Warning: Sherlock is a bit OOC.
Chapter 24
Mycroft's POV
As we reached our humble home, Sherlock was still staring outside through the window. It has been like that for the couple of hours that we had been travelling.
"Sherlock…" I called out to him as I softly gripped his hand that was holding out mine ever since we entered the car. This gesture of him takes me back to the time when he was a little child who's troubled or sad enough to need my attention.
I never had thought that there would come a day that he will need me in this kind of way.
"Let's get inside, shall we?" I asked and was granted by a nod from my helpless little brother.
I went out first as he followed me, not letting go of my hand, he went outside the same door as mine.
Mummy immediately opened the door when she heard the front gate open. I did not tell her that Sherlock and I were coming, but by the look that she had given us as we entered, it was as if she knew of what had happened.
Perhaps that is what they call 'a mother's intuition'.
Immediately, after getting inside, Sherlock let go of my hand and went straight to his bedroom. Truly, it was as if I was taken back to the distant past.
Flashback
It was one normal and dull evening.
"Mycroft darling, where is your brother?" Mummy asked while preparing dinner for the night.
I was reading my fifth book for the day when my mother asked such a peeving question.
"As you can see, Mummy, his presence is not needed at the moment. And I certainly would not need it at any moment," I blatantly answered which made my mother face me with a dissatisfied expression.
"Myc, go find your brother," she commanded.
"How many times must I tell you, Mummy? It's Mycroft. And it is not as if Sherlock isn't aware of his surroundings and his way back to this humble house of ours," I sighed and continued reading.
"Well, 'Mycroft', I gave you your name and so I have the right to change the way I call you with it. And it's not as if your brother doesn't know the way back home, he just doesn't know when to go home," she countered which made me snap my book close and stand.
"Alright-alright. As you wish, dearest 'mother'," I gave her a lop-sided smile and turned towards the door after taking my newly bought brolly with me. I must say, this thing is quite helpful – well, for a gentleman, I do guess this is quite well needed.
I smirked at the thought and went out of the room.
Finding Sherlock is never easy. Well, for ordinary people, it is rather hard. But as his brother and his self-proclaimed 'enemy', finding him is never hard.
I began to follow his every move ever since he started going to school.
Some would call it 'worrying' but for me, it is what you call 'assurance'.
Sherlock may be one hard-headed brat, but he never tries to do anything that can upset Mummy. Well, anything that Mummy has the privilege to see, of course.
Yes, it is what you call an assurance for future purposes.
Sherlock is currently at the grounds of one of our mysterious neighbours, Mr. Charles Brown. He is one petulant and strange man. Mysterious they say, but according to my research and information properly attained, Mr. Brown is a failure.
He was, before, a successful business man of guns and ammunitions yet its glory only lasted for three years. It seemed that he had forgotten how to do business in a legal way and had started making transactions in the underworld. He was caught but was made to bail. His case is still upon hearing, I presume.
Sherlock may have known this kind of information and had started to gain interest with the word 'case'. It's now one of his hobbies for the past few months; solving cases, that is.
I can never understand his interest at times. Hm, when have I ever?
I was in deep thought about Sherlock when I was taken back into reality as I heard a loud gun shot.
"Sherlock!" Was the first name that came out of my mouth as I ran towards the nearing grounds of Charles Brown.
When I arrived, there, I saw Sherlock; wide-eyed and helpless as he stared at his dog Redbeard lying lifeless in front of him.
About 4 meters away from them was Mr. Brown, holding the gun that had surely killed my brother's beloved dog.
"Sherlock!" I called and slowly approached my helpless little brother.
"My-mycroft… R-redbeard is…" he stuttered as if he just did something that truly upset Mummy.
Before I was able to approach my brother though, another gunshot was heard and it was enough to avert my attention from Sherlock to the uncertain and trembling man in front of me.
"Who the bloody hell are you?!" He shouted with trembling voice and expression.
"Good evening, Mr. Brown. I am Mycroft Holmes, the older brother of that boy and I must say that that is a rather interesting firearm you have in your possession. Now that I have the privilege to see such a thing in person, I want to know more about that particular weapon but I do not have the time. And so, while it is true that I am still a young lad, I must have you know that I have been studying our beloved monarchy and its laws. I am also well-informed of your current status and in addition, it is also perfectly eminent that our current situation can assist the judgment of your case. And so, I shall ask of you to surrender to the proper authorities, Mr. Brown. You do not have any choice left, do you? The moment that you shot my brother's dog, I am entirely sure that the local authorities were alarmed. They shall be here in approximately three minutes. Even if you try to kill the both of us, try to escape or use us as hostages, I must tell you that your effort shall become futile," I slowly walked towards the quivering man and continued, "Now, if I were you Mr. Brown, I will put my gun down and surrender. We do not want your daughter to be more disappointed than she is now, do we?"
"What the bloody hell are you talking about, you bloody brat?! One more bloody word and I swear I will shoot you!" He warned with such an unconfident and stuttering tone.
"Did I not tell you, Mr. Brown? Everything that you will attempt to do shall be simply futile!" I exclaimed and immediately hit his hand with my rather strong brolly, resulting for him to drop his gun. I then hit his right neck then to his head, completely taking him out of his consciousness.
"How truly disappointing," I whispered as I glared at his unconscious stature.
"M-my-mycroft…" I heard the faint call of my little brother which made me snap out of my angered trance and ran to his helpless side.
"Sherlock, are you alright?" I immediately asked as I tried to check every nook and cranny of his small and frail body.
"R-redbeard is… R-redbeard… B-because…" He continued stuttering as he stared at his lifeless dog in front of him.
I turned to look at Redbeard whose blood spluttered near his wound.
I couldn't help but sigh at the pitiable state of my brother's precious dog, so I asked, "What happened, Sherlock?"
I stared at his eyes so he will not have any choice but to avert his gaze to mine.
"I-i… Mr. Brown w-was… And R-redbeard s-suddenly…" He tried but continued to stutter like there was no tomorrow.
I held his hand with a tight grip and wrapped my arm around him, "Shall we go home now, Sherlock?"
As I felt him nod, we slowly stood up and started to walk away.
The local police had arrived, so I was left with no choice but to explain what had obviously happened. It lasted for minutes yet Sherlock never let go of my hand until it ended.
Until we arrived home, Sherlock never let go of my hand. It was only until then that we reached his room that his hand finally left mine.
"What happened, dear?" Mummy worriedly asked as Sherlock closed his eyes, slowly falling asleep.
"Redbeard's gone, Mummy… And Sherlock was there to see it," I formed my hands into a white-knuckled grip.
It was only then that I realized that I left my brolly at the crime scene.
Strange, for I remember using it to put Charles Brown to an involuntary sleep. Then after, I heard Sherlock's voice…
Oh, I let go of my newly-bought brolly the instant I knew that my brother needed me.
I smiled rather pitiably to myself.
How much of a fool can you be, Mycroft? Putting him in surveillance as assurance for the future? Or is it simply worrying about your precious and beloved little brother?
Foolish. You even forgot your newly-found obsession just so you can run to your brother's aid quickly.
Simply foolish.
End of flashback.
After Sherlock had slept that evening, he told me what had happened. How he sneaked inside the grounds of Mr Brown and how Redbeard saved him from being shot by jumping right in front of him.
His sadness lasted for weeks and it took me the same to cheer my little brother up. I gave him a little case that had the local authorities pinned for months. He finally went out of his room and was up and about of that particular little case.
The sadness that he went through was the particular reason why I never wanted him to be involved. Involved deeply with anything, with any people.
But as I see it, my brother never really does heed my warning. Yet, it is my duty to make him. And so, I failed as his brother.
I closed my eyes tight, sighed and whispered the same words that I said way back then, "How truly disappointing…"