank look on his face.
"Just enquiring." John shifted Sherlock in his arms slightly, the stinging from the nail cuts registering in the back of his mind. Agonising minutes passed before they pulled up at the familiar building, John felt himself smile without meaning to.
"Sherlock, we're home." John muttered in the ear of the consulting detective. Sherlock removed himself from John, but kept their hands held tight together. Sherlock got out first, pausing to look John in the eyes. "Just five minutes, I'll be there, promise." John told him softly, holding his gaze. "Go inside, put the kettle on, I'll be inside in five minutes." John had felt Mycroft's gaze on him, and knew what it meant. Sherlock still looked unsure.
"I just want to talk to our esteemed doctor, brother, five minutes as I promised." Sherlock looked distrustfully at Mycroft, but John touched his arm and smiled.
"Five minutes, promise." Sherlock nodded, staring at my Mycroft with an almost normal look of arrogance, but John could see that all was not right. "Promise." Sherlock walked away, into Baker Street and closed the door behind him.
"John."
"What do you want?"
"My brother... Needs you."
"I know."
"No, you don't understand. He's never let anyone in before."
"I know."
"Hurt him and I will end you."
"We're not..." John realised that Mycroft thought what everyone else did, and it irritated him. "We're not a couple."
"I am aware of this; but the point remains. He is my brother, and if you hurt him, I will do everything in my power to end you."
"Mycroft; I would never hurt him."
"You can promise?" So this is what the conversion before was about, he didn't mean physical harm, he meant hurt Sherlock in a much worse way.
"I can promise." John looked at his watch pointedly. "Now as much as that was an illuminating conversation, I feel I should really get back to the man in question."
"Don't hurt my brother, doctor Watson."
"I've already stipulated that I won't." John was tense; he leapt out of the car and stepped inside the threshold of 221B, already ascending the stairs and opening the front door to their flat.
"John?" Sherlock's voice was soft as he stood by the kitchen sink, hands clasped around a mug of tea.
"I'm here." John saw a mug of tea on the side, his army mug by Sherlock's left elbow. He picked it up and took a sip, observing Sherlock from his position by the fridge.
"What did Mycroft want?"
"You already know." Sherlock watched him with his eyebrows raised a little.
"Yes, unfortunately I do."
"Unfortunately?"
"I don't need Mycroft to do my dirty work for me."
"Oh..."
"John I know you would never hurt me. I know you wouldn't, not intentionally."
"I would never hurt you. I promise." Sherlock looked so vulnerable and scared, that John stepped forward and pulled him into a hug.
"I'm scared." John felt his heart break slightly and held him close, stroking his hair.
"Don't be; I won't let you get hurt again, I won't let them hurt you."
"But he found me, he found me and he scared me. I don't want to be around you, put you in danger, what if they hurt you too?"
"Sherlock, I've killed a man for you, and I barely knew you then. I'd do it again now, they won't hurt me."
"They might."
"I promise you that I'll be fine and that I won't let you get hurt."
"You can't promise me that."
"Shush." John rubbed circles on Sherlock's back and kissed his forehead, his cheek and then gently his lips. "I promise. Now go to bed." Sherlock had frozen the moment John's lips had touched his own, and stood still, watching John. John had pulled back, it could hardly have been counted as a kiss, but Sherlock had felt it. "They won't hurt you or me." Sherlock still stood, tensed. "What's wrong?"
"You... You kissed me."
"I did. I'm sorry if it was inappropriate." Sherlock sighed and rested his head against John's shoulder.
"It was... It was nice." John smiled against Sherlock's neck.
"Good, you're safe with me now. I promise; now go to bed." He took Sherlock by the hand and led him into his room. "I'm just upstairs if you need me. Shout if you want me, okay?" John kissed the top of Sherlock's head.
"Okay." Sherlock settled on his bed, his legs crossed, and stared at the door as John left, watching the shadows lengthening under the windows and by his door, until he lay back and fell into an uneasy sleep.
It did get Beta'd a little, emphasis on little, so any mistakes are probably mine; if you find any let me know (:
Review if you have the time (:
Much much love
Erin
