Author's Note: as always, keep reviewing and giving suggestions. Your input is greatly appreciated. Even 10 chapters in, I still don't know for sure where I'm going with this story. I just follow where my inspiration leads me. If you have a certain direction you'd like this story to go in, feel free to let me know, and I'll take your suggestion into consideration. Thanks!

Sherlock was sitting on the couch, wallowing in self pity when the doorbell rang. He slowly walked to the door and opened it. Mycroft stepped in. They sat down to a cup of tea.

"It has come to my attention that you are no longer a consulting detective, or at least no longer taking cases."

"Yes. Your point is?"

"Why?"

"It doesn't matter. I was bored with consulting. I wanted something new."

"I don't believe you. Tell me really, why aren't you consulting?"

"We both know you're a genius. Figure it out yourself. Haven't you already seen?"

"I've trained myself not to look until I need to." They sat in silence and sipped their tea for a few more minutes. Then Mycroft spoke again. "Do you want to play deductions?"

"No."

"Well I want to know, so I'm going to play by myself."

"Go ahead."

•••

"Your face looks sad and dejected, you walked more slowly to the door than usual, and you have a general air of melancholy about you, suggesting that something unfortunate has happened recently I make you sad. If it was a murder or other crime, you would be busy solving it. If it was a death of someone close to you, you would have shut me out, wanting to be alone in your sorrows. If it was rejection, you would be angry and busy plotting your revenge. Therefore, I must conclude that something has happened to you personally.

You've put away all your books and studies, which seems especially odd to me, as you value your literacy. I know you've boasted many times of how it has aided you in a case. And that's another thing: you aren't taking any cases. That suggests that either this stroke of misfortune has made you so dejected that even a case can't make you feel better, or it has somehow made you unwilling or unable to take a case anymore. I have difficulty believing that anything would be so severe as to keep you from taking any case, so I am inclined to think it's the latter. So the question is: what made you unwilling or unable to take cases?

Hm... You said 'no' when I asked if you wanted to play deductions, when normally you'd jump at the opportunity. You didn't tell me, either now or earlier, what was wrong. Perhaps it was too embarrassing? Yes, I think that's it. But what would be so embarrassing? Hm... Intermittently, you've been rubbing your head, as if you had a headache. You look healthy otherwise, so it seems unlikely that you have the flu or another illness... A headache is a sign of a concussion. Hm... concussion + no longer able to take cases + embarrassment... You've lost your intelligence! You had a concussion, and now you're reduced to being average."

"An IQ of 118 is technically still above average."

"Oh... I was right. I'm sorry, Sherlock. Is there anything I can do?"

"Not really. Just let me wallow in self pity a little longer. Maybe I'll think of something."

"If you do, give me a call. Goodbye, Sherlock. Good luck!"

"I'll need it," Sherlock whispered to himself as Mycroft left.