CHAPTER 21

~four weeks later~

Mycroft was afraid. For the first time in his life, he was afraid. Molly had to go to a series of medical meetings in Hastings. It was a medical convention for a certain elite group of doctors and surgeons.

Meaning…he was left alone in London…with Sherlock.

But Sherlock seemed to be distracted by big dogs. Mycroft smirked. Of course I'd let you stay up there, brother dear…that means you can't be down here. He gazed at the computer screen to his left, watching Sherlock in Dr. Stapleton's lab. He smirked and nodded to Anthea.

"All's quiet on the Sherlock front. Make sure he's distracted when he gets back. I'll be in a hotel with video meetings until Molly returns."

Anthea nodded slowly and then frowned. "Sir, why don't you simply put Sherlock in a hospital that could help him? You did that with the drugs."

Mycroft sighed. "Sherlock can lie and fake anything. He's a brilliant actor, Anthea. It would bring me nothing but heartache and headache. No. If he goes, then he has to go on his own free will. He will need to accept and seek help. I cannot force him. It was different with drugs. He couldn't fake the drug reports."

She nodded and then hesitated. "But…why don't you simply…"

"Send him away?" He raised an eyebrow. Anthea seemed a little ashamed of herself but nodded anyway. He smiled sadly. "I cannot send my brother to an institution. If it makes you ashamed to even suggest it, then imagine how it would make me feel to do it."

He sighed and fiddled with his pen. "No. An institution would be the death of Sherlock. Even as a child, he couldn't stand being isolated or kept from stimulus. It drove him insane as a child. I can only imagine what it would do to him now…"

Mycroft stood up. "Enough of this…how is our prisoner doing?"

Anthea snorted. "Much better. He's been talking freely about his empire now that we've told him things about Sherlock. Are you sure that this is a good idea?"

"Moriarty undoubtedly wants this whole debacle to end in blood."

"And?" Anthea stared at her employer closely. "How do you want it to end?"

"Death is preferable to isolation, Anthea."

Her eyes widened. "You would…"

"No. But that is always a possibility. No, Anthea. My main goal is to get Sherlock out of my hair for at least two years. Two years so I can court Molly properly, so I can introduce her to my parents, so I can marry her." He nodded slowly, leaning against his desk. "That is all I need. Two. Years."

She nodded slowly and then handed him a thick file. "These are all the cases that I have suggested to Lestrade to give to Sherlock. I doubt your brother would accept anything from you."

Mycroft snorted. "You were right in assuming that. Yes, these are decent enough, curious enough. Sadly, they're all dead cases, but Sherlock will find some enjoyment in succeeding in something that all else have failed in." Mycroft gave her back the file. "Give them to Lestrade."

Anthea nodded and left the office. Mycroft looked back at the screen to watch his brother storm out of Baskerville. Frowning, the elder brother looked into what Sherlock found.

Oh…Dr. Franklind was interested in re-opening the H.O.U.N.D. He chuckled. "Oh Sherlock, you must be so happy." Shaking his head, Mycroft went back to work.

~March 2, 2011~

Mycroft smiled at Molly as she mended one of her sweaters. "What's going to happen, Mycroft?" Her eyes were wide.

He looked up and focused on her. "What's going to happen…?"

"To Sherlock? Even if he does go away, like you've planned, for two years. He's still going to come back. We can't keep sending him away."

"Ideally, when he comes back, he'll realize that I am taken completely, and that he'll have to give up."

Molly gave him a look. "And since when has Sherlock ever willingly done what you've wanted him to do?"

Her fiancé snorted. "Once."

"That is a story you will tell me another time. But back to the topic at hand…"

Mycroft smirked at her and then his smirk died into a grimace. "He will come back. He will be angry. He will vow revenge. He will then become an uncle and fall in love with doting and spoiling my children. He will then proceed to give a terrific sulk and ignore me for the rest of my life, all the while buying my children lots of presents and charging them to me." Mycroft gave Molly a wry smile.

She laughed and cocked her head coyly. "And how many nieces and nephews will Sherlock have?"

"Oh…" Mycroft shrugged lazily. "At least one of each. Ideally, one niece and two nephews. The girl will be the youngest with two protective brothers."

Molly smirked. "And when have I ever done anything you've not wanted me to do?"

Mycroft kissed her. "Once."

She laughed and kissed him back.

I'm back!

Ink...