Greg hadn't managed to sleep again. He'd stayed up, laying in bed with his eyes open. He did get up and check on John once. The doctor had been tossing in his sleep, but nothing too violent. Greg decided to leave him rest.

He waited until seven to text Mycroft. He'd wanted to find out about his job straight after the dream, but decided that it wasn't the best idea to bother the British Government in the early hours of the morning.

- Mycroft, when am I expected back at work? GL

Greg phrased it like he didn't think he was fired. He just hoped it wasn't true. He found himself staring at his phone, waiting for a response.

- You have been exempted from working until Monday. I was going to discuss this with you later today when I pick John up for his appointment. I will see you in an hour and a half. MH

Greg nodded to his phone. He wasn't aware that John had an appointment today.
Great, now they're not even bothering to include me in their plans.

Greg scolded himself. He wasn't really involved in their lives, and there was no real need to include him in John's therapy appointments. Not when they just left him behind… alone…

Greg shook his head. He wondered if he should call the clinic the doctor referred him to. He knew he should, but at the same time, felt uneasy with making the phone call. Part of him felt guilty still over what happened, and therefore believed he shouldn't get help as a form of punishment. The other part was depressed when thinking that if he didn't make the effort to help himself, no help would come. And he was thinking that he did at least need a little help.

He got out of bed, and got dressed. He wouldn't be able to make the call until after Mycroft took John. He had some time to plan out what he was going to say.
Greg had made some toast for himself and John. They had just finished when Mycroft arrived.

"Good morning, Gregory, John." Mycroft greeted. Greg saw the flicker of a scowl from John, but it only lasted a moment.
"Hey Mycroft." Greg said, his tone flat.
"Why so early, Mycroft?" John grumbled.
"I need to discuss Gregory's return to Scotland Yard. I allowed some extra time to do so." Mycroft spoke, unfazed by John's harsh tone.

"Fine." John grumbled, and sat on his bed. Greg motioned to the seat near him at the dining table. Mycroft eyed it for a moment, as if considering whether he should bring himself down to the level of the 'common folk'. He then walked in and took the seat.

"I originally had requested you have a month off, which would bring your return to this Monday."
Greg huffed at Mycroft, who raised an eyebrow questioningly.
"Requested." Greg repeated, making air quotes with his hands. Mycroft gave him a cheeky grin.
"Indeed. Well, what I needed to know from you is if you are capable of returning to your job, or if I need to 'request' more time."

Greg noted Mycroft's use of the word 'capable'. It made him feel like his entire worth was summed up in his ability to carry out his job. It wasn't if he 'felt' able to return, or if he was 'comfortable' to return, hell, it wasn't even if he was 'ready'. It was just if he was 'capable'.

"Have I offended you, Gregory?" Mycroft enquired, noting the expressions on Greg's face. Greg had forgotten how easily the elder Holmes read him, and remembered the last time Mycroft had asked him that question. Only that time, he'd called him 'detective inspector'. He felt like he had become a lot closer to Mycroft since then, and Mycroft seemed to also feel it - enough to call him by his first name, at least.

"No, no… it's…fine." Greg managed to get out. His emotions were building up inside him and it was getting difficult to speak.
"Very well. So, shall I inform your superior that you will be in attendance on Monday?"
"Um, yeah, sure, why not. I'm not doing anything here anyway." Greg responded, aware that the emotional wave was actually becoming more of a panic. He tried hard to keep it together.
"Good. I will 'recommend' that you are restricted to light duty for the next few weeks." Mycroft spoke, giving the same cheeky grin when saying 'recommend'. Greg didn't know it, but Mycroft was actually being rather playful. For him, at least.

"Are you ready, John?" Mycroft spoke as he stood, turning to the room divider.
"Yeah." John grumbled, walking out of the door.

Mycroft smiled and inclined his head to Greg, before following John.
Greg frowned to himself. Mycroft seemed far too happy for someone that just lost their brother. Especially when it was largely his fault.
Mycroft is trained to never show emotion. That façade is part of his job, no doubt he'd use it to conceal his inner turmoil.

Greg knew this, he repeated it to himself, but he still couldn't shake the feeling that Mycroft wasn't as upset as he should be. He still seemed more worried or stressed than depressed - and he only could make that out from years of work as a detective. He sighed to himself, he was probably reading far too much into it.

The realisation then hit him: he had to return to work in only four days. Four days, and he'd be stuck with Anderson and Donovan again. Anger flooded through his body. He'd also have to be around, and at the mercy of, the Chief Superintendent. He harboured a great deal of resentment towards the man for making him arrest Sherlock. Knowing that it was his job, and he was following protocol, didn't quell the hatred. He hadn't needed to call him a 'bloody idiot'.

Greg groaned. He put his hands over his face.
"What am I gonna do?" He grumbled to himself.

He didn't know how long he sat there. He was brought out of his thoughts by his phone ringing. He pulled it out of his pocket, and didn't recognise the number. He wasn't really interested in dealing with telemarketers or anyone really, but answered none the less.

"Hello?" He asked, foregoing his usual salutation including his name and title.
"Hello, I'm calling for Greg Lestrade." A woman's voice spoke.
"Speaking." Greg said shortly.
"Oh hi there, I'm Amy from the Greenfield clinic. We received a referral from your doctor for you to see one of our psychologists."
"Oh, yes, hello."
"Well, I'm just ringing to confirm that we have received the referral, and to let you know that one of our team is available to see you from next week. Would you like to make an appointment, or did you have a specific person you would like to see?"
"No, anyone is fine, I guess…" Greg mumbled.
"Great, well in that case, how about we make an appointment to see Imogen McMillan?" Amy's chipper voice called out rather loudly. Greg didn't know why it made him upset.
"Yeah, sure."
"Ok, well she has an appointment at 2:15 on Tuesday. How does that sound?"
"Fine." Greg said, sounding uninterested. He really was just very anxious and trying not to let it show.
"Ok, Greg, that one's booked in. Please arrive a little early so that we can get some paperwork filled out first. See you then!"
"Ok, bye."

Well, that had been fairly easy. Then he remembered that he started work on Monday.
"Arg, fuck." Greg grumbled, and face-planted the table.